The old man sat in silence before Karn, his weathered face a canvas of complex emotions. His gaze, unwavering, remained fixed on Karn, yet his expression remained shrouded in mystery. Was it fear, hope, jealousy? It seemed to be a complex blend of these emotions, each warring for dominance within his aged features.

Karn watched the old man closely, trying to decipher the storm of feelings brewing within him. Eventually, the old man found his voice.

"Young man," he began slowly, "this here is an event book, transcribed by human hands—a copy of a Sky chapter. Without the cursed Ink, it holds no inherent power."

"A copy?" Karn asked, his curiosity piqued.

The old man nodded solemnly. "The test you and your friends have undergone is entirely new. Something has been set in motion within the world, something that has not occurred in a long time. These books were used merely as references for event casters until recently, yet something has shifted within the very fabric of Ren Daral."

Understanding dawned in Karn's eyes. It was a sensation he had experienced himself—the strange, growing power that had surged from his own event book. The Book of the Known, nestled in his backpack, emitted a unique yet familiar energy, and one he could never forget. Yet, a similar, albeit fainter, presence seemed to permeate the atmosphere, strengthening with each passing day.

The old man's grin widened as he detected recognition in Karn's eyes. "You sense it too, don't you?"

Karn nodded. "It’s magic."

“Yes, it is, real natural true magic,” said the old man as he smiled and gestured toward the white event book. "As I was saying, this book is a mere copy, transcribed to assist future event casters in locating specific passages and understanding what they require before they manifest. Prior learning can accelerate the casting process, assisting the user in event binding."

"Event binding?" Karn inquired, intrigued.

The old man smiled pleased at the younger man’s eagerness to learn. "It's a process in which multiple events are combined to modify the result. For example, replicating a falling rock and a spark of fire to create a burning projectile."

Realization dawned on Karn. If one could modify prerecorded events, knowledge of these books could unlock an almost infinite realm of magical possibilities. The only limit would be the caster's imagination.

Deep in thought, Karn asked, "So why the test? Is it a requirement for entering the University?"

The old man sighed. "A few weeks ago, such a test didn’t exist. However, due to the current crisis, certain precautions have been instituted. Admittance to the University has been restricted to the general populace, and security measures have been heightened."

“Crisis?” Karn furrowed his brow. "That sounds rather excessive."

The old man chuckled. "Young man, do you comprehend the true magnitude of what has transpired?"

Karn shrugged. "Wouldn't the return of magic to the land be a good thing?"

The old man laughed heartily. "Do you realize how many of these books exist?" He gestured toward the white event book.

Karn confessed he had no idea.

"Hundreds," the old man continued. "I believe at least three hundred and forty have been catalogued within the library."

"What? Why so many?"

"Event casting, for the longest time, was a highly sought-after yet perilous occupation. Many nobles paid handsomely for their children to join the program, even if they would never have the opportunity to use a genuine article. It became a symbol of privilege to have a son or daughter versed in the art."

"But that still doesn't answer why the University is closed," Karn pressed.

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The old man sighed impatiently. "As you have just witnessed, with the current state of affairs influenced by the return of natural magic to the world, each of these white tomes can now be wielded by a potential event caster. Imagine the chaos that could ensue if we opened our doors and allowed hundreds or even thousands of people to vie for control over these books."

Karn swallowed hard. It would indeed be chaos.

"So, the test?" Karn inquired.

"It's a discreet measure to permit select individuals to enter and study these tomes within a controlled environment."

"But we only wanted to access the University's library."

The old man's expression darkened. "That is why entry to the University's premises is restricted. The library contains numerous dangerous tomes accessible only to staff and students."

Karn stiffened; he needed access to the library to find answers. "Does that mean I have to enrol?"

The old man nodded.

Karn sighed, concerned about the financial implications. "I have no money. Will enrolling cost me?"

The old man laughed heartily. "With these results, I hope not. We have spent the past week evaluating numerous candidates, and you possess the greatest potential by far."

Karn eyed the shimmering leaves on the page, wondering if it was his own event book that fooled the page into exaggerating his remarkable potential. Then he recalled the touch he had received from the spirit—the white Drakon. "What do these runes signify?" he asked, pointing to the symbols on the tree.

"These runes belong to an ancient language from the time before the Elementlets, during the era of the great ancient spirits. They each symbolise different types of power from spiritual, to elements and so forth.” He tapped the book softly as he eyed the runes with reverence. “Within the page, they serve as conduits or connections between the individual holding the page and various sources of power. To simplify, each rune represents a facet of magic. The brighter the rune shines, the greater the wielder's potential power of that type of magic. The clearer the rune appears on the page, the more control the wielder can exert. In essence, it measures power, capabilities, and the specific area of magic the wielder can access."

Karn nodded in understanding, his mind processing the information. The old man certainly had a penchant for academic explanations, much like the teachers he remembered from his life on Earth who had a knack for using long-winded words to explain simple concepts.

"So," Karn summarized, "each rune represents a different type of magic. The brightness signifies potential power, and clarity indicates control?"

The old man smiled, clearly pleased with Karn's grasp of the subject matter. "Exactly."

Karn couldn't help but feel a tingle of apprehension coursing down his spine. It struck him with a sense of unease as he realized that he had illuminated the entire page like a radiant beacon.

The old man continued, "Your male friend before didn’t illuminate the page when he touched it. Rather the runes became clearly distinct, indicating exceptional control, even though he lacks inherent power or the ability to channel the world's natural magic. It’s truly a shame but without power he cannot be admitted."

Karn nodded, understanding that his friend's origins on Earth, a realm devoid of magic, explained the peculiarity.

“And Hope?”

"The young lady?" the old man asked.

Karn nodded.

"The runes had blurry runes when she touched the page, and the spirit rune shone brightly, signifying a strong affinity for ancient powers, despite a lack of control. This we can teach her within our halls."

The old man's gaze dropped back to the page. "You, however, are an enigma."

Karn let out a sigh, his mind wrestling with questions about the true identity of this enigmatic man and whether it was safe to reveal anything regarding the Book of the Known. The man had entered the manor without bothering with introductions, as if such social niceties were beneath him or, perhaps, as a scholar, he considered them a trivial waste of time.

He decided to probe cautiously. "May I ask you something?"

The old man nodded. “You may.”

"Two questions, actually."

"Go ahead," he encouraged.

"Firstly, can this book here be influenced if, for instance, I've come into contact with another event book?"

The old man's eyebrows shot up. "You've possessed another event book?"

Karn hesitated, then replied, "Yes, a few blue and green ones. My friend you previously tested has been using one of them." Karn chose his words carefully as he wasn't ready to fully trust the man, not when so much remained uncertain. So, he skirted around the fact that he possessed the most powerful book in existence.

"Who are you?" the old man inquired redirecting the conversation.

Karn tensed; the abrupt change in topic caught him off guard. "I'm a member of Lady Amber's expedition," he replied cautiously, thinking on his feet. He wasn't sure how the man would react to the full truth of his journey through realms.

The old man fixed Karn with a scrutinizing gaze, his eyes sharp. If he harboured any suspicions, he kept them locked behind a facade of diplomacy. Instead, he gracefully redirected the conversation back to its prior course. "And what was the other question you had?" he inquired, his tone measured, and his demeanour composed.

Karn relaxed slightly. "Who are you?" he echoed the old man’s question.

The scholar looked at him quizzically. "You mean you don't know?"

Karn shook his head.

"You're not from around here, are you?"

A sudden realization washed over Karn; he had revealed crucial information.

The old man waved a hand to dissipated Karn’s alarm. "My name is Theodoric Renvall Kroth, the current Master of the University."