Every year on the 2nd day of July, all 14-year-old kids who want to become mage gather at the 'World Library' to attend the 'Scroll Distribution' ceremony.
'Scroll Distribution': This is a ceremony that is of utmost importance to them. Because with the help of the Scroll that chose them, they will be able to overcome their shortcomings by following its contents.
However, this does not mean that everyone can just go to the 'World Library' and attend the ceremony like a normal party. Since every year, the 'World Library' is crowded with people, the operators put a new rule and require, not only a qualification but also a registration fee. A fee of 3000 niels that was equivalent to five months' worth of a normal noble's budget.
*Niels: Phigua's Currency.
You might think that the people who operate the 'World Library' are corrupt for taking money every for a mere 'Scroll'. If so, then you are wrong; the reason why they ask for such a large amount is not because they are lazy to deal with many people or because they are greedy for money, they ask for that money for two main reasons.
First, was so that the 'Scroll' doesn't become trash in the hands of those who just want to try it. And the second, was so that they could enroll promising individuals who could easily understand its content a year later in a 'Prestigious Academy' that would raise them to become a full-fledged magician.
Well, you don't have to worry if you can't understand the contents of the Scroll even if you try your best, because the 'World Library' allows everyone to get a refund. But of course, the scroll you return must be the same as when you received it.
*****
June 18, at 5:00AM...
In an open space in the forest of Scavar, a boy sits in a lotus position. He was shirtless as he focused on his meditation.
After a while, he opened his eyes and surveyed his surroundings with his dead eyes. Soon he stood up and closed his eyes again and felt the fresh air flowing through his body.
"Huuu~... It's time."
Two years have passed since Jin decided to train for revenge, and in that time, many changes can be seen in him.
A young man as thin as a stick gained more muscle, and grew a few centimetres as well. His body was now covered with scars from fighting while his skin became even more tanned and being exposed to the sun for too long.
However, despite those changes, his eyes that were as empty as space still remains. Meaning that he still does not care about the world.
"I need to go register now."
Jin walked towards the direction of a big tree in his left side and picked up his things lying under it. After that, he went back home.
*****
Normin, the ruined village. But that was 2 years before, now it became cleaner and inhabitable since Jin spent his extra time making it to become so.
As soon as he arrived in the village, Jin went straight to his house to rest.
"I'm home." He said as he entered. Maybe Jin is sentimental, he just cleaned his heart but didn't change at all.
Although no one is waiting for him inside, Jin always says that every time he goes home because of his behavior.
After he entered, he immediately went to his room and lay down on his bed to take a nap. Being so tired, he fell asleep immediately after just a few seconds of lying. Some time passed and he woke up.
"Uwaahhh~."
Jin stretched while yawning before he stood up. He walked over to his cabinet on the opposite side of his bed to get change.
"Is this enough? I'm about to register, so I need at least my clothes to be neat and nice." He said while looking at himself in the mirror.
Jin scoffed at himself and uttered in an unbelieving voice.
"Why do I even bother asking myself when this is the only clothes I have that doesn't have any tears and seams in it?"
After dressing up with his most presentable clothes, he bent down and opened the bottom drawer. He searched for it for a few seconds while searching for something.
*Rummage, rummage.*
"There you are." Jin said when he found what he was looking for. He took it out and put it in his pocket.
"Now, wait for me there, 'World Library'."
*World Library: A library that even though it has been standing for a long time the location is still unknown. However, even if people do not know its location, it is still accessible because it is connected to its branches in a few city.
*****
City of Venan, one of the cities that had a branch of the World library. It is 375 km away from Norman village but it is the nearest city with a branch. Therefore, Jin's next destination is there.
Since he didn't have his own horse and couldn't afford to hire a wagon, Jin had no choice but to walk from Normin to Vanan. However, it wasn't a problem for someone like him who had trained his body since he was young.
And all he needs for his journey, is a pair of boots, a coat to protect him from the sun, and water.
_
_
June 21, 1527...
After 3 days of walking while only resting at night, Jin arrived safely at the front gate of Venan city.
"It's a good thing I saw a river going here. Otherwise, I would have registered in my sweat-smelling clothes."
Entering a cautious city like Venan is a hassle due to strict gate inspections due to the recent influx of demons.
The guards inspect everyone whether they are famous merchants, nobles, or commoners because the demon can shapeshift into the person they want to copy.
After standing in line for quite some time, Jin safely passed through the inspection and finally entered the city.
"Magic stone here!"
"Hey, how much for this bracelet?"
"Hey handsome, do you want to buy this potion that will increase your mana twice?"
"Is this sword really that sharp that it can cut through steel?"
After entering the city of Venan, a busy street with organized side shops greeted him. Unlike a normal city that Jin always goes to when selling his over-caught animals, Venan is more lively.
However, no matter how vibrant that city was, Jin was not bothered by it and only focused on searching the Branch of the World library.
He tried to ask people who seemed to know the city like the guard and the shop owner, but was ignored and told that they would only tell if he bought some.
"How am I able to find it in this humongous place?"
As no one wants to tell him where its location, Jin just wandered around and looked for it himself. He believed that if he wandered there for the entire day, he would eventually find it.
As Jin wanders around not knowing where to go, he stumbles upon the back of the city.
"Now I'm lost. I don't even know where the road to the city is."
He was looking for a way out when he suddenly heard a nostalgic voice. A voice similar to the enthusiastic boy who proclaimed himself to be his disciple.
"What are you doing?!"
"B-Beppo?"
Jin went straight to where the voice was; and when he arrived, he saw 4 young men about his age ganging up a helpless boy that was being choked against the wall.
"Keuk... Please, let me go." Said the helpless boy that has the same voice as Beppo.
'Those clothes... They are nobles. Well, I guess I don't need to step in just to help just because he has the same voice as Beppo.'
Jin turned around wanting to ignore what was happening, but, before he could even take a step, his body suddenly resisted.
'They are a child of nobles so I have no right to interfere in their business. But why do I feel guilty? My body won't even listen to me.'
Jin exhaled with force and clenched his fist before punching his thigh.
"Fine, just this once."