*flip

  Yuzir's continent, the world's second-largest, takes on the elegant shape of a human heart, nestled amidst a rich tapestry of diverse races. Across its expansive landscapes, it unveils a realm brimming with enchantment and mystery.

  Among its varied inhabitants, the elves reside in the western region, boasting a dominion that rivals any other in scale.

  Their unique traits are as captivating as the twilight itself—emerald eyes shimmering with unearthly wisdom, locks of light green or golden hair that glisten like the sun's gentle touch, and graceful ears tapering to delicate points.

  Standing tall at six feet or more, these beings are adept in archery, renowned for their exquisite beauty, and revered as guardians of mana, a mystical energy coursing through their veins.

  *flip

  The Dryads, revered as the guardians of the Great Forest of Saviya, preside over a realm of unparalleled grandeur. 'Saviya,' the continent's oldest and largest forest, acts as a powerful natural barrier.

  Its tall trees and magical aura guard the northern, eastern, and southern regions from the mysterious western wilderness.

  Inside, enormous trees stand like giants, and a variety of creatures, from the smallest E-Ranks to the most formidable S-Ranks or higher, roam its twisting paths.

  This ancient sanctuary, filled with the essence of universal mana, hides itself in a mix of wonder and danger. Its dense forest makes it hard for regular folks to explore, with mysteries and dangers lurking at every corner.

  *flip

  The Beastfolks, also known as the Beastmen, is a captivating race that embodies both human and beastly qualities. They call the southernmost part of the continent their home, dwelling a number of tribes, ranging from the benevolent to the most malevolent.

  Each tribe possesses distinctive characteristics and hidden abilities shrouded in mystery, yet they all share a common thread of exceptional strength and heightened senses.

  *flip

  Dwarves, a small yet resilient race, typically stand no taller than four feet. They're known for their striking amber eyes and chestnut hair.

  Residing in the Northwest region of the continent, they occupy a modest but prosperous domain. Their homeland comprises rugged mountains, which serve as both a source of pride and the backbone of their economy.

  Dwarves are renowned for their fervent passion for mining, extracting a variety of valuable minerals such as diamonds, gold, iron, emeralds, rubies, and numerous other treasures. These riches are exported far and wide across the continent. Among them, the most extraordinary and rare are the coveted mana stones.

  Furthermore, the Dwarves boast an elite cadre of masters and legendary blacksmiths who are in high demand even in the distant human kingdom, their exceptional craftsmanship forging the mightiest weapons and armor known to the whole continent.

  *flip

  The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

  The Kingdom of L'Yuziria, a formidable land in the eastern expanse of the vast Yuzir continent, stands as the paramount realm ruled by humans.

  It dominates the continent, boasting the mightiest military force, comprised of thousands of valiant soldiers and knights, an elite corps of hundreds of mages, a select few revered Swordmasters, and the unparalleled Archmages.

  At the helm of L'Yuziria's power sits King Stuller Hannant L'Yuziria, a monarch revered as much for his wisdom and devotion to peace as for his unparalleled prowess on the battlefield.

  Since ascending to the throne, he has achieved the remarkable feat of uniting the diverse races that populate the continent.

  But it is in combat that King Stuller truly strikes fear and awe into the hearts of adversaries, for he is one of the few legendary S-Rank Swordmasters and a mage possessing mastery over eight elements.

  L'Yuzirian's Royalties possess distinct traits: golden hair and deep blue eyes. The darkness of their features indicates the purity of their bloodline.

  *flip

  The Northern Territory, a segment of the human kingdom, remains a neutral zone. It ranks as the third-largest region on the continent and is governed by the Grand Duke of the Friezz Family, known for their distinctive red eyes.

  *flip…

  *Flip.

  *FLIP!

  As I flipped through the next pages of the book in search of more information about the Friezz family, my efforts proved futile. Surprisingly, they possessed the briefest entry among the fundamental descriptions of the various races and aristocrats on Yuzir's continent.

  "Friezz family," I mused aloud, but the books remained immobile.

  In the world of fantasy, elves, dryads, dwarves, beastmen, mages, and knights are common characters, yet this books made no mention of dragons or those humans marked with black veins.

  'I suppose I'll have to extend my stay here.'

  After three hours in this immense library, it felt as though I had stepped into another world entirely. The shelves, as colossal as entire buildings, stretched upward beyond my vision's reach. Gazing too long risked a severely stiff neck. However, what truly left me in awe was the library's hidden magic.

  As I contemplated the kind of book I desired to read, a command was all it took. Books from the towering shelves obediently glided toward my table, stacking themselves into a neat pile.

  Each one, as if possessed by a sentient spirit, opened its pages with grace, revealing the precise information I sought. This remarkable convenience felt akin to surfing the boundless depths of the internet.

  The library was like heaven for book lovers, but it could be overwhelming for newcomers. Still, it was a savior for my inherently lazy ass. Just looking for the right book in the usual way would have taken all day. That idea alone was terrible.

  In this child Nazari's memories, he never saw any characters written inside these books. Yet strangely, I could easily read them as if they were written in ordinary English alphabet. This strange phenomenon could only be due to Arwin's magic.

  Arwin bestowed me the name Silverfrost for a special reason – to let me use the estate's enchantments easily. It acted as a key to activate runes hidden all over, each with its own purpose. For example, it let me control the flying books in the library, instantly transported around the Grand Dukedom, and access many other magical abilities.

  I couldn't help but wistfully think about how wonderful it would be if such magic existed on Earth, right?

  During my seven days living here, I couldn't help but notice the interesting dynamics of the estate. It boasted only a sparse complement of maids, butlers, and chefs, yet a considerable number of knights were in its employ.

  The maids were incredibly discreet; their subtle presence, or rather the lack thereof, highlighted the smooth operation of Arwin's grandeur.

  Even so, I wouldn't have realized Arwin was a Grand Duke if I hadn't overheard the occasional whispers among the maids. And during these curious days, Zarani still remained in a deep slumber.

  The memory of that ominous night flooded my mind, gripping me like an unshakeable nightmare. King L'Yuzaria, known for his professed devotion to his people, should never have authorized an assault on our peaceful village.

  The question lingered like a haunting specter: where did those mysterious knights come from? My only clue lay in the eerie presence of the black dragon they wielded. They bore no emblem on their armor, and their flag remained a puzzling mystery.

  "Nazari," Arwin's voice echoed through the library.

  He appeared abruptly, floating gracefully above the table. His child-like visage remained unchanged. By now, I had grown accustomed to his unexpected appearances, which had occurred countless times before.

  "...you always confined yourself to this library. Why don't we venture outside for some fresh air?"

  Arwin extended his hand, its jade-like hue gleaming, a silent invitation for me to hold it. He continued persuasively, as though he understood my hesitation: "Liza and May will look after Zarani; you needn't worry. They have proven to be entirely trustworthy."

  Liza and May were among the few maids in this place, individuals who consistently halted my attempts to assist or clean independently, simply because I was a guest specifically invited by the Grand Duke.

  "Then, where should we go?" I inquired.

  A warm smile graced Arwin's face as I clasped his hand. "The first stop is wherever you desire."

  I pondered this, realizing I had no particular destination in mind.

  A sudden gust of wind enveloped us, and I found ourselves surrounded by a shimmering cloud of tiny silver butterflies.

  My body began to rise gently, and the world around us gradually disappeared beneath a cascade of silver wings. In this ethereal transformation, I watched as the books returned to their shelves, leaving the table I had been sitting at empty.

  Through it all, I couldn't miss the sight of Leonard being forcefully ejected through the Library's door, his voice echoing defiantly.

  "Brother, don't leave me! I also want to go to your da--!"

  But Arwin swiftly silenced Leonard's voice with a flick of his finger.

  "Shall we?"

  "Oh?... Okay." I answered, confusedly.