Chapter 27 (Essence sight codex)

Drake, still enjoying his lunch along with Mark seated across him, decided to break the silence. "Mark, there's been something nagging me on my thoughts." In the middle of eating his meal, Mark paused and put his right arm on the table, bending his neck slightly in Drake's direction."What is on your mind, bordering you? Let me in on it."

Drake also placed his arms on the table, holding his fist and knife, and gently raised his voice. "When I was travelling down here, I noticed some kind of advanced development at the carriage station. The way it was built and designed, down to their organised operation. Also, when I got into my room, I noticed some crystal lamps that lit up the room. What's bothering me is where this knowledge came from."

Mark smiled at him. "I thought it was something serious. That's something everyone has a rough idea about. There's a legend that another world exists and the evidence that all this knowledge and technology here came from it." Drake looked shocked, thinking Mark was referring to earth."Did you mean a world where mana doesn't exist and people relay on technology?"

Mark tightened his lips, shaking his head. "No, this world I'm talking about is said to have more powerful mages; with just a thought, they can invoke magic. In fact, this world is just a subordinate dimension to it." Drake looked astonished, hearing this. "Then why haven't people from that world and here either ascend or descend from any of these worlds?" He said, locking his gaze at Mark.

Mark gently looked both sides and covered his right side of his mouth with the back of his left hand. "Reason for them not descending down here is still unknown, but for people in this world, you must be at the level of a great grandmaster with nine circle rings to have the qualification to ascend. They were about to continue their meal when Drake suddenly remembered something. "Please, I need to visit the academy library, but it seems finding my way there won't be easy. Can you help me with it?" He exclaimed.

Mark gently drops his knives, places his elbows on the table, and rests his chin on his hands. "It seems the news about you not being from the Kaldris kingdom's royalty was true." Mark cleared his throat. "You see, the architectural layout of this academy is well known to all Noble families. So I brought this." He passed a cardstock to Drake. "This will help. It contains the architectural layout of the academy."

Drake received it and slipped it into his pocket. "Thank you for your help. You're really helpful." "You don't need to say that. What are we friends for?" They both smiled and continued with their meals.

Meanwhile Griffin had been stealthily approaching Drake with a cup of steaming green tea clutched in his right hand. As he drew closer, he sloshed the tea at Drake. Drake reacted instinctively, flipping backward from his seat with instant swaying of the fork in his right hand like lightning at Griffin's neck a few inches away.

Silence descended upon the bustling dining hall like a thick fog, instantly. Every eye fixed on the scene. All students from prominent families were stunned by the swiftness of Drake's action and recognised the fork's movement as something beyond their capabilities. They were all intimidated by the emanated energy from Drake's body as sweat dripped down their foreheads.

During the sequence, Drake was not being himself, as if he was manipulated by an unseen force. Instructor William, who is 6.1 feet tall with a slight broad chest and dark blue hair, and pupils who had come to observe the newly admitted students also noticed the incident. Realising the situation, Drake grabbed his food tray and rushed out of the dining hall after returning it to the kitchen.

After walking far from the dining hall, he pulled out the cardstock to find his way to the library. Diamond Mage Academy, sprawled across 980,000 square meters, is divided into two sections: the junior section at its west and the senior section at its east. In the junior section, the administration building (housing the principal and staff offices) is located 35 degrees north. The Academy building (including male and female dressing rooms, lecture hall, training and evaluation center), laboratory buildings at the centre, and dining hall in between the Academy building and the administration building.

The Mana and Aura assimilation chamber, mental strength sanctuary 94 degrees south-east,while the library is 278 degrees north-west, the physical and mental evaluation building at the west, and the female dormitory at the south, with each building no less than 1,200 square meters in size, with each expanded by the addition of multiple rooms and several meters separating them. The senior section has a similar layout, with the addition of a building in the North East called Task Headquarters.

Drake stepped into the academy library, built in a circular layout. searching for a method for mana assimilation. Several attempts later, none of the books related to that could be found, but a book piqued his interest called 'Essence sight codex' written by Tiberius Victor.

As he browsed through it, a familiar voice cut through the silence. "I bet you're looking for a book on the mana assimilation method." Drake turned to the voice. "Principal, what brings you here?" Principal Logan with his arms behind him moved closer. "Just came out for a scroll." He replied, his gaze suddenly falling on the book in Drake's hand. "Hmm, Tiberius Victor." This made Drake lock his gaze with principal Logan.

"Do you know this scientist? I mean the author of this book." Principal Logan signs heavily, looking up at the library's roof before returning attention to Drake. "Yes, we were playmates during our academy days. But for some reason I can't share with you, he suddenly disappeared."

Drake sees the pity in principal Logan's eyes. "I'm sorry to have unearthed your memories." Principal Logan waved his hand dismissively. "No, you haven't done anything. It's something that crosses my mind occasionally." He turned to leave. "You can have that book. It's been here touched for ages. Don't worry, I will inform the head librarian. So have a wonderful day." Logan departed. Drake clutched the book, heading back to his dormitory.