Day One
The morning after receiving his library authorization, Aeon had thrown himself into his studies with renewed intensity. Instructor Maya's lessons became more complex as she introduced compound symbols and basic sentence structure, and Aeon found himself absorbing the material with a hunger that surprised even him.
By midday, he was reading simple sentences with only occasional assistance, his understanding of the phonetic principles allowing him to decode unfamiliar words through systematic analysis. The other children in his class watched with mixtures of admiration and bewilderment as he progressed through exercises that typically required weeks to master.
"Remarkable," Maya had murmured during one of her evaluations of his work. "Your grasp of linguistic patterns is quite exceptional, Aeon."
The afternoon training session with Master Kellor had been more challenging. Aeon had attempted to create multiple infinity barriers simultaneously, hoping to understand whether his energy consumption scaled linearly with the number of active manifestations.
The results had been enlightening and exhausting in equal measure. Two small barriers required roughly three times the energy of a single larger one, while three barriers had left him completely drained within minutes. The relationship wasn't simply additive—multiple manifestations created exponential energy demands that quickly exceeded his current capabilities.
Complexity multiplies cost, he had noted before collapsing into bed that evening. Simple applications are sustainable, but advanced techniques will require significantly improved energy reserves.
Day Two
Maya had introduced reading comprehension exercises, presenting the class with short passages that required interpretation rather than simple recognition. Aeon found himself not just understanding the words but grasping the underlying meanings, cultural references, and implied context that gave the writing its full significance.
"Today we'll practice with a traditional children's story," Maya had announced, distributing copies of a tale about a young farmer who discovered a magical spring. "Read the passage carefully, then write a summary of what happened."
Aeon had completed the exercise in half the time required by his classmates, his summary demonstrating not just comprehension but analytical thinking about the story's themes and moral lessons.
During attribute training, he had focused on energy efficiency rather than complex manifestations. By creating smaller barriers and maintaining them for extended periods, he began to understand the baseline energy cost of his infinity attribute. A simple rectangular barrier roughly one meter square could be sustained for approximately fifteen minutes before exhaustion set in—a significant improvement from his initial experiments.
Sustainable applications are possible, he had realized with satisfaction. But only if I choose my manifestations carefully and avoid overextension.
Day Three
The third day had brought advanced reading materials. Maya had provided him with actual books—simple texts designed for young adults but containing complex sentence structures and sophisticated vocabulary that pushed his comprehension abilities to their limits.
By afternoon, Aeon was reading fluently at what Maya assessed as "average adult village level," a remarkable achievement for someone who had been illiterate just days earlier.
"I believe you're ready for independent study," Maya had told him with genuine pride. "Your learning rate has been quite extraordinary."
The final training session had been dedicated to precision rather than power. Aeon had practiced creating barriers of specific shapes and sizes, learning to manifest exactly what he intended rather than relying on default configurations. The control required intense concentration, but the energy costs were manageable when he avoided ambitious designs.
Skill development is as important as raw power, he had concluded. Precise control allows for efficient energy use.
Now, on the fourth morning since receiving his authorization, Aeon finally felt ready to make productive use of the library's resources. His reading skills were sufficient for serious research, and his understanding of his own limitations would help him manage his time effectively.
The Millhaven Public Library occupied a substantial stone building near the civic center, its facade decorated with carved symbols representing various branches of knowledge. Large windows allowed natural light to illuminate the interior, and the wooden doors were heavy enough to suggest both security and permanence.
Aeon presented his authorization letter to the librarian at the front desk, a man who commanded attention through sheer intellectual presence rather than physical stature.
Oswald Merchant was perhaps fifty years old, with silver-gray hair that suggested distinguished experience rather than mere aging. His face was lean and thoughtful, with sharp blue eyes that seemed to catalog and assess everything they encountered. Wire-rimmed spectacles perched on his nose, and his hands showed the careful precision of someone who spent his days handling valuable documents.
He wore simple brown robes that marked him as a scholar rather than a craftsman, and his movements carried the unhurried confidence of someone completely comfortable in his domain. When he spoke, his voice held the measured cadence of someone accustomed to precise communication.
"Ah, our newest student," Oswald said, examining the authorization letter with professional thoroughness. "Instructor Maya speaks very highly of your learning progress. Most impressive for someone beginning so recently."
He knows my background, Aeon realized. Probably knows more about my situation than he's indicating.
"I'm grateful for the opportunity to study here," Aeon replied politely. "I'm hoping to learn about the broader world beyond Millhaven."
Oswald's sharp eyes studied him with obvious interest. "History, geography, political structures—that sort of foundational knowledge?"
"Exactly. I want to understand how different regions and kingdoms relate to each other, what major powers exist, and how someone might navigate the world safely."
Practical information for someone planning to leave eventually, Oswald noted silently. Intelligent approach.
"An excellent foundation for any young person's education," the librarian agreed aloud. "I'd recommend starting with our general history collection—third aisle, middle section. Look for 'The Myriad Worlds: A Comprehensive Guide to Known Realms' by Scholar Aldric Thorne. It provides an overview of the various worlds where human civilization has established itself, as well as the other species we share the cosmos with."
Oswald rose from his desk and led Aeon to the indicated section, his movements efficient despite the unhurried pace. "This volume covers the major inhabited worlds, their dominant species, governing systems, and the portal networks that connect them. Essential reading for understanding our place in the broader cosmos."
He pulled a thick leather-bound tome from the shelf, its pages showing the wear of frequent consultation. "Additionally, I'd suggest 'Terran Dominion: Politics and Power on the Human Homeworld' by Royal Historian Elena Brightwater. Since we live on Terran, the primary human world, understanding its political structures is crucial for practical navigation."
The second book was smaller but denser, filled with maps and detailed descriptions of the kingdoms and empires that controlled various regions of their planet.
"Finally," Oswald added, retrieving a third volume, "'Chronicles of Inter-Realm Conflicts' by General Marcus Ironhold provides military and political context for the past two decades of cross-world relations. Understanding how different worlds interact—and conflict—is essential for grasping current power dynamics."
Multi-world civilization, Aeon thought with growing fascination. This is far more complex than I initially realized.
"Thank you," Aeon said, accepting the three books. "This looks like exactly what I need."
"The window table in the northeast corner provides excellent light for reading," Oswald suggested. "I'll be available if you need assistance finding additional materials."
Aeon carried his selected books to the indicated table, settling into a comfortable chair beside a large window that overlooked the village's main square. The morning sun provided perfect illumination for reading, and the location offered enough privacy for concentrated study while remaining within the librarian's line of sight.
Opening "The Myriad Worlds: A Comprehensive Guide to Known Realms," Aeon began his systematic education about the cosmos he would eventually need to navigate alone.
The introduction immediately captured his attention:
"Across the known cosmos, seventeen major worlds host intelligent civilizations, connected by ancient portal networks that enable travel and trade between distant realms. Of these, Terran serves as the primary human world, with a population exceeding two billion and dominant control over six continental masses. Other worlds host their own primary species—the Ethereal Elves of Luminthar, the Stone Dwarves of Khaz Ankor, the Scaled Dragonkin of Pyrothia—though most worlds maintain minority populations of other species through trade and migration."
Multiple worlds, multiple species, portal-based transportation, Aeon noted as he continued reading. This civilization spans far more than a single planet.
The first chapter detailed Terran itself, describing it as the most populous and politically influential world in the known cosmos. While other species existed on Terran, humans comprised roughly eighty-five percent of the population and controlled all major governmental and military institutions.
Human-dominated but not exclusively human, Aeon observed. Useful information for understanding social dynamics.
Moving to the second book, "Terran Dominion: Politics and Power on the Human Homeworld," Aeon found more specific information about the political structures he would need to understand.
The opening pages described the current dominant power structure:
"The Valerian Empire has ruled the largest portion of Terran for the past three centuries, controlling approximately forty percent of the world's landmass and thirty percent of its population. Under Emperor Severin Valerian III, the Empire has expanded its influence through both military conquest and strategic alliances, establishing itself as the primary power broker for inter-world portal access and trade regulation."
The moment Aeon read the name "Valerian Empire," his blood ran cold.
Valerian.