Unwan slowly rose from where he stood, drew a deep breath, and prepared to take his first step forward. But just then, he realized something important. Something his mind had failed to grasp.
'Wait. Why should I believe a dream in the first place? No one can say whether it's some kind of prophecy or just meaningless nonsense.'
— That's right. The dream was strange, so strange it didn't even feel like it reflected reality. But… but I don't know whether any of it will truly happen or not. I'll go and see for myself anyway. There's nothing else for me to do here.
As Unwan said this, it felt as though he was trying to convince himself that he wanted to go there, dressing desire up as logic. Yet he knew better. He knew this was nothing more than self-deception.
'Yes, all of that may be true. But why are you hiding your hope of obtaining grimoire even from yourself? I am you. What kind of fool denies his own intentions and lies to himself?'
Unwan let out a quiet sigh and released the thoughts inside him in a low murmur. It didn't matter. No one was paying him any attention anyway.
— Ah… what am I supposed to do? This hated thing called hope, it can't be killed. This hope reflects my pain, my thoughts, my purpose.
His voice began to rise, slowly, as if the bitterness inside him was finally awakening.
— No one notices me. No one cares me. No one sees me as a friend. Even my name, even my fate, it's all like this. Why? Why me? Why not a noble's child? Why not a priest, or a farmer. Why Unwan?
Tears threatened to spill from his eyes.
But Unwan refused to let them fall.
— This hope — my chance of having a grimoire is my hope, my life, my faith, my goal. It's everything. There is no other possibility for me. No one ever worries about an orphan no one likes. But Saint Unwan, even if all people don't like him, his service to the kingdom, his wealth, his power… those will command attention.
Unwan fell silent for a moment.
Within his mind, the other voice was about to speak again.
'But...'
***
Some time later, a boy with a serious expression approached a man.
— Excuse me… where is the nearest Grimoire Library?
The slightly older man, who appeared to be from a modest household, flinched at the question. From his headwear to his shoes, everything he wore was brown; his shirt was white, and around his neck hung a strange red cord-like accessory. To Unwan, he looked like someone worn down by exhaustion, carrying a heavy air about him.
'This looks like noble attire… Torin wore something similar, Unwan thought.'
Anyone would have been startled by such an encounter. The boy's clothes were old and torn, and the cuts on his body, seven long scratches, clearly left by claws were stood out starkly. His gaze was serious, almost indifferent. Dark circles framed his eyes, as if they had been flooded with tears countless times before, and the upper part of his clothing was damp, as though confirming it.
After a second or two of silence, the man spoke, as if he hadn't fully processed the question.
— I'm sorry… what did you say?
Unwan tilted his head slightly.
— Could you tell me where the nearest Grimoire Library is?
The man paused, as if the information had momentarily slipped from his memory. Thankfully, it returned to him after about ten seconds.
— Go straight down this road until you reach the notice board. Then turn left. The grand, castle-like building you see ahead, that will be the library.
'Strange… is a library really as large as a castle?'
— Excuse me, may I ask one more thing?
The man with graying hair and beard clearly sighed inwardly; he had already begun to walk away, as if hoping the conversation would end quickly.
— Of course. Go ahead.
— What is the name of the library?
— The Greater Spell Library.
'Just as I thought.'
— Thank you.
— Ah… you're welcome.
The Greater Spell Library was one of the Five Great Libraries and was considered the oldest among them. Since grimoire libraries were not built by human hands, these structures had stood tall for millennia. Unlike ordinary libraries, these five possessed unique properties of their own.
The one Unwan was heading toward stood at the very heart of the Shining Kingdom.
As he thought about this, the sun had already descended toward the city gates, and life in the capital had fully awakened. The streets were crowded, carriages moving swiftly and chaotically. Unwan paid none of it any attention and continued walking along a quieter path.
His thoughts returned to the argument he'd had with himself not long ago, something he desperately wanted to forget. But the more he tried to push it away, the more insistently it demanded his attention.
"Did I really fail to overcome myself, even after arguing like that? Can you just stay quiet for once?"
'And why should I? You proved every point, yes, but that doesn't mean you've defeated me. We'll see what happens if you leave that place without a grimoire.'
"I'm not going there to get a grimoire…"
'Then why is that undying hope inside you glowing again?'
That question unsettled him. No matter how hard he tried, hope truly was immortal.
So he chose silence, focusing only on walking calmly toward his destination.
Soon, the notice board the man had mentioned came into view.
Several sheets of paper were pinned to it. Some decorated with hand-drawn illustrations, others with elegant calligraphy. What caught Unwan's eye first was the paper itself. He had never seen paper so clean, so white. The ones he used were always yellowed.
The one that drew his attention most bore the image of a grand castle. It was a recruitment notice.
Beneath the bright, luxurious illustration, the text read:
{Honored citizens.
We are delighted to witness the continued growth of our kingdom, as our people prosper both materially and spiritually. It is a source of pride to see our youth devote their strength and talents to the peace of our land, while also opening new paths across various fields.
However, regrettably, these developments have led to a decline in interest toward working within Grimoire Libraries. Many now regard this profession with indifference. Yet this work...}
Unwan began to lose interest.
'First they exaggerate their homeland. Then they call stagnation 'progress' and only afterward arrive at the point. Why not just say what you want from the start?'
Only then did he realize this notice consisted of two full pages, nearly two and a half is most of which contained little more than praise for the importance of the job. Skipping ahead, Unwan finally found the part he cared about.
{…If these words have stirred even a small spark of interest within you, we invite you to the Greater Spell Library, located in the center of Vesrendi, the capital of the Shining Kingdom.
Taking into account the diverse conditions of our people, individuals of all social classes are welcome to apply as voluntary workers. To ensure convenience, the library will provide meals, water, lodging, and even work attire.}