19 Library.

Cleaning wasn't hard, we just had to place all the bodies in the space ring Alexia presented. As for cleaning the blood, Alexia took care of that, using the motion of her hand to clear everything from existence. I would surely love to perform a cool stunt like that in the future.

There is another thought I couldn't get rid of; who ordered the attempt on my life? I knew it was because of the crown, but not the exact person.

Anyway, I'm glad for their actions; they brought a lot of specimens my way. Now to the main topic, the study room was huge!

It was filled with archives of different topics and sizes—A place for a researcher like me.

"Should I read everything?" I asked curiously, scanning through the room.

"Can you read everything in a short time?" Alexia inquired, looking to me for a response.

I still find her reaction to what I did strange. This would be the right time to clear my doubts.

"Don't you find my act disgusting?" I inquired, looking at her face in search of any slight change in her expression.

"You mean, killing the assassins?" She said, not sure of what I meant.

"No, the way I killed them," I stated bluntly. If it were about just ending their lives, I wouldn't bother to ask.

"I don't find it disgusting." She replied. "I don't know where you came from, but to survive, we have to kill."

"What about my strength? Ain't you curious?" I asked, connecting the two questions.

"I'm curious. But, as a servant, I don't have the right to intrude on your matters." She uttered.

Twitch

Then why did you intrude when I ask you to stay out of the matter…?

"Loyalty?"

"No… more like reverence." She stated, her lips pausing for a second.

"Ha ha ha… Why would you have something like that for me?" I asked in a fit of laughter.

To my question, she shrugged, scanning through the room… for what? I couldn't tell.

"Can you read them in a short time? Or you don't feel like answering my question?" She inquired again, her eyes shimmering with a brilliant light.

I didn't feel bothered about them knowing what I can do; the more of my weaknesses and strengths they knew, the easier my work would be.

"I have something known as retentive memory," I said. "You know what that means, right?"

"I do. It's not that much of a big word," Alexia stated, heading for a shelf. "The stronger you get, the stronger your memory capacity becomes. Though exceptions exist."

"So my situation isn't strange. Even my Mom found it terrifying." I muttered, holding my chin.

"You said something?"

"No."

"Alright. You can start reading, I'd like to see your retentive capacity."

"Here I come."

I decided to start reading from the entrance, that way, avoiding any mix-ups. Reading was not a hard task for me. I just had to read and everything stuck like glue to my head.

The first record was about the structure of the fortress. The record claimed the wall was made from a combination of adamantium, vibranium, and other rare metals.

What a joke, the records I read at the Pagoda claimed those two elements can't mix. I even had a chance to test, though with a small quantity of these elements.

I'm not a narrow-minded person, so I'd not cancel out the fact that it might be possible. Maybe, I can find something useful to further my research on that matter here.

The rest of the record's content described the length, width, and breadth of the wall and nothing else… What a bore…?

Heading to the next record which was focused on the fortress' hierarchy. In Kynburgh, apart from the Royal family, no other Noble rank existed.

The Royal family was at the top of the food chain, then the military, followed by the individuals who lorded over Kynburgh's cities, merchants, then lastly… citizens.

Apart from the top four groups, the rest were considered citizens of the fortress.

After those details, the rest was just small stuff, describing their functions in the fortress.

Looking to the side, I sighted Alexia spying on me. She seemed intrigued by my method of reading. Not like I'll blame her; my method of reading was strange.

I speedily read through the records until I arrived at a specific one that talked of the past generations of rulers. I'm sure details of the 'Crown' would be contained in such a record.

The record talked about how the 'Crown' came into existence. Supposedly, the first ruler of this fortress sought to build a place that could stand against the world, also known as his enemies.

He walked through the lands, searching for the ingredients to make his dream come to fruition.

He allied with dwarves, mechanics, blacksmiths, gnomes, and other exotic creatures. He mostly associated with races intertwined with nature.

And together, they founded Kynburgh…

Wait! Wait!

Why was the story cut short, not when I was getting lost in its embrace… I thought, holding my head.

"Alexia!" I called out to my caretaker.

As she heard her name, Alexia slowly exited the place she stood to spy on me. "Any issue, Your Highness?"

"Do you know of any records that talk of the first ruler?" I inquired, raising the record in hand.

"Mmh. I think that's the only existing record of the first ruler."

Urggh! Life is so unfair. I should have seen this coming from a distance.

"You might still reconfirm." She commented, gesturing I kept reading.

I had confidence in my ability to read fast, but I had to concentrate and sacrifice some of my time, which I don't think I can for now, at least.

"Can I take breaks?" I inquired.

"It's not a must to read all the books. Just read the essential ones, and you would not need to come here again." She stated. "You will find a list of essential books on the table, do read them."

At least I was spared the trouble of spending too much time here. Time to get serious… I thought, cracking my neck.