knowledge, An Art I Never Mastered.

Magic.

The one word you’ll keep hearing over and over again while you're here at this academy. And of course, that’s perfectly natural—after all, it’s the main reason everyone came to this place. To understand it, to master it, to wield it however they please.

It’s the very foundation of this academy, and the entire reason Stalefort was built in the first place.

If you ask me how many times I’ve heard people talk about magic or one of its elements…

I honestly lost count. It’s that common.

But again, nothing unusual about that.

“Haah…”

Letting out a bored sigh, I stared at the instructor at the front of the classroom.

Yes—another lecture about magic.

And for some reason, I just… couldn’t grasp a single word he was saying.

My eyes were wide open, but my brain was totally checked out.

Meanwhile, everyone else seemed completely focused—nodding along, writing things down, absorbing knowledge.

Even Leo looked invested.

Right…

This teacher was surprisingly normal too.

No scary glares, no hurtful words, no endless lectures about falcons or whatever.

Just a regular guy doing his job.

Which, honestly, made him stand out in the wrong way when compared to the other faculty.

Shin… Gild… Lionheart...

No matter how you look at them, there’s just nothing normal about those guys.

I kept my gaze fixed forward, fiddling with a paper Instructor Gild had handed me earlier.

Yeah, I already read what was written on it—like he told me to.

Where did I find the right place to read it?

Well, let’s just say finding a truly private spot in a school this packed with students and staff wasn’t easy.

But if someone asked me for the one place where they could be completely alone without any surveillance?

Aside from private rooms or dorms?

There’s really only one answer.

The bathroom.

A romm barely big enough to fit two people at most.

No one in their right mind would try to peek inside while someone’s obviously in there—or at least, hopefully no one.

As long as you stay quiet, I’d say there’s no safer place for privacy than that.

So I went straight there after leaving the cafeteria.

Thankfully, it was totally empty, not that it changed much.

I stepped into the deepest room I could find inside, locked the door behind me, and quickly unfolded the paper.

The handwriting was messy, rushed even, but the letters were huge:

---

"Fire element. Ice element. Darkness element. All three are dormant. To learn how to use them—and why they’re dormant—look for a book in the academy’s library titled ‘Elemental Awareness and Magic.’

…And don’t tell anyone that you possess all three."

---

That last line was written in extra big litters.

Naturally, I let out a weird, choked scream the moment I finished reading it.

Thought I’d been caught for sure.

I quickly cracked open the room door and peeked out… but nope.

No one there.

Just me and my dumb luck.

Still, even though logic screamed that I couldn’t possibly possess those elements, I didn’t feel the slightest bit of doubt.

Instructor Gild might be a cheerful, eccentric guy, but this wasn’t something he’d joke about.

Or… maybe I just trusted him too much because of how happy I felt when I thought—just maybe—that I had something special.

Then again, reading the note again, I couldn’t understand some of the terms, like “dormant elements.”

What did that even mean?

And the only way to get answers…

Was to go to the library and find that book.

That’s what I wanted to do—

Until I realized the break period ended a while ago and the next class was about to start.

After taking a few wrong turns—don’t ask—I somehow made it back right before the teacher arrived.

And now here I am, sitting in class, counting the seconds until I can finally make my way to the library.

...Even though I have no idea where it actually is.

This school seriously needs a map.

“Hmm? What’s that in your hand, Shiro? Are you taking notes?”

A soft voice from my right—Hikaru, noticing the paper I still hadn’t gotten rid of.

I was in such a rush earlier, I forgot to toss it.

I flinched.

Crap.

“Ah—this? Nah, just a blank sheet of paper…”

I folded it up fast and slipped it into my pocket.

Hikaru stared for a moment, looking puzzled, but eventually turned back to the lecture.

“…”

I need to be way more careful from now on.

Even I know that people who possess three elements are ridiculously rare.

Not just in Wysperia, but across the entire world.

To kingdoms, they're prized treasures.

Something worth fighting wars over.

People with that kind of power are either turned into deadly weapons…

Or used as symbols—to demand respect, fear, and admiration.

Just political tools, really.

Or that’s what I’ve been told, anyway.

Sure, fame and fortune sound nice and all,

But personally? I’d rather stay out of the spotlight.

A regular person only gets into trouble if they go looking for it.

That’s a saying I’ve always believed in.

…Though for some reason, it hasn’t held up at all since I got here.

---

Time crawled by painfully slow,

but class finally ended.

The bell rang—different chime this time—signaling the start of the day’s free period.

Finally! Time to hit the library!

“Man, that was a lot of info. My brain’s gonna explode!”

“Yeah. But honestly, the teaching style here is way easier to understand than back home. I think I’m actually following along.”

Leo stretched out his arms as he chatted with Hikaru, who was packing up his things.

Alice stood up quietly, not saying a word.

“Really? I’ve never been to an actual school, so I wouldn’t know. My grandpa taught me everything himself…

Oi, Shiro! What about you? How’d it go?”

“Huh? Oh… Just like I expected—I barely understood a thing.”

Leo stopped me as I passed him by, tossing me the question casually.

“Ahaha, don’t worry! Your brain’s still warming up!

Might take an hour or two for it to absorb a word or two, but once it does, you’ll get the hang of it!”

“Yeah yeah… You’re so wise and inspiring, as always.”

He really won't leave me alone, huh?

I turned toward the door, ready to finally get going,

only for him to call out again.

“Wait, where are you headed? Let’s head back to the dorm together! You don’t even know the way yet, do you?”

Assuming I was going back to the dorms, Leo offered to walk with me.

No, of course I know.

This is just how Leo is.

I get it—he’s not trying to be annoying.

…And yet the only word that came to mind was “annoying.”

“Oh, no—Supervisor Shin told me to meet him at his office after class.Remember? I mentioned it when we were at the cafeteria?”

Earlier, when I returned to class, Leo had asked why I disappeared mid-meal.

I told him supervisor Shin wanted to talk about what happened in the forest—leaving out the Instructor Gild part.

He didn’t question it at all.

Guess that whole forest incident came in handy after all.

“Oh, right. Well, I hope everything goes well and they don’t end up expelling you after letting you in.”

“Yeah… I hope so too.”

That really was the end of the conversation this time—after I had to come up with a small lie just to go off on my own.

And just as I reached the classroom door, I heard Leo’s voice again, this time speaking excitedly to Hikaru.

“And now! Let me tell you the legendary tale of our journey against Alice!”

“…Legendary, huh…”

I muttered under my breath as I walked out, words no one but me could hear.

Next, I headed toward the library. Or at least, I tried to. After going up and down several floors, I ended up asking a nearby teacher, who then led me—not to the library—but to a different room entirely.

For a moment, I wondered if I’d broken some weird rule that banned students from talking to teachers in the hallway.

The teacher guided me to a room with a sign above it that read: “Tool Room.” And sure enough, its contents were exactly what the name suggested.

While scanning the shelves, one wall covered in books and supplies, I waited for the teacher to return. When he did, he handed me a small handbook the size of my palm.

“Take this guidebook. It has all the rules and instructions you need to follow in the academy. There’s also a map at the end.”

“Oh… thank you so much.”

I thanked him as he handed me what basically felt like a treasure map.

Naturally, I flipped straight to the last page, planning to leave the rules for another time. There it was: a detailed drawing—not just of the academy, but of the entire surrounding region.

“All right… let’s see.”

After a bit of searching, I found the library’s location. Apparently, I’d already passed by it once without even realizing.

Descending from the fifth floor back to the second, I found a small door tucked into a corner, with a staircase beside it leading to the first floor. Above the door, a sign read: “Library.”

Without hesitation, I stepped in.

And then, even before my eyes registered the view before me, it was my sense of smell that kicked in first—greeted by that unmistakable scent only found in book-filled rooms.

And finally, I saw it.

“…What the…”

Six entire floors. All packed with books.

I could easily, without exaggerating, say that each floor had at least ten thousand books.

What piqued my interest even more was how such a space could possibly fit inside the academy building. The architecture on the outside just didn’t match. Magic must’ve been involved.

I wandered into this paper jungle, wondering how I’d ever find the single book I was looking for. And of course, I wasn’t the only one there. Students of various years were scattered throughout the library. Some were reading beside the shelves, others studying at the desks and chairs set up across the floors.

As expected, the atmosphere was quiet. But for some reason, it also felt mysterious—like the kind of place that invites you to sit and read.

I moved around aimlessly, left and right. I had no idea where the book was, and a hint of anxiety started creeping in.

It honestly felt like searching for a needle in a haystack.

“Hm? …Ah, you!.”

“…?”

Right as I was spiraling into book-fueled despair, an unfamiliar voice called out from behind me, making me instinctively turn around, unsure if they were even talking to me.

“Yes, you. Are you looking for something?”

My eyes caught sight of the girl as she approached, pointing straight at me.

“…Ah, yeah. I’m looking for a book…”

I replied to the girl with orange-blonde hair tied up into two cute side ponytails—almost like the hairstyle had been made just for her. Her hair was thick and long, brushing against her shoulders even while tied.

With her round face that screamed innocence and her eyes nearly the same shade as her hair, she really stood out.

And then—her height. Or rather, the lack of it. Her head barely reached my shoulder.

If not for the academy uniform she wore, I might’ve mistaken her for a child—or someone around ten years old.

She was definitely going to stand out among the other girls here.

But… if you ask me, the thing that stood out the most about her was… yeah, no doubt… those peaks.

I instantly shook my head the moment I realized where my eyes were drifting—worried she might catch me staring. But seriously, not my fault. She moved with this almost-bouncy walk that made those things bounce along with her…

Those curves were the only real sign that she wasn’t as young as she looked.

Honestly… they might’ve even been bigger than Alice’s. No, no—what the hell am I even thinking right now?!

“A book? Ah, I can help with that!”

She answered in that one-of-a-kind voice of hers.

How to describe it…? It fit her perfectly, sounding both childlike and strangely mature. It had this sharp, bell-like clarity to it—but not enough to hurt your ears.

It was like hearing a child speak in overly formal words, or discuss deep, philosophical matters. No matter how serious the conversation, with that voice, all you’d be thinking about is how ridiculously cute she sounded. You might even laugh without meaning to, just from the contrast between sight and sound.

I was already curious what kind of personality would come out of this walking contradiction.

“Hellooo? Are you even listening?”

“Huh? Ah! Sorry—just spaced out for a second…”

Her voice yanked me back to reality.

I hesitated when she offered to help. Especially since Instructor Gild had told me to keep this quiet. But… it’s just the name of a book, right? Nothing too dangerous about that.

“Don’t worry. I can find any book you need here! Look, my name’s Yui Yoshino. I work part-time as a library assistant. So just tell me what you’re looking for and leave it to me!”

Apparently, she read the worry on my face and misunderstood it.

She pulled out a badge showing her name and a symbol I’d noticed earlier on the library door.

Yui Yoshino… Nope, never heard of her. Don’t recall seeing her in class either. And I doubt a first-year would already be doing a job like this. So that could only mean… she’s from a higher year...?

Still… she said she could find any book in here? In this maze?

This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

I couldn’t help but doubt her, even just a little.

But setting my conflicting thoughts aside, I gave her the name.

“…I’m looking for a book called Elemental Awareness and Magic.”

I made sure to memorize the title carefully before coming here. Even wrote it down on the inside of my hand—just in case. Forgetting it would be a disaster.

After hearing the name, Yui placed her hand on her chin, going into deep thought in a way that looked… kinda adorable.

“Hmm… Elemental Awareness… Ah! Wait right here, please!”

With her bright energy and a smile that could cut through the coldest of hearts, she turned and darted off—jumping onto some sort of floating platform that hovered up into the higher shelves.

“…This place never stops surprising me.”

Staring up, I let my eyes wander to the far corners of the library, soaking in the peaceful atmosphere around me.

I didn’t expect it, but I could already tell—Stalefort wasn’t just some massive building. No, there was more to this place than size and spectacle.

Even as I say that, I’ve never seen a library like this in my life—and I doubt I ever will again.

Beyond the ridiculous number of books, the internal layout just didn’t make any architectural sense. No matter how large the academy looked from the outside, it shouldn't be able to contain a space this vast. The library felt more like a tower made of books.

And let’s not forget that gourmet cafeteria. Or the countless rooms on each floor. Honestly, something tells me… this library is only the beginning of what I’ve yet to see.

Just as I was thinking about which rooms to explore next—something hit me.

A scent.

So relaxing, it instantly calmed me down.

I followed it.

And then—I found something I somehow hadn’t noticed earlier, despite walking right past it.

In one of the many library corners, I spotted what looked like a premium café booth, lined with fancy kettles and run by someone quietly preparing a drink.

That one drink you absolutely need when diving into a book:

Coffee.

Yes. No doubt about it. It was a coffee stand.

Now that I saw it, I noticed the cups scattered here and there on tables, near students studying intently.

“…Perfect service.”

That was the only way I could describe it.

Just when I’d started sinking into my thoughts about how amazing this academy was, my gaze drifting lazily across the library… I noticed it.

Something that just didn’t feel quite right—for a whole lot of reasons.

“…What are you doing here?”

I asked the most obvious question in existence the moment I spotted her—Alice—flipping through books on the shelves a little ways off.

Even though all I could see was her back, I recognized her instantly.

No, it’s not like I’m obsessed with her or anything… but that girl just stands out way too much. Not because she wants to—but because she’s the kind of person who draws attention whether she likes it or not. I could literally see a bunch of guys eyeing her from behind, giving her full marks without even realizing it.

Yeah, just like I said before—with that long golden hair of hers, she looked like someone who stepped straight out of another world.

She was far enough that I thought maybe I could avoid her notice, if she didn’t turn around—

“…”

Yes. She turned around exactly as I thought that, her eyes widening when they landed on me… and then she started walking over.

Wait, no no no—why is she coming this way?! Wouldn’t the normal move be to just ignore me and go back to what she was doing? I mean, sure, we’re not enemies or anything—but we’re not exactly friends either! So what’s with this direct approach?

And the fact that she’s coming this way is going to pull everyone’s attention over here—which I’d really like to avoid at all costs!

Maybe she wants something? Or maybe she’s gonna ask why I’m here when I literally told the class I was heading to supervisor Shin’s office?

…Is the saying really true? Are lies really that short-lived?

“Hey.”

Great. Thinking didn’t do anything but speed her up, and now she was standing right in front of me.

Are we really doing this right now?

“Ah…h-hey, Alice. Looking for a specific book or something?”

I threw out the first question that came to mind, hoping to stall until Yui brought the book over so I could make my escape.

She shook her head.

“I just felt like stopping by the library. And you? Done with your meeting with the supervisor?”

Of course she asked.

No, why are you answering and asking in the same breath? Isn’t that just fast-tracking the conversation? Or is it her subtle way of telling me she doesn’t actually want to talk that much? Then why even start talking?!

Ugh, I’m overthinking. This won’t help.

“Yeah, didn’t take long. Just thought I’d swing by here on a whim.”

Lies beget more lies. I could feel myself weaving the wrong one.

“I see. Well, I’m glad everything went fine with the supervisor.”

“Yeah…”

Seems like lying solves everything in the end.

…For all of three seconds.

“Here! The book you asked for!”

“…!”

With her voice as clear and cheery as a bell, Yui said the words I really, really didn’t want her to say out loud.

And me, the idiot who was just praying she’d bring it fast, was now regretting every bit of that hope—because Alice was still standing here.

I’d basically asked the gods to string me up.

“Ah… yeah. Thanks.”

Somehow, I managed to thank her and take the book, all under Alice’s suspicious gaze.

“…What’s that book?”

And the moment she asked that question, I swear it felt like a giant “LIAR” stamp had been pressed right on my forehead.

Even if it was just a small lie…

“Hm? Ah, it’s just a beginner’s guide to magic. Real simple stuff. You’re a first-year too, right? I think it might help you out.”

“A book on magic…”

Yui responded in a low but lively tone, and I could practically feel Alice’s curiosity grow.

“Yep! It’s a pretty rare one too. Super old!, though. Which is why I was surprised you even knew about it—”

And just like that, she said the one thing I absolutely did not want her to say. Now both girls were looking at me with matching curious stares—each one holding a different question behind it. And both of them wanted an answer.

Especially Alice.

But this time, I didn’t hesitate.

“supervisor Shin recommended it. I asked him for a book that was simple and easy to get into.”

I replied with a calm, confident smile—solid and steady.

Yes! Yui’s little screw-up gave me the perfect setup to dig myself out of the liar pit, clean and clear!

“Shin, huh! Yeah, that guy knows a ton about these kinds of books. He’s like a walking library! If only he’d tone down those scary expressions of his…”

“Ahaha… yeah, he’s a good teacher.”

After flowing with the conversation smoothly enough, I glanced at Alice, who now looked content.

Now all I needed to do was leave—before one of them said something that would throw me back into hell.

“I… should get going. Thanks for helping me find the book.”

“Hm? Oh, no need to thank me. I already put your name on the borrowing list, so just return it within two weeks, or renew it, okay, Shiro?”

“…Yeah, got it… Wait, hold on—”

Just when everything she said sounded normal and reasonable, she dropped my name—a name I never remember giving her.

This girl… can she read minds or something?

A chill ran down my spine at that thought, and of course, Yui noticed the puzzled look on my face. Then she suddenly let out a soft chuckle, the kind that caught both me and Alice completely off guard.

“Whaaat~? That face! What are you even thinking?”

“…You tell me.”

My reply just made her laugh harder, which unfortunately pulled even more stares our way.

No no no, don’t start looking over here, people…

“Oh god… Nothing’s harder than trying not to laugh like this, huh?”

“No seriously—I’m asking. How did you know my name?”

“Huh? Didn’t you tell me when you were trying to hit on me?”

“…Huh?!”

That was the only thing I could say—and apparently, loud enough that one of the supervisors in the library shushed us.

Hit on her?! I have zero memory of doing anything of the sort! And it’s not like I hit my head and lost some memory either!

What in the world is this girl talking about?! And why is she still laughing?! If she doesn’t explain herself right now, I’m dead!

I don’t even want to describe Alice’s expression right now… for some reason, I’m suddenly feeling a chill from her direction.

“Haaah, I never get bored messing with you first-years. You guys are so fun and your reactions are hilarious. I just can’t resist teasing you!”

“…So it’s some new type of contagious disease, huh.”

Her words instantly reminded me of Leo and Hikaru—especially when they gang up to mess with me. Hikaru only met Leo recently, and now he’s already a full-blown noble-class sarcasm machine.

And yeah, if Leo ever meets this girl, I don’t think the world will survive.

“Mou~ How could you say that about a healthy, vibrant girl like me? I mean, weren’t you trying to get close to me because you were drawn to my radiant beauty?”

“Shiro… you didn’t actually do that, right?”

“Of course I didn’t!”

I ignored the radiant girl and immediately responded to Alice before those stares of hers sharpened any further.

Not that she looked convinced.

“…I remember Leo saying you had a ‘type’ when it comes to girls.”

"Hoooh? A specific type, huh? See? That just proves my point. You totally tried to seduce me so you could get close and make me yours!"

“No… What’s with that wording?”

And what the hell does Leo have to do with this?! Alice?! That was a joke! A joke! Didn’t you say that yourself back then?

Honestly, this girl’s gone completely off the rails, and I have no idea what to do anymore—especially since Alice doesn’t look like she’s buying a single word I say.

“I would’ve loved it if you came to me with a bouquet of flowers and confessed your love like in one of those romantic novels, you know? You probably would’ve had a better shot that way.”

“No thanks. You’re the furthest thing from my type, so there’s no way I’d fall for you like that. So could you please just—”

“My god, how cruel! Did you just call a girl like me ugly?! Aren’t you supposed to be a gallant gentleman head-over-heels in love with me? Did you start hating me just because I rejected you in front of your friend?!”

“No… I didn’t say you were… ugly…”

I don't understand anything anymore. I couldn’t keep up. She wasn’t just out of my rank—she was from a whole different rank.

She was worse than Leo, honestly. Maybe she’s the source of the sarcasm plague.

I clearly remember coming here just to borrow a book. How did things spiral this far?!

And now here I am, watching Yui pretend to cry while, for some ungodly reason, Alice is patting her on the shoulder. And meanwhile, I’m still holding the book I came here for, which means I could technically just turn around and walk out—before Yui recovers and starts spinning her next romantic fantasy.

Also, I’m pretty sure that supervisor who warned us earlier is about five seconds away from storming over and kicking us all out.

“I can’t believe this… Do whatever you want. I’m outta here. I’ll make sure to return the book on time. And Alice… please don’t believe a word that girl says.”

“You’re just going to leave her like this?”

“…”

Why would you say that, Alice?! Oh great—she totally believed Yui’s nonsense. Now she’s looking at me like I just betrayed the kingdom.

“Ahaaa, alright, alright! That’s enough—I’m sorry, I went a little overboard.”

That troublemaker finally stood up, having successfully attracted everyone’s attention, and gave me a half-hearted apology while smiling at me.

And for some reason… Alice smiled too.

“See? I told you already, didn’t I? I love messing with you guys. And you gave me such a hilarious reaction—I couldn’t just let you leave so easily! Especially since your friend here played along with me. That made it even more fun! Sorry if I bothered you, okay?”

“Ah, no, wait—played along? Alice?”

Just when I was about to tell her everything was fine, I remembered something I really wished I had misheard.

And when I turned to look at Alice, the golden-haired girl let out a light, elegant giggle that was almost unfairly charming.

Whoa… so you can make expressions like that too?

And why do I feel like all the guys around here are glaring at me now? I’m not flirting with her or anything, alright? So stop it! I beg you!

“…I only figured out what she was trying to do halfway through. I didn’t get it at first, but it was kind of fun. Sorry if it annoyed you.”

“Alice is really smart, isn’t she? She saw right through my trick and even played along. You’re totally different from how you seem on the outside!”

“Do I really seem that way?”

I can’t believe Alice just joined the teasing team too.

All I could do was sigh, standing there like an idiot as the two of them laughed and talked about how Alice was so different on the inside compared to how she looked on the outside. And right as I started to agree with them—

Yui turned to me with that “innocent” smile that totally didn’t match her chaotic personality.

“You asked me earlier how I knew your name, right~?”

Yeah, but honestly, I’d completely forgotten about that question by now. All I wanted was to escape before the hungry stares of those other guys devoured me alive. But whatever—I answered anyway.

“…Yeah.”

“Yes yes!, but isn’t your question kind of strange? I mean, is there anyone who doesn’t know about Shiro Leonard? Especially after that forest incident! You’re literally the talk of the entire academy right now, you know? And it’s super easy to recognize you. Just look for someone with black hair that fades into white at the tips, plus those red eyes. No one else around here matches that combo!”

She laid it all out so clearly and reasonably that I honestly wished she’d just said that from the beginning—would’ve saved us all the chaos.

“And you’re handsome too~.”

“…Sorry, I’m not the slightest bit interested in you.”

“Wha—?! Did you just reject me to my face?!”

Of course I did.

Idiot.

---

After chatting with the two of them for a while, I left the library—leaving behind Alice and Yui, who honestly gave off the impression of a mischievous little pet no one could resist taking home.

...Don’t even ask where that thought came from. If the guys ever found out I said that, I’d never live it down.

Getting back on track, I made my way straight to the dormitory building, which stood just beside the main academy structure.

It was only about a ten-minute walk before I reached the massive building. One of the staff members inside greeted me and led me to my room on the second floor.

He explained a few of the dorm rules along the way—nothing too strict. No boys in the girls’ dorms late at night and vice versa. Daytime visits were allowed though, and upperclassmen could enter freely. Small pets were allowed inside without any restrictions too.

Pets, huh… So that’s why they let her in. Yeah, that makes a lot more sense now.

The rules were pretty straightforward. I quickly memorized them, took my room key, and now—here I was, standing in the middle of my new space.

A fairly spacious room, with a double bed, a wardrobe, a desk and chair for studying, a small dining table, a compact kitchenette on one side, and a door leading to a private bathroom.

Honestly, it was more than enough for someone like me who grew up in a simple wooden house in the countryside.

Makes me wonder what kind of rooms the nobles have. Probably something way fancier than this. I can’t imagine them settling for a room like mine. Then again, they are ridiculously expensive.

I dropped myself into the chair and immediately pulled out the old book, practically burning with anticipation to learn something—anything—about myself.

Finally, the moment I’d been waiting for. I flipped open the first page, only to be greeted by the author’s name: “Pythagrov,” followed by some standard pages explaining the book’s purpose.

Yeah, no thanks.

I skipped ahead until I reached the table of contents and scanned through it to find what I really wanted: the section on “Seed and pool.”

“Ah, there it is… Let’s start with 'The Meaning of the Seed and the pool.’”

After confirming the page number, I quickly flipped over and began reading aloud to etch the words into my memory:

"The Seed is the source that generates energy necessary for the use of magic. It channels this energy into what is known as the Magic pool—a spiritual basin within the user that stores the energy produced by the Seed, for it to be used as various forms of magic. Continued use of magic drains the pool, and the user must rest to allow the Seed to replenish it."

I already knew some of this… but as expected, there were details I hadn’t been aware of. A “pool” that stores the energy? That was new.

I kept reading. The book was surprisingly easy to digest, just like Yui had said.

"Magic is divided into three categories: Elemental Magic, Magical Skills, and Spells. Elemental Magic consists of the elements of nature and is split into four major types: {Fire, Earth, Water, Air}, along with several sub-elements such as {Iron, Lava, Ice, etc.}, plus the unique elements of Light and Darkness.

Every person born with a Magic Seed will possess at least one and up to four elements. There’s no upper limit on the number of elements one can have, and the more they possess, the stronger they become."

I’d heard about this before—but what I read next really caught my eye:

"Elements are inherited from one’s parents, grandparents, or acquired randomly—except for Light and Darkness. Those two can only be inherited from either parent.

The chance of inheriting a major element is 50% per element. For sub-elements, it's 30%. As for Light and Darkness? Just a 10% chance, even if one of your parents has it."

“…Wow.”

That was the only word I managed to get out. I was stunned.

Going by that information, I had Fire, Ice, and Darkness. That’s 50% + 30% + 10%. The chance goes down with every step. And Darkness? That’s ultra rare. Especially since it can only be inherited from a parent—and even then, only a ten percent chance.

But that leads to a bigger question—who even are my parents?

All I know is that Leonard found me somewhere and raised me. That’s it.

Still… this was something. One of them must’ve had a rare element. It wasn’t much to go on, but it was a clue. A tiny step forward.

I kept reading.

"Elemental Magic does not have levels. It simply grows stronger and more refined the more the user gets used to its flow.

Using elemental magic doesn’t consume energy from the pool. However, if a user overuses a single element, they may hit what's called the 'Elemental Limit.'

At that point, they must stop and let the element rest before continuing."

I turned the page.

"It’s possible to continue using an element beyond its limit—but doing so may result in physical injuries such as burns, frostbite, fractures, and other side effects.

Similarly, a user can bypass the pool and draw directly from the Seed—but that can lead to a magical surge and cause a Seed Explosion."

That… actually sounded kind of similar to what happened to me. Except in my case, I didn’t use anything that drained my energy—it was more like the pressure triggered a surge, and everything burned up after that.

Being able to understand it like this honestly made me happy. Knowledge really is a blessing.

Looks like I’ll be stuck to this book for a while.

Let’s keep going.

"A user may sometimes be able to use their element immediately under special circumstances. Normally though, it takes 6 to 9 years to discover one’s element.

The Seed, however, is detectable from the moment of birth.

There are rare cases where a user can’t discover their element for a long time, usually due to a seal causing stagnation in the Seed."

And that’s when I saw the bolded heading:

“Stagnation of the Seed and Elements.”

What followed was the last missing piece of my puzzle.

"Stagnation: the inability to use one’s elements or magical energy.

This can be caused by two things: not using magic for an extended period, or the presence of a seal that suppresses those abilities.

Seals can be broken through external magical shocks, or by an emotional outburst that forcibly triggers the Seed, spreading energy throughout the body—usually followed by a magical explosion and restoration of magical ability."

Yes. That’s exactly what happened to me.

But now that I’d finally answered the question of why I couldn’t use my powers… I was left with an even more confusing one.

Who sealed me?

Because I’m certain—I’ve never used my powers before. Not even once. So it’s impossible that I fell into stagnation naturally. The only option left is… a seal.

But no matter how hard I think about it, I can’t imagine who would’ve done it.

I lived in a village full of elderly people without any Seeds. Even Leonard and Alia didn’t have any magical energy at all.

“…This just raises more questions.”

I decided to push those thoughts to the back of my mind. There was no point overthinking it now. I wouldn’t find any answers like this anyway. Instead, I refocused on the book that had now become… priceless to me.

"Magical Skills are abilities that can be learned and used to enhance elemental magic.

These include body enhancement, healing, flight, and even skills that allow users to generate elements like fire or water—or manipulate multiple elements at once."

Now this—this was interesting. Magical Skills.

"Magical Skills consume energy from the user’s pool.

The amount consumed varies from skill to skill, and each one requires a specific amount based on the user’s pool size.

pools are divided into five tiers, which differ depending on the user’s race and physique.

Demons have strong bodies and Tier 3 pools. Elves have the largest pools—Tier 4—but poor physical strength.

Humans, on the other hand, vary widely. Most fall into Tier 1 or Tier 2, with rare exceptions.

Having more elements does not guarantee a larger pool.

Some people are even born with special skills."

Hmm…

So having a bunch of elements doesn’t mean I have a big pool, huh? That’s fair, I guess.

"Users can’t tell their own pool size without using certain tools."

Tools? Like… magic weapons or something?

I didn’t really get that part. Just that I wouldn’t be able to measure mine on my own.

Still, I was too eager for more information to dwell on it.

First, gather all the knowledge I can. Then, I’ll analyze it later.

"There’s no limit to how many Magical Skills a person can learn.

However, the time needed to master them varies. Some can be learned in hours. Others take days… or even months."

Endless possibilities… endless restrictions.

Of course Magical Skills sounded amazing—things that shattered logic—but the effort it took to master them? It could easily break someone’s will. That’s probably why many people just stuck with elemental magic.

>"Magical Skills are divided into three archives:

[1] En

[2] Aerin

[3] Thema

The first archive, En, contains most of the basic skills—healing, physical enhancement, sharpening senses like vision or hearing, and so on.

Skills can be upgraded through three levels. Once they reach the third level, they can evolve from the En archive into Aerin, and their power multiplies."

Hmm… I didn’t quite get all of that. I’ll need to go over this part again—definitely important.

…

So, in short, let’s say I had a healing skill. That skill would fall under the [En] archive, the weakest of the three. With it, I’d be able to heal small injuries. And if I upgraded the skill from level one to two, then three, its healing power would increase. Eventually, once it passed level three, the skill would be promoted from the [En] archive to the [Aerin] archive—one step up in power, meaning its effectiveness would multiply.

Alright. Complicated, sure, but I could keep up.

"The second archive, [Aerin].

Aerin contains skills not found in [En], like for example, [Teleportation], which allows the user to move from one place to another.

There are some conditions to its use, but those are removed as the skill level increases.

Skills from both [En] and [Aerin] can be developed beyond the third level, at which point they may evolve into more powerful versions that belong to the third archive, [Thema]."

I’d assumed [En] skills would cap out eventually, but apparently they can be pushed all the way to [Thema]—the ultimate archive, and one that stood out dramatically from the rest.

"[Thema], the third archive, is also called ‘The Archive of Infinity.’

It contains overwhelmingly powerful skills—ones that, in theory, could allow a person to wipe out entire kingdoms with a single gesture.

As of the time this book was written, no user had ever awakened a [Thema]-class skill."

Wipe out kingdoms with a single gesture… Okay, that sounds just a bit excessive.

I wonder if anyone has managed to reach that level in our current era. Like Yui said, this book is old. It might not have the most up-to-date records.

I should ask instructor Gild about it later.

I’ve learned about the elements, and the skills. Now for the last category—

"Magical Incantations.

These are long chants and detailed diagrams, often requiring multiple people to execute.

It can take someone decades to memorize a single incantation or diagram.

The simplest chants consist of at least 20 lines, all of which must be memorized and engraved into one’s spirit.

The most basic diagrams are composed of over 900 intricately carved lines.

Incantations are not tied to one’s skills or elemental attributes, but require vast amounts of magical energy from the pool to succeed.

For this reason, they are typically performed in groups, as the risks of using them solo far outweigh the benefits.

The minimum risk involved? Death."

"..."

What the actual hell...

Why would anyone use something like that?! With death as the base consequence?! What’s worse than that?!

I was about to flip back to the index and pretend incantations didn’t exist when the next paragraph caught my eye:

"Yes, magical incantations are difficult and dangerous.

But to truly grasp their wonder, consider this simple example:

The Elven Forest within the Kingdom of Luthiria—today, a sanctuary and home to countless races—was created by one such incantation.

These spells can revive dead lands, build entire worlds, even summon creatures from other realms… and more."

Summoning… other worlds… Alright. That’s actually pretty amazing.

"But still… I’d need centuries just to learn one chant.

Let alone have the pool size required, or find a group strong enough to help. Ugh…”

The more you think about it, the more restrictions you find that lock you out of choosing incantations as a path altogether.

Just as I was about to close the book and call it a day, another title jumped out at me.

"Nirv.

Nirv are magical particles dispersed throughout the world—except in certain rare areas.

When gathered, these particles generate the same kind of magical energy that a Seed produces within our bodies.

In other words, the air around us contains particles that can be harnessed as energy to perform magical skills."

Whoa… That perfectly explains what I saw during Alice and Leo’s fight.

I remembered it clearly—those particles. Leo had pulled them into his arm just before clashing with Alice’s sword—with his arm.

While I was still wondering why we even used Seed energy and waited for Vessels to refill instead of just tapping into Nirv directly, I read the next part… and yeah, it hit like a truck.

"In reality, only one race is capable of using Nirv directly from the air—the Upper Demons.

Even then, if they aren’t trained or experienced in handling it, the process is still harmful."

Upper demons… Leo…

“You’ve got to be kidding me…”

Yeah, it was an obvious conclusion anyone could reach.

Leo had used a skill that could only be wielded by demons—specifically, upper-class demons. The most powerful race out there.

Which could only mean one thing.

“Leo’s… an Upper Demon.”

Thinking back, I never asked where he was from. And now that I think about it, I doubt he’d ever tell me something like “Oh yeah, by the way, I’m a high-ranking demon.”

Maybe it’s best I pretend not to know. Probably smarter to just play dumb.

Maybe until he decides to tell me by himself.

“But he really does seem completely human. Not a single trait to hint at the truth…”

Back to the index.

“Alright, let’s see…”

I’d managed to learn just about everything I wanted in under… half an hour?

But now, I was itching to try my elements. Thanks to that magical outburst earlier, they should’ve stabilized by now.

And soon enough, I found exactly what I was looking for in this old book:

"How to Use Elements, and a Complete List of Magical Skills from the [En] and [Aerin] Archives."

Now that’s a title. It immediately reignited my excitement.

Flipping through the pages quickly, I landed on the one I wanted.

"Generating Elements.

Creating elements doesn’t take much effort.

As long as you possess the element, all you need is a vivid imagination.

Picture how you want the element to appear, and inject your will into that image.

Magic, and elemental power in particular, is about reshaping reality based on our desires."

Just like instructor Gild said—willpower is the key.

Still… I wasn’t entirely sure how this worked.

For example: I already knew I had the Ice element. So… what? All I have to do is point my hand forward, close my eyes, and imagine an ice shard coming out of my ha—

crack—!

“The hell was that?!”

I jumped out of my chair, heart racing, swearing under my breath for the first time in a while.

I looked around in a panic—where did that sound come from?

And then I realized.

“…My hand…?”

It was freezing. Cold mist was literally rising from it.

N-no way… Did I just…?

I turned to the direction I had pointed earlier—and saw a part of the wall now completely encased in solid ice.

…

“…Wait. Let's not jump to conclusions. Let me try that again.”

Pushing the panicked thoughts out of my mind, I sat back down in the chair and reread the line.

"All you need is a vivid imagination… Picture how you want the element to appear…"

“Alright. Let’s try something different this time…”

Standing up, I moved to the center of the room. I took a deep breath, careful not to close my eyes this time. I wanted to see it happen.

I raised my right hand, palm facing up, and imagined—quietly, clearly—a small flame flickering in my hand.

Just a few seconds later—

fwomp

A small flame came to life, exactly as I imagined it.