Core Library
In the aftermath of the cafeteria brawl, an eerie silence enveloped the room.
The students who had been intently watching the duel between Sorin and the third-year were now left in stunned amazement. Whispers hung in the air, barely audible but filled with disbelief and astonishment.
As the realisation sank in, they exchanged glances of uncertainty, trying to comprehend what had just unfolded before their eyes.
Sorin, a first-year student, had won the battle unexpectedly. It wasn't a first or second year, but a third-year. This was extremely rare in the Academy.
Despite the third-year not being very notable amongst his year, having an average affinity, he still had a much higher experience in combat than Sorin.
The third-year had trained longer, developed more experience and used more resources. Yet, Sorin was the one that had come out on top.
All the murmurs of pity for Sorin, who appeared to be overwhelmed by the third-year, had shifted dramatically. The situation had undergone a complete reversal, leaving everyone in the cafeteria stunned and silenced.
All eyes were on Sorin, the victor of the brawl.
In the aftermath of the intense confrontation, Krau was left deeply astonished by the sudden turn of events.
He approached Sorin before speaking, "Sorin, you alright?" He asked, his voice revealing a genuine worry for his friend.
Sorin's response was delivered with an apathetic expression, his words cold and distant. "I'm fine," he replied, leaving no room for further questioning.
Krau just nodded as he stood there, unable to form any more words as he watched Sorin, who, with an almost indifferent air, lightly brushed the invisible dust on his Academy uniform.
Without another word, Sorin turned and left, his demeanor leaving Krau and the people in the cafeteria stunned and uncertain about how to proceed.
Sorin had left the cafeteria, his footsteps echoing softly in the empty corridors of the academy.
As he walked, his thoughts drifted to the situation he had found himself in. 'What an annoying turn of events,' he mused.
'I need to change a few of my plans now.' He sighed before continuing his journey to his room.
'In this new world I find myself in, I can't help but ponder the stark differences from my former world to this one. It's as though everyone here is fueled by an unusual blend of self-importance, an addiction to authority, and an incessant need to exert their power over others.'
'This is likely attributed to the fact that in a world where individuals possess the potential to transform into solitary forces, capable of destroying entire armies by themselves, the pursuit of power takes on an intriguing depth.' Sorin contemplated.
'The acquisition of power, achievable by cultivating a strength that all can attain, becomes a revered pursuit.'
'As time passes, people eventually distinguish themselves from others through their affinities, wealth and luck which inevitably breeds arrogance and gives rise to greed. People with power don't view their act of extortion and oppression of others as something sinful but more of a right given to them for being strong.'
'Such a chaotic and lawless world can only be controlled by an even higher power. This leads to places like the Academy requiring a hefty amount of arcane crystals to attend. Moreover, you would also need the funds to purchase some lectures and spell formulas for your studies and path as an Arcanist.'
'In a world where individual power is worshipped, the Academy's intricate web of hierarchy and resource control serves as a striking example of how organisations operate.'
By giving out arduous missions and few easy ones in exchange for meager contribution points, the Academy ensures that only a select few can grow.
This system embodies the philosophy that power must be earned through unwavering dedication and sacrifice, but it also highlights the unequal distribution of resources. This leads to people becoming hungry for power, almost consumed by it. Why do hard missions when you can extort people weaker than you? This would be most people's thought process. They would just have to consider their backround and influence in the Academy before doing this or they would quickly regret it.
Sorin knows that when you reach the peak of a Tier 1 Arcanist, the tier 2 spell formulas are gate-keeped behind restrictions and contracts that the Academy controls you by. This leads to people without much wealth and talent to either gamble and try to create prime Tier 2 spells or be forced to sign an unfavourable contract that stagnates their journey as an Arcanist.
However, this doesn't apply to people with a decent backround or lucky ones like the protagonist who has his inheritance. Families like the Von Helio would definitely have their very own spell formulas considering their history.
Many people can find ruins and inheritances in this world that holds spell formulas. Some can be found in random parts of the world or in rifts. Many would want to leave their mark in history, prompting them to leave out resources, magic instruments and to write down their own prime spells for others to find.
However, some inheritances could also be traps. Arcanists tend to be very cruel and cold to the vast majority. While others might want to assist the new generation, some might want to kill them just for their own amusement.
Wrapping up his thoughts, Sorin had arrived in front of his door. After opening his door and entering his room, Sorin spent some time to freshen himself up.
-
A few hours had passed.
Sorin lounged in his chair, casually sipping on a cup of tea. The brew he had made gave off a nice aroma that created an atmosphere of traquility whilst the drink could somewhat soothe his mind when consumed.
He had bought himself some strange leaves that can be used for tea-making, making his mornings and times when he relaxed much more enjoyable. With a book in hand, he casually read, absorbing the information within it.
Sorin hardly noticed as he raised the empty cup for another sip, only to be met with the realisation that there was nothing left. He sighed softly, closing the book and gently placing it aside before rising from his seat.
'I should go meet Vivian, I need to start looking for information on the Cerulean Cube now.' Sorin decided, before leaving his room.
-
Vivian sat comfortably at a table in the lower library, her petite frame casting a shadow over her book. The library's ambiance provided her a comforting solitude, the soft rustling of pages and the occasional whisper of students were the only sounds to accompany her diligent reading.
The dim lighting cast a warm glow over the shelves of ancient texts, some bound in weathered leather, others marked with strange symbols.
Vivian's fingers danced delicately across the pages, the scent of old parchment filling her senses as she immersed herself in the world of the book.
In this haven of knowledge, she found solace, a respite from the turmoil of the academy and the memories of past encounters with her bullies.
Here, she could lose herself in the books, temporarily escaping the troubles that weighed on her.
Vivian's eyes flickered from the text on the page, and she gently closed the heavy book, placing it down with care. She stifled a yawn, her slender arms reaching upward in a delicate stretch. Her body seemed to sigh with relief as the tension of sitting for a few hours was released.
"Who knew such Mana Beasts existed!" Vivian spoke to herself, feeling intrigued.
"Dragons, phoenixs and many other creatures on par with them, having the ability to completely reshape the world sounds almost unbelievable. However, the tales my parents spoke of convinces me that these creatures once existed. My father had said that in the distant past, this world had a single, unbroken continent, until the battle of immensely powerful beings cleaved it into two."
"Now, the continent had been split, becoming a battefield which resulted in a myriad of islands to be formed due to the destruction of their battle. As time passes, new lifeforms had emerged due to the powerful and chaotic mana that had been released by the strong beings."
"We are currently on a main landmass, a much larger island that has its own regions." Vivian murmured to herself, as she remembered the fascinating history of this world.
Vivian, lost in her thoughts, was abruptly jolted back to reality as a gentle tap graced her shoulder.
An icy shiver coursed through her spine, as interactions for her was rare, and they usually carried ill intentions.
Dread crept in, foreshadowing yet another misfortune that might befall her.
With trepidation, she swiveled her head, her eyes meeting the stranger responsible for the tap.
To her astonishment, her anxiety dissolved in an instant, replaced by a potent bewilderment.
Vivian's heart skipped a beat.
It wasn't another tormentor but Sorin, the person she had often admired from afar.
Her voice caught in her throat, and her usually shy and quiet demeanor intensified as she found herself utterly entranced by his presence, unable to utter a single word.
Sorin, realising he had startled Vivian, decided to speak gently. "I'm sorry if I startled you," he said, his voice calm and reassuring.
"You seemed lost in thought, so I tapped your shoulder. Are you alright?" He looked at her with a hint of concern.
Vivian, her heart racing, was completely stunned. Her eyes locked onto Sorin, and she couldn't speak a word. His presence had an almost hypnotic effect on her, leaving her momentarily unable to respond.
Inside Vivian's mind, a whirlwind of thoughts raced. 'What's he doing here? Why is he talking to me? What should I do? What should I say?' Her heart thumped erratically as she tried to gather her composure, her thoughts and emotions in disarray.