My Shard Bearer System - Elias's Legacy
Chapter 99: XiaLine

Chapter 99: XiaLine

As they walked through the winding corridors of the facility, Elias glanced down another hallway, curiosity getting the better of him.

"This place is a damn maze," he muttered, veering off to see where it led.

Dot’s floated up beside his head. "Are we even allowed to be here?"

Elias smirked. "I dunno. Guess we’ll find out."

At the end of the hall, he found a door with a sleek panel glowing faintly. He placed his palm against it, and for a moment, the screen flashed yellow before a familiar voice crackled through the intercom.

"Elias, what exactly are you doing in this area?" Oliver’s voice carried a measured, authoritative tone.

Elias exhaled sharply, suddenly feeling like a kid caught snooping. "Just got curious. Thought I’d explore a little."

A pause. Then the door hissed open.

"In the future, just ask," Oliver said, his voice laced with dry amusement. "That way, you get the proper clearance instead of an unplanned cardio session."

Elias chuckled. "Noted." As the comm line cut, Elias stepped inside, his breath hitching at the sight. A massive, spiraling library stretched upward at least twenty stories, bookcases curving in a perfect circle. Shelves lined every wall, connected by rotating platforms that moved with seamless precision. A soft golden glow illuminated the endless tomes, casting a warm hue across the polished floors.

Dot’s floated beside him, eyes wide. "Whoa... Didn’t expect this."

Elias whistled. "Yeah, neither did I. Kinda overkill though, right? Wouldn’t a digital archive be more efficient?"

A voice, smooth and unimpressed, drifted from the center of the room.

"The world’s knowledge is never a waste of space, young man."

Elias turned, spotting a woman seated at a table in the heart of the library. She was flipping through a thick book, one hand wrapped around a steaming cup of coffee. The title on the open page read "Kata Midad Mundial."

Her gaze didn’t even lift as she took another sip, her tone carrying the faintest edge of annoyance.

Elias raised his hands slightly. "Sorry, I didn’t mean to disrespect you. A collection like this is almost unheard of."

The woman behind the counter barely looked up from her work. "Yeah, yeah, whatever. If you have no business here, go back to where you need to be."

Elias glanced around, noticing a few high-ranking officers browsing the shelves, their uniforms adorned with insignia. He figured this might be a good opportunity to grab some books for Dot’s to study.

"Actually," he said, stepping forward, "I was wondering if I could check out some books. Mainly on construction, hardwiring, and mechanical systems."

The woman finally lifted her head, raising an eyebrow. "Didn’t take you for the type to want to read books like that."

Elias tilted his head. "And why’s that? You’ve never met me."

She smirked. "Just a gut feeling, if nothing else." She leaned back slightly. "What unit are you in? I need to set up an account for you."

"A Block," Elias answered. "With the shard users."

Her fingers froze over the keyboard. She stared at him. "Are you even allowed to check out books?"

Elias shrugged. "I don’t see why not."

She grabbed a phone and made a quick call. "I don’t have a reference for any of the people with shards. They don’t hold any active rank." A pause. Then, her expression changed slightly. "Oh, he will be?" Another pause. "Okay, I guess that’s good enough."

She hung up and resumed typing before pressing a final button. A card slid out of a reader, and she handed it to him. "Here. Take this and don’t lose it. Anytime you need books, bring it with you, and I’ll scan your checkouts."

Elias examined the card, then looked back at her. "Who were you talking to?"

"The Ordnance Warden," she said flatly. "He let me know you’ll be an officer soon, so I didn’t have to jump through hoops."

Elias nodded, not pushing any further. "Thanks."

Dot’s chimed in excitedly in his head. Elias, this is great! I can learn so much!

He ran his fingers along the book spines, scanning the titles before picking out four that seemed useful over a 45 minute period of searching:

"Structural Engineering: From Bridges to Buildings" – A comprehensive guide to construction principles, materials, and real-world applications.

"Energy Systems & Circuitry" – A book covering the basics of electrical engineering, wiring, and how power distribution works in Prime Planet.

"Mechanics & Motion: The Science of How Things Move" – A physics-focused manual on mechanical systems, gears, pulleys, and basic machine functions.

"Industrial Manufacturing & Fabrication" – A deep dive into how raw materials are processed into functional parts, from metalworking to advanced automation.

Elias nodded, stepping up to the counter and sliding the books toward himself.

"These will do. How long do I keep them?"

The librarian, a middle-aged woman with sharp features and round glasses, barely looked up from her terminal. "Until someone else requests them. But if you’re stationed elsewhere for more than ninety days, you’re required to return them."

"I see." Elias considered asking what would happen if he simply forgot, but figured that was a question best left unspoken. He turned toward the exit, gripping the books under one arm.

Just as he reached the door, another man stepped inside. Dressed in a long doctor’s coat, he carried himself with an odd familiarity, his white fisherman’s hat casting a slight shadow over his face.

The man flashed a polite smile. "Good day, sir. Nice seeing you again."

Elias instinctively nodded before hesitating. "I... don’t think we’ve met before."

The man adjusted the brim of his hat, his smile never fading. "Oh? My mistake then. Don’t let me hold you up." With that, he continued inside, disappearing among the towering shelves.

Dot’s hovered closer to Elias, her tiny arms folded. "He does look familiar... but I can’t put my finger on it."

Elias shrugged. "Might come to me later. For now, we’ve got other things to focus on."

Hours passed back in A Block as Elias and Dot’s worked through the first book. He tried his best to stay engaged, but after a while, the dense text blurred together. Meanwhile, Dot’s continued practicing her ability, conjuring thin metal pillars that rose only a few inches before linking together into a small bridge—only to flicker out of existence moments later.

A sharp ding echoed through the room as the clock hit 16:00.

The door slid open, revealing Tidwell and Oliver. Wisps of cloud-like energy clung around Tidwell’s shoulders, lazily dissipating as he stepped inside. Oliver, ever composed, held a clipboard in one hand.

"Elias Kael," Oliver said, his tone firm. "Please come with me. We need to run some tests."

Elias stretched, setting the book aside. "Oh? What kind of tests?"

Oliver turned, leading the way out. "Today, you’ll be running the obstacle course for the first time. It will automatically adjust to match your performance."

Elias followed, glancing at Oliver. "Just how big is this place? I originally thought it was stadium-sized, but now... I’d say maybe twice that?"