Research and theory

Lucas slowly stood up, feeling the <Pain Resistance> take effect again. The strained muscles of his legs and hands appeared more numb by the second as he leaned on the table momentarily. His breathing remained staggered as the young man shakily took a few steps toward the door. His trembling hand slowly found the handle and pressed it with hardly any strength.

In a dully-looking, hardly lit corridor, Nimue was standing. She was wearing a maid uniform, complete with a white shirt and headwear. Her green eyes were looking at Lucas with curiosity and worry.

"Young master, has something happened?" she asked, taking note of the young man's sweaty forehead. The minuscule shaking of his pupils also failed to escape her discerning eye. "You appear... unnerved. And you... shouted something."

"...d-did you hear somebody else, o-or just me?"

"...just you, young master," Nimue replied, albeit with a bit of hesitation. "What happened?"

"...I... T-The mirror, and then... the elf... Haaa... I just..." he sighed deeply, hand to his head as a slight headache crept in.

"Did the mirror shatter?" she raised one of her thin, slim eyebrows. "I'll tidy it up right away."

"No, it... it's fine. I just... felt a little off for a minute. Let's go and eat," he waved his hand a little dismissively.

Going through the corridor, the two of them descended a little on a few stairs. The path was somewhat cramped and narrow, giving Lucas a slight sense of claustrophobia. Unwelcoming, stain-covered walls stood illuminated by the occasional manalamps on the walls and ceiling. Their steps echoed dully as they approached a door at the end.

Stepping through it, they entered a small dining room. It was a space just barely larger than Lucas's room. A large table stood in the very middle and a few chairs on either side. Currently, only a middle-aged woman was sitting in one of them, supporting her face covered in wrinkles. Her auburn hair was made into a bun, and her dark grey eyes appeared almost soulless. This, however, changed when she glanced at him.

"Young master, there you are!" she suddenly stood up from her chair. Despite being only a little taller than Nimue, her wide frame and thick arms made her appear lower. Every step she took had a bit of power behind it. "Heavens gracious, what happened to you?"

"Hey, Ina," Lucas replied with a smile he **** through the pain. "Sorry for worrying you. What's on the menu tonight?" he inquired, pulling a chair back and sitting down.

Within seconds, he was eating a hot vegetable soup, Nimue sitting right next to him and also consuming her portion. Meanwhile, Ina was standing by the table, her thick lips curved in a small smile. This, however, changed when her eyes glanced at Lucas's hands. Noticing the few pieces of bandages around his fingers, her expression slowly stiffened.

The dinner proceeded in near-complete silence as Lucas's mind was deeply consumed with thoughts. The surreal experience from just now was vividly being replayed in his mind.

'Seven days... and guests are coming the day after tomorrow...' he thought, glancing at both women. A queasy feeling gnawed at his stomach, almost making him nauseous. Uncertainty clouded his mind as he set his spoon down.

"Are we expecting any guests this week?" he suddenly asked, grabbing both women's attention.

"...not to my knowledge, young master," Ina answered slowly, her eyes dancing across the room.

"I also know not of that," Nimue halted her feasting momentarily to answer. "Why are you asking?" her eyes glimmered with curiosity.

"No reason. I was just wondering," Lucas shook his head lightly before moving his chair away from the table. "Thank you for the soup, Ina, it was delicious as always."

"But... young master, you barely touched it!" the cook sounded surprised as her powerful hands helped her lean on the furniture.

"It's alright, I'm not hungry. Nimue, when you finish eating, please come to the library."

"Of course, young master," the maid answered, her voice calm and melodic.

Without waiting for anything, the young man left the room. Rushing through the corridor as fast as his battered body allowed for, he reached his room and passed right by it. Going further into the hallway, Lucas soon reached a flight of stairs. Ascending on it, he soon stood on the ground level of the mansion. A thick, red carpet with golden symbols atop stretched on the floor. Numerous windows welcomed the evening's orange light. The lofty ceiling and generous width of the hall seemingly erased the boundaries between indoors and out. Several doors stood opposite the glass expanses, each granting entry to its designated space, which on this floor mostly consisted of meeting rooms and guest bedrooms. Elaborate chandeliers dangled like crystalline vines from above. The very structure appeared to be timeless and grand.

However, Lucas had little interest in glancing around. Hurriedly, he took his steps further up the stairs, reaching the first floor. It looked largely similar to the first one. A similar amount of doors lead to their destinations. Lucas was only interested in the first one to his right; the entrance to the library looked as inviting as ever.

'Eamon... Cindermoon,' he mused. 'Are you a figment of my imagination, or are you real?' Lucas wondered as his hand reached for the handle. 'And if you are real... can you truly achieve what a dozen others could not?' his heart fluttered with anticipation as he opened the door. In an instant, the familiar scent of old parchments and books enveloped him. It was one of the few places where he felt truly safe - his sanctuary.

The library was vast, at least in comparison to the mansion's typical rooms, with rows of bookshelves divided by topics. Exquisite chandeliers hung low under a glass ceiling, casting a mesmerizing glow. He picked up a manalamp from the wall and moved forward, scanning the shelves and their descriptions.

'...The Adventures of Luccius - not what I'm looking for. Velheran Kingdom's Topography - no. Known classes... no. Laws of Etnal Kingdom - still not here. Come on, where is it...' he frowned with frustration as he ventured further into the library. 'It should have been around here somewhere...'

"Looking for something?" a feminine voice called from his left. He turned rapidly.

"...Hi, Ophelia," he replied, hesitating slightly.

The woman standing no further than a few meters away was very slightly lower than him. Her icy-blue eyes stared at him with ferocity, almost as if she was attempting to freeze him with mere sight. The silver hair that cascaded down to her elbows was not tied in any way, flickering in the lamp's light as her head turned slightly. Her plump lips were done with some slight red pigment, emphasizing just how pale her skin was.

Her body was one to die for, that was for sure. The long, purple robe hugged her in all the right places, greatly emphasizing the size of her chest - twice as large as Nimue's - and hips - which were easily the largest in the family. Ophelia's body was a peak of womanhood that turned the gazes of men and women alike whenever she walked through Weydan. Even Lucas had to admit that he did stare at her assets sometimes.

However, this was not one of those times. Feeling his sister stare him down, the young Stormrider continued his thought, "I-I'm looking for studies on magic circles. They aren't on their shelf."

"What would a moron like you even gain from them?" she asked with a slightly condescending tone. Her posture changed to one that suggested that she was already irritated by the conversation.

"I... I'm just--"

"Whatever. Have you been in a fight again?" she implored whilst coming a little closer and squinting her eyes. Her huge bust jiggled a little as she made a short 'hmph' sound and walked past him. "You can't even meet your end properly, can you."

"..." he didn't answer, letting his head down a bit. Yet, his fists clenched with anger.

"Try to not die searching for that book of yours," she added with a glint of ridicule, her voice dying off behind him as she walked out of the library.

"...bitch," he uttered under his breath. 'Both eldest and the most bitchy.' he grimaced unpleasantly. 'Well, safe for mother, I guess. Still, would it kill her to be a little nice to her own brother? Why's she like this? Because she classed when she was 7? Is that enough to hate me?' "Oh look at me, I'm Ophelia, I'm so great 'cause I got my first circle when I still struggled with a lisp!" he said mockingly, doing the best parody of his sister's steps his body allowed him to.

And yet, he could only feel the anger in him rise. The very thought of the gap between them filled him with despair. And when his pondering shifted toward his other sister, it didn't fill him with any hope.

'Aveline also classed early... come to think of it, even mother and father had classed before they were 11. This is... simply infuriating.'

...

'Not worth getting angry over. Calm down, Lucas. There's no point.' a sigh escaped his lips as he relaxed his fists. 'You will find a way. But first, you need answers.'

Shuffling his legs forward, he lit the way forth with the lamp, helping him see all the writings on the shelves. The thick carpet under his feet muffled all the sounds of his boots stepping. The smell of parchments filled his mind with newfound ease as he breezed through shelf after shelf, topic after topic, until finally, he got hold of what he needed. With a relieved sigh, Lucas quickly trekked to a table in the middle part of the room. Sitting down in a small chair, he put the book on top of it. Its leather cover was rusty and cracked, bearing the signs of frequent use. Letters on it converged into a simple title: The Theory of Magic Circles.

Suddenly, the sound of the door opening piqued his attention. Turning back, he noticed Nimue stepping into the library, carrying a small plate in one hand as she turned around and closed the door. Her black hair swayed in a pendulum motion the moment her head turned toward him.

"I have made some tea for you, young master," the elf maid said, putting the plate on the table. "You wished for me to come here?"

"Yes, I'd like some help regarding searching for a few books. Firstly, I'd like you to find the 'Theory of Magus Cores' and 'Studies of Magic Circles'. Both should've been in the 'study' section, but I couldn't quite find them. Ophelia must've shuffled them somewhere or might've taken them away." 'Typical of her attitude.'

"Of course. Studying for your classes?" she asked, a gentle smile marking her cute face.

"...yes," he nodded after a moment's pause. 'Better not to trouble her.' "Professor Riven recommended a few titles to prepare for classes. Let's start with those two, alright?"

"Of course, I'll get to it right away," Nimue answered instantly, her small feet stepping away hastily. Looking at her from behind, Lucas couldn't help but notice how her graceful bottom was swaying with every step she took. Her maid outfit did little to conceal the movements, and frankly, so did she, likely because she didn't know of his staring. A momentary ponder appeared in the Stormrider's mind, wondering how that would feel in his hands. That, however, was promptly thrown out as his gaze shifted to the book on the table.

Opening it, he quickly located the index and then skimmed the book over to the part that most interested him.

=The magic circle is a fundamental aspect of the Mage class. It serves as the most reliable means to assess one's abilities and to grow stronger.

The journey of a Mage typically begins with the formation of their first circle, the cornerstone of their magical prowess. Most individuals can conjure their first circle by the age of thirteen and achieve the second by eighteen. The maximum number of circles attainable is nine, with a proficient Mage reaching this milestone by the age of seventy.

(...)=

Lucas closed the book slowly. A deep sigh escaped his mouth. This was as he expected. There was naught a mention of anything like a 10th circle of magic. Momentarily, he let his shoulders slump a little before reaching out and grabbing the cup of tea Nimue had brought him.

It had a sweet floral scent that reminded him of perfumes she'd sometimes use when she had some downtime. A small smile entered his mouth before he took a tentative sip. Yes, the fluid was still pleasantly warm, and its taste was delectable. In an instant, Lucas could feel his body radiate a bit of warmth in response to the liquid. A bit of tingling appeared in his wounds.

'I never know how Nimue does this... Status.'

[Lucas Stormrider (Age: 19)

Class: <None>

Level: 2

HP: 168/488

MP: 1124/1124

<Stats>

<New effect!>

Skills: Magic Resistance (passive), Keen Senses, Pain Resistance (passive)]

Shifting his thoughts toward the <Effects> tab, he was greeted by a tiny extension.

[Effects:

Health regeneration (low) - 00:02]

He looked at his HP once more.

[HP: 169/488]

'She's truly skilled when making the tea... I wonder what kind of herbs she uses to achieve a regeneration effect.' he thought, momentarily focusing his gaze on the liquid. However, after a few seconds, he shifted his gaze away. 'My Insight is still too low to appraise it. She's more proficient than meets the eye.' he took a second sip before putting the cup down. '...even the servants of our house are...' he grimaced, not finishing the thought. He clenched his fists momentarily.

"Young master?" he heard Nimue's voice after a short second. Looking up at the elf woman, he could see concern and compassion within her green eyes. "Has something happened? Does something hurt badly?" she asked, her hand quivering slightly as she reached out to his shoulder as though to check on his state.

"...no, I'm alright," Lucas jolted his head slightly. His fists relaxed as he sighed. "I'm just thinking a little."

"..." Although the maid did not speak a word, he easily could see how her gaze became a little calmer. She put down two large books on the table. "I have found what you asked me to look for, young master."

"Thank you, Nimue."

"Do you need some more titles?"

"...yes, there are a few more you can find."

After telling Nimue other titles he wanted to look for, his gaze shifted to the ones she'd brought. A small smile made its way on his face.

'But... even if it's like this, they still accept me and care for me. They never shunned or ridiculed me for being Classless. Even if I can't take my position as rightful heir, they show loyalty like they did to my father.'

...

'...father, what would you say to me now?' Lucas thought, his gaze escaping upward to the crystalline chandelier. 'Your son is feeling more at home with the servants than with his own family. Would you ridicule me for it...? Or would you praise my will to keep going...?' tears made their way into his eyes before he closed them. With a heavy sigh, the young Stormrider focused on the books in front of himself. 'It doesn't matter. I will find out the truth behind that Eamon man. I'll do what I can to class. I'll make you proud...' he made a promise within his mind as he started browsing the pages.

...

...

...

"Wake up~" a faintly female voice gently whispered into Lucas's ear. The mellifluous tone, despite its underlying strength, caressed his senses, offering a welcoming embrace.

Lucas stirred, his eyelids reluctantly parting. His cheek felt stiff against his hands, and the crisp morning air sent a slight shiver across his face. The chandelier above cast a multitude of dancing reflections on the walls.

'Who...?' he wondered, only half-forming the thought before lifting his head from the table's surface. He blinked rapidly, attempting to shake off the remnants of sleep that clung to him. His body protested, feeling stiff and inflexible.

A light blanket rested on his shoulders, offering him warmth in the library's somewhat chill atmosphere. Grasping at it, Lucas took it off and noticed its sky-blue color.

Getting up quietly, he closed all the books he'd been reading through the night; there were more than a dozen different titles stacked about, about topics ranging from the theory of Magus Cores to lineages of current kingdoms. Shaking his head, the man was fighting off the remnants of his sleep.

His gaze then landed on a nearby chair, revealing Nimue slumbering in a similar position to his. Her hands were folded beneath her head, and her delicate breaths were barely audible. A serene smile graced her lips, a testament to the pleasant dreams she was experiencing.

Lucas smiled at the sight. 'Even when I told her to go, she still stubbornly stayed behind.' he thought whilst getting a better hold of the blanket. Without thinking much, he similarly covered her as she did him when he fell asleep. 'Sleep well, Nimue.' he struggled to not speak the words as he carefully stroked the elf's back. In an immediate reaction, she appeared to tense up momentarily, but she relaxed just as quickly, her mouth parting a little as if to speak something. 'I have something to do.'

Lucas picked up the plate with his teacup on it. Stepping toward the library's door, he stole one last glance toward the maid before leaving.

-30 minutes later-

The hour was rather early, as evident by the long shadows still cast by the numerous bushes and trees in the expansive garden next to the mansion. Lucas went and washed first. After that and eating some food (while receiving some more nagging about yesterday's soup), he went to his room in the basement and summoned his status, confirming the state of his HP.

[HP: 466/488]

'Mostly healed. The bruises aren't bothering me much,' he thought, gently massaging his stomach area. 'I should be in top-notch condition by noon, just in time for Deuce's nagging.' He sighed and chuckled weakly. He loathed the swordsmanship lessons, always preferring books to battles. 'I'm nothing like Aveline, capable of taking on that brute. Hopeless, aren't I...'

Lucas adjusted his attire and found his gaze drawn to the dresser, where the memory of the previous night echoed vividly. Stepping closer to it, his hand instinctively took hold of the pocket mirror lying on its top.

'<Keen Senses>.' he commanded his spirit and focused his eyes. Examining the rigid, wooden handle and faintly silver outline of the item's surface, the young Stormrider did all he could to discern anything out of the norm with the item. However, his search quickly proved ineffective. It was just a mirror.

"Haaah..." he sighed with defeat before canceling the skill. "This situation is hopeless." 'Too many questions, and no answers at all could be found. I've spent half the night studying Inalell's lineages, but no family like Cindermoon popped up, not even once. I want to dismiss it as a hallucination, but... there was something about his words. They just sounded... too real.'

Picking up his academy's uniform (which was washed and fixed by one of the maids of the house), he donned it without much of an issue. As he put the mirror into his pocket, Lucas did one final checkup on his state. Taking a pouch of money, Lucas took his steps to leave the mansion as fast as he could.

The rough ground under his feet felt humid as all the plains around were showered in dew glistening in the sunlight. Some hustling could be noticed here and there, likely rabbits and the likes going about their business. Otherwise, however, the road to the city was uneventful. There were not even that many people he met, and the definitive majority of them ignored him.

Quickly lurking beyond numerous buildings, Lucas kept on thinking.

'Our family library has not been updated for years. While most of its info should be accurate, there are still places where I can ask questions. I need a definitive answer about the 10th circle. And there's only one person I can turn to. I just hope that Professor Riven does not have many classes today.'

He stood for a moment before the Weydan Academy's main building. It was no less than 6 stories high, and its imposing and strong architecture with decorative style made it appear like a lord's manor. The array of windows on its sides allowed plentiful light to enter its insides. The powerful, dark door in the front was guarded by four men, all of them clad in large, silver armor - Enforcers on duty. A slow sigh escaped Lucas's mouth as he rummaged in his pocket, looking for his student's card.

-About 2 hours later-

"It appears our time is running dry," Sienna Riven said, taking a look at the clock on the wall. Then, she turned to the students sitting behind their desks in the audience hall, her silver eyes scanning more than 40 heads in an instant. Instantly, she noticed a person who appeared to be slightly dozing off. "Row 3, seat 7. You wouldn't happen to have any questions about the lecture, would you?" she asked with a melodic tone.

The student, a young woman with green eyes and golden curls, blinked rapidly and appeared slightly sheepish. "N-no, Professor," she stammered, glancing around nervously.

"Could you perhaps share your thoughts on the different mana cores?" Sienna inquired.

The student fell silent, her face reddening with embarrassment as the rest of the class stifled snickers.

"*Sigh* I understand that, as final-year students, you may find lectures less engaging," Sienna continued. "However, remember that your intellectual growth depends on both theory and practice. Do not forget this if you wish to become accomplished Mages. Understood?"

"Y-Yes, Professor." the woman answered, her golden curls swinging slightly as she bowed her head.

"Very well. You're dismissed. Before our next classes, I want all of you to review the previous year's studies, with an emphasis on 4th circle magic theory."

The students hardly answered, but Sienna didn't notice a complaint arising between them. A small smirk made its way onto her face, stretching her thin lips. 'Good temper, most of them at least. About 90% of this year's graduates will make decent progress.' she nodded to herself as the last of them left the audience hall.

Then, she leaned on the desk behind her and crossed her hands under her chest. 'Wonder how they'll do in the Tournament... if they even decide to join.'

Sienna, a woman in her mid-forties, stood at an average height of 163 cm. She exuded an air of delicacy, with an elegantly shaped figure accentuated by her dark gray academic toga. Her loose dark turquoise hair was tied in a ponytail that fell to her midriff. Smooth skin had a healthy pinkish color to it, and her age was deceptively difficult to determine. She could easily pass for someone in her early twenties.

A sigh escaped her mouth as the woman turned around. With a hasty glance, she noticed a few papers affixed with a binder - the documents that she carried for classes. Her soft fingers reached out to it, tracing along the somewhat rigid surface for a moment before getting a hold of the item.

*KNOCK KNOCK*

Sienna quickly turned her head. Expanding her senses, she immediately felt a surge of mana swirl just behind the door. 'Hmm, that's quite some mana. Who could this be?' she thought whilst answering, "Come in."

Suddenly, a white-haired young man opened the door and peeked inside. "Good morning, Professor Riven. May I ask for a moment of your time?"

"Oh, Lucas. Come on in. Did you need something?" she raised an eyebrow, her silver eyes meeting the man's violet for a brief moment.

"Y-Yes, I had something I wanted to ask you," Lucas answered, slowly stepping inside the room, leaving the door slightly ajar.

"But don't you have classes on Monday? 1st year doesn't have anything on the weekends, do they?"

"That's true. It's just... it felt urgent," Lucas replied with a glint of hesitance in his voice which failed to be hidden from the older woman.

"Very well, what is it?" Professor Riven asked, her eyebrow raised slightly as she scanned over the man with a glint of curiosity. 'He seems a bit anxious.'

"10th circle of magic. Is there such a thing?"

"10th circle of magic?" Sienna's eyes widened momentarily. Her face made a small grimace displaying immense surprise. "Where did you get that from?"

"...I have been studying circles of magic lately," the white-haired man answered, his eyes glimmering lightly. "All the books I've read only described magic as reaching up to the 9th circle. Yet, I can't help but feel like there is something more to it."

"...I see." 'The difference is like night and day. If only a third of upperclassmen were this focused on learning, our Academy would be the top one in Etnal.' Sienna smiled gently. "What would be your take on this?"

"I'm... doubtful," Lucas looked to his side ever so slightly. "Yet, I can't stop thinking about it. What if it does exist? What spells could it exhibit? That's why I came to ask you, Professor. You know far more than me."

"...haha," Sienna chuckled momentarily as she hugged the binder to her chest. Shaking her head a little, she took out a few strands of hair from her vision, her silver eyes glimmering with gentle laughter. "Your entrance tests beg to differ. However, it is pleasantly refreshing to see someone who comes here to truly learn theory instead of just throwing spells around. But I will have to disappoint you. The 10th circle of magic is a purely theoretical concept. That's the reason you didn't find it in any books."

"I see," Lucas answered, but his expression appeared... somewhat disappointed.

"However, if you're interested, I can share what theoretical knowledge we have. I have some spare time right now," Sienna offered, flipping through her binder.

"...I'd appreciate that, Professor."

"Excellent. Follow me to my office. While we walk, I want you to ponder something deeply."

Lucas nodded attentively. "Of course, Professor. I'm listening."

"Time and space, the physical plane and the magical plane. How do they all relate to each other?"