After finishing the belated lunch with a hint of regret, Florent didn't notice the inferior quality of the Trier coffee, as he wasn't accustomed to drinking coffee or appreciating its nuances...
Leaving the modest restaurant, he didn't dare compare it to the 'Desi Bay Flavours Restaurant' he had visited the previous day. The price, taste, ambiance, and overall experience were worlds apart.
However, Florent didn't dwell on it. After all, the price difference was significant...
Delicious food required patience, and even if he had the means to indulge, he wouldn't. It was easy to grow accustomed to luxury, but difficult to return to simplicity once tasted.
He returned to the Trier National Library. Though not as crowded as before, it was far from empty...
As expected, the second floor was nearly full. Florent didn't bother heading upstairs, opting instead to relive a familiar experience... finding a quiet corner to sit and read.
After picking up 'A Concise History of Ancient and Modern Philosophy', he felt the weight of the hefty tome in his hands. He wandered through the orderly rows of bookshelves, observing the occasional patron borrowing or returning books...
The library's serene atmosphere gradually calmed his mind.
The library was spacious, and even with the first floor filled with books, a few seasoned readers who were unable to find seats had already settled on the floor, engrossed in their chosen books.
Florent didn't search for long. He soon sat in an unoccupied corner, leaning against the pristine white wall, legs slightly bent in his preferred posture, and began reading.
Not long after, he slapped his forehead, remembering his notebook, and began jotting down scattered thoughts.
Time flew by, and before he knew it, it was nearly 6 p.m...
The library staff began lighting candles as the sunlight outside shifted from bright white to the warm orange hues of dusk.
Florent felt a slight ache in his back, a common experience for those who lost themselves in reading...
Stretching, he heard the satisfying cracks of his joints. After a few more stretches and a lazy yawn, he cradled the heavy book in his hands, feeling as though he had been reborn.
In a slightly dazed state, he slowly made his way back to the bookshelves. As he approached the shelves, Florent suddenly noticed a beautiful young woman.
She wore a black dress that accentuated her slender, curvaceous figure. Her face bore an expression of deep sorrow, and on her left pinky finger was a ring that seemed to have been moved from her ring finger.
Florent wasn't the type to have peculiar obsessions, but the sight of such a beautiful yet sorrowful young woman stirred a pang of pain in his heart. As his gaze lingered on the ring, he noticed how pale her hands were, the faint traces of blood on them adding to her air of melancholy.
This wasn't the first time Florent had encountered such a scene. He felt a mix of frustration and fear, wondering if this woman might be a 'Witch'. If she were, and if she had her sights set on him, Florent was certain he wouldn't survive.
Despite his unease, Florent didn't quicken his pace. Instead, he glanced at her a few times with an appreciative gaze, then set the heavy book down. As he turned to leave, he stole one last look at her graceful back before quietly slipping away.
Once outside the library, he took a deep breath, contemplating whether he should take action against the suspected 'Witch'.
However, he quickly realized he had no resources to rely on. The Abraham Family in Trier had recently suffered heavy losses, and if this 'Witch' was beyond Sequence 7, even calling for Amadi might result in both their deaths.
Reporting her to the Church was equally risky... Florent was certain he'd end up as a researcher for Sealed Artifacts before the 'Witch' was dealt with. Other family members might also be exposed and meet their doom.
Moreover, he had only seen her once and knew nothing about her name or whereabouts.
Exhaling a sigh of frustration, he pushed these troubling thoughts aside and began walking toward the Golden Hampstead District, a route he had taken several times before.
As he walked, Florent watched the clouds turn from white to red, the sky shifting from light to dark. Unlike in his original world, he noticed the eerie crimson moon rising on the horizon.
Staring at the red moon, his mind wandered...
How had the researchers of this world deduced the principles of optics and concluded that the red moon's light was a reflection of the sun's rays?
Many seemingly ordinary things in this world were different. What about physics, which was based on experimentation? Could it be entirely different here?
Lost in thought, Florent entered the Golden Hampstead District...
Realizing he needed to find a servant to handle cleaning and laundry, he decided to try his luck at the 'Golden Hampstead Life Improvement Company', even though it was late in the evening.
To his surprise, the company was still open. Though only the first floor was illuminated, Florent hadn't expected a company to employ night shift workers, or perhaps have employees working overtime during the early stages of the Industrial Revolution.
Hesitating for a moment, he overcame his reluctance and stepped inside to find a suitable servant for cleaning and laundry.
The company's decor was simple, yet clean. White tiles covered the floor, and the light from candles placed on plain stands illuminated the room...
There were no extravagant chandeliers, just simple tables, sofas, and chairs arranged in a way that felt comfortable and inviting.
As Florent surveyed the environment, he noticed only two or three employees behind the counter, chatting or working. When they saw him, they looked slightly surprised, but quickly stood up with welcoming smiles ready to assist the new customer.
Without overthinking, Florent walked toward the counter...