—Asher Frostblade's perspective.
Looking at the fancy suit I put on in the mirror, all I could say is:
"I don't mind it, but I can't get used to it."
It's elegant the suit; however, I don't like to wear suits like this. It's a snow-white dress suit, the high collar of the uniform, embroidered with intricate golden filigree, crossing the torso a diagonal band of a pure golden color. Right on the left side of the chest, a gold-colored insignia. In fact, the whole costume is very elegant.
"Knock" "Knock"
Heading towards the door, I opened it.
A woman dressed as a maid was on the other side.
"Were you looking for me for something?"
"Pardon my presence. Miss Oriana sent me to help you with your suit."
"Uh... Well, that's okay."
A few minutes passed, I finally finished putting on the white colored ball gown and its gold decorations all over my torso.
Of course, the woman who came over helped me with a few things about the suit that I actually didn't know how to put on, especially fixing my hair.
Then, seeing my whole figure in front of the mirror, my eyes widened.
"Unbelievable, this body is even more handsome than I thought."
Looking at every part of the suit, despite being tight from the long sleeves to the whole suit, it is very elegant and indeed, at a glance I have the appearance of a high-ranking nobleman.
Today was the day I became a nobleman; therefore, being in front of the king required being impeccable and very elegant. Well, I had it well understood, after all I knew more or less how one should present oneself before a king. It's something very cliché in comics and web novels.
After a while, the maid finished making some additional adjustments to my suit, like fixing the edges of the suit and all that.
"You look very handsome."
"..."
Making an awkward smile, I replied:
"I-I guess so."
There were only two hours left before I was to appear before the king, so I have time to take a look around the castle, like going to the library.
With those thoughts, I left the room and headed for the library. Of course, there are very few who can enter, but Oriana gave me a golden card that seemed to be some kind of library pass.
***
—Change of scene.
There was no problem entering the library. After looking at the huge library with shelves up to almost ten meters, I looked for the history section.
I need to know something about the continent, I have very little information about this world and this library is a great information base.
Looking at every corner of the large bookshelf, it was two books I grabbed.
[Agrona Continent]
[Age of Dominance]
They were two books dealing with the history of the continent and the era we are currently in.
Opening the cover of the "Agrona Continent" book, I quickly started reading the first page, then the second, the third and finally the last page.
In summary, the continent has five main cities, together with the imperial city would be six. Among the names of each city would be: Azares, Merpil, Eldoria, Fendora, Arkenfell and the imperial city Mengrana.
Other than that, there are some interesting points about the map of the continent.
"This continent... is bigger than planet Earth."
It was absolutely amazing, a continent bigger than the same planet Earth where I lived in my past life.
Of course, the Agrona continent is definitely very large, but more information about this continent is unknown. It is not that nothing is known, but that the book does not give much information, which is strange. It is as if certain important things were deleted and only made clear the size, divisions and names of cities and towns. That was simply the information in the book.
Then, looking at the "Era of Dominance" book, I quickly started reading it.
According to the book, the Age of Dominance is over five thousand years old. Very catastrophic events have occurred, but among all of them there is one in particular.
The book describes where some monster races come from. Of course, they are not all monster races that come from elsewhere. In fact, the other monster races always existed in this world, but once the origin of some monsters was discovered.
Dimensional rifts, was the name given to a phenomenon seen in the sky that opens in two and creates a crack as if the sky was splitting in two. From these cracks come out certain races of monsters.
The origin of those cracks, all that is known is that it is from a different world where only monsters live.
"But it's strange."
In fact, it's very strange. There is no information at all about these cracks and the last one that appeared was a hundred years ago. Since the last dimensional rift appeared, much more powerful monster species came out. Among them was a species called "dragons". At the moment, it is one of the strongest monsters, but its whereabouts are unknown. It is as if they disappeared out of nowhere.
The information from the continent has nothing important. The only important thing was about the dimensional rifts, a phenomenon that brings monsters from a different world.
"Damn, there's nothing important" I cursed under my breath, looking at the book again.
Reading more pages, there was nothing important.
It simply said that if a dimensional rift appeared it would be a great destruction all over the world and things like that.
"The origin of these monsters, Eh..."
Getting up, I started looking for more books related to the cracks, but found nothing.
Then I went back to reading the history book.
A long time ago, the number of ninth-circle wizards was large, but why is there nothing related to tenth-circle wizards?
"Maybe it's because they were from the era of darkness."
According to Encrid, tenth-circle wizards existed in the dark ages, an era that is currently unknown.
But why was there never a tenth-circle wizard in this entire era?
It's strange, as if they were limited to something, and also why was all evidence of the dark era erased? Nothing made sense.
"Asking Encrid and Isabella would be pointless."
In fact, neither of them would answer my questions about the dark ages. Did they have anything to do with anything?
Other than the war that took place in that era, I know nothing else.
The seven gods and especially the tenth circle wizards, how many wizards of that caliber were there? I don't know.
"Sigh."
Anyway, I know that at some point Encrid will tell me everything, but for now I should study all the books: magic theory, how mana works, physics, mathematics, alchemy and most importantly spells.
"After all, I'll be entering a wizard academy; it's essential to know these things."
So, I quickly reached for the books. After a few minutes, I sat back down. In front of me, there was a stack of books.
"So, I should start with..."
"Oh, wow, you seem to really like studying."
A high-pitched voice like an old man's came from my side. At that moment, I turned my head.
An old man with a white robe, a white beard, white hair and brown eyes. I knew who he was.
"You are the headmaster of Laosa Academy."
"Jojojo, you still seem to remember me."
Of course I remember. The day I came to this castle, this old man appeared out of nowhere. He is the headmaster of Laosa Academy and a ninth circle mage.
"I forgot to introduce myself on that occasion. My name is Wilbek Laosa."
What the heck, the name of the academy is his same last name.
"My last name is from my ancestor, the founder of the academy."
So that makes sense to my question.
Staring at the old man in front of me.
"What are you doing here?"
"Well, I was just passing through."
"Uh... I guess it's okay," Then I turned my gaze back to the book.
At that moment, Wilbek sat down next to me. I looked at him again, this time with a smile on his face.
His gaze was fixed on the books right in front of me, placed on the long table.
"Looks like you're getting ready."
"That's right, I don't know anything about the academy and how it works, but these books will help me."
"You have a good point."
Indeed, the atmosphere was weird. Why is he here and why did he sit next to me?
Well, whatever he wants is none of my business. Fixing my attention back to the book, but Wilbek once again he spoke.
"The theory of mana. The basis of absorbing mana is through meditation. How to advance to the first circle by simply absorbing mana, but for more advances the growth is slower."
What is the reason for all these words?
"Mana is an energy that circulates throughout the magical circuit of the body, which would be the veins through which the blood circulates continuously. Mana has different properties, as would be the elements, but there are also unique elements."
Now what the hell is he saying?
"Among those unique elements would be: magnetism, electricity, sound, holy mana, among others."
Staring hard, I spoke.
"Why are you telling me all that?"
"Well, it's a little knowledge about mana."
So, that was it. But why is he telling me that?
No, in fact, why are you here talking about it in the first place? I didn't ask you for help or anything like that.
"It's time for me to go. I'll see you in the royal hall."
At that moment, the old man disappeared from my sight.
Again I thought how the hell do they just disappear out of nowhere like that.
"What the hell was that all about?"
"He gave you instructions about the mana," Encrid spoke up at once. So that's what that old man was at.
"Those aren't all unique elements, though," Isabella spoke up.
Well, he was right about that. Lately I've discovered new types of mana, especially light mana. It was unexpected, but just like the mana of darkness, it is still unknown to me.
This world really has so many secrets that I am unaware of at the moment.
After an hour of reading, I finally read all the books. Each book took me less than ten minutes to read, which didn't take long at all.
"It's almost time."
I finally left the library and headed to Oriana's office.
Arriving at the office, I knocked on the door.
"Knock" "Knock."
"Come in," she quickly answered.
Opening the door, I looked at Oriana who was looking at some papers on her desk.
Moving closer, I sat down in the chair in front of the desk. Staring at Oriana, she looked at me.
"You came a little late."
"Well, I was in the library."
"I see, then I'll put this on for you."
She stood up. Then, from her desk drawer she pulled out the ten coins, the ten knight's achievements. Walking over to me, I instantly stood up, stood up straight and waited to see what would happen.
"I hadn't gotten a good look at you, but I must admit, you're very handsome."
"..."
Putting one by one the ten coins interpreting the ten knightly achievements on the band I had on the torso of the suit diagonally, a row of these coins golden with a dark hue, in the center a drawing of a knight raising a sword, the ten knightly achievements.
Oriana finished and then went back to sit down.
"The ceremony starts in an hour, are you ready?"
"Yes."
Of course, he was more than ready. It's just a matter of waiting for everything to start. I'm all dressed up, in fancy attire. In fact, I have everything ready, nothing else is needed, I just have to wait for the time to pass.
"Honestly, I'd prefer it all to be over faster," Oriana spoke.
"Why?"
"It's because it usually takes half an hour for these things and I have work to do."
Well, anyone can tell with that big stack of papers on her desk. It's a time-consuming job that takes all day.
It's like a clerk's job, they work all day.
"Now that I see you, you are already a magician."
Should I tell him I've been a magician for a year or not?
"Yes," well, I didn't have to hide anything.
At the academy they'll realize that I'm a mage at this age. Besides, Luna and Gloriana are also mages at a very young age, so there's no problem.
"That's amazing, since when?"
"Very recently."
"It is, but..." She paused and her gaze shifted to my whole body.
"But I don't sense any mana."
Well, that's because I'm hiding it. I wouldn't want to draw the attention of any wizard in the castle, especially the old man, the headmaster of the Laosa Academy, Wilbek.
Sighing, I released my mana. At that moment, Oriana's eyes widened.
"What the hell is that mana?"
I knew she would say that. At that moment, I blocked my mana instantly.
"I'm sorry, but I can't tell you what mana this is."
"It's okay, I won't ask you anything, but you know that mana is strange, I've never seen it before. Laosa academy teachers are from seventh to eighth circle, they will try to investigate your mana, you know?"
"I know that already."
In fact, I knew that all along, but why did Encrid agree to my entering the academy? After all, my mana would be discovered, unless he had a way to avoid the stares of the teachers.
"Let's talk about that another time, it's time for us to go to the royal hall."
So, the two of us left the room and headed to the royal hall, where I will receive my noble title and my position as a knight...