OLD-WORLD EXTRA

Chapter 287: Archive In Between

Chapter 287: Archive In Between

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It might not seem obvious to some, but this floor was designed to house both the library and the medical facility on purpose.

Students often overestimated themselves and tried to learn more than they could or even should. So the resulting consequence was obvious.

A near-death state that required immediate attention.

And what better attention than a next-door neighbor with every piece of medical equipment imaginable?

"Right, that's smart and all, but it's still weird."

"Yeah, yeah, just shut up; we don't want a professor breathing down our necks."

"Facts."

"Oh, it's you again."

"Sup-"

"Those outside, keep quiet!"

"See! I told you to shut up."

"It's just a student though."

"You're highkey stupid."

"No cap."

"I said quiet!"

"YOU FIRST YEARS! COME HERE!"

A chuckling Emir and Lyra passed by three students who were currently being scolded by a third year.

They exited the main lobby and crossed a reinforced door that scanned them on entry. Just as they stepped into the library, a voice that matched Brain's welcomed them in:

[Welcome to the Archive in Between Professor Emir and his assistant, Ms.... Amanda.] "Thanks, brain."

[My pleasure... Stay for as long or as little as you like, but please enjoy your time spent here.] "That we will."

With their short conversation over, Emir's eyes scanned all that was before him.

This was the place where all the students had kicked off their path to actual strength.

What was better than knowledge?

Instant knowledge.

And here... every 'book' was just that.

Knowledge that would be immediately ingrained in the user's neural network, their mind.

But this all sounded too good to be true, right?

Well, there was a catch, of course.

Besides the limitations, a lot of money was needed-a special type, a currency only used in the Academy.

Academy Union Credits, or AUC for short.

Even after he received his first thousand AUC that came alongside his salary earlier this morning, the prices displayed along the rows and rows of shelves all around him spoke of a sad story.

A story of a broke professor.

'They called it a library, huh...'

Emir concluded his observation with that thought.

The place they entered no longer matched the title of a library, at least not one that he 'remembered.'

Its walls, enveloped in hues of somber gray and muted blue, cast a sense of quiet stillness. The shelves, towering and imposing, stretched upwards towards a ceiling lost in shadow, forming levels upon levels of knowledge waiting to be explored.

Amidst it all, wisps of digital fog drifted lazily, a result of the humming Link Points that adorned the shelves, adding an air of mystique to the surroundings.

The place itself seemed to breathe, pulsing with the ebb and flow of intellectual commerce, a faint scent of static and music, a result of the passing of visitors.

As they stepped closer, every shelf in their line of sight displayed holographic nameplates and price ranges at the beginning of each column.

They indicated what type of 'book' or series of 'books' related to certain subjects, skills, arts, abilities, specialization paths, or whatever else the rows behind them housed.

Now the rows themselves contained similar holograms, only way smaller in size.

They were above the Link Points, protruding 'cup holders' that remained hanging in the air, gleaming with a metallic sheen, each of their surfaces unique compared to the others, adorned with small, almost uncountable patterns of interconnected dark nodes. Similar to what Emir and his fellow professors had done not so long ago, all that the buyer would need to do is place their bracelet in the humming Link Point and send the required AUC After the transaction is confirmed, Brain, the system overseeing the Archive, would accept the transfer, and the data would be finally delivered to the buyer.

[How about that one?]

Step...

[No, we're better off checking that section.]

Step...

[Sure, sure.]

Step...

[Don't act sassy with me.]

Emir continued to lead them deeper into the archive, each step soft, almost unheard, drowned by the similarly soft music.

Visitors didn't need to browse the place as the duo were doing now since one could simply ask the blob near the entrance where to go but these two had more or less nothing in mind when they came to search for something to help fix Emir's growing problem.

It could be a Holy Relic, a Skill, an Art, or even an Ability.

So they walked around the rows that housed such 'books,' and on their way through the archive, they saw many nameplates for all types of knowledge imaginable.

{Life Element} {300+ AUC}

A column for Spell Weavers that healed.

{Nether's River} {300+ AUC}

Another for Reapers.

{Pilgrim To The East} {1200+ AUC}

That one contained information about all that headed east.

{Monsters} {500+ AUC}

Thankfully, Emir had already obtained all the information in that column, as it would've set

him back thousands upon thousands to gain what he knew now.

{Above Ten} {2000+ AUC}

Theories for specializations that weren't a part of the common ten.

{Arcane} {600+ AUC}

Arcanists 'lived' and 'died' there.

{The Paths} {200+ AUC}

The abilities Celestials would need to go after, ones that depended on their specializations, of

course.

{Abilities for Newbies.} {300+ AUC}

Quite self-explanatory-

[Wait...] Emir paused as he saw Lyra step towards a Link Point in the distance.

[You find something?]

[I did... maybe.]

Her hesitant words didn't deter his rising mood, as he followed after her with a calm smile.

They walked by many Link Points until they stopped at one that read:

{Indifference of Monarchs}

[Hm... It sounds familiar.]

Lyra looked back at Emir with a questioning gaze.

[How so?]

[I'm not sure... Anyways can you check it for me?]

She nodded, silently agreeing to ignore his random comment, and sent him the description of

the ability. {Indifference of Monarchs: When the ability is in effect, emotions are erased completely, and

the user becomes no more than a machine that strives for a goal set beforehand by said

user. Path unknown. Not advisable.}

Emir didn't take long to understand where Lyra was coming from, but...

[It won't help much.]

He didn't see it as useful.

It killed off emotions, which might have helped him during those corrupting dreams, but it

wasn't something that he needed.

In simple words, the ability was seen as a waste of a spot by him.

[I know...]

And Lyra agreed to his conclusion while adding:

[But we could start with that as a base.]

[Right, so we ask brain?]

[Yep.]

"Sure... Hey brain, come here for a bit."

A blob of green slime heeded his call and materialized between the two of them.

[You asked for me?]

Emir nodded and pointed at the Link Point of the ability that hovered above them.

"I did; I want you to help me with that one."

[Indifference of Monarchs is it?]

"Yeah, is there an ability similar to it? One closely related to the spirit?"

[S-Spirit... Authority... Clearance Level SS... EX is required.]

"Oi, stop spazzing out and say it straight." [Apologies, but I can't help with your request.]

He chuckled while shrugging his shoulders.

"Of course, of course, another roadblock..." [Again, my sincere apologies, Professor Emir.] "Don't worry about it; you can go now, thanks."

Emir shooed off the blob while turning his attention back to Lyra.

[So? What now?]

[We're done here and well... You'll have to teach tomorrow, so go, get preparing!]