Chapter 2: The Hidden Tome

Arthur sat slumped on a bench in his classroom, his head resting heavily on the desk as voices of his classmates buzzed around him.

"Hey, did you hear that kid over there got the wind element?" whispered a girl to her friend.

"Yeah, doesn't that make him the weakest person in our school?" another chimed in with a laugh.

"You know he's always so gloomy. It's nauseating sometimes," giggled a third girl.

"And remember that time he asked me for a pencil? I hope his bad luck doesn't rub off on me," added another.

As Arthur listened to their mocking, a familiar voice cut through the chatter.

"Hey, why are you sitting there like a lump? Don't you have anything better to do?" Mirion1 sneered.

"Yeah, you're making us and our boss flustered!" echoed a boy next to Mirion.

Arthur couldn't contain his anger. "Is it my fault you're frustrated? Don't take it out on me because Cilia rejected you!"

His outburst drew laughter from the entire class. Enraged, Mirion lunged towards Arthur, but the professor entered just in time to restore order. The class settled down, and amidst the quiet, Arthur heard a familiar sound.

"Hey brat, what was that about?" A voice echoed in Arthur's ear, drawing his gaze to a yellow flame floating in the air. "Oh, it's you, Mr. Book."

"Don't call me Mr. Book! I have a name, you know, and it's Gimir2," the voice responded, sounding irritated.

"Okay, Gimir. Why are you a flame? Even more puzzling, why is a book floating and talking? And why am I the only one who reacts to it?" Arthur asked incredulously.

"It was my grand plan to seek out the mightiest person in history. As for why only you can hear me, it's because you are now my master. No one else can hear me or see me," Gimir explained.

"What exactly do you mean?" Arthur pressed further

"Didn't I mention this yesterday?" Gimir sighed. 

Arthur's memory flashed back to the previous day's conversation.

The floating book asked, "Who are you?" Then, with excitement in its voice, it exclaimed, "Wait, I am free! That means someone finally met the requirements my master set." Confused by what was happening, Arthur asked, "Wait, what requirements? Who is your master? Can you explain?"

The book responded, "Oh yes, well, you are my new master now, so I will tell you everything I know. I don't know how much time has passed, but a long time ago, my master, Velcane Cifer, created me, Gimir, as a book with the intention of finding someone capable of wielding the wind element."

Arthur's mind returned to the present. "Oh yes, I remember now, so you are a yellow flame now and not a book huh,"

"Seriously, I can't believe my new master would be this sloppy. You can't even remember a conversation that happened just 14 hours ago," Gimir said with frustration in his voice.

"Wait, you never explained to me what the requirements were, did you?" Arthur asked, puzzled.

"Well, okay, okay, I'll explain it to you now. The requirement was simple: the person had to wield the wind element and possess a strong will to become stronger," Gimir explained.

Arthur nodded, starting to understand. "Okay, so I get why I'm your new master now. But why would Velcane create something for a wind mage and not for fire?"

"Well, it's because my master had a weakness," Gimir replied cryptically.

Arthur furrowed his brow, becoming more confused. "Wait, did you just say weakness? But wasn't he the strongest?" He said this aloud, and the entire class burst into laughter. The professor scolded Arthur, bringing an abrupt end to the discussion.

The scene shifts to the cafeteria during lunch break, where everyone is peacefully having their meals. Arthur was just about to take a bite of his lunch when a powerful burst of fire shot towards him from his right. Sensing the danger, Arthur quickly moved away from his table. While Arthur remained unscathed, his lunch and the table itself were obliterated by the fiery explosion.

"Oh, sorry! I missed my shot!" Mirion said, happily taunting Arthur.

Arthur replied, "Really? You missed, huh? Well, I think your real target was me, not the table, right?"

A boy standing beside Mirion chimed in, "Oh, come on, it was an accident! I know you're unlucky enough to get that weak element, but are you really taking out your frustration on Master Mirion?"

He said that line loudly and intentionally, drawing everyone's attention. The cafeteria buzzed with gossip as everyone stared at Arthur.

"Really? That unlucky boy is arrogant enough to accuse the chief commander's son, Mirion, of an attack?" a girl from the crowd said.

"Oh yes, I knew he was good for nothing, but accusing a noble for no reason is absurd," another added.

It took Arthur a moment to calm down. Once composed, he replied confidently, "You call me unlucky, but who is more unfortunate than a guy rejected by a commoner girl? You're not even accepted by commoners, and you want me, Arthur Cifer, the descendant of the strongest man in history, to fear you? I thought you just looked like an idiot, but are you an idiot through and through?"

The direction of the gossip shifted, and now Mirion was in the spotlight, becoming the topic of everyone's whispers. Unable to stand the insulting attitude, Mirion tried to attack Arthur, angrily shouting, "Arthur!" He raised his hand and started chanting. A fireball appeared in front of Mirion's hand, forming from thin air. Just as Mirion was about to release the fireball towards Arthur, someone suddenly grabbed his hands, stopping him.

To be continued...

What happens next? Whose hand was that? Find out in the next chapter! Add our novel to your library for updates!