Klaen reached for a book on a bookshelf, took a seat, and opened it.
History of Caladar.
The kingdom was founded 500 years ago, half a century after the cataclysms of Inix, believed to be an entity that ascended to deity and brought prosperity. Those who founded the kingdom considered themselves descendants of the goddess. They came from the south of the middle continent, building shrines to maintain a connection with her. Wardens protected these shrines, but the first settlers still struggled to establish themselves. The land was home to a few sentient frost dragons, whose attacks made settlement difficult. Eventually, the first Caladans reached a pact with the dragons: they would only settle and guard the peripheral regions. This agreement became known as the Frost-Caladian Pact.
…Interesting, but not exactly what I need. I need a magic manual, something that will actually help me win the exam tomorrow… Klaen thought.
He reached for another book. Before he could grasp it, the volume slid to the other side of the shelf.
…Must be Lara.
She stepped forward, a girl with gray hair, pale skin, and delicate features.
"You should hand the book to me once you're done reading it," he said.
She gave a faint smile. "Of course. But don't expect me to read slowly."
Klaen waited as she skimmed the pages. Lara's eyes moved quickly, scanning with sharp focus. He caught himself studying the efficiency of her movements more than the text. Once she finished, she passed the book back, and he began reading.
Types of Spell
There are seven elements, each represented by an ancient deity:
Fire: the scorching red dragon Dragnir, guardian above the gates of hell, Dragonspine.
Water: the primordial leviathan Jormunga, ruler of the oceans.
Lightning: the lord of storms Trulan, ruler of the skies.
Earth: the primordial worm Gutugurur, herald of quakes.
Wind: the primordial bird Ephirea, ruler of the plains.
Plant: Mother Earth Asianese, source of life.
Light: the primordial behemoth Brutrius, fang of Providence.
Darkness: the primordial Quetzalcoatus Niohodor, ruler of death and darkness.
There are also sub-elements, each with its own symbol:
Magma: the golem of magma Sutuhur, king of hell.
Ice: the giant of ice Hrimtusor, wielder of the hammer that breaks the sky.
Magma and ice are variations of fire and water, respectively.
Higher spell grades generally indicate greater potency. With enough mana, however, even a grade 1 spell can appear as powerful as a grade 3.
…I suspect there are more sub-variations beyond ice and magma. That's basic knowledge. Still, this isn't quite the practical guide I'm looking for… Klaen thought.
Spirit summoning was also possible—drawing forth entities that had emerged from the dead bodies of the deities through elemental casting. There are nine grades of summoning. The caster must focus on surrounding mana, where these entities roam, and use the elemental symbol with the correct sigils and external symbols to call forth a spirit.
…I've never heard of this. Maybe I should try it…
Klaen stood in the library and lifted his hand, focusing on the surrounding mana. It felt like a lattice of invisible threads, veils wrapping around him. The spirits were everywhere, spread across the world, waiting for mana to pull them into form. He visualized a giant leviathan, rolling waves along its back, and traced the associated symbols and sigils. Scorching Mana surged through his veins and converged at his fingertips. Slowly, a water spirit appeared.
…I did it on the first try. Although… the spirit hovers more like a bubble than a full entity. I guess it failed to fully materialize… Klaen sighed.
Lara, who had returned to a nearby shelf, glanced over. "Not bad," she said. "For a first attempt."
Klaen smirked. "It's still far from perfect. You'll probably summon it properly on your first try too."
She tilted her head, amused. "Maybe. But I'm not here to compete."
…Well, I suppose it's time to return to my room…
After leaving the library, Klaen headed to his bedroom. The academy had separate student bedrooms in the main building. Each room had a bed, desk, and chair, illuminated by lamps containing bright magical stones. Klaen's room had a bookshelf with several books, encouraging study even late into the night.
He sat at his desk, thinking.
…If I keep practicing, I could master a grade 2 summoning of the plant element. The spirit could entangle an opponent… That's actually possible if all actions are allowed during the exam. I will master a grade 2 summoning no matter what.
…Besides, grade 3 spells are more powerful, but with enough mana, a grade 2 spell can be boosted by one grade. Using that logic, grade 2 is the safest choice for tomorrow.
…Strategy? I don't have one yet. For now, I focus on summoning. I'll worry about tactics tomorrow…
Klaen practiced spirit summoning late into the evening, each attempt sharpening both focus and control.