Suta POV

Suta deliberated very carefully about which one out of the two he wanted to learn from.

They both expressed a short and quaint explanation of their principles. Unsurprisingly, the brute of a man specialized in what was the common class for most adventurers. Suta would've placed him in the same breath he placed knights, swords wielders, and the typical robust, hack-and-slash kind of archetypes he was used to seeing in RPG games.

And while he couldn't deny his subtle intrigue over special abilities and whatnot. There was only a single interest he had at this moment in time.

The Arcane.

Suta's first questions were naturally focused on the floating book the handsome-faced man could conjure at will. To which he revealed was surprisingly a ' skill .' A skill specifically taught to Arcanists during the early stages of their development.

A short while later, after the fellow finished boasting about hailing from a family of Arcanists. The handsome-faced fellow went on a little bit of a tangent about what he considered the basic principles of the Arcane, consisting of basic spell casting and understanding how magic works.

Suta found it quite an eye-opener and thoroughly made sure he was storing all the important information about this strange power that he might've called magic but in this world was referred to as something called... the art.

The young-faced fellow also explained in great detail about the principles of understanding Arcane. Suta found himself already memorizing these extensive principles, and understanding how they fit into place.

Mana - In a simpler explanation, is Volatile-negative energy. Its purest form is a gaseous substance filled with negative energy particles. Once blended with portions of the natural elements alongside one's mental energy a desired or I guess magical outcome blooms.

Intent - The focus and clarity of the practitioner's will or desire. Arcane is often driven by the caster's intention, making it crucial for the practitioner to have a clear goal and purpose in mind. Intent shapes and directs magical energy ( mana ) toward a desired outcome. People with a higher mentality are able to almost use their intent to suffocate the very air around them.

Connection - The relationship between the practitioner and the elements, forces, or entities they work with. This principle emphasizes the importance of understanding and respecting the interconnectedness of all things within the universe, and how this connection can be harnessed to influence the world.

Knowledge -Understanding the laws, symbols, and languages of the art. This includes the study of arcane texts, the meanings of symbols, and the learning of magical languages or incantations, which are the source of Arcane power. This is a never-ending journey for all Arcanists by the way, from the very first moment one discovers how to sense Mana, joining one of those illustrious schools, to setting out on your adventures. Knowledge is power and it's never-ending.

Willpower / Mentality - The mental discipline and strength to manifest one's will into reality. Willpower is what allows practitioners to focus their intent and maintain control over the magical forces they wield, largely this is a place to prevent their magic from going awry. Mental Energy is a unique prowess that exists within the cerebral mind. One of the hardest and most dangerous states to improve as well. Usually, one's mentality is predominately set during adolescence and it becomes relatively difficult to harness it past the age of 21. Although there are extreme ways to improve it.

Exchange -The principle that nothing can be gained without something of equal value being given in return. This is often related to the concept of sacrifice or the idea that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed.

Belief - The strength of the practitioner's belief in their ability to manipulate the Arcane and the power of magic itself. Belief is thought to be a powerful catalyst in the effectiveness of magical acts, as doubt can weaken the art.

Balance -The understanding that the arcane is a part of the natural order and must be practiced harmoniously. Practitioners must be mindful of the consequences of their actions, as disrupting the flow can have unforeseen effects.

And finally...

Adaptation -The ability to change and adapt to the circumstances and the environment. Arcane is not static, and practitioners must be able to adjust their techniques and understandings as situations evolve and new knowledge is acquired.

After the lengthy session of going through what was remarkably still considered only the basics, he needed to take a seat back, exhaling a deep breath after digesting that heavy info dump. His mind felt slightly numb, but he was incredibly satisfied with the results. Creasing a slight ugly smile against his face, there was a sense of fulfillment whilst his mind tried to process things

"Heh-heh" A soft chuckle broke free from his lips

'I can't say why, but I feel my truest self when I'm thinking and understanding such complex but slightly understandable things. Almost like there are several turning cogs and pipes fitting together whenever I try to process a lot of information. My brain feels as though it's hungry for knowledge.'

Suddenly the boring coach ride turned into a rather enjoyable experience for the young Suta. Between hearing the two fellows arguing about whose principle was the most superior. He used it as a chance to play both sides and learn more about this new world.

Strangely enough, the more thoughts and information he processed, the more memories were being uncovered from the depths of this dark abyss settled within his mind.

Now he was almost certain he could vaguely remember living in a world where things such as carriages, knights, castles, and horses belonged to a distant past, one he was yet to even be born into but vividly remembered the pictures and different things he had read concerning that time.

What was even stranger was how he was now quite certain he didn't belong here.

'Somehow I've either gone back in time or transmigrated into another world? Both sound absurd but the former feels a little more plausible than the latter. But then again, I don't remember hearing anything to do with magic and strange abilities from such a time. So I guess taking all of that into account. The latter is likely what's happened to me.'

Trying to process how and why he had transmigrated felt like an act he was way too tired to even understand right now, especially since there were still a lot of holes in his memories.

For now, Suta was convinced by the slow reveal of some of the things gradually returning to his thoughts, that in time he should remember what he had lost entirely.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

That was his internal hope at least.

The carriage had taken them across what felt like the entire outskirts of the lands. For half of the day, Suta only saw rolling hills and blankets of green, the odd one or two abandoned strongholds appeared, but mostly there was a calming peace about the outdoor scenery along their way.

An entire day drifted on by, and the envoys slowly pulled away in different directions. As night drew near the remaining carriage drivers were deciding on where to pitch tents for the night. Suta had learned another intriguing thing about this whole process. Revealed to him by the talkative, skinny-faced fellow, who had become a hub of knowledge to him ever since he revealed his interest in the arcane. At this moment, the trio were having a lengthy discussion regarding the peculiar decree made by the realm's very own Queen.

"So the royals ordered that everyone across the realms between the ages of 13-30 was to undergo the awakening ceremony? But why?"

Suta asked curiously, suddenly finding his voice coming out more and more since the journey had started.

"Only the Queen herself could tell you why she does what she does, But I imagine it's in preparation for this silent war everyone's trying to not talk about you see."

"Bah! War-smore! they've been banging on about this so-called war against the demon race since I was a pup. Buaha and I haven't seen a demon yet.

But what I do know is that our so-called unrivaled sovereign is losing her damn mind I tell ya. Matter of fact all those Golden Dandies are possibly on the brink of insanity by the looks of it" the brute explained, his shifty eyes holding a sense of slight anger in his tone as he pondered on something.

The handsome fellow played with the silver ring wrapped against his index finger before he lifted a tired gaze toward the rough-talking brute again.

"I'm with you on the matter regarding the Queen and the royal houses, hard not to see it that way considering every action so far has just proven how desperate they're getting." He exhaled a tired breath,

" But I'd be mindful of dismissing what you don't understand. My simple brutish friend."

'Demons again huh, I wonder just how strong one is? No, why would anyone imagine something that crazy? I need to avoid any real danger until I at least can look after myself.'

After thinking deeply about the matter of demons, another vault of memories poured into Suta's thoughts.

'Demons! A dark breed of creatures who existed in folk tales and through the songs of elderly folk who enjoyed scaring misbehaving children.' He remembered religion being a fluent topic that regarded such beings as the worst creatures imaginable. This sparked a curious glint of questions whirling through young Suta's ever-thinking brain.

'If demons exist then does that mean angels and other things do too I wonder.'

The possibilities seemed almost endless, but the more he conjured just how strange a beast he may find within this world. A cold sense of fear started to brew within his gut.

'What do I do once I am face to face with one of these dangers? Can I survive? How do I even survive? I have to fight, but am I strong enough for that? Not right now no? Then what? I need to get stronger...quickly!

Compared to the faint memories he unearthed concerning how his old world was, it seemed that the level of somewhat undisturbed peace afforded to fellows back there wasn't quite offered in this new world.

Between bandits, demons, Arcane magic, and the many other mythical creatures he was both excited and weary to hear about. Suta realized very quickly that the amount of things that posed a real threat to his life was countless at this point.

'There's no running away from it, in this world might is right Strength is just as important as the air within my lungs.

Heh-heh why am I strangely excited by that?

'Was I feeling that excitement because of my old memories, or is it this new body?

With his memories returning, Suta was growing more confident within himself. He only hoped that there wasn't a terrible thing he was forgetting, that once remembered might derail his way of thinking and mental stability together.

'I recall the saying, sometimes you forget the things you desperately don't want to remember.'

To this he could only breathe out a warm sigh, scratching the side of his head before returning to the ongoing conversation between the two fellows within the carriage.

"You travel north long enough and you're sure to run into one of those fiends who barely escaped that dreadful spell those crazy Light Elementalists cast all those decades ago, take it from me you brute, the shadow walls exist!"

Shadow wall? Suta noted the name inwardly.

"Pfft! You expect me to believe that keeping us safe from the jaws of those 'demons' is some magic wall of shadow? buahaha-see kid! All Arcanists are the same, bloody mad I tell you."

"Ah, and I guess I should be hopeful that those leaders perched on the thrones of those lofty guilds you adore have our best interest at heart?" The handsome fellow quipped with a sly smile.

"Listen, I'd sooner trust a man after my neck with his sword than a sneaky fellow muttering curses behind my back. There is honor amongst the guilds, something you young folk know nothing about."

"Ah-yes-yes those guild masters did such a great job in carving our beautiful lands into spoils for greedy old nobles to overtax the poor or charge incredulous sums of money for goods. Oh and let's not forget the shortage of affordable mercenary bands these days. So more rural lands or quiet towns are being ravaged by monsters. Sigh ...and whom do you think is to blame for that then?"

The burlier fellow looked slightly embarrassed in return, his eyes filled with deep thought as he shifted his gaze from side to side. His brows set deeper each time.

"Tsk! It's the Queen who controls all of em anyway. So I'm blaming her!" The hairy-armed brute growled beneath his breath.

To this Suta watched the handsome-faced young fellow shaking his head in silence.

After yet another heated debate between the two, a rare calm appeared within Suta's carriage once more. Possibly because nightfall had arrived, or all that arguing had finally tired everyone out. But the arrival of twilight filled stars brought the soft song of sleep almost on cue with the appearance of the large half moon, hanging within the twilight air deep above.

Suta felt waves of tiredness coming and going. With each loudening yawn escaping his mouth, he was drawing nearer to the confines of a deep sleep. He found an inescapable fall of sleep descending, Suta's vision gradually hazed, and just so happened to fall towards the silent elder in the corner, who was star gazing into the outdoor night.

The moonlight fell against one side of the elder's face, casting his aged features like polished marble, conjuring a very peculiar sense of melancholy beauty, like a fine craftmanship erected beneath the moon's tears.

'I wonder what adventures tomorrow might bring'

Suta dreamt of an exciting tomorrow. One where his memories would return, and his dreams of adventure might bloom. In the haziness of his fading eyes, he saw a sparkle delicately floating into the carriage.

'Wait...what's that light flying around the elder...am I... hallucinating?'

Suta tried to blink a few more times but the glowing light didn't go away. A golden sprite walked into the carriage and perched itself just on the edge of the wooden sill. A warm smile creased against the silent elders' features, he held out his hand, and the glowing blueish thing, no taller than a human hand hopped onto his finger. Suta could barely believe what he was seeing. But he found his body failing to respond to his desperate calls for it to remain awake.

Even if it was just for a few minutes longer...

'Damn it! what's going on...wh-why...why am I so...sleepy'

Unable to fight it, he quickly found himself sinking into a deep embrace of sleep.