Before him stood a small, old building barely more than an apartment, if he were being honest. Two guards stood on either side of the entrance, and in front of the building was a narrow counter where a woman sat casually, flipping through a magazine-like scroll.
Tarkan blinked.
This was supposed to be the famed Awakening Center?
He had at least expected some grandeur. A line of people entering and exiting, glowing stones hovering around the entrance, grand statues or something. But this? This looked like a backstreet admin office.
Coming to think of it, he didn't know anything about Awakening in the first place. Or much of anything, really. No basic knowledge of the world. No cultural customs. No history. Nothing. And the more he thought of that, the more it began to eat at him.
As if the universe had heard his inner cry of frustration.
Across the street stood a large, towering building. One of the few in the area that actually looked impressive. People were moving in and out of it, bustling with activity, carrying scrolls, talking in hushed tones. The place was full of presence. That's what he had expected the Awakening Center to look like.
But no, carved into a large stone slab above the building's doors, in bold, unmistakable letters, was a single word:
LIBRARY.
Tarkan felt his eye twitch.
He wanted to scream with happiness.
Of course.
A library.
He was tired of this ignorance. Tired of feeling like everyone else around him had access to knowledge he didn't. Knowledge that came naturally to others but was a foreign language to him.
It was still early morning. The air was cool, the streets not yet fully awake.
Turning to Ricky, he asked, "What time does the Awakening start?"
Ricky blinked and stared at him, eyebrows raised like he'd just asked how to breathe.
"What do you mean what time?" he said, visibly confused. "As long as you're over sixteen and not a criminal, you can awaken anytime."
Tarkan made a soft "ooooh" sound, the realization dawning on him. No wonder the building looked deserted, it wasn't a scheduled event.
he didn't ask any more questions after that. He had already made up his mind. He turned and walked across the street, heading straight into the library.
Upon entering the library inside was quiet. The scent of aged paper and polished wood filled the air. Rows upon rows of shelves stretched into the distance, some even climbing up the walls, stacked so high that ladders had been installed along the ends. The place was vast easily larger than it looked from the outside.
Near the entrance sat a young woman, maybe around his age. She had her hair tied in a neat bun and was scribbling notes in a thick ledger.
Tarkan approached. "Can you direct me to books about the history and the universe in general?"
The girl looked up, initially uninterested. Then she saw him.
A young man, tall and poised, wearing simple white clothing that resembled a martial arts robe. Half his face was covered with a veil-like cloth. But what truly caught her attention were his eyes, icy blue, clear, sharp, and oddly calming.
She offered a warm smile. "Sir, for that, you'll need to pay six silver coins. That grants you access to the entire library for the day."
Tarkan nodded and turned to Ricky.
"Lend me six silver. I'll pay you back."
"I've got you, But… honestly, there's no need. I could just explain it to you myself. You'd be surprised how much I know."
Tarkan didn't even hesitate. "That's not the only reason I'm paying. I'm looking for something specific."
Ricky shrugged. "Ah. That makes sense."
He handed over the six silver coins without protest.
And you don't need to pay me back we brothers" Which he added after handing the money.
Shaking his head with no further comment
Tarkan gave them to the librarian, who seem to register the transaction .
"Can I have your ID to register your entry?" she asked politely.
Tarkan sighed. This was the third time today he'd been asked for an ID and he still had no clue what that even meant.
"I don't have one," he replied.
The girl paused, surprised. Then, noticing the temporary visitor badge on his chest, nodded in understanding.
"Alright, sir. Then I'll just need your full name."
"Tarkan."
"I mean your full name, sir."
"Just Tarkan."
A beat of silence. Then she gave a light chuckle and nodded.
"Okay. Just Tarkan."
She scribbled something in her ledger, then tore off a small slip of paper.
"Here you go. This is the section you'll want to check out," she said, handing him the paper.
As she returned to her writing, Tarkan turned to leave but paused when he remembered Ricky. He turned to check and sure enough, Ricky was still there, now at the counter negotiating.
Apparently, he didn't have enough silver.
Ricky was pleading with the girl, "Come on, just one silver short and a couple of copper. Can't you let it slide?"
"No exceptions," the girl replied flatly, though not unkindly.
With a dejected expression, Ricky turned and walked back to Tarkan. "Sorry, Tarkan. My money's just a bit short. I won't be able to join you."
Tarkan couldn't help but wonder why Ricky was trying so hard to be close to him. But in the end, it didn't matter to him.
Whatever his motive, that didn't change the fact that Ricky had helped him, even if it seemed insignificant but to Tarkan, someone who had once starved and scrounged for scraps in his previous life, even small kindnesses were engraved deep into memory.
He'd never forget that.
Breaking from his thoughts, he said, "Don't worry. Go complete your Awakening without me. I know where the venue is now. If you're done and I'm not, don't wait. If fate wills it, we'll meet again."
He turned to go, but Ricky called out, "Wait!"
He rushed back to the librarian and borrowed a pen and paper. After scribbling something quickly, he handed the note to Tarkan.
"These are my ID digits. When you buy your bracelet, make sure you add me first to your friend list."
Tarkan took the slip and folded it carefully, slipping it into his trouser pocket. "Okay. I will."
With that, Ricky gave him a grin, turned, and jogged out of the library, likely headed straight for his Awakening.
Shaking his head, Tarkan turned back to his mission.
He followed the directions on the paper through shelf after shelf until he reached the section labeled History . Books lined the walls some massive and bound in worn leather and arcane script, others new and printed with shimmering inks.
He scanned the shelves slowly. Titles jumped out at him:
"The Rise and Fall of the Sealed Era"
"Universal Ascension: A Theory of Dimensions"
"The Factions and Their Doctrines beliefs"
And plenty other books.
It was overwhelming. He didn't even know where to start.
So, he did what anyone would: he chose randomly.
He picked a book from the shelf, found a quiet table, and began to read.
Then another.
And another.
Hours passed.
His expression changed with every page fascination, shock, awe. He learned about world beyond this one.
He read about legendary awakenings, divine bloodlines, and general facts.
He read, and read, and read, until the world outside darkened and the only glow left was from the enchanted lamps hanging quietly overhead.
He was lost, utterly consumed by the mystery, and the vastness of the magical place he now belonged to.