After a brief scan through the resources that the librarian supplied to me, I decided on three spells that I could learn and a dagger art that would suit my needs.
First, were the three spells engraved onto spell fabrics.
[]=[]=[]
Spell: [ Primary ] Silent Being
Mana Consumption: Very Light
Number of Mana Programs: 1-3 (F rank)
Description: The first spell among the Silent Being series. Introduces the first three and most vital mana programs required to achieve silent movement. At low proficiencies, can only muffle certain sounds created by the caster. At higher proficiencies, different sounds can be totally eliminated.
[]=[]=[]
Spell: Explosion (Conical)
Mana Consumption: Heavy
Number of Mana Programs: 3 (F rank)
Description: A simple and brutal fire spell. Creates an explosion that expands outwards in a cone. Short range. Instantaneous. Use with caution.
[]=[]=[]
Spell: Blur
Mana Consumption: Moderate
Number of Mana Programs: 1-3 (F rank)
Description: Creates a blurring effect on any moving objects. At low proficiency, the blurring is minimal. At higher proficiencies, movement becomes difficult to track due to the immense blurring of the object.
[]=[]=[]
I was happy with these three spells. I could engrave Silent Being over my entire body to make all of my movements silent. I just had to avoid engraving it around my vocal cords, otherwise, no one would be able to hear me when I spoke.
Blur would be interesting to add to my hands. Pair it with a little sleight of hand, then I would be golden. If I engraved it across my entire body, it would make it very difficult to track even the simplest of my movements. My face itself would be blurred as long as I stayed in motion.
I would be a phantom.
Of course, engraving Explosion was a no-go. Spewing out explosions every hour of the day sounded like the best way to sabotage all of my plans. This was also why engraving offensive spells simply did not work.
After all, the trigger for enchantments did not come from the flow of my mana, but from the mana programs themselves. They absorbed the mana from the atmosphere through their special circuits and created the effects we see.
With the thin spell fabrics out of the way, I held the final skill book in my hands.
[]=[]=[]
Dagger Art: Rushing Shadow Art
Mana Consumption: Moderate
Quality: D rank
Description: A dagger art that prioritises direct and sudden outbursts from the shadows. Simple and explosive in nature.
[]=[]=[]
I got an art that was straightforward. I simply had to rush my enemies, catch them by surprise, and kill them in that moment.
This was where the synergy with my spells would become apparent. I would spring out from the shadows as a blur of movement while making minimal amounts of noise. Then, in the moment I struck, I would cast Explosion to deal extra damage after my dagger digs into their flesh.
It would be explosive in all right ways.
Thus, with these resources in my hands, I began my training.
...
The days passed by quickly as the examinees wept over their Mana Reasoning tests. The desperate and depressed atmosphere of the cafeteria these days were absolutely delightful.
I lay my tray down at the same spot I always sat at. Lily was sitting to my left, and Virion sat across me. The two ate in silence. Their eyes were unfocused, depicting them to be deep in thought.
I resisted the urge to swoon over their adorable expressions. My little creations were so nice to watch in real life.
I still could not get enough of this feeling.
"Having difficulties?" I asked both of them.
Silence.
They didn't seem to have heard my voice.
"I'm actually finished with my test. Do you two want some tips?"
Bzzzt—!
I realised my mistake then.
It wasn't just Lily and Virion who could hear me. With the current atmosphere of the cafeteria, barely anyone was speaking.
A thousand or so gazes locked on to me at that moment. That included Lily and Virion.
"..."
I was stunned silent.
"...Is the test that hard?"
The stares just grew more intense as those words left my lips. A few lapses of killing intent leaked out of some, making me shiver in my seat.
Jeez. So stressed.
"I'll keep it simple, and this applies for both physical mana users and spiritual mana users..."
I looked around, squinting at every murderous look I got. Those with those hateful gazes suddenly reeled back upon meeting my gaze, seeming as if they saw something deep within my jet black irises.
"Do some research on the High Professor's past."
With those words, I stood up and grabbed my tray. I left under the now-confused stares of the examinees.
This little outburst of mine was not planned, making me quite curious as to what kind of effect it would create.
Would there be a surprise waiting for me?
As the creator of this world and all its notable characters, that was a theory I wanted to test.
Will there be other notable characters that will appear simply because of my actions? Or will those with fates I crafted myself be the only fates that would sweep the world?
"I can't wait to find out," I whispered to myself as I headed towards the training rooms.
I had finished engraving Silent Being onto my entire body save for my vocal cords. It took me five days to do so, which also explained why the examinees were all clawing for any lead that they could find.
They had two days left to figure things out.
Thus, there was a lot of vacant training rooms that I could use. None of Aethercaller's students were visiting this area, after all. The buildings around the examinee's dormitories were all reserved for the examinees themselves.
These were the Examination Buildings. A place where students could stay when they were given exams that lasted days. It was a place that catered to seclusion and focus.
Admiring the systems that I put into place, I booked a room for myself. I made my way towards the room and poured my mana into the doorknob.
With a click, the door opened up, and what greeted me was an empty white room.
I then flicked a switch beside the door and suddenly, the room vibrated with the hum of mana.
I smiled.
It was time to learn the Rushing Shadow Art.