As Eric opened the door, it revealed Luke's personal study space.
Sunlight spilled into the room, casting a warm glow over the neatly prepared space. A wooden desk sat perfectly arranged with books and writing tools. A polished tea set rested nearby, gleaming in the light.
Across from the desk was a spotless black chalkboard. A small oak podium stood neatly between the board and Luke's seat.
The moment the door opened, the man inside glanced toward Luke and immediately bowed, his body tense.
Luke assessed him quietly.
Medium brown hair, neatly slicked back at the sides while the rest flowed freely below his shoulders. He appeared to be in his late twenties, carrying a quiet elegance in his posture.
"Your highness," the man said respectfully, "I have been awaiting your arrival. I am Celdric Heizer, your private tutor. It is an honor to serve you, Your Highness."
Celdric…
Luke instantly recognized the name the man who only appeared for two chapters in the game.
Celdric Heizer.
A surge of hope struck him the moment he heard that name. Celdric Heizer, the famous alchemist who once stopped Luke's undead puppets.
In the game, when Mikhail fought the undead in the cold forest, he was ambushed due to low visibility. Outnumbered, wounded, and moments away from becoming a puppet himself, Mikhail was cornered and certain it was his end.
That was when Celdric appeared.
Through a transmutation circle, Celdric cast a freezing spell that stopped the undead in their tracks. It only lasted ten seconds, but it was enough to save Mikhail's life.
The only difference now he younger and healthier than in game.
This man could be the key to my survival.
Kieran nodded politely. "Your worth will be judged by me. For now, you may do your job," he said as he eased into his chair.
Celdric smiled politely. "I understand, Your Highness."
Eric pulled the chair back and pushed it forward for Luke to sit. "Is everything seem alright to you?" Eric asked offering his faint smile he always had.
Kieran glance at Eric, "Yes it's fine by me." Kieran spoke calmly as he lean back.
"Then I shall wait outside," he excused himself, leaving the room with quiet steps.
As the door click it only leaving both of them. Celdric who had been on the podium pulled his breath, "Your highness, shall we begin then?"
"Mr Celdric, before we start. How about you stop using honorifics? You are the teacher, and I want us to be equals as teacher and disciple." Kieran spoke, if he want him get closer he shall get rid the honorific.
Kieran's reasoning was simple. If he became more familiar with Celdric, he could gain an immediate ally.
Celdric hesitated, his mouth opening slightly, but he complied. "Sure… your—I mean, Mr. Luke," he said, clearing his throat as he picked up a textbook. "Shall we begin then?"
Kieran nodded.
Celdric slid a hand into his pocket and pulled out his monocle. He stepped onto the podium, the wooden platform creaking softly under his weight. His chalk scraped against the blackboard as he began writing, leaving faint white trails in neat strokes. Kieran's brow furrowed at the symbols before him.
They looked like Latin at first, then it hit him.
It was the Varnic language, the main language of this world.
He gripped the pen tightly, biting his inner cheek as a flicker of frustration passed over him. He had only seen this in the game, never understood it.
Wait. Something didn't sit right. He could understand the spoken words perfectly.
He shook the thought away. For now, at least he could follow the conversation.
"Then, Mr. Luke, do you know how magic is distributed?" Celdric asked, stepping back from the board and opening the textbook. He flipped through the pages with careful, deliberate motions, straightening his posture as he did so.
Kieran sat there, slightly lost. He definitely did not know. He had never read all the lore in the game he was just a story enjoyer.
With a defeated sigh, Kieran answered, "Sorry, I don't know."
"It is fine," Celdric said, adjusting his monocle. "The book explains that magic was granted by a mysterious being, the one who started the era of the New Epodh."
Kieran leaned slightly forward, resting his hand on his chin, trying to focus.
"When the Earth was still barren, there was nothing but ground. As time went on, nature slowly returned. That was when the first living beings appeared: the plants."
"The being gave some of its power to the plants, the first living beings of that era. With magic, it transformed some into nymphs."
"Over time, the nymphs spread magic to other living beings. Humans were the last to receive blessings from the nymphs."
Celdric set the textbook down with care.
Kieran blinked in surprise. He had never realized the lore in the game was this extensive. He had thought humans simply received magic, and that was all.
"That is how magic was first distributed, but in some other cultures, there is a story of a witch who gave magic to humans."
A witch? That was something he recognized. Witches existed in this world, but he knew them as evil. From the missing child posters and the rumors, their reputation was clear.
"Then, Mr. Celdric, may I ask about the witch? Aren't witches known to be evil?" Kieran asked.
"Not necessarily. In the past, there were wars between humans and witches.
"The conflicts ended with a treaty, but some groups continued the fighting. The details are lost because the library that held the archives burned down."
Kieran realized something. This world was more complicated than he had thought. There were probably good witches and bad witches, just like in storybooks.
"Then who are these groups?" Kieran asked, feeling uneasy about the larger forces at play.
Celdric shook his head, "No one actually knows, but some say they can even change the flow of life."
"I see. Then please, carry on," Kieran said, deciding he would research the rest later. For now, he needed to focus on his studies.