Liam awoke in the late afternoon. With a mere thought, he used his Telekinesis to open the windows and draw back the curtains. The sun still hovered above the horizon. Realizing he'd missed both breakfast and lunch, he rose from his bed just he called for Edwin.
"Good evening, Master Liam," Edwin greeted. "Shall I prepare a meal for you?"
"No need for a full meal," Liam replied, stretching. "Some fruits will suffice."
As Edwin departed to fulfill the request, Liam changed into fresh attire, preparing for his visit to the arcanum.
As Liam walked through the corridor, an apple in hand, he took a bite and overheard the whispers around him.
"Did you hear? Prince Liam has given up his claim to the throne."
"I never thought he'd actually abdicate."
"What does this mean for his future in the kingdom?"
"Hey shush... he'll hear you — you know."
Ignoring the murmurs, Liam approached Harold - Archivist and Keeper of the Records. He greeted him, "Good evening."
"Good evening, Prince Liam," Harold replied.
Liam inquired, "What's the best material we have on the laws of nature?"
"The laws of nature, Prince Liam?" Harold asked, seeking clarification.
"Yes," Liam confirmed.
"Uh… we have 'Principles of Natural Philosophy' by Sir Cedric Moryworth," Harold suggested. "It's the best one I've read on the subject."
"That's located in the ground floor, hall of fundamentals, right?" Liam asked.
"Yes, Prince Liam," Harold confirmed.
Liam proceeded to the hall to find the book.
He entered the Hall of Fundamentals, scanning the shelves with practiced ease. Row after row of books lined the grand chamber, yet no trace of Principles of Natural Philosophy by Sir Cedric Moryworth could be found. Frustration flickered across his face as he combed through the index, confirming its absence.
He paused, deep in thought. "Could it be in the restricted section?" he muttered to himself.
Reaching into his pocket, he retrieved a golden pass, its surface gleaming faintly in the light. With a determined stride, Liam moved to a secluded part of the hall where plain stone walls enclosed the space. It seemed impenetrable—until he held up the pass.
As the golden pass caught the light, the solid wall before him shimmered and dissolved like smoke blown away by the wind. In its place appeared a massive chamber, far grander than the Hall of Fundamentals itself. Towering shelves brimming with books stretched high and wide, their sheer scale a testament to the secrets they held.
Above the arched entrance to the chamber hung an ornate sign: Hall of Fundamentals – Restricted Section.
Liam's eyes gleamed with anticipation as he stepped forward.
Liam moved purposefully through the towering shelves of the restricted section, his eyes scanning the spines of books that seemed untouched by time. Finally, nestled between two unassuming tomes, he spotted it: Principles of Natural Philosophy by Sir Cedric Moryworth.
The book was bound in deep emerald leather, its spine adorned with golden filigree that iluuminated under the soft glow of the magical lanterns. The front cover bore an embossed depiction of a tree whose roots intertwined with stars above—a symbol of the interconnectedness of life and nature.
Opening the book, Liam found a quote etched in elegant script:
"To seek understanding is to touch the divine, for the laws of nature are the whispers of creation itself."
He closed the book carefully, and placed it on a nearby table. Wandering through the section, he marveled at the magnitude of the collection. The shelves stretched far beyond what he had imagined, lined with books whose titles promised mysteries beyond comprehension.
It still baffled him how the arcanum, already immense from within, concealed ten entire floors—ten! From the outside, it appeared to be a three-story building, but that too was a masterful illusion. Each floor contained a restricted section like this one, its secrets reserved for only the most privileged.
"How much wealth does the kingdom have to maintain this?" Liam muttered, shaking his head in disbelief. As he wandered further, the enormity of the arcanum began to overwhelm him. He paused mid-step and sighed.
"Forget it," he told himself. "It's not like the pass is going anywhere. I'll explore later."
Returning to the restricted section's sitting area, Liam found it entirely deserted. Yesterday, he had tried to study in the public area, but the constant hum of activity had made it nearly impossible to concentrate. He remembered asking Harold about the restricted section, watching the keeper's attempt to maintain composure when he spotted the golden pass in Liam's hand.
Harold had explained its significance in a measured tone but couldn't quite hide his awe. "The restricted sections," he had said, "just use the pass… well, face the pass towards the wall at the end of the floor, Prince Liam. That will grant you access."
Looking around now, Liam understood what Harold meant. Not a single person had crossed his path since he'd entered. It seemed clear that access to this place was a privilege granted to an elite few—if anyone else at all.
For now, though, the solitude was exactly what Liam needed. He settled into a plush armchair, opened the book, and began to read.
As Liam delved into the pages of Principles of Natural Philosophy, his mind absorbed a steady stream of fascinating concepts, each more intriguing than the last. He read about the way objects in the land of Nvaar were drawn toward one another, much like how the sun was believed to revolve around the Earth in ancient times. The author explained this attraction, describing it as a force, a fundamental part of the natural order, he called it Nvaergon.
The book offered other little bits of wisdom, each excerpt adding a piece to the puzzle. He read about the patterns of rain, how they were not random but followed an intricate cycle governed by the unseen forces of the land. The sections on lightning were equally captivating, detailing how it was not simply a phenomenon of electricity but the result of a great, unseen energy at work.
He continued reading, fascinated by how the author described the symbiosis between plants and the air around them. "The plant exhales air, and we, in turn, breathe it in," it said, suggesting an unseen exchange between all living things. The more Liam read, the more he realized that this exchange wasn't limited to just plants and animals. The author proposed that, like plants, Nvaar itself must have roots, hidden deep within its landscape, drawing mana from the earth and breathing it into the world around them.
"It's a matter of finding where it begins," the author mused. This revelation struck Liam like a spark, the idea that there might be a source of life-force, a hidden root, somewhere in the land of Nvaar.
As he absorbed these ideas, time seemed to slip away unnoticed. He read on, eager to learn more, until the distant chime of the clock tower echoed through the restricted section. It rang thirteen times, signaling that only one hour remained before dinner.
Liam hesitated for a moment, considering whether to continue reading, but the sound of approaching footsteps broke his concentration. Someone was in the restricted section?
To his surprise, Cecily appeared, rushing toward him. "Brother!" she called out, her voice echoing in the quiet chamber.
Liam, slightly shocked, watched her pass by before recovering and asking, "Shush, Cecily. This is the Arcanum."
She glanced back, grinning mischievously. "There's nobody else here, though."
"What are you doing here?" he asked, closing the book as she came to his side.
"What are you doing?" she countered, eyeing the book in his hands.
Liam sighed. "Reading, obviously."
"Why weren't you at breakfast or lunch? Father left for the borders this morning," she said.
"I was sleeping," he admitted with a shrug.
She peered at the book in his hand. "What's this?"
He held it out for her to see. "Principles of Natural Philosophy."
Cecily took a glance, flipping through its pages. "No pictures? Boring!"
Liam chuckled. "What do you want to learn then? We've got one more hour before dinner."
"Let's go upstairs to the Mana Arts section," Cecily suggested excitedly. "It's on the third floor. Way more exciting than this!" she spoke with here hand streching to represent how exciting it will be.
"Sure," Liam replied, standing up. He turned back toward the Hall of Fundamentals, intending to leave the restricted section.
Cecily raised a brow. "Where are you going?"
"Upstairs," Liam said, gesturing toward the main exit.
She shook her head. "We can get there from here too."
Liam looked at her skeptically. "How?"
With a sly smile, Cecily took his hand and whispered to her pass, "Mana Arts."
A library ladder descended from the cloudy roof above, piercing through the illusion. Cecily climbed up with ease, turning to tease, "Don't fall, brother!"
Liam stared in astonishment before following, adding one more piece of information about the arcanum to his growing mental notes.
As they ascended, he asked, "Has everyone else left?"
Cecily replied casually, "Not me. Queen Mother Isabella, Queen Mother Seraphina, and Mother are still here."
Liam winced at the thought. With his brothers off at the barony and his sisters studying at the royal institute, the awkwardness of being among the queens lingered in his mind.
Reaching the cloudy roof, Liam hesitated as he looked down at the floor below. The intrusive thought of falling momentarily shook him, but he pressed forward, piercing through the clouds and entering the next floor.
To his surprise, the stairs didn't continue further. He stopped, scanning the vast room. Cecily was already ahead, standing before a massive shelf with her back to him, deep in thought as she debated which book to choose.
Liam smirked, speaking to himself, "Let me guess… we've reached the third floor."
As Liam followed Cecily into the new floor, his eyes caught a sign near the entrance: Mana Arts - Restricted Section. The words were carved into a polished obsidian plaque, shimmering faintly with enchantment.
"What will you be reading, Cecily?" Liam asked as they approached the towering shelves.
She grinned, her small hands clasped together in excitement. "I want to temper my mana heart. I'm so close to reaching half-step Apprentice!"
"Half-step Apprentice, huh? That's impressive. What's your plan?"
"Mother told me to read… what was it? Oh!" She snapped her fingers. "Stormcaller's Guide: Foundations of Lightning Magic. It's the best book to learn lightning spells." Her tone was brimming with confidence. "If I master lightning magic, I'll be a dual elementalist. That will help me temper my mana heart even faster."
Liam chuckled. "Well then, sister, if you figure it out, you'll have to protect me."
Cecily's mischievous grin widened. "Don't worry, brother. As long as you keep giving me gifts, nobody in Ironhelm will dare touch you."
Liam laughed heartily, watching her enthusiasm. Despite her young age, Cecily's determination was remarkable. She was only seven and already pushing toward realms that others took years to achieve. Instead of feeling jealous, Liam felt genuine pride and happiness for her.
"Do you think you can recommend a book for me, little sister? Something to temper my mana heart?"
Cecily tapped her chin thoughtfully before saying, "Start with Mana Heart for the Initiate. That's what I was told to read first. It'll help you."
She scampered off to fetch the book, returning quickly and handing it to him with a triumphant smile. Together, they found a quiet spot in the sitting area. As they settled in, Cecily immediately immersed herself in her own book, her small frame almost dwarfed by the large tome. Liam smiled as he watched her. She truly was talented, and he couldn't help but admire her focus.
Turning his attention to his own book, Liam began reading. One passage stood out to him:
"The mana heart is a vessel of crimson flame, the core of one's magical potential. To temper it, one must concentrate deeply, imagining the breath of life coursing through their body. This breath carries mana—fuel for the flame. Visualize the flame growing brighter, beating with the rhythm of your heart. With each pulse, mana flows through your veins, rushing like a river with every beat. Fuel the flame, let it burn, and allow the mana to synchronize with the cadence of your being."
Another excerpt explained the process further:
"The mana heart thrives on repetition and focus. Each cycle of fueling the flame strengthens its brilliance. Do not fear the intensity of the pulse, for it is the very essence of your life-force. The mana heart is both delicate and powerful—a perfect balance. Through practice, its brilliance will grow, and so too will your control over it."
Liam closed his eyes and followed the instructions, focusing on the faint warmth in his chest. Slowly, he visualized the crimson flame flickering within, stoking it with each imagined breath. As the flame grew brighter, he felt a pulse in his veins, the mana flowing rhythmically with his heartbeat. He repeated the process, falling into a trance as he fueled the flame again and again.
Time seemed to blur. Lost in the repetition, Liam's thoughts wandered deeper into the mana heart. Suddenly, something changed. He felt an unfamiliar brilliance—a surge of energy—and saw his crimson flame glow brighter than ever before. This was no ordinary improvement; it wasn't a gradual change over the years. It was immediate, vivid, and almost overwhelming.
What is this? Am I dreaming? he thought, shocked by the crimson intensity of the light within his mana heart.
"Brother… Brother… Brother!" Cecily's voice broke through his trance. She was shaking his shoulder.
Liam blinked and turned to her, still disoriented. "What?"
Cecily exhaled sharply, relieved. "Brother, it's time for dinner. The clock tower just rang the fourteenth time. Why weren't you listening?"
Liam shook his head, clearing his thoughts. "Nothing… Anyway, let's leave."
Cecily called for the Hall of Fundamentals through her pass. The library ladder descended from the ceiling, they climbed upstairs but it lead them back down. Liam followed her silently, but his thoughts were far from the physical world.
All he could think about was the brilliance of his mana flame—the purest light he had ever seen.