Fufilling Dream And Trying Not To Die 3

Third Person POV)

Edwin sat at one of the long wooden tables in the magic section of the library, his mind still reeling from the encounter with the Scarlet Despair. The aura she emitted was like nothing he had ever felt—an overwhelming force that crushed him with both fear and power. 

But he couldn't afford to dwell on that now. He had a mission: to master the magic of this world before his subsequent encounter with such a force left him vulnerable.

The library's magic section was vast, with rows of ancient tomes and scrolls containing knowledge from countless eras. Some of the books even floated above the shelves, guarded by faintly glowing runes that shimmered in the dim light. Edwin took a deep breath, steadying himself as he focused on his task.

First Step: Understanding Magic Control

He began by selecting a thick, leather-bound book titled *"Foundations of Ethernano: Control and Manipulation."* Ethernano was the lifeblood of magic in this world, the very substance that allowed spellcasters to bend reality to their will. Edwin had plenty of raw power, but without control, that power was as dangerous to him as it was to his enemies.

The first few chapters detailed the nature of Ethernano—how it flowed through the air, the ground, and every living thing. Magic users absorbed it from their environment and converted it into energy to fuel their spells. Edwin's eyes scanned the pages rapidly, committing the principles to memory. His innate ability to comprehend and recall information had grown stronger and may grow even more with each world he visited, making this process almost effortless.

However, knowing how Ethernano worked wasn't enough. He needed to practice controlling it. The book recommended starting with simple exercises, focusing on the breath to regulate the flow of Ethernano through the body. 

Edwin closed his eyes and took a deep breath, feeling the energy around him. It was faint at first, like a gentle breeze, but as he concentrated, he felt the subtle currents of magic pulsing through the air. He imagined drawing that energy into himself with each inhale, and with each exhale, he released it back into the world.

Minutes turned into hours as Edwin practiced this basic technique. The flow of Ethernano became clearer with each breath, and he began to sense the different types of magic that surrounded him—fire, water, wind, earth, and more. 

Each had its own unique rhythm, a signature that distinguished it from the others. As his control grew, he moved on to more advanced exercises, attempting to isolate and draw upon specific types of Ethernano.

Second Step: Harnessing Elemental Magic

With his newfound control over Ethernano, Edwin decided to try his hand at elemental magic. He chose a slender book titled " The Elements: An Introduction to Basic Spells." The book offered a step-by-step guide to casting simple elemental spells, beginning with fire, the most basic of all.

Following the instructions, Edwin focused on the Ethernano around him, pulling in energy with a fiery signature. He could feel the warmth building in his core, like a furnace igniting. Extending his hand, he visualized a small flame forming above his palm. A spark flickered in the air, and a tiny fire danced in his hand within seconds. Edwin's eyes widened with excitement as he maintained the flame, its heat radiating against his skin.

"Not bad for a beginner," a voice suddenly said from behind him.

Edwin nearly lost control of the flame as he turned around, only to find Juliet standing there with a playful smile on her face.

"Juliet! You scared me," Edwin said, quickly extinguishing the flame.

"Sorry, Eddy. I didn't mean to interrupt your focus." She giggled, leaning against a nearby shelf. "I see you're already getting the hang of things."

"Yeah, just trying to get a grip on the basics," Edwin replied, brushing off the tension. "It's… a lot to take in."

Juliet's expression softened. "I know. Magic here isn't like anything you've encountered before, is it? But you're a quick learner. You'll get the hang of it."

Her words were encouraging, but Edwin knew that mastering the basics was only the beginning. The real challenge would come when he tried to apply this knowledge in battle.

"By the way, I brought you something." Juliet pulled out a small crystal from her pocket, glowing with a soft blue light. "This is a lacrima. It's filled with pure Ethernano. If you ever run low on energy or need a quick boost, just use this."

Edwin took the crystal, feeling its cool surface against his skin. "Thanks, Juliet. This will definitely come in handy."

Third Step: Exploring Advanced Magic

After practicing with the basic elements, Edwin decided to delve into more advanced forms of magic. He found a tome titled "Arcane Arts: Beyond the Elements." This book covered a variety of specialized magic types, from illusions and barriers to summoning and transmutation. However, what intrigued him most was a section on Lost Magic, ancient spells that had nearly vanished from the world.

One type of Lost Magic that caught his attention was Time Magic. The very idea of manipulating time fascinated him. The book described how powerful users could slow, accelerate, or even stop time for short periods. However, it came with a dire warning: improper use could lead to disastrous consequences, including aging the user or tearing apart the fabric of reality itself.

"Time Magic, huh?" Juliet mused, peeking over his shoulder. "That's some heavy stuff. Not many people can handle it."

"I'm not planning to dive into it right away," Edwin replied, closing the book. "But it's good to know what's possible. Maybe one day, I'll be ready. Although I am interested in this archive magic as it seems very adaptable."

Juliet nodded in agreement. "Take it slow, Eddy. Master the basics first. Once you've got those down, then you can start experimenting. Oh, and sorry about the boss. She has that effect on people, to be honest. I was actually expecting you to piss yourself."

" Thanks for the ringing and Miss Sun, but thank you for your concern." The excitable young woman just winks before heading to leave the library.

" By the way, Eddie, you can call me Juliet. Now I gotta go before the boss gets impatient. See ya!" And in not even a fraction of a second, Juliet disappeared as if she was never there.

For now, his focus needed to remain on building a strong foundation. He decided to spend the rest of the day practicing spells from different magical schools, barrier magic, enchantments, and even a few healing spells. With each success, his confidence grew. His ability to tap into and manipulate Ethernano became second nature, and he found that the more he practiced, the easier it was to switch between different types of magic.

Final Step: Testing His Limits

Edwin found himself alone in a quiet corner of the library as the day drew to a close. The sun was setting, casting long shadows across the floor. He had learned a lot in a short amount of time, but he needed to test his limits—to see how far he could push his abilities without losing control.

He closed his eyes and focused, drawing in as much Ethernano as possible from his surroundings. His body hummed with power as he channeled the energy into multiple forms. 

A flame flickered in one hand while the air around him crackled with electricity. At the same time, he summoned a barrier of light around himself, all while maintaining a steady flow of energy to keep everything stable.

It was a delicate balance, one that required intense concentration. But Edwin held firm, keeping all the spells active without letting them falter. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he released the energy, allowing the magic to dissipate harmlessly into the air. He opened his eyes, feeling a deep sense of accomplishment.

"Not bad, Edwin," he muttered to himself. "Not bad at all."

As he gathered his things and prepared to leave the library, he couldn't help but smile. The day had been exhausting, but he had made significant progress. He was no longer just a man with a mysterious power; he was becoming a true mage, someone capable of standing toe-to-toe with the most powerful beings in this world.

And yet, as he left the library and walked into the night, one thought lingered in his mind: the Scarlet Despair. There was something about her that unsettled him, something more than just her overwhelming power. 

He couldn't shake the feeling that their paths would cross again, and when they did, he needed to be ready. Even if, admittedly, she ticked all of Edwin's boxes, from what he knew about her, she would definitely not be interested in romance.

For now, though, he had other things to focus on. The Empire was a vast and complex place, and he had only scratched the surface of its mysteries. There was still so much to learn, so much to explore. But with his newfound mastery of magic, Edwin felt more confident than ever that he could handle whatever challenges lay ahead.

As he walked back to his temporary lodgings, the stars above twinkled like distant jewels, and for the first time since arriving in this world, Edwin felt a sense of peace. He was on the right path, and with every step, he was getting closer to his goal.

So as he found an alleyway, he opened a portal back to his pocket dimension, and as he went back into his home, he lay on his bed and went to sleep.

It was something so simple to him. It just felt so so perfect.