At night, Lyra hugged her soft cotton pillow and watched the moonlight filter through the curtains, casting a gentle glow on the corner of her bed. Her once clear and translucent eyes gradually grew clouded with confusion.
The events of the day had been too tortuous to comprehend.
First, she had rescued Miss Lina from the clutches of thieves, only to be dragged by the latter into attending a coming-of-age ball.
There, she encountered Princess Astrid, who ended up splashing a glass of wine on her. To top it all off, she lost her admission quota in a daze and was forced to become the princess's personal maid.
Thinking of the silver-haired princess with her commanding aura, Lyra shrank further into her quilt. Her eyelashes fluttered, and her slender, pale legs curled up slightly.
That arrogant demeanor... It was truly infuriating.
Originally, she would have been enrolling in the academy tomorrow, but now she had to wait another year.
The gap between heaven and hell was nothing compared to this.
Pounding her pillow in frustration, as if to vent her anger at Astrid, Lyra pursed her lips and stared blankly at the ceiling.
Tomorrow morning, she would have to request a half-day leave from Her Royal Highness Astrid to return to the hotel, pack her belongings, and explain the situation to Miss Lina.
Whether the other party agreed or not, she had to leave.
If all else failed, she could always run away secretly.
After struggling with her thoughts until the middle of the night, Lyra finally fell asleep.
••••
Meanwhile, Astrid, who was only a wall away, had just laid down on her bed. Her fingers gently massaged her temples, which ached from the day's events.
The original work primarily focused on the portrayal of Lyra's character and the specific events she participated in, without delving into the broader worldview. This left Astrid with many unanswered questions.
First and foremost, the language system of this world was entirely different from that of her previous life. Fortunately, thanks to the memories of the original body, Astrid could naturally converse with others, read books, and even write with a pen.
In addition to the language system, this world was home to various intelligent creatures: Elves, Orcs, dragons, and more.
Correspondingly, there were numerous forms of magic and magical arrays. According to what she had gathered, this world could be classified as a mid-level magical plane.
Unfortunately, there was little information available in her boudoir. Aside from clothes and jewelry, there wasn't a single professional book. The only items that could help Astrid understand the world were the red magic crystal in her drawer and the small fire-attribute crystal used to heat the bathtub.
She took out the magic crystal and held it up to her eyes. The dark red light reflected in her eyes, resembling a slowly swirling vortex.
After staring at the crystal for a long time, Astrid placed it back on the bedside table and quietly pulled up the quilt.
There wasn't much useful information here. Tomorrow, she would have to visit the Royal Library herself.
---
The next morning, Astrid had breakfast under Elise's attentive service. When she heard that Lyra was going to the hotel to pack her luggage, she didn't make a fuss and allowed her to leave the palace, instructing her to return by the afternoon to begin learning the etiquette of a maid.
"Elise, take me to the library," Astrid said, dabbing her lips with a napkin before gracefully setting it down. She smoothed the hem of her skirt with her hands.
"Yes, Miss Astrid,"
Elise bowed slightly, motioned for the maids to clear the dishes, and stepped forward to guide Astrid. The delicate princess, who had lived in the palace for years but had rarely visited the library, was now being led to her destination.
As for why Astrid suddenly wanted to go to the library, Elise, as a maid, knew better than to ask. Her duty was simply to fulfill her responsibilities.
Upon arriving at the library, Astrid presented her credentials to the staff and instructed Elise to wait at the door before entering the reading area alone.
The Royal Library of Valeria was divided into five floors. The first and second floors housed a vast collection of humanities and history books, covering topics such as agricultural farming, weapon forging, and tool making.
The third and fourth floors delved into occult knowledge, featuring common magical circles and their corresponding instructional literature.
The fifth floor, though similar in design, was restricted to a select few. Even Princess Astrid, despite her status, was not among the handful of individuals permitted to access this core layer.
The rhythmic tapping of Astrid's leather shoes echoed against the tiled floor as she gazed at the grandeur of the royal library. Floating lighting orbs intertwined with towering bookshelves that seemed to stretch endlessly. Her bright red pupils dilated slightly as she took in the sight.
Last night, while observing the fire-attribute crystal in her bath, the feedback had been less tangible. But now, seeing the glowing blue magic circles suspended in midair, Astrid was once again certain that she had truly transmigrated into a world where magic was real.
As she ascended the suspended staircase to the second floor, she noticed a few pairs of eyes turning toward her. Astrid's expression remained composed as she casually picked up a book and began flipping through its pages.
Princess Astrid was not known for her scholarly pursuits. Her love for dressing up and shopping was well-known throughout the palace. So, what had prompted this sudden change? Why was she pretending to browse books in the royal library?
Ignoring the curious and sometimes judgmental gazes around her, Astrid focused on the contents of the book. It was a geographical overview of the Valeria Empire, detailing the territories of the major dukes and their respective roles within the empire.
After spending considerable time engrossed in the book, Astrid moved to the history section. She scanned the labels carefully and eventually pulled out a comprehensive history of the Valeria Empire.
These two books would provide her with enough material to study for a while.
To maintain her character, Astrid also picked up a few lighter reads, such as 'The Adventures of Melina' and 'A Pen for Painting Reality'. It would seem as though the arrogant princess had merely come to the library to pass the time with stories.
As Astrid passed the staircase leading to the third floor, she paused briefly, hesitating for a moment before deciding to ascend. She wondered if there might be something more to gain from the higher levels.
The third floor's layout was similar to that of the first and second floors, but the bookshelves here were filled with tomes on magic. Astrid selected a primer on magic and settled at a desk to study it.
Prologue: On the Hierarchy of Mages
Both the Valeria Empire and the neighboring Kingdom of Velys had tacitly divided Mages into five stages, ranked by level: Apprentices, Sorcerer, Magnus, Arcanist, and Spellcreator.
Astrid mused to herself that, at this point, Lyra likely wasn't even an apprentice—just a novice who had barely begun her journey into the study of magic.
After reading about the hierarchy of mages, Astrid moved on to the next few sections, which detailed the external manifestations of each stage. She read each word carefully, gradually forming a vague understanding in her mind.
Chapter 4: Flamethrow's Spell Casting Incantation
The text explained that those who could chant the incantation in its entirety and mobilize the corresponding elemental power could be considered junior apprentices.
As Astrid read further, her delicate body suddenly tensed, and the hand holding the paper tightened slightly.
"The flame that flows with the spirit condenses and explodes quickly at the extreme."
This was the incantation for the Flamethrow spell.
If that were all there was to it, Astrid wouldn't have reacted so strongly.
What shocked her the most was...
This incantation, word for word, was written entirely in English.