The doors opened as Thomas pushed them inward, revealing a room with towering shelves, completely packed with books.
Thomas carrying Leon, walked to a table in the center of the library. He sat Leon down on a bench. "Young Master, I’ll bring go and bring a chair of your size, Wait." he said as he went to grab a set of small table and chair.
Leon sat there watching Thomas bring a set of small furniture, probably used by his brother or sister during their childhood. As Thomas set the small wooden table and a cushioned chair down, Leon crawled off the bench and sat himself onto the seat.
"This is a vocabulary dictionary," Thomas said as he placed a thick and heavy book in front of him. "It contains the symbols and meanings of words we use every day."
Leon nodded as he flipped open the book with the help of Thomas. His eyes locking onto the different words and characters as he reached out and traced the writings with his fingers.
For the next two weeks, the library became Leon’s place. He would come here with Thomas and spend seven to eight hours a day in the library. With the assistance of Thomas and his natural intellect, Leon memorized most of the words and meanings.
Every afternoon, either Marcus or Vera would come to take him back to his room. Leon noticed Hanna would follow his mother everywhere like a silent ghost, keeping her eyes always fixed on the floor.
Leon ignored the tension around him and focused himself entirely on the books.
Seeing Leon’s fast progress, on the first day of third week, Thomas brought a new blue colored book on his tiny table.
"Since you have memorized the words and speech, it is time you understand the foundation of power in this world," Thomas murmured, his tone turning serious. "This is the text on the Essence System."
Leon pulled the book closer and opened the book. He was looking forward to knowing about the power system as he always wondered about them. He read the simple explanations written in the book slowly, understanding most details.
According to the text, theoretically every living being could harness the invisible energy in the atmosphere, known as Essence, which higher theories stating it birthed from Origin when universe was created.
Leon read different theories and explanations behind the Essence and then his focus shifted towards the fundamental stages of progression which mapped out the primary realms of cultivation of the Essence.
The first stage was known as Mortal.
The text described Mortals as an ordinary existence. At this level, training was strictly limited to one’s physique, mind and testing the natural talent. Leon related this to himself instantly.
The second stage was Resonance.
In this stage, the practitioner is prepared to familiarize and withstand raw pressure of Essence. It can be by someone’s help , by oneself or by a chain of events. The internal pathways and foundation are established and that person starts to feel and circulate essence externally and to a certain extent only. It can be short or long to familiarize depending on the person.
The third stage was Vessel.
This stage is turning point for the people. After familiarizing with the essence, people begin to circulate the essence internally and strengthen the physical frame through the essence. It is a major point where a person sheds it’s Mortal frame and starts to evolve slowly, and project the essence stored inside the body.
The fourth stage was Manifestation.
This is the beginning of true cultivation through understanding the way of the nature and the world. In this stage, people begin to perceive and manifest natural elemental phenomena. In this stage one can cultivate an element of their choosing and progress by understanding in that said element.
The fifth stage was Soulforge.
At this level, the soul itself is directly refined and strengthened. Reaching this stage grants a person superior perception, high willpower and resistance to spiritual pressure or mental anomalies.
The core and most used theory of cultivation was:
Body → Energy → Elements → Soul → .....
The text only described till this stage. After this it described the sub stages which started from Vessel onward.
The stage’s progress is categorized into three distinct sub stages : Nascent, Tempered and Harmonized.
Leon’s focus then shifted to bloodline and bloodline holders mechanism.
It is stated that only after a person successfully ascends to a certain stage, then they evolve to a higher life form, then only their bloodline can carry the properties of that person otherwise it is only transferred as an ordinary bloodline with no properties.
Bloodline properties can vary even among same bloodline lineage. Most of them carry properties to easily cultivate same element as their ancestors and some can carry bloodline properties which will aid them to cultivate faster or other things.
Mostly the Royal families of different races and some high standing groups or families carried bloodline properties in this world. House Hayes was not among them.
Like this, another set of weeks passed. Now, Leon was nearing to four months old.
Today Thomas had brought him a book, titled An Introduction to the World Geography and the Races and placed in his table.
"Study this well, Young Master. Master Roland will be coming to pick you up this afternoon as I have some work today." Thomas said as gave a respectful nod before going out for his duties.
Leon alone in the library, pulled the book closer as he was eager to learn about the world.
According to maps and historical records, the planet in which they lived was called Vandaros and it was huge land mass, covering nearing 60% of total land of the world. There were four primary continents covering about 53% of the total land mass and massive underwater civilizations that occupied remaining vast water mass.
In this book, only introductory information about the continents were given.
At first, the continent, Aldor. In this continent, it was primarily home to the Humans, Elves, Dwarves and Fairies. There were two empires of Human races, one of Elves and fairies and one of Dwarves.
Next was the continent of the Demons and demonic races such as vampires and other abyssal descendants. It was called Umbra continent.
Third continent was called Theria, home to the Giants and various Beast-kin tribes.
Fourth continent was called Drakonith or Draka. This was mainly home to the Dragons, Dragon borns and serpentine races. This was the biggest continents among all of them, occupying about 35% of the total land mass.
As Leon flipped the page to study about the empire he was in. He read, their empire was named Aurelis Empire, ruled by a singular and a royal lineage since it’s founding, Aurelis family.
Leon looked across at the large table. There lay a large detailed map of Aurelis Empire. Thomas had placed it just a bit too far out of his reach on the table before leaving.
Leon stared at the map for a moment. Instead of dropping to his stomach and crawl across the floors, he felt a sudden urge to walk. ’I think my legs are well developed to walk short distances.’ he thought as he slid his leg from the chair until his feet made contact with the floor.
He braced himself to stand straight. Bracing himself against the chair he carefully pushed himself forward. For the first time he was standing completely upright on his own feet. His body felt imbalanced under the strange and new movement.
Slowly he released his supporting grip from the chair and table as he began to walk across the open space. He had forgotten about the map as he was focused on keeping his balance.
At that exact moment, the library doors creaked open.
Roland walked into the room, carrying a small bowl with food, intended for Leon’s afternoon feeding. He stopped in his tracks as he saw Leon walking.
Instead of a shocked expression, there was a massive grin on his face. He was used to Leon’s fast growth now. He watched his nearly four month old brother standing completely upright and walking almost perfectly. Leon was focused on his movement as he didn’t even notice Roland coming in.
Roland did not waste a single second. Closing his eyes, he focused into his essence and sent an urgent burst of essence information directly to his father and mother immediately.
As soon as he sent the message, the air near the doors of the Library twisted violently. A sudden pressure originated from the area, drawing both Roland’s and Leon’s attention.
Marcus appeared instantly in the space near the doors, holding Vera tightly by her waist. His boots hit the floors with a thud as his other hand instinctively rested on his sword hilt.
Vera’s face was of mild confusion as she was suddenly teleported by Marcus when she received a signal from Roland. But the moment the couple turned their heads towards Leon, who was confused by the sudden and flashy arrival of his parents, they were shocked as their faces lit up with joy.
The library was filled with loud laughter of Marcus as he let go of his wife’s waist. "Look at him, Vera, Didn’t I tell you he is gifted for battle? Standing straight as a spear by himself this young." Marcus said happily as he was imagining to brag to his friends when Leon gets older.
Vera let out a happy chuckle as she rushed towards Leon. She dropped to her knees as her hands hovered near Leon’s body, not touching him.
"My clever little champion," Vera whispered as a radiant smile graced her face. "You truly are a wonder, Leon."
Leon paused his efforts as he tilted his head, mildly confused as he watched his family cheer on him. ’I think walking at this age is early.’ Leon thought as he seem to have figured out their cause of celebration.
"A prodigious son of the House Hayes," Marcus cheered as he crouched down next to him, looking at Leon’s eyes. "I will have to train you personally in the future and make a body befitting a true warrior."
Roland also set the feeding bowl at the table, wearing a proud grin. He stood by the side as he also celebrated this accomplishment of Leon.