Chapter 51: Outburst
Baines moved with purpose through the Darkan estate, his footsteps echoing against polished marble floors.
The air was thick with the scent of wax and old parchment, a reminder of the ancient power that permeated this place. His destination was the Darkan library, a repository of knowledge that held techniques and cultivation methods amassed since the family’s founding.
The library was a five-story tower, with each level more exclusive than the last. Baines had been granted access to the third floor, a privilege, yet a limitation.
The fourth floor was reserved for those bearing the Darkan name, a threshold he could cross by renouncing his own identity, an offer the family dangled like a gilded cage, while the fifth floor was accessible only to the family head and their chosen successor.
A servant awaited him at the base of the tower, his livery pristine, his demeanor deferential. "Sir Jin, a pleasure to meet you. I am assigned to guide you," he said, offering a small bow. His voice was polite but carried the weight of routine, as if he’d ushered countless visitors through these halls.
Baines nodded, following the servant through the towering iron gates of the library.
The structure loomed like a sentinel, its stone facade carved with runes that pulsed faintly with protective magic.
Inside, the air grew cooler, the silence oppressive. Each floor was guarded by sentinels in ceremonial armor, their eyes sharp, ensuring order.
The first floor was a labyrinth of shelves, teeming with thousands of tomes. The second was less crowded, its books more specialized. By the third floor, the shelves were sparse, holding no more than two hundred volumes, each a treasure of martial knowledge.
"Sir Jin, please note, you have five hours," the servant said, bowing again. "Enjoy your time." He retreated, leaving Baines alone with the weight of opportunity.
Five hours, two hundred books, and Eye were all he needed.