The afternoon sun cast long shadows over the academy grounds as Kael made his way toward the grand entrance of the Sciente Library. He had spent his whole morning navigating the extremely large academy grounds to find the Library, but he felt it was worth it, since he needed information, not just about the exams but about the magical world he had been thrown into. To succeed, he had to learn everything he could, and the library was the key.
The Sciente Library was more than just a repository of books—it was a legendary hub of knowledge. Towering columns, arched windows, and intricate carvings adorned the library's grand façade. Inside, it was said that the library held ancient tomes, scrolls, and magical knowledge that spanned centuries. The sheer magnitude of the place was intimidating, but Kael wasn't one to shy away from a challenge.
As he stepped through the large double doors, the sight of the massive interior took his breath away. The shelves stretched high into the vaulted ceiling, each packed with books and scrolls of various ages and sizes. Lanterns floated gently overhead, casting a soft glow that illuminated the rows of books and gave the space an ethereal atmosphere. The air smelled of parchment, wood, and ink.
Kael moved toward the front desk where a middle-aged woman with sharp eyes and a stern expression sat, carefully sorting through a pile of scrolls. She didn't look up as he approached, so Kael cleared his throat softly. The woman raised her eyes, peering at him over her spectacles.
"The first-year section is over there," she said, pointing to a row of bookshelves off to the side. "You'll have access to more advanced materials once you rank up."
Kael gave a nod of thanks and turned in the direction she had indicated. As he passed through the main aisle, his eyes were drawn to a massive magical array at the center of the hall. The array was carved into the floor and glowed faintly with an otherworldly light. Intricate symbols and patterns pulsed slowly, as if the array itself was alive.
Kael paused, feeling a strange pull toward it. Something about the array intrigued him, though he wasn't quite sure why. He had seen magical arrays before, but this one felt… different. More powerful. More important.
"That's the Omnes Scientes Array," Director Blaire who had suddenly appeared behind Kael said. "It's why this place is called the Sciente Library."
Kael turned, shocked that Blaire was now behind him, watching with a hint of amusement.
"It's connected to every official branch of the academy across the globe," she explained. "Together, they form the largest network of knowledge ever created. Scholars from all over the world can share their findings instantly through that array."
"The largest network of knowledge ever created…" Kael muttered, his curiosity growing. He could only imagine the wealth of information stored in that array. If only he could access it.
But Blaire quickly dashed his hopes. "Access to the array is restricted. Only third-year students, members of the student council, or those in the disciplinary committee are allowed to use it."
Kael frowned slightly but chose not to argue. It made sense that such a powerful tool would be reserved for upper-level students. However, he couldn't ignore the peculiarity of his current situation. The director, who had clearly noticed his unusual reaction during the magic analysis, had suddenly appeared behind him without warning. The timing was suspicious, and Kael immediately assumed he had been discovered, prompting him to adopt a guarded demeanor around her.
Blaire, noticing his reaction, chuckled softly. Kael, unsure of how to respond, simply continued to watch her, his expression unreadable.
Recognizing his wariness, Blaire decided that subtlety wouldn't work with him and opted for a direct approach. "What class are you planning to join?" she asked.
To her surprise, Kael found her straightforwardness disarming and replied honestly, "I'm planning to be a Striker."
Blaire nodded thoughtfully before offering a parting remark. "You should learn to greet your elders," she said with a faint smile as she turned and walked towards the Omnes Scientes Array. Under her breath, she murmured to herself, "Should I call Birdie?"
With Blaire gone, Kael resumed his path toward the first-year section of the library, his mind still lingering on the strange encounter.
The first-year section of the library wasn't as grand as the rest of the space, but it was still filled with shelves of books, each brimming with knowledge. Kael wasted no time in selecting several volumes on the basics of Awakened, cause he realized that all the concepts he had were vague. As he settled at one of the long wooden tables, he noticed a few other first-year students scattered throughout the section, each engrossed in their own studies.
One student—a young girl with short brunette hair—was frantically flipping through a book titled Foundations of Rune Inscription. She glanced up at Kael as he approached, offering him a quick, nervous smile before diving back into her notes. Another student, a boy with dark curly hair, sat nearby, cross-referencing two books on elemental theory, muttering to himself as he scribbled furiously in the margins.
Kael sat down at an empty table and opened the first book on elemental magic. As he read, he became more and more immersed in the complexity of the magical world. The book detailed the different Schools of Magic, explaining how mages typically specialized in one or more Primary Schools—Creation, Control, Inscription, Enhancement, and Summoning. From there, they could move on to Secondary Schools, such as Elemental Creation or Mind Control. And for the truly gifted, the Tertiary Schools awaited, where abstract and unique forms of magic like Alchemy and Illusion were taught.
As Kael absorbed the information, he couldn't help but think about how Miara inside him might interact with these schools of magic. He hadn't been able to cast spells like the others, but perhaps understanding the theory behind them would unlock something hidden within him. Miara had been quiet for a while, but he knew it was always analyzing, always learning.
Just as he was about to move on to the next chapter, the familiar voice of Miara echoed in his mind.
[Instead of reading each book individually, you can flip through the pages. I will record the information.]
Kael paused, surprised. Miara had never directly offered to assist with his studies like this before, but it made sense. The more knowledge it could record, the better prepared he would be.
[This method will save time and ensure you retain all necessary knowledge.]
A small smirk tugged at the corner of Kael's mouth. He closed the book and began flipping through the pages rapidly, trusting Miara to record everything. The words blurred before his eyes, but it didn't matter. Miara absorbed the information faster than he could read it, storing it for future use.
Several hours passed as Kael worked his way through multiple volumes, Miara efficiently recording the contents of each book.
Just as he was getting tired of monotonously flipping through books, a shadow fell across his table. Kael looked up to see a tall boy with an arrogant smirk standing over him.
"You've been here flipping pages for hours," the boy said with a sneer. "Do you even understand half of what you're reading?"
Kael didn't recognize him, but based on his tone, Kael was sure he came to look for trouble "I understand enough." He replied in a matter of fact tone.
The boy scoffed. "I doubt that. Someone like you—"
Before he could finish, another voice cut in. "Leave him alone, Varric... we were told not to interact with does from Bellum.". She said, whispering the latter part.
Kael turned to see the brunette-haired girl from earlier standing nearby, her arms crossed and a determined look on her face.
Varric rolled his eyes. "Freya. It doesn't matter."
Freya's glare hardened. "Maybe you should worry more about your own studies instead of bothering others."
Varric huffed in annoyance but seemed to lose interest. With a dismissive wave, he turned and walked away. Freya watched him go before turning back to Kael.
"Sorry about that," she said with a sheepish smile. "Varric likes to act like he owns the place, but don't let him get to you."
Kael nodded in appreciation. "Thanks."
Freya glanced at the books spread out on his table, clearly impressed. "You've been reading all of this?"
"Trying to," Kael said, glancing at the now neatly stacked books.
Freya grinned. "You've got determination, I'll give you that. Most people wouldn't spend this much time studying on their own."
Kael shrugged. "I'm not like most people."
Freya chuckled. "Clearly."
As Freya returned to her own table, Kael went back to his scanning. Hours had passed, and yet he still felt like there was so much more to learn. His attention, however, was soon drawn away by the feeling of another presence nearby. He looked up and found Director Blaire Krishna standing across from him, arms crossed and an amused smirk on her face.
"You're working hard for someone who can barely use mana " she said, her tone light but sharp as she sat down across from him.
Kael stiffened slightly, his mind racing. He was now sure that this woman had found out his secret, cause why else would a Director–one of the highest positions in the academy go through so much effort to interact with him. Even though he knew he had been caught, he kept his face neutral. "Knowledge is important," Kael replied evenly, keeping his voice calm despite the sudden attention. "Even if I barely use mana yet, I need to understand how it works."
Blaire leaned back in her chair, that playful glint still in her eyes as she regarded him with interest. "That's true" she said.
Blaire stood up, stretching casually as if the conversation had been of little importance to her. "Good luck, Kael," she said with a final smile. "I'll be watching."
She turned on her heel and walked away, her presence leaving the library as suddenly as it had appeared. Kael watched her go, his mind wondering what he should do about this ginger, who clearly knew about his magic analysis, and kept pestering him, rather than being direct.
***
Blaire walked briskly through the academy corridors, her mind still on Kael. She hadn't expected him to be so boring, but there was something intriguing under that facade. She couldn't stop thinking about him. There was something hidden beneath the surface—something that piqued her curiosity in a way no other student had.
Blaire smiled to herself, a mischievous glint in her eye. She would be keeping a close watch on Kael in the coming days. Something told her that he would continue to hide his skills, so she went through the extra length of ensuring he isn't expelled before he reveals all his secrets.
Her father had warned her about interfering with students, but Blaire didn't see this as interference. She was just… observing. No harm in that, right?
***
Back in the private residence, Kael sat on his bed ready to actually start learning. Earlier in the library, he had just flipped through as many books as possible for Miara to scan, but now he was actually ready to learn.