Lord of Mysteries: The Traveler

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As soon as Florent entered the library, he was greeted by a sea of gold. The first floor of the library housed books collected by the followers of the Church of the 'Eternal Blazing Sun'.

While the content of these books was not particularly problematic, every author seemed to be promoting the Church of the 'Eternal Blazing Sun', often slipping in subtle praises for the 'Sun god', something Florent found rather fanatical...

In his mind, the followers of the Church of the 'Eternal Blazing Sun' were like cultists, spreading their propaganda everywhere.

Trier's nickname, the 'City of the Sun', had existed since the founding of the Republic of Intis. However, in the early days, particularly towards the end of the Fourth Epoch, the mystical world had a consensus... the seemingly flattering title was actually a sarcastic jab at the fanaticism of the Church's followers. Living close to the Eternal Blazing Sun's domain meant either death or madness.

Considering that the first to call Trier the 'City of the Sun' were followers of the 'God of Knowledge and Wisdom', and recalling that the two churches had briefly united due to external pressures at the time, this interpretation seemed quite plausible.

This piece of mystical knowledge came from a book in Florent's father's collection, titled 'The Final Madness: The Pale Disaster'.

Although the author was only a Sequence 5 'Traveler', he had lived through the final days of the Pale Disaster and had access to extensive historical records, making the book relatively credible.

The layout of the Trier National Library was slightly different from other libraries. The first floor did not focus on basic world knowledge but rather on practical books that could help people make a living. These were books that while not particularly profound, were easy to convert into monetary gain.

On this floor, Florent saw scattered individuals either standing or sitting, engrossed in their reading. Their clothes were simple, even shabby, and some unconsciously touched their stomachs as they read. Beneath their plain attire were gaunt, malnourished bodies.

"Quite touching, isn't it?"

A voice spoke up behind Florent as he observed the readers on the first floor...

Florent didn't turn around immediately. Instead, he searched his memory for the familiar voice while slowly turning to face the speaker.

When he turned, he saw two young men whose attire starkly contrasted with the readers on the first floor...

One was a golden-haired man dressed in a white robe embroidered with gold thread. When Florent looked over, the man raised his hand in greeting, a smile on his face. On his right hand was a string of golden beads, with a single golden kumquat flower attached... an unusual addition.

The other man wore a blue suit with a brown vest. Compared to the first, he seemed more reserved, though not cold, just exceptionally calm.

Their contrasting styles made them an odd pair, yet somehow they seemed to complement each other.

As Florent studied their appearances, the golden-haired man, noticing Florent's reaction smiled wryly before quickly recovering.

He ran his hand through his dazzling golden hair and down to his neck, speaking in a light, cheerful tone, "As expected of you Florent, you're still as bad at recognizing people as ever. It's me, Quevedo Heim, a student of the esteemed 'Brilliant Mind', Roman Kaman. We attended classes together at Count Mann's estate..."

Hearing this, Florent's expression of deep thought softened.

He extended his hand for a handshake with an apologetic smile and said, "Sorry Quevedo, my memory really isn't the best, but I'll do my best to remember my acquaintances in future... So, who is this gentleman beside you?"

'Handshakes are truly a great way to greet someone. It perfectly embodies the warmth of Trier's people. Consul Roselle is truly a man of many talents for introducing this practice!' Quevedo mused.

After shaking hands, he slightly bowed and gestured toward his companion with his palms up, as if presenting something too precious to be tainted.

"This gentleman beside me is Erich Sabach from Lenburg. His knowledge is unparalleled among all the young people I've met. He could even hold his own in discussions with scholars of the older generation. I met him while reading in the library. He's truly a man of admirable learning!" Quevedo's tone was full of respect.

The man in the blue suit stepped forward after Quevedo's introduction and extended his hand to Florent. In a steady unchanging tone, he said, "Hello, I'm Erich Sabach from Lenburg. I'm currently studying in Trier... Mr. Heim here is one of the most enthusiastic and knowledgeable people I've met. It's a pleasure to meet an acquaintance of his."

Quevedo quickly added, "Florent, don't let his stoic demeanor fool you. Erich is always willing to lend a hand to anyone dedicated to learning."

Then, with an apologetic smile, Quevedo clasped his hands together as if embarrassed for speaking on Erich's behalf.

Florent didn't mind. After shaking Erich's hand, he said, "A friend from Lenburg, the home of knowledge, must be a man of great learning. Quevedo himself is a man of exceptional knowledge, and anyone he holds in such high regard must be remarkable. I hope you can not only be Quevedo's friend, but also mine. A knowledgeable friend is the best reward for a scholar."

Quevedo seemed slightly surprised by Florent's words but quickly regained his composure.

Then, as if remembering something, he pulled out a pocket watch hidden beneath his robe, checked the time, and said to Florent, "I'm sorry, but we have to attend a reading salon at Count Conley's estate. Please enjoy your time in the sea of books. I look forward to the day we can share knowledge together."

Florent nodded understandingly, "No rush. I'm sure we'll have the chance to share knowledge in the future. For now, please don't let me delay your busy schedule."

With that, Quevedo and Erich nodded to Florent and hurried off.

During Florent's education, there were no formal schools. For the wealthy or nobles, sending their children to study alongside commoners, or worse, those from lower social strata, was unthinkable. Church sponsored schools rarely taught anything useful.

For those who could afford it, hiring a master for private tutoring was the best option. However, these masters, who prided themselves on their status, wouldn't tutor the nouveau riche. Fortunately, these masters didn't exclusively offer one-on-one lessons...

Some nobles connected to wealthy families didn't mind having the children of the wealthy study alongside their own. After all, nobles had power, and the wealthy had money. The combination of power and wealth seemed inevitable, whether in the mundane or the mystical world.

Florent was no exception. He had attended classes at Count Mann's estate, receiving education from the master Roman Kaman. It was under these circumstances that he had met Quevedo...