Library

"How do we explain my rank, then?" asked Kyle.

"We can make use of the relationship between your family and ours and of the rumors you once had,"

"I still don't understand" replied Kyle.

"We'll say that you were indeed an extraordinary genius, and we gave you an artifact that hid your rank in order to protect you from any external forces that would try to harm a future pillar of the empire, considering your grandfather was also the Emperor's teacher, even if someone had any doubts they wouldn't dare voice it out," Kyle was surprised by such a thorough plan, as it justifies why they hid his rank, and why they revealed it now, the reason being him currently living in the capital, under the direct protection of the Royal Family and the Academy.

"..."

"You can go back to your dormitory now"

"Okay, sir!" replied Kyle and went back to his dorm, on his way there, he spotted an instructor and asked him, "Excuse me, Instructor. What's going to happen to the library?", to which he replied, "It will open tomorrow"

Kyle returned to his room. Although this room was smaller than the one he had back at his house, he still liked it. However, after seeing around the Royal Palace today, he realized just how small this room really was. He sat on his bed and pulled out the technique Hugo gave him.

Kyle didn't think much of it, he just got the best breathing technique to ever exist. How great could a 'decent martial technique' that the Emperor thoughtlessly gave him be?

He noticed the book had no name and thought 'This really must be something useless, how can a technique not even have a name?' Even the weakest and most useless techniques have names, symbolizing them. So this technique not having a name means it's even worse than those useless techniques.

This made him feel unmotivated to even read it but not doing so would mean disrespecting the Emperor so he decided to read it.

The martial technique was unexpectedly profound, no calling it profound wouldn't even be the start of it, yet Kyle didn't really understand it as the technique was expressed in drawing and not in words meaning that Kyle had to try to connect the drawn stances to complete the form himself.

Kyle started mimicking the pose of the first drawing on the first page, he felt his bones breaking just by standing in such a pose for a second, but he still didn't give up and strived to perfect it.

He now felt that this technique emitted mysteriousness, which only made his resolve stronger. Kyle reinforced his bones with mana to make them sturdier, and after training all night without a wink of sleep he barely managed to mimic it, yet he was satisfied with such a result.

Kyle got up from his previous position, realizing he was covered in sweat and rushed to take a bath before leaving for the Library opening. Kyle thought long all night while training this technique and realized that this would take a long time to master, so he decided to lower the training hours for it, and focus on other easier techniques that would be more useful for the current him, he also needed a movement technique and a variety of other techniques from what he could find.

Kyle arrived at the library, yet this time it was much less crowded outside as all the people who wanted to go in, already went in. He went in and was met with a table on his right where an old man was seated.

This man gave off the vibes of an expert, yet didn't look like one, instead, he looked like a beggar. Kyle didn't mind him and continued going in until he heard the words, "Stop"

Kyle turned around and asked, "Are you talking to me?"

"Yes, you! come here"

Kyle walked towards him as requested, "You're a first-year, right?"

"Yes?" Kyle was slightly confused and didn't know what this old man was getting at.

"The Academy decided to let all students use all floors, no need for the split between the years anymore,"

"W-Why?"

"I don't know, some talk about needing stronger personnel for something in the future and whatnot, anyway you can access all four floors,"

Kyle was filled with doubt and confusion but was sure that this person wouldn't lie to him for no reason, yet he still decided to inspect the floors one by one.

Students were allowed to stay at the library all day after their lectures and before curfew, so Kyle decided to take his time with each floor, searching them thoroughly to find the right techniques for him.

He first spent about 4 hours scanning through the first floor and found a couple of decent techniques that he decided to learn, he then started studying them and realized just how hard and profound the technique he received from the Emperor is.

Kyle picked out 2 movement techniques and a palm martial art and spent 3 hours learning them, he then returned to his dorm, where he continued training his other technique till morning once again, then for the next couple of days his routine stayed the same without getting any sleep.

As mages reach higher levels they can eat and sleep less and less as they can use mana as a substitute for them. Kyle was making use of that to the maximum, as he neither slept nor ate.

A week later, he was training his movement technique on the first floor until all of a sudden he passed out. The man sitting on the table right next to the door instantly moved near Kyle and caught him before falling. "I knew this would happen. Why is this kid pushing himself so hard?"

Kyle woke up suddenly and was covered in sweat, looking as if he was in some cursed nightmare fighting for his life.

"Hey, kid"

"O-Old man? What are you doing here? And wasn't I in the library just now?"

"D-Did you just call me an old man?!!

A-Ahem never mind that, you passed out in the library and I had to carry you here. I barely got permission from the Assistant Professor guarding the dorm because I had to take care of you!"

"Oh right I remember now" replied Kyle.

"Why are you pushing yourself so hard! you have a finite amount of mana, you can't go on for a week without eating or sleeping!" said the old man, scolding Kyle with worry.

"I-I need to keep up!" replied Kyle looking down and slightly disappointed.

"Keep up? you're only 16 years old yet you're already a high-tier 3-circle mage, keep up with who. I'd say you're the most talented in this generation after the crown prince"

"Even though I'm already at this level, I still wouldn't feel confident going up against Henry or someone even stronger than him," said Kyle, saddened by his feeling of helplessness.

"Child, even if you do get stronger, you won't last much longer this way. You can get stronger and be healthy, you just have to do it in moderation"

Although Kyle was getting more battle experience during the special classes and more knowledge during the general classes, he still found training his techniques more useful to his growth.

However, Kyle has yet to realize just how important battle experience is, and how useful the knowledge he's accumulating will be when he steps out into the real world.

"I don't know what to do anymore...There's this thirst for power I keep feeling, I feel like it's taking over me" Kyle felt lost...