Chapter: 2
Jayden sat in the castle's expansive library, the air thick with the smell of old parchment and dust. The dim light from the high windows cast long shadows across rows of ancient tomes and towering bookshelves. Behind a grand oak desk, Jayden sat hunched over, his eyes scanning the pages of a well-worn book.
Abigail approached him with measured steps, a stack of books balanced expertly in her hands. "Here are the books you asked for, Lord Jayden," she said, her voice calm and professional as always.
"Thank you, Abigail." Jayden barely looked up, his focus still on the book in front of him.
As Abigail placed the books on the desk, Jayden leaned back in his chair, his fingers idly tapping the armrest. 'Because my parents don't want to teach me anything of value, I had to teach myself how to read and write. It wasn't easy, but I suppose that's just one more thing I had to do alone.'
He glanced up at Abigail. "Can you fetch me some tea, please?"
"Of course, my Lord," Abigail replied with a bow before turning and walking away, her footsteps fading into the distance.
Once she was out of sight, Jayden stood and made his way deeper into the library. His movements were deliberate, his eyes scanning the shelves as he navigated through the maze of books.
'There are areas in this library no one dares to venture into. Labeled as the forbidden section, they've been left untouched for years. When I first discovered it, I realized it would be the perfect place to study uninterrupted. And now, it's where I hide what I can't afford anyone else to see.'
He turned down a dimly lit aisle, the faint scent of mildew hanging in the air. Stopping before a shelf that seemed to sag under the weight of its ancient contents, Jayden's eyes landed on a single, worn, brown hardcover book. He reached out and pulled it from the shelf, running his fingers over the faded lettering on the cover.
"Exactly where I left you," he muttered.
The cover read: Introductory to Magic.
A faint smirk played on Jayden's lips as he turned the book over in his hands. 'Magic. I've learned a lot about this world through this library, but discovering this book? That was something else entirely. In most parts of the world, magic is forbidden, including here in the Valor Kingdom. They burned most of the texts a decade ago. But somehow, this survived. It's ironic, really—something so powerful, yet left to gather dust in a forgotten corner.'
Jayden tucked the book under his arm and made his way back to his secluded study area. By the time he returned to his desk, Abigail was there, placing a tea tray beside him.
"Your tea, my Lord," she said, her expression calm but professional.
"Thank you, Abigail." Jayden placed the book down, and as he picked up the teacup, he noticed her gaze linger on the brown hardcover.
'A book on magic?' Abigail thought to herself, keeping her expression neutral. 'I thought all the texts on magic were destroyed years ago.'
"Lord Jayden," Abigail asked cautiously, "if you don't mind me asking, where did you find that book?"
Jayden met her gaze, his sharp eyes narrowing slightly. For a moment, there was silence. Then he sighed, deciding to answer honestly. "It was deep in the forbidden section. No one ever goes there."
"I see," Abigail replied, bowing her head. "Very well. I'll leave you to your reading." She bowed again and turned to leave, her footsteps soft against the marble floor.
Jayden watched her go, then took a sip of the tea. "Milk tea," he muttered with faint satisfaction before placing the cup down and flipping open the book.
"Alright," he said, settling into his chair. "Let's begin: Chapter One."
For the next hour, Jayden was absorbed in the book's contents. His eyes darted across the pages, his brow furrowed as he processed the information.
'Okay, quick recap. There are two things necessary to use magic: Mana and spells. Mana is an energy source that exists in every living thing in varying amounts. Because of this, magical creatures like dragons exist—or used to, at least. No one's seen one in years. As for using magic, there are two ways to access your Mana. Either someone who can already use magic activates it within you, or you train to unlock it yourself. Since I don't know anyone who can use magic, option two it is.'
Jayden closed the book and exhaled deeply, leaning back in his chair. "At least the steps to unlock it are straightforward enough. I can work it into my daily routine along with sword training and studying."
He stood, stretching as he yawned. "That's enough studying for today."
Leaving the library, Jayden wandered into the castle halls. The sun was low in the sky, casting the corridors in a warm orange glow. He glanced out one of the tall windows, noting the time.
"I didn't realize how late it was," he muttered.
Eventually, he reached his room, closing the door behind him. Walking over to his makeshift bed, he sat down and crossed his legs.
"Alright," he said, taking a deep breath. "Let's get started."
Jayden straightened his back and closed his eyes, focusing his mind.
'The book said to start by concentrating on the world around me, to feel the Mana in the air.'
The atmosphere in the room seemed to shift, growing heavy. A faint, almost imperceptible energy began to gather around him, shimmering like white mist. Jayden's breathing deepened as he felt the weight of the Mana pressing against his skin.
'Next, I need to let the natural Mana seep into my body and use it to awaken my dormant Mana.'
He imagined the energy flowing into him, entering through his pores, his skin, even his hair. The Mana moved slowly, coursing through his body and searching for the dormant energy hidden within. Jayden felt lighter, as if a part of him was awakening.
His concentration broke when a soft knock echoed from the door.
"Lord Jayden, may I enter?" Abigail's voice called from the other side.
Jayden opened his eyes, exhaling sharply as he let the Mana dissipate. He stood, walking over to the door. "Come in."
The door creaked open as Abigail stepped inside, bowing slightly.
"What is it, Abigail?" Jayden asked, his tone neutral but curious.
"The King requests your presence in the dining room for dinner, my Lord."
Jayden's expression shifted slightly, his brows furrowing in confusion. "What?"
Chapter 2: End