Zed stood in the dimly lit library, the soft glow of the fire lamp casting golden shadows along the rows of ancient bookshelves. The scent of old parchment and polished wood hung thick in the air.
Stacks of books lay scattered on the heavy oak table before him—histories of noble houses, political codes, and geographical studies. He had been digging through them for hours, soaking up as much information as possible about this new world.
But now, his attention had shifted.
A thin, black-bound book lay beneath the others, its cover worn and faded with age. The title barely visible beneath layers of dust read:
"The Art of Rhu."
Zed's gaze sharpened. He brushed away the dust and pulled the book free from the pile.
"Rhu…?"
The word had come up a few times in the other books he'd read—something about strength, magical energy, and divine bloodlines. But none of them explained it properly.
He flipped the book open, the brittle pages crackling under his touch. The first page contained an old, handwritten note:
"To wield Rhu is to touch the essence of creation itself. Few are born with the gift. Even fewer survive mastering it."
Zed's brow furrowed. He turned the page.The concept intrigued him more than he expected. In his previous world, magic was nothing more than a fantasy—a fairy tale meant for children. Here, it was a reality, woven into the very fabric of existence.
"What is Rhu?"
Zed leaned forward, his sharp gaze tracing the inked lines as he read aloud under his breath:
"Rhu is the life essence that exists in all living beings. Though Rhu is present in everyone, only those with a refined mind and body can harness its energy by forming a Rhu Core. Awakening one's Rhu Core means forging a connection with the breath of the world, granting the wielder the ability to command the forces of nature and enhance both body and mind."
"Command the forces of nature, huh?"
Zed's fingers tapped lightly on the table as he continued reading.
He turned the page.
"The awakening of a Rhu Core is not guaranteed. Most individuals awaken their core naturally between the ages of 13 to 18. In rare cases, certain bloodlines or traumatic events can trigger an early awakening. Some races are born with their cores already active"
Zed sat back, his mind churning.
"So it's like a bloodline ability or a magical talent. Interesting."
Zed kept on reading for hours.
The knowledge about Rhu, Rhu Cardinals, and the Rhu Core — its stages, the aura colors at each level, and the distinctions between races — he absorbed it all. The deeper he read, the more complex the concept of Rhu became.
But there was one problem.
Nowhere did the book explain how to awaken a Rhu Core.
It only stated that the core would naturally awaken with age.
Zed's fingers drummed against the table as he leaned back in his chair, eyes narrowing in thought.
"It varies by age, huh? But elves awaken their Rhu Core at six… Is it because they're a long-living race? No, if that were the case, then merfolk should come second — not giants."
He flipped through the pages again, searching for any overlooked detail. The book repeated the same point — Rhu Cores would manifest naturally, but in rare cases, they could awaken early under specific conditions.
"Rhu Core manifestation can't have a purely biological barrier. If it did, rare cases wouldn't exist. There has to be something more."
Zed's eyes narrowed as his thoughts sharpened.
"So how…?"
He went back to the section on Rhu Channeling. His gaze sharpened as he reread the passage carefully.
"Rhu Channeling is the practice of absorbing Rhu from the environment and circulating it through the body."
His breath hitched.
"Wait…"
Zed's mind began piecing it together — the elves' early awakening, the giants' strength, the rare cases of early manifestation.
After several more hours of analyzing every detail, the pieces finally clicked into place.
Zed's lips curled into a sly smile.
"Oh… I get it now."
He sat up straighter, his eyes gleaming with understanding.
"The reason why elves and giants awaken their Rhu Cores at such a young age isn't just genetics — it's practical training."
He tapped the side of the book thoughtfully.
"By absorbing Rhu from the environment through channeling, the body accumulates Rhu at its center. Once enough Rhu is gathered, the pressure forces the formation of the Rhu Core. That's why elves, known for their deep connection to nature, awaken so early — they've been practicing Rhu Channeling from infancy. Giants probably developed their own version of this instinctively through sheer physical resilience and combat training."
Zed's grin widened.
"And the reason no one else knows? Simple. The elves probably discovered it ages ago and kept it secret to maintain their dominance. The giants… maybe they figured it out by accident or through natural adaptation. But the rest of the races? They assume that Rhu naturally flows through their bodies and manifests when the time is right — without realizing they could actively trigger the process."
His eyes gleamed with excitement.
"If this works…"
Zed closed the book with a soft thump and placed it on the table. His heartbeat quickened.
"If I can channel Rhu myself, I could awaken my core early — and bypass years of waiting."
Excitement surged through him as he sat cross-legged on the cold marble floor. He steadied his breathing, closing his eyes.
"Time to test this theory."
He focused inward, searching for the faint traces of Rhu in the air around him. The book said Rhu existed everywhere — in the air, the earth, even within the body.
Zed slowed his breath. Inhale. Exhale.
His senses sharpened as he tuned out the faint crackling of the fire lamp and the distant creak of the wooden shelves.
There — a faint pulse. A delicate shimmer in the air.
He reached for it with his mind.
It slipped through his grasp.
Zed gritted his teeth. He steadied his thoughts, focusing only on the feeling — the thin thread of energy that lingered just out of reach.
Slowly, carefully, he reached again.
A thread of warmth brushed against his mind.
"Got it."
He inhaled deeply, guiding the flow inward.
A thin stream of Rhu trickled through his body — faint, unstable — but present.
Zed concentrated, directing it toward his center, where the book said the core should form. The energy flickered, resisting his control.
He gritted his teeth, sweat beading along his brow.
"Come on… hold steady."
The Rhu surged for a brief moment — and then scattered.
Zed's breath hitched as a sharp pain shot through his chest. He coughed, clutching his ribs.
"Dammit…"
But he wasn't discouraged. If anything, his eyes gleamed with more resolve.
"It's there. I felt it."
Zed's hands curled into fists as he glanced toward the book again.
"This should work."
He flipped through the pages, searching for more clues.
And then, a passage near the end caught his attention:
"The awakening of a Rhu Core depends on the strength of the wielder's body and mind. Forcing an early awakening without preparation could damage the vessel, resulting in backlash or permanent injury."
Zed's eyes narrowed.
"So that's the risk."
He exhaled, wiping sweat from his brow.
"If it were easy, everyone would be doing it."
"Man, I love this world. There's so much to uncover… and Rhu — it's practically magic."
Zed's lips curled into a rare smile as he leaned back against the bookshelf, his gaze drifting toward the ceiling.
"Hah… maybe this whole transmigration thing isn't so bad after all."
next day
Aurora's eyes fluttered open as the soft morning light spilled through the sheer curtains. A cool breeze whispered through the slightly open window, brushing against her skin.
She sat up slowly, her delicate hand rubbing her eyes as the remnants of sleep clung to her mind.
Where…?
Her gaze shifted toward the empty side of the bed. Zed wasn't there.
Her brows furrowed as worry stirred in her chest. She swung her legs over the side of the bed, her bare feet meeting the cool marble floor.
"Zed?" she called softly.
No response.
Her heartbeat quickened. She rose to her feet and hurried toward the door, her silk nightgown flowing behind her.
She stepped into the hallway, glancing in both directions. A pair of maids were passing by, carrying folded linens. Aurora approached them quickly.
"Have you seen my brother?"
The maids exchanged a quick, nervous glance before one of them spoke. "I… I believe Master Zed was seen heading toward the library early this morning, Lady Aurora."
"The library?" Aurora's eyes widened.
"Yes, my lady. He hasn't come out since."
Without another word, Aurora turned and rushed down the hall, her feet light against the polished marble. Her heart raced—not out of panic, but a strange mixture of concern and curiosity.
She pushed open the heavy library doors, and the scent of parchment and wood hit her immediately. The morning sun filtered through the tall windows, casting soft beams of light across the endless rows of bookshelves.
And there, in the middle of the chaos… was Zed.
Books were piled around him—some opened, others half-closed, a few even stacked precariously on top of each other. Old manuscripts lay sprawled across the wooden table, inked pages brimming with ancient knowledge.
And at the center of it all…
Zed lay slumped over the table, fast asleep.
Aurora's hand rose to her mouth, her eyes softening.
His cheek was pressed against the open pages of a large leather-bound book. His dark hair was tousled, strands falling over his closed eyes. His chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm.
Her lips trembled as a wave of relief washed over her.
He's… resting.
She stepped closer, brushing a stray lock of hair away from his face. A soft warmth spread through her chest.
He looked peaceful. Untouched by the weight of the world.
Her gaze moved toward the piles of books surrounding him—books about Rhu, history, and aristocracy. It was obvious how hard he had been working.
"You always push yourself too hard."