Lord of Mysteries: The Lord of Power

After gaining a general understanding of the library, Furen sat at an empty table on the seventh floor, contemplating his next study plan. The familiar feeling almost transported him back to his university days, when he was more enthusiastic about reading domestic and foreign novels housed in the school library than studying. His roommates were always puzzled by how someone so devoted to the library could perform so averagely in exams.

Mocking himself internally for reminiscing about such irrelevant things, Furen redirected his thoughts to the matter at hand: which specific books he needed to read.

Books that would help with the role of the "Trickmaster" were undoubtedly those related to magic. Unfortunately, only a handful of such books were available on the sixth floor, mostly focusing on the extraordinary techniques of magicians and the mysteries of their performances.

Regrettably, no magician would ever write a book that exposed secrets and offended their peers. Thus, even the most renowned books on magic only introduced a few inconsequential tricks—and even these methods were either inhumanly demanding, requiring years of rigorous practice, or exaggeratedly complex. As for other tricks, they were so vaguely explained that it felt like nothing had been said at all.

"Hmm, I can read a few select ones, taking notes on tricks that can actually be performed as a 'Trickmaster.' After my promotion, these notes might serve as a stepping stone to joining a circus. Also, I'll need to watch circus performances from time to time, focusing on magicians. Add this to the plan." Furen couldn't help but tap the table, which annoyed those around him, prompting him to switch to tapping his own forehead instead.

"For the role of the 'Astrologer,' a foundation of occult knowledge is necessary. This can be divided into three parts: the books at home, most of which are my father's collection on divination techniques, especially crystal divination and astrological divination, with some other methods also included; the second layer of the Trier National Library, specifically the theological astrology section—'The majesty of the gods is like the stars in the heavens, high above and unreachable, their grace like the sea, their power like a prison'; and the third layer's natural science section on astronomy, which contains ancient star charts from before telescopes were invented, detailing the seasonal and annual changes in the stars, as well as modern, more detailed star maps post-telescope invention. The former provides a macroscopic view, while the latter offers a microscopic one—both are useful." Furen deliberated on the role's requirements in his mind, though he wasn't entirely confident in their correctness. After all, his father had never left behind concrete guidelines for role-playing. Most people relied on time and effort to perfect their roles, trusting that with enough persistence, digestion would eventually occur.

"The next sequence for the 'Astrologer' is the 'Scribe.' The role-play guidelines for the 'Scribe' involve documenting various extraordinary abilities as well as local scenery and customs. The most useful books for this are undoubtedly the travelogues on the fifth floor. As one of the most engaging types of nonfiction, travelogues occupy a significant portion of the literature sections in libraries. As for extraordinary abilities, documenting them is one aspect, while understanding and defining them is another—which, for me, is relatively easy."

At this point, Furen stopped tapping his fingers and instead clasped his hands together, closing his eyes slightly to summarize: "In conclusion, I need books on magic from the sixth floor, theological astrology from the second floor, natural science astronomy from the third floor, travelogues from the fifth floor, and the occult books at home. Oh, and I also need to visit the circus to experience magic performances firsthand."

"It's decided then. Time is tight, and I need to act now. The more I procrastinate, the less I'll accomplish." Furen also recalled his occasional attempts to study in the library, only to spend minimal time on actual learning due to laziness and lack of interest. After all, reading novels in the library was undeniably more enjoyable than studying.

Driven by curiosity about travelogues, Furen decided to start with them. They were the closest thing to novels, offering realistic accounts of life, and many travelogues were even more fascinating than fiction—truth is, after all, often stranger than fiction.

Even within the travelogue section, the Trier National Library excelled in organization. There were travelogues from Intis, Ruen, Feysac, Feynapotter, and even the South Continent, as well as those about ocean voyages. Of course, some could easily be classified as novels, as the authors described places unattainable to ordinary people.

Trier Travel Memoirs, by Isais Beru, a Ruenese author, caught Furen's curiosity. He pulled it out, skimmed through the author's introduction and the table of contents, and found it quite readable. The author had written the book entirely in the style of a novel.

Isais Beru was one of Ruen's best-selling authors in recent years. This era's readers had a strong preference for travelogues. Remarkably, Isais Beru was a follower of the Evernight Goddess and a woman—an unusual combination, especially in the Sun-dominant Intis. Yet, she was surprisingly popular among Intis readers of travelogues.

"...In the 'City of the Sun,' everything is so bright and sunny, unimaginable for the gloomy, gray backdrop of Backlund. Of course, I don't dislike gloomy weather—too much sunlight can be harmful...

"…If you want to write a travelogue that closely reflects reality, the best way is to become a local and experience their joys and sorrows. Fortunately, I had a friend who lived in Trier. As followers of the God of Steam, their family was more agreeable than the Sun believers, who always carry an invisible air of disdain. Still, I must admit, Sun believers are exceptionally gentlemanly when chatting with unfamiliar ladies…"

Furen became engrossed in the joy of reading, losing track of time. By the time he finished the travelogue—which, compared to the sprawling millions of words in online novels, was rather succinct—the orange glow of candlelight filled the room.

After placing the book back on the shelf, Furen lingered in the aftertaste of the travelogue, reflecting on his understanding of Trier. It was no wonder Isais Beru's travelogues were so acclaimed.

Leaving the Trier National Library, Furen walked leisurely home, treading on streets bathed in a mix of crimson moonlight and amber twilight.