Mirac stopped at the threshold of his room, his arm full of books, as a thought struck him with force.
'What's the point of spying on my sister?' he asked himself again, his mind racing through possible answers.
It was not a trivial question.
But once again, Mirac had no way of reaching an answer at that moment.
The volumes he clutched to his chest suddenly felt heavier, as if they carried not just words but also the weight of his worries.
'Whatever the reason, I won't let this person continue to disturb my sister!'
Determined not to let the thought torment him any further, Mirac sighed to clear his mind and set off towards the royal library.
The palace's long corridors were steeped in solemn silence, broken only by the soft rustling of his footsteps. The golden afternoon light filtered through the tall arched windows, casting gentle shadows on the white walls.
When he reached the grand, intricately carved wooden door of the library, he paused for a moment.
"Damn! I almost forgot to knock…" he muttered to himself.
With a slightly clumsy yet determined motion, he tightened his grip on the books to prevent them from falling and, using the only hand he had, knocked twice on the door. It wasn't exactly a graceful gesture, and for a moment, he feared losing his balance, but in the end, he succeeded.
"Come in!" a deep, hoarse voice called from inside.
Without hesitation, Mirac pushed the door open with his shoulder and stepped across the threshold.
The familiar scent of old paper and aged wood enveloped him immediately. Shelves towered up to the ceiling, filled with volumes that seemed to guard secrets waiting to be unveiled.
To his right, a long wooden counter stood perpendicular to the wall near the entrance. Behind it, seated with his usual composure, was the librarian.
"It's been a while, Mr. Matthew," Mirac said, placing the stack of books on the counter with a soft thud.
It was no surprise to find the man engrossed in a book, so absorbed that he didn't even glance at the newcomer.
"Good afternoon, young Prince. Tell me, how may I help you?" Matthew asked in his usual dry tone, his eyes still glued to the pages of his book. Even those meeting him for the first time could immediately tell that he wasn't a particularly sociable person. He was a rather reserved man who preferred to keep conversations short to avoid wasting time on unnecessary chatter.
'Does he always have something to read? Does he ever leave this library?' Mirac bit his tongue to hold back the comment that nearly slipped out. Instead, he simply stated in a neutral tone, "I've come to return some books."
Matthew sighed—a long, theatrical gesture—before closing his book and placing it calmly on the counter.
"Alright. Let's see what you've brought."
With his usual methodical slowness, he began taking the books one by one from the top of the pile. He scanned each title quickly, searched for it in the long list recorded in his black notebook, and once he found it, marked a check before setting the volume aside to his right.
The process was repetitive, almost hypnotic. An operation as automatic as it was tedious, both to perform and to watch.
But then, all of a sudden, Matthew stopped.
His fingers froze around the cover of a burgundy-colored book. His eyes narrowed as he carefully examined the title, as if making sure he had read it correctly.
"This is 'Elementary Mathematics: Discovering Numbers' by Dave Arangot, am I right?" Matthew asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Exactly," Mirac replied without thinking too much about it.
"The first of the seven sacred volumes of mathematics, correct?"
"That's right."
"The one you borrowed when you were seven years old?"
"Precisely."
"So, you're returning it after EIGHT YEARS?"
"Oh, uhm… yeah."
"…"
A heavy silence fell between them.
Matthew was speechless, his lips slightly parted.
"Don't you think you're a bit late?" he finally asked, almost incredulous.
Mirac scratched the back of his head, offering a nervous smile.
"Well, let's just say I completely forgot about it…"
A hesitant chuckle escaped him, but Matthew remained unfazed. He simply stared at him with an impassive expression for a long moment, his lips pressed into a thin line that betrayed slight disapproval. A reaction more than normal in such circumstances, especially for a strict and methodical librarian like him.
Then, without saying anything else, he returned to his work and resumed checking the other books.
'Damn, I'm really an idiot!' Mirac thought, feeling a slight wave of embarrassment creeping in. 'How is it possible that it never even crossed my mind to return it sooner?'
He hated to admit it, but this time, Matthew was completely right.
To shake off that uncomfortable feeling, he turned around and took a few steps, letting his gaze wander across the shelves and the long counter in search of a distraction.
That was when he noticed something.
Among the registers and stacked books on the counter, a few grayish pages stuck out.
"Oh!" Mirac exclaimed instinctively, excitement flashing in his eyes.
Without wasting a second, he reached out and pulled out the object that had caught his attention. Placing it on the counter, a small smile played on his lips.
"Heh, I knew it… It really is the newspaper!"
Of course, in this "fantasy world," technology was not advanced, so nothing like the Internet existed. As a result, on the continent of Harmony, news could spread in only two ways: orally, through word of mouth, or via the newspaper.
There were many news agencies, but the largest and most influential was undoubtedly the one from the Sacred Region: The Echo of News.
With offices spread across the entire continent, it managed to circulate information everywhere. But what truly made it special was the summary it published at the end of each month, selecting the most important news while discarding the less relevant stories and the usual pointless gossip.
And today, March 1st, Mirac held in his hands the edition featuring February's most significant events.
With growing excitement, he flipped through the pages and began to read.
On the front page, prominently displayed, was a black-and-white photograph. It depicted a man elegantly dressed, with an enigmatic air, sporting long, thin, curled mustaches. His gaze seemed to stare straight into the camera, accompanied by a smile that hinted at sharp intelligence.
Above the image, a bold headline accompanied by the date read:
- FEBRUARY 21, 1422 -
Andrea Nucci Shocks the World with His Latest Invention: A Revolution in Transportation!
The Kingdom of Luxendar, known for its light and wisdom, is now at the center of an innovation destined to change the way people travel forever.
It is here that Andrea Nucci, a brilliant inventor and magical engineer—already famous for his extraordinary creations—has unveiled his latest marvel to the world: the Train!
According to its creator, the Train appears to be a grand structure of metal and enchanted wood, powered by an innovative combination of steam and energy crystals. It will be composed of multiple connected sections, called carriages, designed for both passenger and cargo transport. This extraordinary machine will be capable of traversing all types of terrain, from plains to mountains, gliding along long metal tracks that will weave through valleys and hills, creating an almost endless network.
"There will be no more borders," Nucci declared with a triumphant smile. "Trains will connect all the kingdoms of the continent! Everyone will be able to travel safely and swiftly, without fear of bandits or storms."
The announcement has sparked a wave of excitement among merchants and travelers, while the government of Luxendar has welcomed the invention with great enthusiasm. According to official sources, the project will be presented at the upcoming 1422 World Conference, with the aim of involving all the kingdoms in the realization of this vast endeavor.
* * *
Mirac was completely absorbed in those words, swept away by the flood of information.
'Heh, interesting! So not only did he invent the camera, but now he wants to invent the train too?'
The realization struck him like a lightning bolt, making his eyes widen slightly.
'Yes, there's no doubt anymore: Andrea Nucci is definitely someone who has been reincarnated, just like me! All of his inventions are exactly the same as those from my old world, in both name and function! Therefore, I have no reason not to believe that Andrea Nucci is also a reincarnator. Yeah, I'm absolutely sure of it!'
At the thought, a smile crossed his lips, while a thrilling sense of excitement crept into his mind.
'Well, it would be interesting to see what happens if I meet him…!'
And that was exactly what he intended to do.
Mirac had already planned to use his educational trip and his social status to secure a meeting with Nucci. And he had no doubt that he would succeed.
But beyond his curiosity about Andrea Nucci, there was another reason driving him to reach Luxendar as soon as possible.
His true destination was Lithia, the capital of the Kingdom of Luxendar. A city renowned for its advanced magical technology and, most importantly, for being home to the Illuminus Library, the largest and most renowned library in the entire continent of Harmony, and perhaps the entire world!
Mirac hoped with all his heart that he would find answers there about the mysterious book he had discovered eight years earlier: "Elementary Mathematics: Discovering Numbers".
That first volume, filled with both wonder and mathematical knowledge, had sparked a wave of curiosity and questions in him—questions he couldn't wait to find answers to.
Over the years, while rummaging through the shelves of the vast royal library, Mirac had discovered that the book had been first published centuries ago by a publishing house based in Lithia. This meant that both the Illuminus Library and the publisher likely possessed the complete and original collection of all seven volumes, along with possible information about the author that had never been made public.
It was no coincidence that Mirac strongly suspected the Luxendar government, or perhaps the publishing house itself, of hiding information about the author's identity and life.
The reason was simple: despite Dave Arangot being such a renowned figure that he was cited by all contemporary intellectuals, Mirac had never found a single book about his biography.
Not even a historical reference to his life.
Even Matthew, the meticulous librarian of the royal library, had been unable to provide him with answers.
So, as he dug deeper into the matter, Mirac had come across conflicting theories questioning the author's true identity.
For instance, some believed that "Dave Arangot" was merely a pseudonym, and that no one had ever actually seen or met the real mathematician. Other scholars argued that the name concealed an unknown intellectual, while some even suggested that he was a collective figure, a so-called "Father of Mathematics" created for convenience.
Even Professor Warnock, one of the most esteemed academics in the kingdom, seemed to know little about him. During his lectures, he always referred to this figure in vague terms, never directly saying his name. As if he, like many others, harbored serious doubts about the true identity of "Dave Arangot."
And even today, one question haunted him more than any other, day and night:
If that Dave Arangot was really his father, why had he reincarnated about 400 years before Mirac? In their original world, there had only been a 65-year gap between their deaths!
This temporal enigma had never stopped tormenting him, raising questions he couldn't answer.
And that was exactly why he couldn't wait to set off: to begin his long investigation and uncover the truth behind all the mysteries that had haunted him for years!
'I can't wait!'
* * *
Mirac continued flipping through the newspaper, skimming the articles with a distracted gaze, until one in particular caught his attention.
As usual, a black-and-white photo depicted the subject of the news: a young man with noble features and an intense, elusive gaze. His slightly wavy dark hair framed a pale face, while his eyes seemed to conceal a secret too great to be contained. He wore an elegant outfit, likely white and blue, typical of Fonteya's nobility.
Above the photo and the rest of the article, the bold, capitalized headline stood out among the other news, almost as if shouting its urgency:
- FEBRUARY 25, 1422 -
Death Penalty for the Noble Laoe Family: A Chaotic Was Hiding Among Them!
It has been discovered that Liam Laoe, the firstborn of the Laoe family—one of the oldest and most respected houses in the Kingdom of Fonteya—was, in fact, a Chaotic!
According to local authorities, the report was received anonymously, prompting law enforcement to launch an investigation.
As per protocol, the suspect was summoned by the Sacred Region to undergo the magical tracing test, but at the mere mention of the examination, Liam Laoe fled. The Purifiers assigned to the case were unable to capture him, losing all trace of his whereabouts shortly after.
However, this event confirmed beyond any reasonable doubt what initially seemed like an unfounded accusation: Liam Laoe was indeed a Chaotic!
Unfortunately, nothing is known about his Anomalous Sintony or the level of danger he poses. For this reason, his photograph has been shared above. If you encounter him, immediately notify the authorities or the Purifiers, who will take immediate action to arrest him!
Despite the escape of the main suspect, the court did not hesitate in its ruling: the entire Laoe family has been sentenced to death for high treason, accused of harboring and protecting a potential threat to the peace of the world!
The execution will take place publicly on March 1st in the central square of Kora, the capital of Fonteya.
* * *
Mirac stared at the article, his heart pounding wildly.
'March 1st… So that's today, huh?' he thought, lingering on the execution date of the Laoe family printed in the newspaper.
A cold grip tightened around his stomach as his mind inevitably drifted to the central figure of this event: Liam Laoe.
'I can't even imagine what he's going through right now…'
A wave of sorrow crept into Mirac's chest, followed by a subtle yet growing sense of unease.
For a brief moment, the mere thought that such a fate could one day befall him as well left him frozen in place.
But before that feeling could overwhelm him, a sudden thought jolted him back, shifting his focus to another crucial matter.
His expression, tense until that moment, became more alert.
'Wait a second! Now that I think about it… this is the first time I've ever read an article about a Chaotic!'
It was a rare event.
No, more than rare… Completely unheard of!
Something Mirac had never read or heard about anywhere before!
By now, he had fully understood that Chaotics were a taboo subject, mentioned only in school classrooms to instill in young minds the fear of the threat they represented.
No one spoke of them openly, least of all in the newspapers.
That's why Mirac had initially been a bit surprised and shocked by this "exception to the rule."
'But why did they write an entire newspaper article about it this time? Is it because he's a Chaotic who somehow managed to escape from the Purifiers? Or maybe to spread his photo more quickly, so that more people become aware of the case and what he looks like, ensuring Liam gets captured as soon as possible?'
Mirac thought for a few minutes, his fingers nervously tapping on the edge of the newspaper.
'But, even more importantly, how did they figure out he was a Chaotic?'
The topic intrigued him a lot, since Mirac himself obviously wanted to avoid meeting the same fate as Liam Laoe!
Therefore, coming up with at least one hypothesis about how they had managed to do it could prove useful in understanding how to protect himself and prevent a similar destiny.
Fortunately, the Prince didn't have to dwell on it for long: the answer was right there, printed in black and white in front of him.
'The article says that the investigation started from an anonymous tip. However, they also mention the fact that it is unknown what Liam Laoe is in Sintony with. Therefore, I strongly doubt that he was reported for exposing his powers. It's more likely that someone became suspicious of him, perhaps noticing some strange nuance in his behavior. Or, it could be that someone to whom Liam had confided his secret betrayed him, hoping for a generous reward after turning him in to the authorities. But without concrete evidence, suspicion or mere words from someone can't possibly be enough. So, to confirm the doubts, I believe the Purifiers intended to use the "Magical Frequency Reader"!'
Mirac sighed, recalling his teacher's words.
'From what I know, and what I learned during Professor Warnock's lessons, the Magical Frequency Reader is a device capable of detecting the magical nature of an individual. But it's such a large contraption that the Purifiers can't carry it with them. That's why anyone suspected of being a Chaotic is immediately summoned to the Sacred Region. It's there that all seven prototypes of the Magical Frequency Readers are stored—the only ones in the world. A rather foolish choice, I must say. But it doesn't really matter, because all of this plays perfectly in my favor!'
Mirac unconsciously took on a posture that radiated confidence, puffing out his chest with a smile that lit up his face.
'If the problem is simply not raising any suspicions, then I have nothing to worry about. I've never used my powers outside my room, nor do I intend to do so in the future. And besides, I've never revealed my Sintony with Math to anyone: not even to Carmen! And perhaps that was the best decision I could've made. Besides, no one would have any reason or courage to report me, especially considering I'm a Prince! I can be sure of that. After all, who would dare report a member of the royal family without concrete evidence, knowing that if the accusation turns out to be false, the punishment would fall three times worse on him and his family?'
A sudden lightness filled Mirac's mind, easing the tension that gripped him every time he thought about the difficult task of hiding his true Chaotic nature.
'Hehehe! Being a Prince is really very convenient!'
* * *
Mirac continued to flip through the pages of the newspaper, but he didn't find any other news that particularly caught his interest.
With a sigh, he closed the newspaper and went back to Matthew.
In the meantime, the librarian had just finished checking the books returned by the Prince.
"I'm done," Matthew announced, writing the last title in his black notebook before returning to his reading.
"Perfect," said Mirac, giving a slight bow as he headed for the door. "I won't keep you any longer. Thank you for your kindness, and I apologize again for returning the book late."
Matthew, without taking his eyes off the book he was reading, gave a barely perceptible nod.
"It doesn't matter," he murmured in a dry tone. "I wish you a good day, young Prince…"
Without saying anything more to the little that had been said, Mirac left the library, leaving the librarian immersed in his silence.
Back in his room, he dropped onto the bed and allowed himself a few minutes of rest.
But shortly after, someone knocked on the door.
"Come in!" Mirac exclaimed, slowly getting up.
As soon as he stood up, the red-haired maid stepped across the threshold.
"Good afternoon, young Prince," said Carmen, in a calm tone, while closing the door behind her. "I heard you were looking for me."
"Exactly," Mirac replied. "I need to talk to you about something really important. It's about my sister Michelle… And also the person we've been searching for until now!"