###Chapter 3: Hidden Magic

Several days had passed, and Arie still refused to leave the village. He was determined to stay. Every day, he trained tirelessly, pushing himself to learn new skills and adapt to life on his own.

During this time, he constructed a small house from whatever materials he could find—old wooden planks, stones, and pieces of broken structures scattered around the village. The house was small, just big enough for him to lie down and sleep, but it gave him a sense of comfort and safety.

It wasn't much, but it was a place he could call his own, and that was enough to give him a spark of hope.

Arie's days followed a strict routine just like when his parents are still alive. Each morning, he woke with the sunrise and immediately began his training. With only basic tools at his disposal, he improvised, using sticks as practice swords and large rocks as makeshift weights.

He practiced swinging the sticks, imagining them as weapons, and honed his balance and reflexes by dodging and weaving through obstacles. His body ached at the end of each day, his muscles sore and his hands blistered, but he welcomed the pain. It was a reminder that he was pushing himself forward, that he was growing stronger despite the isolation and challenges he faced.

The village around him was quiet and haunting. The empty streets and ruined buildings were stark reminders of what had been lost.

The silence was heavy, pressing down on him like a weight. At night, when he lay in his small house, the loneliness crept in, making him feel small and vulnerable. There were moments when the stillness was too much, and he would sit outside, looking up at the sky, searching for any sign that he wasn't alone.

The stars above twinkled, indifferent to his struggles, but their light was a small comfort on those long nights.

One evening, after a long day of training, Arie fell into a deep and restless sleep. His body, exhausted from the day's efforts, craved rest, but his mind was restless. That night, a strange dream came to him.

In the dream, he stood in a place that felt both familiar and otherworldly. The air shimmered with a soft, glowing light, and before him stood a figure, surrounded by an ethereal glow.

The figure's face was hard to see, as if it was hidden behind a veil of mist. She seemed to be speaking, but her voice was faint, like a whisper that was just out of reach. Arie strained to hear her, but the more he tried, the more the world around him blurred.

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The figure raised her hand and revealed a book that shone with a strange, soft light. Arie could tell it was a book because of its shape, but the details were fuzzy, and he couldn't make out the symbol on its cover.

He felt an overwhelming urge to reach out, to touch the book and understand its secrets. He opened his mouth to speak, to ask who she was and what the book meant, but before he could say anything, the dream shifted.

The light dimmed, the figure faded, and Arie woke up suddenly, his heart pounding in his chest and sweat on his brow. He sat up, breathing heavily, the dream still vivid in his mind.

The dream lingered in his thoughts, its mystery pulling at him.

He couldn't shake the feeling that it meant something important, something he needed to uncover. As the first light of day crept into the sky, Arie made a decision. He would search for answers.

He knew that the old library, or what remained of it, was the most likely place to start. The building had been one of the few sources of knowledge in the village, though it was now just a shell of what it once was.

Arie made his way through the rubble, stepping carefully over fallen beams and broken stone. The library was filled with the scent of dust and old paper, a scent that brought back memories of quieter days. He began to search, sifting through the remains of old books and cracked shelves.

Most of the books were too damaged to be useful, their pages crumbling at his touch. Frustration bubbled up as he realized just how much knowledge had been lost in the destruction.

Just as he was about to give up, something caught his eye. Behind a fallen bookcase, partially hidden by debris, was a narrow staircase leading down into darkness.

Arie's heart skipped a beat. He had never noticed it before, even though he had been to the library many times. He pushed aside the broken wood and stone, clearing the way until the staircase was fully visible. A spark of curiosity lit up inside him.

Without hesitation, he began to descend, each step creaking under his weight.

The air grew cooler the deeper he went, and a chill ran down his spine. The darkness pressed in around him, but he kept moving, driven by the need to know what secrets lay hidden below. When he reached the bottom, he found himself in a small, dimly lit chamber. The walls glowed faintly, casting a soft light that illuminated the room.

In the center was an old, narrow bed, and beside it, five books were stacked neatly, their leather covers worn but intact.

Arie's hands shook as he reached for the top book. The leather felt rough and sturdy under his fingers. He opened it slowly, his eyes scanning the pages filled with symbols and words. One thing was clear—this was a book of spells, full of magic.

Excitement surged through him as he flipped through the pages. Each book seemed to hold different types of magic, and he quickly realized their significance. One book held intermediate spells, while the others ranged from advanced to divine magic. Each focused on a different element: healing, fire, water, destruction, and creation.

Memories of his father's teachings came rushing back to him. His father had told him stories about the different types of magic. Arie's heart pounded as he looked at the books, both excited and nervous.

He had always dreamed of learning magic, but he never thought he would have the chance.

Questions swirled in his mind. Why were these books hidden beneath the library? Who had placed them there, and why? The discovery felt significant, but it also left him with more uncertainties.

One thing was certain: he had found something that could change everything.

With careful hands, Arie picked up the first book and carried it back to his small house. He set it down on his makeshift table and sat down, taking a deep breath.

The road ahead would be challenging, but he was ready to learn. This was the start of a new chapter in his life, one filled with magic and mystery. Whatever came nex t, he would face it head-on, determined to uncover the truth and master the power that lay within those pages.