The title alone made my heart beat faster.
Introduction to Magic and the Four Basic Elements.
So it really existed.
Magic.
I let out a slow breath, the kind you don't realize you're holding until it escapes. My instincts hadn't betrayed me after all.
I flipped through the pages, careful not to crease them. Diagrams filled the margins, circles, arrows, strange symbols that reminded me of chemistry notes mixed with prayer scripts. Some words were familiar enough that I could guess their meaning. Others felt slippery, refusing to settle in my head.
Still… I could manage.
If I didn't understand anything, I'd ask Miss Erica later.
I closed the book and carried it back to the librarian, placing it gently on the desk.
"I'd like to rent this one," I said, sliding five silver coins forward. My fingers hesitated before letting go, as if the coins might run away.
The librarian studied the book, then me.
Not suspicious.
More like… mildly curious.
He reached for a sheet of paper and pushed it toward me along with a pen. I filled in my name slowly, double-checking each character before moving on. My handwriting still looked like a child's. No helping that.
"This covers one week," he said once I finished. "Any delay extends the payment."
I nodded.
Then curiosity slipped out before I could stop it.
"Isn't… magic books like this supposed to be rare?"
He blinked.
Then looked at me the way people look at someone who just asked whether water was wet.
"Basic magic books aren't rare," he said flatly. "Most children encounter this while learning to read. What is rare is the talent to use it."
Ah.
That stung a little.
He went on, explaining that most adventurers became warriors because magic simply refused to answer them. A few rare individuals learned both blade and spell, becoming Magic Swordsmen or Magic Knights, but these were exceptions.
I nodded along, even as my head started to feel heavy.
Too much information.
Time to retreat.
The walk back to the inn was quiet.
Street lamps glowed faintly, casting soft halos on the stone roads. People passed by in small groups, their voices low, unhurried. The air felt cooler, calmer. Peaceful.
It reminded me of home.
That realization made my chest tighten, just a little.
Inside the inn, the familiar smell of grilled fish greeted me. Dinner was exactly that: grilled fish and bread. Simple. Filling enough. Meat still seemed like a luxury reserved for special occasions.
Back in my room, I lit the candle on the desk. The flame wavered before settling, throwing uneven shadows across the walls.
I sat down and opened the book again.
Magic theory here wasn't that different from the fantasy novels I used to read, just written with far less drama.
Magic was divided into four broad categories.
Offensive Magic- straightforward destruction.
Healing Magic- holy in origin, tightly controlled by the church.
Barrier Magic- defensive constructs shaped by elements.
Magic Implements- objects imbued with magic, like enchanted weapons.
Ranks followed: Basic, Intermediate, Advanced, Saint King, Emperor.
Anything beyond that? No records.
Chanting was required to shape mana. Beginners relied on spoken words. Masters could cast silently, manipulating mana directly.
Mana itself flowed through everything: plants, animals, people. Warriors used it differently, reinforcing muscles and reflexes rather than forming spells.
Finally, I reached the part I'd been waiting for.
Basic Elemental Chants.
Fire. Water. Wind. Earth.
I traced the words with my finger, mouthing them silently. They felt heavy. Awkward. Like trying to recite poetry in a language I barely understood.
I closed the book and leaned back, rubbing my eyes.
That was enough for today.
I blew out the candle and lay down, the smell of melted wax lingering in the air. Sleep came quickly, filled with drifting shapes and flowing water.
I woke before sunrise.
The sky outside was still dim, the world caught between night and morning. I sat up immediately, excitement pushing sleep aside.
According to the book, there were far more elements than just four, but most were inaccessible to commoners.
Figures.
Power was always controlled. Nobles didn't like sharing.
This was probably how they stayed on top. Give commoners just enough strength to fight their wars, but never enough to threaten the throne.
The truly valuable knowledge is the real secrets that were kept close, reserved for those already in power.
Flipping through the chants again, I realized most of them were still beyond me. Too many unfamiliar words. Too many concepts are layered on top of each other.
Except one.
Water Ball.
I checked the time. Still early.
The back of the school had an open space with trees, bushes, and no people. Perfect.
Outside, the sun crested the horizon, light spilling across the canals. The water shimmered, reflecting gold and orange. A breeze brushed past my face.
I stretched instinctively, arms, back, legs, then started jogging.
Slow at first. Then steadier.
Fifteen minutes in, my lungs burned, and my legs protested. Definitely out of shape.
In this world, that was dangerous. I need to do this more often.
I bent forward, hands on my knees, breathing hard.
My chest burned, and my legs felt heavier than they should have.
…Just a few more seconds.
When my breathing finally settled, I straightened up and opened the book again. I traced the page with my finger, reading the incantation silently, committing every word to memory.
I stopped near the trees, panting lightly, then opened the book again. I read the chant once. Twice. Again.
Then I spoke.
"O Lady of Flowing Tides, Goddess who cradles rivers and rain, Lend me a droplet of your grace. Gather, turn, and take form. By your blessing, Water Ball."
Something drained out of me.
Not pain.
Not dizziness.
Just… loss.
Like the fatigue after hard exercise.
Instinctively, I raised my palm.
A sphere of water, no bigger than a cup, formed and shot forward.
Thud.
The tree shook as if shoved. No damage. No cracks.
But the force was real.
"…I did it!"
My heart raced as excitement flooded through me. I actually cast a spell.
The librarian's words echoed in my mind. (It takes talent to wield magic)
Water wasn't meant for killing. But that push alone could knock someone down.
When the time came, I'd try fire magic, the element built for destruction.
For now, I focused on practice. I paid attention to every spell, to the way mana flowed out of my body, to how it felt at the moment of casting.
I tried again. And again.
By the fifth cast, my knees felt weak. My vision swam.
Okay. Limit reached.
I collapsed onto the grass, staring up at the sky while my chest heaved.
Five casts.
That was all I had.
Not impressive, but it was a start.
Silent casting would be better. Faster. Safer.
But that came later.
I pushed myself up slowly.
Class would start soon.
And I had a lot of questions for teacher Erica