In the dark emptiness of nothingness, no light could shine its radiant glow. Davis found himself in the void of his dream, unlike the majestic nightmares he was used to. This time, he stood in absolute nothingness, a void devoid of anything.
Davis had experienced these dreams so many times that he could, to some extent, recognize them. But this time, there was nothing for him to recognize, as there was nothing he could see or feel.
Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a dim light, reminiscent of a theater spotlight illuminating a specific area in the vast emptiness of this world.
With nowhere else to go, Davis cautiously approached the light in the void. Though it seemed close, he realized as he walked that it was much farther away than it appeared. As he finally drew nearer, he noticed that at the center of the light stood a metal box, approximately 20 meters wide at each corner.
The metal box was tightly wrapped in multiple chains that seemed to stretch far into the surrounding abyss. Upon closer examination, he realized it resembled a birdcage more than a box, with bars spaced slightly apart from one another.
The chains were engraved with countless symbols that Davis had never seen, glowing with a shimmering light. “Is that you, brother?” a booming voice emerged from within the cage.
The light glowed brightly, and the chains rattled violently. The light above shone even brighter, illuminating the space around them further. Despite the intense brightness, inside the cage remained a lump of darkness impenetrable by any light. From that darkness, a soft white hand reached out.
“Have you come to free me, brother?”
Davis slowly awoke from his dream, finding himself still seated in the chair where he had dozed off. The room remained shrouded in darkness. Carefully, he lifted Skye, who had nestled on his lap during his slumber, and settled him back in place without stirring him. Davis then reached for a glass of water, taking a sip as he tried to decipher the meaning behind his dream.
No longer tired, Davis settled back into his chair, engrossed in a book about demonology from their world's literature. He hoped to uncover clues about his enigmatic partner “K”. However, despite his diligent efforts, he found no mention of a demon named K or the entities known as Leviathan, Uriel, or even Lucifer.
When the golden glow of the sun cast long shadows through the academy's grand hallways. Davis gave up on his search for now he got ready and looked at his jam-packed schedule.
After a quick breakfast, Davis headed to his first class of the day. Advanced Combat Strategies, the class was held in one of the academy’s newest buildings. As Davis entered, he saw rows of seats arranged in a semicircle around a raised platform where the instructor, a stern-looking knight named Sir Armand, stood.
New subjects have been introduced into the Academy curriculum to foster better cooperation between magicians and knights in the field.
“Welcome, students,” Sir Armand began, his voice resonating through the room. “Today, we will delve into the complexities of battlefield tactics and the integration of magic and swordsmanship.”
Davis found a seat near the front, ready to experience this new subject. As Sir Armand spoke, Davis couldn't help but notice the meticulous attention to detail in his lessons. The instructor covered everything from basic formations to advanced flanking maneuvers, emphasizing the importance of adaptability in combat.
Midway through the lecture, Sir Armand paused and looked directly at Davis. “Mr. Davis, would you care to demonstrate a combination attack using both magic and swordsmanship?”
The room fell silent, all eyes on Davis. He stood up, feeling the weight of their gazes. He walked to the front of the room, where a practice dummy stood ready.
Davis took a deep breath, his mind racing. He drew his sword, feeling its familiar weight in his hand, and began to chant an incantation. His voice was steady, and as he finished the spell, a shimmering aura of mana enveloped the blade.
With a swift, fluid motion, he struck the dummy, the sword slicing through it with ease as a burst of fire erupted from the blade, engulfing the target in flames.
The room erupted in applause, and Sir Armand nodded approvingly. “Excellent, Mr. Davis. That is precisely the kind of innovation we need on the battlefield.”
Davis could easily excel in tasks like that, but if Professor Armand were to request that he replicate the martial arts moves performed by K during the match, Davis would find himself truly at a loss, as he possesses no knowledge of them.
Davis returned to his seat, feeling a sense of relief. The rest of the class continued with various students being called up to demonstrate their skills, but none matched the seamless integration of magic and swordsmanship that Davis had shown.
After the class, Davis made his way to the academy's library for a study session. The library was a vast, labyrinthine structure filled with ancient tomes and scrolls. As he wandered through the aisles, he found a secluded corner where he could delve into his studies without interruption.
He pulled out a book on advanced mana theories, one that Professor Selena had recommended. As he read, he felt a presence nearby. Looking up, he saw Rachel standing there, holding a similar book.
“Mind if I join you?” she asked, her tone casual yet hinting at a deeper interest.
“Not at all,” Davis replied, gesturing to the seat across from him.
They sat in silence for a while, both engrossed in their reading. Eventually, Rachel broke the silence. “Mr. Davis, I’ve been thinking about what Professor Selena said yesterday. About challenging established theories.”
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Davis looked up, intrigued by her words. “What do you have in mind?”
Rachel leaned forward her eyes gleaming with excitement. “I want to explore a new way of manipulating mana, combining it with elemental forces in a more refined manner. I believe we can enhance our spells’ effectiveness by understanding the underlying principles more deeply.”
She continued, “I wish to hear your opinion regarding this.” She turns to him with an elegance look of anticipation, “I-I’m sure you’re someone capable of such a theory” Davis awkwardly said, his eye darting away from her.
Davis rose from his seat and began to wander around the library. His movements caught the attention of the librarian, an elderly man who had dedicated over five decades of his life to working at the Celestial Academy.
“Young man, you seem to be in search of something. Allow me to offer my assistance if you wish,” the elderly man offered, his voice gentle yet brimming with wisdom.
“Sir, I’m—” Davis hesitated, his voice catching in his throat as he pondered his purpose in the library. Finally, he mustered the courage to ask, “S-Sir, do you happen to possess any knowledge about demons?”
The man stroked his beard, his head tilting slightly upward. “Hmm, I do possess a fair amount of knowledge concerning beings of darkness,” he mused, a gentle chuckle escaping his lips. “Feel free to ask me anything, young one, and I shall do my best to impart my wisdom upon you,” he said, humor twinkling in his eyes at Davis's question.
Davis, feeling considerably more at ease with the elderly librarian, inquired, “Could you enlighten me about a demon known as K?” The man closed his eyes, deep in thought for a prolonged moment before responding, “I’m sorry, young one, but I’ve never encountered any being by that name in my studies.”
Davis persisted, “Then what about, um, Leviathan?” To which the elderly librarian replied, “I apologize, but that name is unfamiliar to me.” Undeterred, Davis made one last attempt, questioning, “What about Lucifer? Uriel? A shining gate in the sky? And what about a nine-headed dragon?” He appeared visibly anxious as he rushed through his inquiries.
The elderly man's eyes seemed to widen in surprise at one of the many things Davis mentioned. “I may not have answers to most of your questions, young one,” he began, “but the name Uriel... it strikes a chord. If you come with me, I might have a certain book that could shed some light.” With that, the elderly man led Davis, showing him the way as they went together.
Rachel overheard their entire conversation from the other side of the bookshelf, her interest piqued by Davis’s demeanor. A satisfied smile crossed her lips as she found something intriguing to investigate further about Davis.
As she left the library, Rachel approached her bodyguard. "Karla, please head to the royal library and gather all the information you can about these names," she instructed, relaying the names she had heard from Davis's conversation.
Karla bowed and swiftly departed, leaving Rachel with a satisfied smile. "It seems I’ve found a lead," she mused to herself. With a determined expression, she glanced back in the direction of the library. “I’ll ensure you become associated with the Royal Family, Mr. Davis,” she affirmed, setting her resolve.
Davis followed the elder librarian into what appeared to be a storage room, filled with countless books, tomes, and scrolls. They passed rows of them until they reached the end of the room, where a select few books and scrolls lay on separate shelves, each one solitary, like artifacts in a museum display.
“Thousands of years ago, when our world was still in its infancy in terms of understanding magic and the universe itself, we beseeched the gods for help,” the elderly librarian began, his voice carrying the weight of history. “Five heroes from another plane of existence answered our call, stepping into our world to aid us in the battle against darkness.”
He continued, his words flowing like a river of time. “Among them was a priest devoted to his god. After the war ended, they chose to defy their deity's order to return and instead stayed, establishing their own countries and ruling them according to their own beliefs.”
With a sigh, he concluded, “Each of these heroes went on to found one of the five standing empires in the present day: Celestia, the Avalom Empire, the Silver Empire of Light, the Ironheart Empire, and the Elden Forest.”
Davis listened intently as the elderly librarian spoke. The librarian turned to the book, his fingers caressing the weathered leather cover. “This book is written in the ancient language of the heroes,” he explained, his voice carrying a note of reverence. “Even I cannot decipher it entirely.”
As he spoke, his gaze became distant, lost in the depths of ancient knowledge. “But as I tried, the name Uriel surfaced,” he continued, his tone hushed with awe. “I believe he is one of the enforcers of justice for the gods of the other world.”
Davis unfurled the ancient tome, its pages adorned with a tapestry of tongues—Hebrew intertwined with the cadence of distant languages. Yet, as his gaze fell upon the script, a strange familiarity enveloped him, as though the words themselves whispered secrets he had long known. Unwittingly, he traced the opening lines of the text:
“I hath inscribed these sacred words as a testament to the divine will of the Almighty. Let this tome be a beacon, a testament to the grand design of our Creator, wherein I chronicle the deeds wrought by the Father of All, and His celestial host, upon us mere mortals.”
The elderly librarian stood frozen in awe, his eyes wide with astonishment. The revelation that Davis could decipher the sacred text signaled a profound moment, the gateway to understanding swung open before them. Silently, he absorbed the torrent of knowledge cascading from the pages.
Detailed descriptions unfurled of the seven days of God's creation, the celestial hierarchy of angels, the tumultuous rebellion led by Lucifer, Leviathan, and their dark cohort, the ominous prophecy of Armageddon, and myriad other revelations poured forth, each word a beacon illuminating the mysteries of creation.
The elderly librarian was transfixed, his shock mingled with a dawning realization. While Davis’s ability to decipher the ancient script offered a glimmer of hope, the contents proved to be an enigmatic tapestry, its threads of knowledge frayed and disjointed.
With each passing word, Davis delved deeper into the labyrinthine text, only to find fragments of understanding scattered amidst the author's ramblings.
What had initially promised enlightenment now revealed itself as a cryptic mosaic of half-formed thoughts and incomplete narratives.
Despite their familiarity with the book’s purported topics, the duo soon found themselves adrift in a sea of confusion, grasping at fleeting details amidst the swirling chaos of the author's ascent to a purported chosen status.
After traversing the convoluted corridors of the text, Davis and the elderly librarian found themselves back at the starting point, empty-handed save for a handful of scattered musings.
Among the detritus of the author's ramblings lay a prophecy veiled in obscurity, its relevance to their world as elusive as its coherence.
The recounting of a celestial conflict between heaven and hell offered no revelations, for their world had weathered such tempests before.
Disheartened by the fruitless search, they faced the harsh reality that their quest had yielded naught but echoes of ancient battles and hollow prophecies from distant realms.