That evening, Dole had just gotten off work when he quickly spotted Kadiya hiding by the roadside.
He walked over silently. When the two met again, Kadiya said nothing, merely handed him a bundle before quietly leaving.
Dole did not think much of it. He put away the package and turned to leave as well. That afternoon, he needed to hurry to the library to return his books, then borrow another before it closed.
Lately, he had been reading all sorts of biographies and found them quite interesting.
Reading was a habit. The more he read, the more he came to enjoy it. The stories of the people within those books, their loves and grudges, their cunning and treachery—all of it was useful to Dole. He could draw many lessons from them.
This world was complicated. He needed to understand that complexity and learn from those who had come before in order to survive amid its countless dangers. That was Dole's understanding of books.
Beyond that, he could also learn how others conducted themselves in the world—their tact and worldly experience. He did not need to learn everything, but at the very least, he needed to understand the tricks of the trade so that he would not suffer losses.
After borrowing two books, Dole returned home. By then, night had fallen, so he lit a candle, sat cross-legged on his bed, took out a book, and began reading with great interest.
Ever since advancing to a high-level wizard apprentice, he had stopped rushing to improve further and allowed himself to fully relax.
He read until ten that night before finally putting down the book. Then he picked up Kadiya's package and went next door.
When he opened it, he found all manner of medicinal herbs, along with a book. Dole