As I had agreed I didn't go exploring the castle today but chose to head for the library. Hogwarts library was considered one of the most complete and oldest repositories of magical knowledge in the world. Not only because it was originally created from the founders own donated libraries but from successive generations of professors and students adding to it freely. A slight problem however was that many of these texts were in ancient languages from over a thousand years ago or were filled with outdated terms and wording that needed context to figure out these days. -
The library was also massive and not very well organized due to students always forgetting to put the books back in their proper places. Supposedly Madam Pince who was in charge of the library knew the positions of them all on the shelves but was typically too unapproachable to ask. I found a spot in the library that was fairly hidden and opened up my system shop before moving over to the [Skill] section. I scrolled down the list till I found the skill I had been eyeing previously but couldn't afford for fifty thousand coins, [Multitasking]. -
The skill was a fairly simple and self explained one from just it's name but basically it split my mind into different parts that could each focus on a task. It's basic version was only a single extra thought stream but it gained an addition stream for the second level and then two more and then four and so on. I purchased it and crushed the skill stone without hesitation. It was a bit strange at first like two different voices talking at the same time yet never overlapping. Still the reason I wanted this skill in particularly was to maximize the effect of my logia and haki abilities.-
Honestly it wouldn't really even be like I had an extra thought stream while I was studying since from now on I'd have one of my thought streams using my observation haki constantly to monitor my surroundings. It took me a few minutes to adjust after I started but it was worth it. I got up from my table and started checking the shelves for little read books on charms. The way I could tell if a book wasn't read much was by looking at it's edges and cover. -
Most books, even magically protected, showed wear on these parts if they saw much use. Additionally I could look at the dust on the shelves to see if a book was removed recently or not. Soon enough I found a charms book that looked dusty but almost untouched that I brought back to my chosen desk to look over. The book was a little disappointing as it was mostly theory from a hundred and eight years ago but there were couple new spells I mentally noted down. I "saw" Terry looking for me in the library while I was reading and even the moment he spotted me thanks to my haki.
"You aren't sneaking up on me Terry." I said casually without turning to look at him.
"Ah man! How'd you know?" he asked disappointed he failed to sneak up on me.
"I have very good perception." I said calmly.
"You are probably gonna be a pain to prank huh? Anyways why are you studying on a saturday? You should be relaxing or hanging out with the rest of us." he said with mock sternness.
"I happen to like studying thank you very much. Besides this book has some interesting stuff in it. Like this spell here that harms only spiders, Arania Exumai. Completely harmless to anyone who isn't a spider but potentially lethal to even an Acromantula if directly struck." I said pointing out the spell in question.
"Okay that is pretty bloody interesting but studying is BORING. Don't you want to have fun, flirt with some pretty girls, play pranks on people, that sort of stuff?" he asked temptingly.
"I mean I won't say no to some quick fun but I won't slack off just because I can." I said honestly.
"Ugh! You sound like one of those stuffy sixth or seventh years. Lighten up mate we have plenty of time to study, just you know, later." he said exasperated.
"You do realize those upper years probably sound like that because they goofed off for their first few years and are worried they won't get a good job after graduating as a result right?" I tossed back and he looked struck.
"That.. no way right?" he said wavering.
"Here's a quote for you that should sum it up nicely. If you learn to accept mediocrity that is all you will ever find." I said with sagely expression.
"Who said that?" he asked astonished.
"Me, just now." I said with a chuckle.
"You are the worst!" he said playfully punching my shoulder but smiling all the same.
"Hey now! No need to get abusive! It was a good quote right?" I said playfully fending him off.
"Yeah it was, if only it wasn't you who said it. I might just take it seriously then." he said rolling his eyes.
"It's true though. If you accept only being good enough to get by then that's all you'll amount to in life, good enough. Dumbledore didn't get where he is by accepting good enough, he wanted excellence and excellence demands discipline." I said honestly.
"Maybe but there's gotta be time to just have fun right?" he said looking torn between accepting the grind and not wanting to do it.
"Of course there is. The trick is not to go out of your way to find it. Like when you tried to sneak up on me. That was a spur of the moment thing for you right?" I asked and he nodded. "So just wait for those moments, if you have to force fun then it's not really fun." I said seriously.