strokinit Chapter 81: Staff Quarters
Chapter 81: Staff Quarters
Chapter 81: Staff QuartersAdrian walked slowly through the staff section of the Academy.
The air was quieter here, far from the bustling student quarters, with only the occasional rustle of leaves or distant murmur of instructors breaking the calm.
In Alchemy, he and Serena had been among the only five students to successfully complete the Stamina Recovery Potion, their shared cauldron yielding a flawless amber brew that earned a proud nod from Instructor Lira.
Most of the class had struggled. Some burned their Stallion Grass, others ground their Vigor Root too coarsely, and some proved stubborn and got the ingredients wrong. But the exercise had been a walk in a park for Adrian and Serena.
After class, he had lingered to ask Lira about pill making, hoping to learn about permanent solutions that outshone potions’ temporary effects.
Her response showed she was still angry: "Don’t ask me anything until you bring your cauldron, Adrian!"
Defeated, he had left without pressing further. But despite his soreness, Adrian had no intention of returning to his dorm just yet.
History class was underway already, but he had long decided to skip it. He wasn’t in dire need for contributions points anymore to waste his time on unnecessary classes.
Instead, his mind was fixed on the unrestricted library access Vice Dean Victoria had promised.
He was supposed to wait until his next meeting with Master Gorran to receive the passes and points, but patience wasn’t his strong suit today.
Tomorrow’s schedule was packed, so he had made up his mind to track down Gorran now, hoping to claim his reward and dive into the Academy’s knowledge troves.
As he navigated the staff quarters, Adrian scanned each house, hoping that Gorran would leave from any of them.
’Where is he?’
He had nearly circled the entire section, and was already on the verge of losing hope when a sharp voice cut through the air.
"Hey, boy! What are you doing here?"
Adrian turned to see a woman striding towards him with a face twisted in irritation. She was middle-aged, with cropped brown hair and a stern posture.
He didn’t recognize her, but her expression suggested she wasn’t in the mood for pleasantries.
Adrian kept his tone serious but respectful. "I’m
Adrian nodded, offering a small smile as he turned to leave. He made his way out of the staff quarters with the sack slung over his shoulder.
Finding a secluded corner behind a cluster of trees, he glanced around to ensure no one was watching, then tossed the sack into his [Inventory].
The weight vanished, leaving him free. ’Much better,’ he thought, rolling his shoulders.
As he walked, his mind turned to his next step. The Academy housed two libraries, each with its own treasures.
The main library, located in the Year 2 section held the most knowledge, its upper floors were even restricted to most second-years and some could only be accessible by the staff.
The other was the Year 1 library, smaller but still rich with foundational works. He’d already scoured its general sections during his first weeks, but the magic section still remained untouched to him.
He paused, weighing his options. The main library tempted him with its promise of cutting-edge knowledge, but the Year 1 library’s was less likely to overwhelm him immediately.
’Start with the basics,’ he told himself, sighing. ’It’s better to build from the ground up.’
With his decision made, he set off for the Year 1 library.
***
After Adrian entered the Year 1 library, he walked to the clerk at the entrance and got his badge checked before he was allowed to continue access.
The staircase was far ahead in the room, and a second table sat at its base, manned by a another clerk.
Her piercing gaze locked onto Adrian as he neared and her eyes narrowing at his normal clothes.
"The upper floors are restricted to Mages," she said before he could do anything.
Adrian didn’t spare her a word, reaching into his pocket and pulling out the golden card Gorran had given him and passing it over to her.
The clerk’s skepticism faltered as she took the card, her fingers tracing the engraved signature; Vice Dean Victoria’s.
Her mouth parted slightly, and she glanced at Adrian, then back at the card with disbelief.
"Your badge please," she said in a more quiet, almost cautious tone.
Adrian handed it over, and she cross-checked the details, her brow furrowing as the information aligned. She returned both with a flush of embarrassment.
"My apologies," she muttered. "You may go up."
Adrian slipped the card back into his pocket, giving her a curt nod before ascending the stairs, his hands casually tucked in his pockets.
As he reached the magic section, his breath caught. The upper floor was a marvel... far grander than the general section below.
A few Mages glanced up from their studies, their eyes lingering on the unfamiliar Knight in their domain.
Adrian ignored their gaze and approached a nearby shelf to get to work. He reached out to it, allowing his fingers to brush over the cover, and his [Tech Core] pinged with a familiar notification.
[Assimilate ’Fundamentals of Fire Mana’?]
[Yes/No]
Adrian was about to select yes internally, before a firm hand gripped his shoulder... a touch that was too easy to figure.
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