Carl took a keen look at the vast sea of knowledge that spread out before him in the library. The architecture of the place, with its tall shelves filled with ancient volumes and mystical scrolls, evoked a feeling of reverence. As he began his search, Carl's eyes were drawn to the book-lined hallways, where solid wood tables, polished to a smooth shine, invited study. He chose a table close to the initial corridor, a strategic location that would provide him with easy access to the most essential works. The table, although simple in its construction, displayed meticulous finishing work, suggesting that even the furniture there shared the magic of the place.
Sitting down, Carl allowed himself a brief moment of reflection. "The coincidence of languages and grammars between this world and Earth is a good convenience", he pondered internally, a hint of relief mixing with his innate curiosity. His gaze then fixed on the title of the book that rested in front of him. "What is Mana", he read in a low voice, almost as if he feared disturbing the sacredness of the silence that reigned. With a penetrating and contemplative look, typical of his nature, Carl opened the book.
On the first page, the author's name shone in golden letters, revealing himself as "Etherius Starweaver," a name that seemed to pulse with the mystery of magic itself. The richly detailed summary promised fascinating revelations, with titles such as "The History of Magic" and "Mana Refinement: What is it?". Carl, with a gleam of anticipation in his eyes, turned the page, diving into the first chapter titled "The Beginning." This chapter weaves an epic narrative about the belief in the origin of the universe: a titanic battle between a goddess wielding arcane magic and a god with the strength of nine universes. According to legend, the universe of Gaiaxys emerged as a remnant of this cosmic struggle, explaining the presence of mana and energy in the air and the existence of both wizards and warriors.
"Interesting," Carl muttered, immersed in reading the book. He spent about two hours engrossed in the pages, each discovery fascinating him, the understanding about the nature of mana becoming more and more vivid in his mind. With each page turned, the more excited and excited about the future he became, imagining himself flying through the skies with just the power of his own will. This feeling of excitement and possibility was so overwhelming that Carl barely noticed the hours slipping through the fingers of his watch. Absorbed in a world of knowledge and revelations, another two hours passed, until finally, with a sigh of realization and a mind full of ideas and theories, Carl finished reading his first book in that vast sea of knowledge. The experience of diving into the depths of magic had been so intense that he felt as if he had been on a journey.
Closing the book with a silent bow, Carl looked up at the library's majestic entrance. Through the great arched doors, he could see night settling over the world, wrapping the day in a twilight veil. "Time to go," he mused, his mind still dancing with the words and concepts he had just absorbed. He stood up with one fluid movement and placed the volume in its designated place and headed towards the exit. As he approached the library's large door, his attentive gaze fell upon a familiar figure - the same young man who had provided him with information earlier. The young man walked slowly, absorbed in reading a book, his face illuminated by the glow of the crescent moon. Carl, driven by curiosity and the desire to further deepen his knowledge, approached silently and held the young man's shoulder, who turned around with a start. Carl's icy, penetrating gaze met the boy's surprised eyes. "Is it possible to borrow books from here?" asked Carl in a calm voice, but imbued with natural authority. The young man, still a little shaken by the unexpected approach for the second time in the same day, nodded quickly. With a satisfied nod, Carl took a step back.
"Since classes don't start until tomorrow, I might as well take the opportunity to expand my knowledge in the dorm tonight," Carl pondered, moving with purpose toward the first hallway, where the foundational tomes were lined up. His steps were firm and purposeful, a reflection of a man who knew exactly what he was looking for. "The Principles of Enchantment: Runes," he recalled, his sharp memory bringing back the memory of the book that had previously caught his attention. That title resonated with meaning, especially after the appraiser's words about its transparent core, perfectly suited to the art of enchantment. As Carl reached out to take the book, he felt an echo of his previous life; despite recognizing that money did not hold the same supremacy in this new world as it did on Earth, there was still a trace of desire for him. The idea of being able to masterfully perform enchantments not only promised him a tactical advantage, but also the potential to acquire riches. With the book firmly in hand, he headed to the dormitory, his thoughts already intertwining with the possibilities that the study of runes could unlock, imagining how he could apply his programming knowledge to decipher and innovate in this ancient art.
Carl spent the rest of the night immersed in reading. From the top bunk, he could see people passing by below through the window. "I learned a lot today," Carl reflected on what he learned in the library. According to the book on mana: Mana, like the energy that warriors use, is in the air, everywhere. For a mage to be able to use it, he needs to collect and refine it, finally storing it in his core. To do this, the magician needs a technique, commonly called a mana refinement technique. Apparently, influential families hold their own techniques, but the academy will provide a basic technique tomorrow for those who don't have any. The book also mentions elemental affinities according to core color, and rare variants such as its transparent core. Also mentioned there were some magical beasts; they can absorb raw mana from the air. These beasts have cores too, but it's a different type, something often used in alchemy.
"Will I be able to do a spell tomorrow?" With that thought Carl fell asleep.