Chereads / Academy's Extra:The APEX LEGACY / Chapter 21 - The Library

Chapter 21 - The Library

Two Days later

[First Year Cadets Ranking]

1. Leon Aekins

2. Arnold Storms

3. Elara Veilcrest

4. Sylvia Anderson

5. Aria Catherine

6. Ray CrownHeart

7. Kevin Emerson

8. Kaya Hearts

9. ....

****

Two days had passed since my match with Kevin. The Rankings are almost same as the original novel with just a slight deviation of one rank because of my intervention but it's nothing much.

The targets of the demons are top 10 and lower ranks students anyway.

As for the reason why they?.

The top 10 rankers have the potential to become danger for them whereas the weak minds of the lower ones are easy to manipulate in their treacherous schemes.

The classes will be starting from tomorrow as the students were given a break after constant fights from the week. Right now i am moving through the hallways of academy towards library.

Getting the general and geographical knowledge of the world is also important right. Well, i already know most of the things from the novel and old memories but getting the general idea of everything wouldn't hurt right. So here we are.

The Arcanian Library

It's the world biggest library consisting the ocean of knowledge. From ancient texts to forbidden spells. From summoning rituals to archaic alchemical formulas of past. It even contains some of the prehistoric records of more than 8000 years. Cool right, but well we are not allowed in the forbidden library area without the permission of the headmaster. So, can't do anything about it no matter how i am itching to read the books there.

As i reached towards the library the towering wooden gate came into the view. The crisp dark brown old wooden gate was decorated with intricate designs of the academy insignia together with some gems and stones. The dimly glowing lines indicates the enchantments used for both the preservation and locks for safety. The whole library is covered by an almost impenetrable barrier.

As i told you already this world is a combination of fantasy and science. The technology here is more advanced from the earth thanks to mana and the sharp minds but the element of fantasy has the higher weight here just like the gate here it isn't made of metal but of wood. Also don't underestimate the gate here the metal of our earth doesn't even stand a chance against it.

*Scan

Scanning my id from the watch i moved inside the library. The students don't need to scan the id everytime they enter it. After, the first scan it

automatically confirms your identity and let's you enter it without any interference of the barrier.

The library was a vast, sprawling cathedral of knowledge, its large shelves carved from ancient oak and etched with runes that softly glowed in the dim light. Books of every size and hue filled the air with the scent of aged parchment and ink that hits the nose as soon as someone entered, their pages whispering secrets from distant lands and forgotten times.

Chandeliers fashioned from enchanted crystals hung overhead, casting shifting patterns of golden light that danced like spirits across the marble floor. In the corners, shadowed alcoves held worn armchairs and desks. A faint hum of magic seemed to pulse through the air, as though the library itself was alive, safeguarding the wisdom and mysteries of countless ages.

At its heart stood a spiral staircase of black iron, winding upward into endless heights, leading to forbidden archives that only the some of the chosen lucky ones are allowed to venture.

Moving towards the distant shelves i picked up the books that the contained the knowledge i seeked. Getting a place to read in peace was an easy task as the land of knowledge was, well deserted would be the right word to describe this notion. Actually it does make sense that most the students even the seniors will be having their breaks. Sitting on the chair beside the window i immersed myself in the book.

....

The land of Arcania was a realm of mystic wonders, a tapestry woven from the threads of myth and magic. Its skies echoed with the mighty roars of legendary creatures- the dragons, phoenix etc. Though rare but not extinct.

Majestic dragons ruled the skies, their fiery breaths carving both fear and respect into the hearts of all who gazed upward their shimmering scales catching the sunlight as they soared above snow-capped peaks. Hidden within its verdant forests and rolling meadows were the delicate, ethereal fairy folk, their laughter like the chiming of silver bells. Their tales of mischief echoeing through generations.

Every corner of Arcania seemed touched by enchantment, from crystal-clear lakes that whispered forgotten secrets to ancient ruins where the remnants of spells long cast still lingered. It was a world where the impossible was not just possible but commonplace, a land alive with stories waiting to be told. It is a realm of mystic wonders, a place where legends and myths intertwined to create a world brimming with awe and danger.

Beyond these lands lay the forbidden territories—places shrouded in secrecy, filled with labyrinths holding the ancient knowledge of civilizations long past. It was a world of breathtaking marvels, but also one teetering on the edge of ruin. The wretched demons, born of destruction and hatred, sought to unmake everything, to plunge Arcania into chaos and despair.

Thats the reality of Arcania—a world of unparalleled beauty and boundless danger, where hope and destruction danced a perilous waltz.

"Damn, whoever the writer of this book was it seems he was deep in literature and poetry."

So, well this is you can say the setting of the world. Oh yeah, there is only one continent. Now if we are talking about the continent it's divided into four parts.

1. The Zones – These domains were established in the aftermath of the great alliance, a historic pact forged to fight against the Demons and bring peace.

Each Zone is a bastion of coexistence, where races once divided by distinct features now share homes, traditions, and governance of the Hero's association.

From the bustling cities of Unity Spire, where humans, elves, and dwarves work side by side to build towering marvels, to the tranquil Verdant Union , where aquarians and halflings live in harmonious seas and amid lush forests, each Zone is a testament to resilience and cooperation.

The Zones sit at the borders of perilous regions like the Corrupted Deathlands, their harmony threatened by incursions of undead and corrupted beasts. Tensions sometimes simmer beneath the surface, as old prejudices and cultural differences test the strength of the alliance.

2. The Celestial Forests – A realm of untamed magic and breathtaking wonder, these forests are a living tapestry of mystic phenomena. Towering trees with glowing canopies stretch endlessly into the skies, their branches humming softly with different energies. Bioluminescent flowers bloom in radiant hues, casting an ethereal glow that lights the forest floor. Rivers of liquid starlight wind through the woods, their waters said to grant visions of forgotten futures.

The Celestial Forests are alive with wonders both known and unknown. In some areas, gravity bends, allowing creatures to walk on vertical cliffs or float weightlessly among the treetops. Elsewhere another phenomenon occurred. These forests are home to elusive beings—spirits, guardians, and fairies who dwell in harmony with its magic.

Despite centuries of exploration, some swathes of the Celestial Forests remain uncharted. Stories tell of hidden realms within, where the fabric of reality blurs, and those who wander too far may never return. The forest is as much a sanctuary as it is a labyrinth, its beauty and danger inextricably intertwined.

3. The Eternal Mountains – Towering peaks that pierce the skies, shrouded in clouds and cloaked in mysticism. These ancient mountains are the dwelling place of beings so magnificent and powerful that their very presence warps the fabric of the world. Dragons rule the skies, their massive wings casting shadows over the jagged cliffs as their roars echo like thunder through the valleys. Phoenixes nest in fiery craters, their eternal flames illuminating the mountain paths, while unicorns wander the hidden glades, their ethereal beauty as captivating as it is otherworldly.

Though not forbidden, the Eternal Mountains are not a place for the faint-hearted. Travelers are free to enter, but the peril is immense—encounters with these higher beings are as unpredictable as the mountains themselves. A dragon might judge you worthy of its wisdom, or reduce you to ash in an instant. A phoenix may offer the gift of rebirth, or guard its domain with unyielding fury. Even the unicorns, though graceful and serene, are guardians of ancient power and tolerate no trespassers without reason.

The mountains are a place of awe and dread, a land where nature's raw majesty and magic collide. Legends say the peaks hold untold treasures—knowledge, artifacts, and even the secrets of immortality—but those who seek them must face trials that test the very limits of courage and resolve. Many enter the Eternal Mountains; few ever return to tell the tale.

4. The Corrupted Deathlands – Once a thriving region, now a desolate and accursed wasteland, scarred by the devastating aftermath of the 100-year war. The earth here is blackened and cracked, seeping with an unnatural miasma that poisons everything it touches. These lands are overrun by corrupted beasts, twisted abominations born of war's unholy magic, and the restless undead, cursed to roam endlessly as shadows of their former selves. No light penetrates the heavy, sulfurous clouds that hang in the sky, and even the bravest adventurers fear to tread here, knowing that the Deathlands do not forgive and seldom let anyone escape. The region serves as a grim reminder of the cost of unchecked power of nature and a warning to those who dare to disturb its haunted silence.

(Note - I know this chapter has a lot of info dump but it's important for the story. Just after 1 or 2 chapters we will start the main story. So sit tight and from today onwards i will release 10 to 12 chapters every week).