Aurelion — Golden Palace Hotel
The morning arrived quietly.
Sunlight slipped through the curtains of Noah's suite, illuminating the neatly arranged furniture and the black coat hanging beside the wardrobe.
Noah opened his eyes and remained in bed for a few moments.
He had spent much of the previous evening reading the documents provided by Duke Ashford.
The Ancient Dragonheart Sanctuary was certainly interesting, but there was no reason to hurry towards the Frozen Crown Mountains.
He had barely explored the capital.
Besides, he wanted to understand the world he had arrived in.
"Today, the library."
He got up, washed, changed his clothes, and ordered a simple breakfast through the hotel's service.
After eating, he checked his belongings.
His spatial ring contained his books, equipment, historical documents, and several treasures acquired during his journey.
Everything was organized.
Satisfied, he left the hotel.
The Grand Library of Aurelion
The Grand Library stood in the central section of the Royal District, although it was open to registered scholars and ordinary visitors.
It was one of the oldest public knowledge institutions in Valtherion.
Its main building was constructed from white marble, with a large dome and six towers surrounding the central structure.
A beautiful garden extended around the library.
Students, scholars, merchants, and travelers entered through the enormous front entrance.
Noah approached the reception desk.
A librarian greeted him.
"Good morning. Welcome to the Grand Library."
"Good morning. I'd like to register as a visitor."
"Certainly. Do you have a library membership?"
"No."
The librarian explained the available options.
Grand Library Membership
- Daily Visitor Pass: 2 Silver Coins.
- Monthly Membership: 5 Gold Coins.
- Annual Membership: 40 Gold Coins.
- Research Membership: Requires academic credentials.
Noah selected the annual membership.
The librarian prepared a small identification card.
"Your membership allows access to our general collections, historical archives available to the public, geographical records, and several research halls."
"Are there any restrictions?"
"Some historical documents are restricted due to preservation requirements. Certain royal records also require special authorization."
Noah nodded.
"That's fine."
He paid the fee and received his membership card.
The Main Hall
The interior was considerably larger than Noah had expected.
Several floors surrounded the central hall, connected by elegant staircases and magical elevators.
Bookshelves extended along the walls.
Small reading tables occupied the open areas, while private study rooms were arranged along the upper floors.
The atmosphere was peaceful.
Unlike the Adventurers Association, nobody was shouting about quests or monster sightings.
People were quietly reading, writing, or discussing research.
Noah liked it.
"Quite a nice place."
He walked towards the information desk.
A young librarian with brown hair looked up.
"Can I help you find something?"
"I'm interested in the history and geography of Aetherion."
"That's a broad subject."
"I have time."
The librarian smiled.
"Then I recommend starting with the World Geography section. It's on the second floor. The historical collections are on the fourth."
"Thank you."
Noah followed the directions.
Second Floor — World Geography
The geographical section contained thousands of books, maps, travel records, and regional surveys.
Noah began with a general world atlas.
He found a large illustrated map showing the known continents.
THE KNOWN CONTINENTS OF AETHERION
1. Elarion — Central Continent.
2. Vhaldris — Northern Continent.
3. Solmara — Southern Continent.
4. Kaelthar — Western Continent.
5. Shinkai — Eastern Continent.
6. Nymoria — The Great Oceanic Continent.
The map also showed several smaller landmasses, island chains, and floating territories.
However, large portions of the world were marked as unexplored.
Noah examined the map carefully.
Aetherion was much larger than the territory represented by the Valtherion Kingdom.
The kingdom itself occupied only a small portion of the Central Continent.
Even the neighboring nations represented relatively minor political powers on the global map.
He picked up another book.
Aetherion: Geography and Civilization
The first chapters discussed the world's natural environment.
Massive mountain ranges divided continents. Enormous rivers crossed fertile plains, while several forests covered areas larger than entire kingdoms.
The oceans contained underwater civilizations, sea kingdoms, and enormous magical ecosystems.
Some islands floated above the clouds because of unusual mana concentrations.
Others were constantly moving through the oceans.
Noah turned another page.
There were also references to regions where ordinary geographical laws behaved differently.
Certain forests expanded or contracted according to magical seasons.
Some deserts experienced permanent spatial distortions.
A few mountain ranges were surrounded by magical storms that had continued for thousands of years.
Noah leaned back.
"There's quite a lot to explore."
He wasn't disappointed.
In fact, the more he learned, the more he wanted to travel.
He spent another hour examining regional maps.
The Northern Continent
The northern continent, Vhaldris, was known for enormous mountain ranges, frozen plains, ancient forests, and dangerous magical creatures.
Several powerful kingdoms occupied its southern regions, while the northern interior remained largely unexplored.
The Southern Continent
Solmara contained vast deserts, tropical forests, ancient river civilizations, and several large beastkin territories.
It also possessed some of the oldest recorded human settlements.
The Western Continent
Kaelthar was famous for volcanic regions, underground kingdoms, ancient battlefields, and several demon territories.
Its western coastline contained numerous trading cities.
The Eastern Continent
Shinkai contained enormous forests, mountain civilizations, floating islands, and several ancient magical nations.
The Oceanic Continent
Nymoria was surrounded by enormous seas and contained underwater kingdoms, island civilizations, and several mysterious deep-ocean regions.
Noah closed the atlas.
He had learned more about Aetherion in the last few hours than during his entire journey from Silverbrook.
He decided to purchase a copy.
[Purchase Record]
- Complete Illustrated Atlas of Aetherion ×1 — 85 Gold Coins.
- Six Continents: Regional Overview ×1 — 24 Gold Coins.
- Major Kingdoms and Empires ×1 — 32 Gold Coins.
- Oceanic Civilizations and Sea Kingdoms ×1 — 18 Gold Coins.
Total: 159 Gold Coins.
He stored the books.
Fourth Floor — Historical Archives
The historical section was quieter.
Tall shelves contained books covering different periods of Aetherion's history.
Noah browsed through the titles.
There were books about the First Age, the Age of Ancient Civilizations, the Dragon Era, the Era of Great Kingdoms, and the current age.
He selected a general historical reference book.
A Complete History of Aetherion — Volume I
According to the book, historians divided known history into several broad periods.
- The Primordial Age.
- The Age of Ancient Civilizations.
- The Ancient Dragon Era.
- The Age of Great Catastrophes.
- The Era of Rebuilding.
- The Modern Age.
The author warned that these divisions were based on incomplete surviving records.
Different civilizations used different calendars, and some ancient records contradicted one another.
Noah appreciated that detail.
History wasn't always as clean as the books made it appear.
He continued reading.
The Primordial Age
Very little reliable information survived from this period.
The oldest myths described the emergence of the world, the formation of the continents, and the appearance of the first forms of life.
Several ancient cultures mentioned beings that existed before the modern gods.
However, historians disagreed about whether these accounts described actual entities or symbolic representations of natural forces.
The Age of Ancient Civilizations
This period saw the rise of several advanced civilizations.
Some possessed extraordinary magical knowledge, while others developed sophisticated technologies.
The First Architects appeared in several archaeological records from this period.
Noah paused.
The First Architects.
He read carefully.
According to the public records, the First Architects were an ancient civilization known for their exceptional understanding of spatial structures, energy conversion, dimensional engineering, and large-scale magical infrastructure.
Their ruins had been discovered across multiple continents.
However, their actual origin and eventual disappearance remained unknown.
The book mentioned several known sites.
- An underground facility near the Northern Valtherion region.
- A ruined transportation network beneath the Eastern Continent.
- An abandoned research complex in the Western volcanic territories.
- Several unidentified structures beneath the southern deserts.
Noah quietly noted the locations.
He already possessed information from Greywatch, but the additional references were useful.
He didn't need to investigate everything immediately.
There was plenty of time.
The Ancient Dragon Era
This section was considerably shorter.
The surviving records described dragons as one of the dominant races of the ancient world.
They possessed powerful physical bodies, extraordinary magical abilities, and long lifespans.
Different dragon clans occupied territories across several continents.
Some maintained isolated kingdoms, while others formed alliances with ancient civilizations.
The records also mentioned several dragon lineages.
- Ancient Flame Dragons.
- Frost Dragons.
- Storm Dragons.
- Earth Dragons.
- Celestial Dragons.
- Abyssal Dragons.
- Primordial Dragon Lineages.
Noah examined the final category.
The book contained only a few references to Primordial Dragon Lineages.
Most surviving descriptions were incomplete.
One passage stated:
"Among the oldest dragon bloodlines, certain lineages were associated with the origin of elemental forces and the earliest formations of dragonkind. Their historical records remain fragmented."
Noah read the passage twice.
It was interesting, but it didn't tell him much about his own Primordial Origin Dragon bloodline.
He closed the book and returned it to the shelf.
A Conversation With a Scholar
After several hours of reading, Noah decided to take a break.
He walked towards a small courtyard inside the library.
Several tables were placed beneath large trees.
A few scholars were sitting there, discussing their research.
Noah chose an empty table and sat down.
A middle-aged man sitting nearby noticed the book in his hand.
"Studying the Ancient Dragon Era?"
Noah looked towards him.
"Yes."
The man smiled.
"An interesting subject. I'm Professor Edmund Hale, a historical researcher."
"Noah."
Edmund glanced at his horns, then returned his attention to the book.
"Are you particularly interested in dragon history?"
"I've been travelling and came across several historical references."
"Then you've chosen an interesting field. Dragon history is full of contradictions."
Noah nodded.
"Why is that?"
"Most surviving records were written by other races. Very few complete dragon documents survived the ancient wars."
Edmund took a sip from his cup.
"Even the dates are disputed. Some historians believe the Dragon Era lasted several thousand years longer than our current estimates."
Noah listened.
"Have you ever studied actual dragon ruins?"
"Only through archaeological reports. I've never visited one personally."
"Do you know where the largest collections of dragon records are preserved?"
Edmund thought for a moment.
"The Elven Kingdom of Elaria possesses an ancient archive. The dwarves also maintain historical records beneath their mountain capital. But if you want information about the Ancient Dragon Era, the oldest collections are probably in the central archives of the Sacred Empire of Solaria."
Noah nodded.
"That's useful."
"Are you planning to travel there?"
"Eventually."
They continued talking for a while.
The conversation was relaxed, and Edmund didn't ask intrusive questions about Noah's identity.
He was simply pleased to meet someone interested in history.
Before leaving, Edmund recommended a few books.
Recommended Historical Books
- The Ancient Races of Aetherion.
- The Lost Kingdoms of the Central Continent.
- A Comparative Study of Ancient Magical Civilizations.
- The Great Catastrophes: Historical Evidence and Modern Theories.
Noah wrote down the titles.
"Thank you for the recommendations."
"You're welcome."
The Restricted Historical Collection
Later in the afternoon, Noah returned to the fourth floor.
He noticed a section separated by a magical barrier.
A sign explained that the area contained restricted historical documents.
A librarian approached him.
"Are you interested in the restricted collection?"
"Yes. What are the requirements?"
"Access is generally granted to recognized scholars, accredited researchers, and visitors with authorization from an approved institution."
Noah presented his Royal Mage Academy guest card.
The librarian examined it.
"This card grants access to selected research materials. However, the deeper historical archive requires additional authorization."
"That's understandable."
The librarian checked the available records.
"You may access the public archaeological reports and selected historical reproductions. Original documents are not available without special permission."
Noah nodded.
He wasn't going to make a fuss over it.
The librarian allowed him to enter the authorized section.
Inside, the books were arranged carefully in protective cases.
He examined several reports about ancient ruins.
One document described a buried city discovered beneath the southern deserts.
Another discussed a ruined magical observatory on the Eastern Continent.
A third mentioned an ancient underground structure near the Northern Mountains.
Noah found the northern report particularly interesting.
It described an expedition that had discovered several stone pillars with dragon inscriptions.
The location was not identified, but the estimated region was close to the area mentioned in Duke Ashford's journal.
He copied the reference number into his notebook.
That was enough for today.
A Quiet Evening in Aurelion
The sun was setting when Noah finally left the library.
He had spent almost the entire day reading.
His mind was full of new information, but he didn't feel tired.
He walked through the nearby streets and stopped at a bookstore.
The shop was small compared to the Grand Library, but its collection was carefully selected.
Noah purchased a few more books.
[Additional Purchases]
- Ancient Racial Customs and Traditions ×1 — 14 Gold Coins.
- A Traveler's Guide to the Central Continent ×1 — 22 Gold Coins.
- Magical Flora and Fauna of Aetherion ×1 — 30 Gold Coins.
- Historical Calendars and Ancient Dating Systems ×1 — 17 Gold Coins.
Total: 83 Gold Coins.
He stored them in his ring and continued walking.
The streets were becoming crowded as people returned from work.
Merchants were closing their shops, magical street lamps were turning on, and carriages were transporting passengers throughout the city.
Noah passed a small public square.
A group of musicians was performing near a fountain.
Several children were running around while their parents watched.
It was an ordinary evening.
And Noah enjoyed it.
He wasn't constantly looking for enemies, treasures, or dangerous ruins.
Sometimes, simply experiencing a new world was enough.
Personal Dimension — Night
After returning to the hotel, Noah entered his Personal Dimension.
Archivist-07 was waiting near the research laboratory.
"Welcome back, Master."
"Anything new?"
"The First Architects Technology Fragment analysis has progressed. An additional 4% of its data has been recovered."
"Good. What about the Ancient Dragonheart Fragment?"
"Still under examination. Its spatial imprint contains several overlapping coordinate patterns. More time is required."
"Take your time."
"Understood."
Noah walked towards the lake.
He sat on the grass and opened the books purchased during the day.
The illustrated atlas was particularly useful.
He studied the continental map for a while, examining the distances between major regions.
Aetherion was enormous.
Even if he travelled continuously for hundreds of years, there would still be countless places left to discover.
He smiled.
"Looks like I've got plenty to do."
He closed the atlas.
[SUPREME DRAGON SYSTEM]
Daily Reward Available.
Would you like to claim today's reward?
[CLAIM]
Noah selected CLAIM.
[Daily Reward Received!]
- Evolution Points ×2,500.
- System Gold Coins ×40,000.
- Supreme Mana Recovery Potion ×3 Bottles.
- Advanced Skill Development Scroll ×1.
[Updated Resources]
Evolution Points: 100,000.
System Gold Coins: 1,842,000.
Noah stored the rewards.
He examined the Skill Development Scroll briefly.
It could improve the proficiency of one learned skill, but he decided to save it for later.
He had several techniques that would benefit from more practice.
Noah stood up and looked across the peaceful landscape of his Personal Dimension.
Tomorrow, he might visit the Royal District.
There were still many things he wanted to see in Aurelion.
But tonight, he decided to rest.
For once, there were no urgent missions, dangerous monsters, or ancient doors waiting to be opened.
Just a quiet evening in a world that was slowly becoming familiar.
End of Chapter 20