The second book Lucas picked up was about magic elements. While he had hoped for something more specific—like a book focused only on the sound element—this one seemed broad but still useful. He expected to find at least a little information about sound magic. As for void magic, he didn't expect much. Eldric had told him that only he and Nyxarion possessed it, so it made sense that only Nyxarion would know its secrets. Still, Lucas was eager to learn whatever he could.
He opened the book carefully, the old pages giving off a faint, musty smell. The first sections covered the basics of magic: how mana cores worked, the different elements, and some general facts about magic. Some of it was familiar, but there was a lot that was new to him. The book didn't go too deep—it only listed the basic spells for each element—but that was fine with Lucas. He wanted to take things slowly, step by step. Trying to learn too much at once would only confuse him.
As he read, Lucas found himself drawn into the details. The book explained the different types of magic elements and provided simple spells for each one. He saw examples like fireballs, water shields, and earth walls. When he got to the section on sound magic, he found only three spells listed. Even though it wasn't much, it was more than he had expected. But the explanations for how to cast the spells were hard to follow. The instructions used strange terms and ideas that didn't make much sense to him.
'How does Eldric even learn magic from books like these?' Lucas thought, frowning as he reread a confusing paragraph.
He decided to deal with it later. Maybe Eldric could explain the parts he didn't understand. For now, he closed the book and reached for the next one. This book was about the kingdoms and geography of the world, something Lucas was just as eager to learn about. He hoped it would give him an idea of where to go next and what to expect on his journey.
The book described five great kingdoms: Avaloria, Solvanyr, Nytheris, Vaeltharion, and Elyndralis. These kingdoms were the largest and most powerful in the world. Avaloria stood out as the strongest of them all, known for its wealth, influence, and magical advancements. Besides the kingdoms, the book also mentioned various other places—ancient ruins, mythical lands, busy cities, and remote villages. Some of these places were mysterious, and their existence was still debated by scholars.
Lucas was especially interested in the uncharted or mythical locations. Places that were rumored to exist but had never been proven fascinated him. He made a mental note of a few intriguing ones, imagining himself exploring their secrets someday. 'This world is so much bigger than I thought,' he realized. 'I'm glad I took the time to learn all this before moving on.'
After finishing the geography book, Lucas turned to the last one. It was about aura. At first, the idea seemed familiar. Back on Earth, he had read stories and novels about similar concepts. But seeing it explained in detail here still excited him.
Aura, the book explained, was a unique type of energy primarily used by martial artists and weapon fighters, such as swordsmen, archers, and spearmen. Unlike mana, which was stored in the mana core and used for casting spells, aura was stored directly in the body itself. This made it both powerful and dangerous. The capacity for storing aura was entirely dependent on the individual's physical limits. If a person tried to hold more aura than their body could handle, the consequences could be catastrophic—resulting in their body literally bursting from the strain. Lucas found the idea both terrifying and fascinating, imagining the delicate balance required to master such a force.
'This is why I love reading. You can learn so much,' Lucas thought with a smile.
Aura worked mainly as a way to boost physical abilities like strength, speed, and durability. But on its own, it didn't have any special effects. To make it more powerful, most people combined aura with their magic element. For example, someone with fire magic could create an aura that burned their enemies, while someone with ice magic could freeze things with their attacks. Lucas's excitement grew as he imagined the possibilities.
'This is incredible! I want to learn how to do this!'
The book described what aura looked like, too. Normally, it appeared as a transparent flame surrounding the user. But as someone grew stronger, their aura could change. The stronger the aura, the more visible it became, eventually taking on a color that reflected the user's soul. Lucas couldn't help but picture himself surrounded by a bright, powerful aura, his magic and physical abilities combined.
After finishing the final book, Lucas leaned back in his chair. He had learned so much: the basics of magic, the layout of the world, and the mysteries of aura. There were still many questions he didn't have answers to—especially about void magic and Nyxarion—but he felt more prepared than ever. With this knowledge, Lucas was ready to take the next step on his journey.