It was dark. I can't feel my body however, it felt like I can move with my consciousness. As if I am a wandering soul, I searched in the void for some times. I don't know how long but I eventually found a bright white light.
As I reached closer to it, I see that it was a Program with intricate formations of different magic circles.
The moment I touched it, one of the magic circle shatters and memories burst out from my head. The memory of my past life including the fact that I knew this world before I came here.
This world was a novel that I had read in the past.
I remember the early parts of the novel. And for sure, there was no character named Cassius. There was no Lucas either. Perhaps they are just insignificant side characters.
No. Perhaps, Cassius didn't even get to live in the original story. There was many different things to consider. Maybe the original Cassius failed to escape, maybe he never fight back, never killed mother and got killed instead. Maybe he escaped on a different day, and that too lead to his failure.
Or perhaps the character Cassius only came to existence because of me.
Whatever happened to the original Cassius, he wasn't supposed to be alive.
Arseus. That was the name of the protagonist in the popular fantasy light novel that I had been reading before I reincarnated into this world. The novel titled Rise of the Light Hero.
Arseus. He has both wind and light attribute. I remember that one of the institute's higher up found out about him while he was investigating the demon attack on his village. That was how he end up in the institute.
I remember the early parts of the novel. And Cassius was never meant to meet me, to meet Cassius.
Ars was supposed to be alone in the early parts of the novel until... until he met the second Imperial Princess, Princess Dianna Brightstar who will be his lover. His rival, Maximillian who will push him further to grow. And his later will be group of friends who will support him after he finished the Imperial Foundation studies.
He was supposed to be all alone until then. I... I was not meant to meet him. I am disrupting the original story. No, I already disrupted it.
Another burst of memories flowed out of my head.
I remember. The reason the demons attacked his village.
The demon king devours Anna's soul and... stole her skill. Their target is Anna. I can't remember the details but I know that that was the start of the demon appearance and activity. Whatever skill he took from Anna, that marks the start of the demon invasion.
As the consequences, the demon king can share a part of his skills and knowledge to his subordinate, even the skill to steal knowledge from memories and soul of someone, form pacts with humans with promise to make them stronger.
His goal is simply to rule this world. And to do that, he will abuse the System Authority by stealing every knowledge in this world.
He wanted to be God by reaching the highest level Authority.
That was his main goal.
With those fragments of memories unlocked, a voice echoed inside my head.
...
The visions of my pasts slowly gets blurry and turned to darkness as I fall into a state of unconsciousness.
What... should I do...?
***
I finally opened my eyes to see the dim light from ceiling above me. I am not in my room. Where is this?
My eyes adjusts to the morning sunlight, allowing me to see more clearly. I take a look around to see I am in a neat room with monotonous white colour. There was a flower pot in the small desk nearby. This is the infirmary close to the dorm.
Why am I here?
My head felt dizzy. Did I faint? Perhaps, it was a side effect from remembering the truth about this world.
...
Is this world, real?
...
No. It is real. The fact that the story already changed its course, and my existence here means this world was not the novel I knew of anymore.
I moved my legs and get out of bed. The dizziness made me stumbled but I quickly regain my composure. I walked towards the white door. Looking at the side, a figure was sleeping on the bench next to the room I was in.
Looking closer, I figured it was Lucas.
'Lucas?', I spoke to him.
He opened his eyes and direct his gaze towards me.
"Bell...".
He stood up from the bench and walked closer to me.
He suddenly hugs me tight. I barely could breathe because of his strength and size.
'L-lucas? What's wrong?'.
He released his grasp from me, still holding my arms.
"You were unconscious for 3 days".
Eh? That long?
'Really?'.
"Everyone is really worried. Are you sick or still hurt anywhere? You should lie down in bed".
'Lucas I am fine, really'.
'Uhhh. I feel really hungry though', I continued.
Hearing me said that, Lucas formed a sudden smile on his lips.
"Really? That was the first thing you want to say when everyone thought you were really sick?".
'But I am just fine. I feel like I was just sleeping or something'.
"...". Lucas seemed speechless at how unconcerned I am at myself.
"Alright then. Let's get something".
We just went to the canteen. We were just in time as they start to open. I got two plates of the croquettes they served.
"You should check with the doctor to see if anything wrong", Lucas told me out of his worry.
'Fine, I will go later'. I told Lucas.
We both returned to the infirmary and asked the nurse walking around to call for the one in charge. Soon, she brought an old man who wears a professional white robe attire.
He simply checked my pulses and casted a spell to check on my condition. He too, think there's nothing wrong with me and so we just go back to our dorm.
I entered my room to see that Ars wasn't there. I lied down on my bed, and start to recall what I had remembered about this world from my past life.
The most important one I remembered is that next two months, there will be a trip to an E-grade dungeon, the lowest level there is. It will be the first time I saw one too. The dungeon was connected to via a portal. The theory behind the dungeon is it was the way for the System to replenish mana used in this world. Indeed, dungeon has more beasts with mana cores due to their adaptations growing in a mana rich environment. And it seems that mana was constantly growing inside the dungeon. If let be, it will destabilises and cause a dungeon outbreak where monsters will pour out of them and cause chaos.
However, that trip... won't end well. From the fragments of memory I retrieved, demons will make their appearance there. Some students will die. Although, the demons will quickly retreat after their leader is dead when Ars killed him. As for why the demons were in the dungeon, I can't remember the details. Or perhaps the details wasn't written in the original novel, so I don't know.
The thoughts of fighting demons made me feel uneasy. I am not brave, and I want to live in peace. I don't want to feel pain or get hurt. I want to skip out the trip so I will not get involved. But, I know this trip is a must for Ars.
He will show his Light for the world for the first time. And with it, comes support from everyone. After all, the world needs a hero. And that hero is Ars.
I had to follow him there. I had ruined the story. If I didn't fix it, the demons will win and... the lives on this world will be in danger. In a way, its as if I ruined this world.
But, I know it wasn't my fault. I didn't know before. At least, I should do what I can. And survive. At least until we finish our Imperial Foundation. After that, Ars would meet with Dianna, Maximillian and his future friends. At that point, I can leave everything to Ars and his friends.
...
I will have to train. I have to survive somehow during the event.
With conviction, I made a resolve. Survive the future event and that would be it. The future will finally be put in the right track if I made it through.
First, I need more power. And to do that I had to learn more about Water and Frost magic in the library and practice using them somehow.
I quickly took a bath, and wear a set of new cloths. First stop, the library at the Academic Building. I don't bother to tell Lucas, he never liked the library anyways.
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Taking the shuttle bus, I reached the complex. As I walk for few more minutes, a big building with a modern glass walls stand erected in front of me. I can see people walking and reading books from here. I quickly entered the building.
There was a counter with a man working as the librarian. I registered as a member, like any other students.
"Thank you for registering with us. Is there anything you need?".
'I need books on water magic'.
The man understood and typed in something on his device, probably searching for all available books regarding water magic in the library.
'And frost magic as well'.
The man stopped typing and looked at me with doubt.
But he then continued typing it in and pressed a button. Soon, a paper with different lists of books title along with its location on the shelves of the library was printed out from the device.
"Here, these are all the books we have available. The first numbers on the code is the floors, so the G here is for ground floor. While 1 on this book is for first floor. The shelves had codes and it was then arranged in alphabetical order, just follow them".
Shortly after, he gave me a silver key too.
"There's 3 books on frost magic available. 2 of them were on 2nd and 3rd floor. But the third one is in the 5th floor. It was a restricted area. You can only read and no books were allowed to be taken out of the room, no lending".
"And it would be really appreciated if you can put them back where you took them. It's tiring to arrange them back", said the librarian as he gave a sigh.
Hmm. It seems that one of the book is really important for it to be in restricted area.
I said my thanks to the librarian before heading to pickup the books available on the ground floor.
First book I pick was titled "Intermediate Programs for Water Magic with Translations".
There were different programs and magic codex examples written here.
As it was like a programming language, I can understand the constants and the variable in each spell. Whether its about the pressure, the volume, the shape, the mana used, I can understand what variables is needed for the spell to form. Even though the spells are all lacking the power like other attributes.
Like this Water Canon. They simply form a spell of sphere of water shooting upward like a canon. The power should be fine, and against hordes of monsters it is a good spell. Especially to disrupt movement of monsters or slow them down.
But I already think of something can deal with a horde of monster. Let just say its Water Javelin but make the projectiles spread, like a Shotgun. It's simple really.
After browsing through the book, I went to another, and another. Going up to upper floors.
I eventually finished reading 5 books on water magic. I think I don't learn too much. I get inspirations and understood more about the properties of water from the magic though. Not sure why Mr. Keith (the practical lecturer) never mentioned that Water Attribute users have access to healing spell. Although, it was not as strong as Light attribute healing.
After all, healing spell of Water attribute only hasten the natural recovery of the body. Take my forearms for example. If it's light attribute healing, they could restore them completely from nothing like a miracle. Although there was a time limit for complete total restoration.
Next, book on frost magic.
I went to the 2nd floor to find the book "Myths of Frost Magic".
As I browse through them, I realised it was simply a collection of tales and rumours and whatever left recorded about frost magic and the last user, who had been given name Everfrost by the people due to the cold he brought with him everywhere he goes.
But one line caught my attention.
"What makes frost magic special, is their inherent property for absorption. While it is by logic that frost magic absorbs heat from the surrounding, but it is theorised that frost magic also absorbs mana from the surrounding in creation of magic phenomena, allowing the user to use magic with lesser mana yet the same destructiveness than other spells of similar level".
I see. Probably, that explains why I can absorb mana so well and regenerate my mana faster than others here. I had the talents for it.
I went to the 3rd floor to read the second book on frost magic. I sees different simple Programs used. Ice Shards, Ice Javelin, Ice Cage and many others. They were all simple spells that I can easily imagine. I learn that even though no one can use them, using mana cores of High Ranked beasts who are known to use frost magic the Program could be imprinted and used. But it was too expensive and there's not really any particular reason to use frost magic using a magic device either.
I finally went to the 5th floor. The room had a big silver doors almost 3 times my height. I showed the key to the guards standing in front of them, and they opened the door to let me in. It seemed that the key were simply for show.
There is another floor above. It is said that the most secretive and dangerous books where stored there.
In the 5th floor, I sees a lot of different books here. Most of them are research Journals and old and worn-out books. It seems that they were full of advanced research on Elements, the System, and Programs itself.
I finally reached the farthest corner of the room where the book I am searching for is. I saw a very ancient book, as if the book had existed for thousands of years. The cover itself was rotten and I can't see any letters written on it. I liked the smell though for some reason.
I picked up the book gently as it seems like it could fall apart at any moment. Placing them on a table nearby, I opened it.
???
It was a complex Program with multiple magic codex and circles, although most part of it is unreadable not to mention I have not understood the codex language perfectly yet but this seems really complicated. I might need to learn for few more years before trying to even understand this.
There was no explanation or description at all. There's only Programs drawings. What is this book?
I turned the pages and they are all the same. Many of the magic codex was covered by stains and rots.
Sigh. I guess this is useless. As I was about to close the book, a panel appears in front of my eyes.
Huh? This is...
A grimoire was a collection of Programs used by someone. With a grimoire, anyone can use the spells of the same attribute as long as you know the Program and have enough mana for it. But it only works if the Program was complete. One can even bypass Authority levels set by the System although with restrictions.
I said 'Yes?' in my head, and right after my vision went dark.
Light flashes before my eyes and soon the light dims until I can see an Ice castle. I was in front of the majestic door which had intricate designs.
I placed my hand on the door and it opened by themselves, revealing an interior made of ice.
And in the room, was a figure sitting on a majestic throne. The figure was wearing a brown cloak, contradicting with the majestic background. Our eyes finally met.
His eyes... is the same as mine. Blue sapphire eyes. But his had a hint of white glows along the lines of his iris. He had a slightly wrinkled face with white short hair and beard. Although the white colour is due to his age.
"Come here, child", he spoke with a soft voice.
I came forward to him reluctantly.
I stood in front of him few meters away, waiting for him to speak more.
"A part of my consciousness and knowledge was stored in my grimoire. And it seems that you were worthy for me to appear".
"You will inherit my knowledge, and along with it, power".
'Why are you giving away your knowledge, mister?', I asked him out of doubt.
"...".
I waited for an answer.
"I have searched for power and knowledge my whole life".
"It was a tiring journey, but, enjoyable. I had killed humans, other races, and demons. I joined different wars and had stopped the demon king with the others".
"They may sang me praises about being a hero or some may curse me for the destruction I brought, depends on who's side you are on. But, the truth is I was simply a man that loved magic his entire life and wanted to have the knowledge I had to be carried on".
"I wanted someone to carry them, carry on my legacy, and along with it a part of my existence. I wanted to be remembered. It was a selfish pride of mine. That was also why I had written every magic spells I knew of in the grimoire and placed my consciousness in them".
"It's just a wish of a man".
I don't really understand his motivation. But I still nodded. Maybe, some people are like that.
He stood up from his seat and walked closer to me.
"Before you decide, there is a cost for this power. If you try to use more than what your body can handle, your heart will grow colder. I was once, almost consumed by it. However, I had people around me and they saved me".
"But I am sure you will be fine. I can see the people you are close with".
...
I can guess what it meant for my heart to grow colder. I already experienced it once before. The numbness and uncaringness. The lost motivation and will. But, I had already get over it thanks to Lucas and the villagers who had cared for me for all those years. I have others around me too.
'I will accept your knowledge, mister'.
He nodded at my reply.
He places his hand on my chest, and I could feel sharp coldness strikes through me.
It didn't hurt, instead, it felt numbing as I lose the sensation of heat from my body as a cold energy seeps inside my entire body.
A panel appears before my eyes.
And the warmth from my body returns.
I can remember all sorts of Programs. No, its more like they were etched into my very souls. But I only able to see and understand the Programs ingrained inside me partially.
But with this, I feel more confident to face the future event.
"I do had one wish from you, however".
He pulled out a silver dagger from his back. It had a blue gem embedded in the handle.
"This belongs to the person I really care about. She wished to live on top on the Flemrior Summit, where nature and spirits thrive. We visited once there, and it was a really beautiful place. I think my old spirit friend is still there. ".
"Due to circumstances, I wasn't able to leave this place and aren't able to give her a proper burial. I hope, you can fulfil this old man's last wish".
'I will try my best', I replied to the old man.
"Thank you, child".
"If you ever felt that your heart is growing colder, stay with the ones who you love and loved you. Don't let the cold consume you."
As he gave the reminder for the cost of the knowledge, my vision becomes blurry and become dark.
***
I soon able to open my eyes. I was still sitting up straight looking at the grimoire in front of me.
I looked at my phone to see the time. It seems that I had few massages. I didn't check my from since morning. I look outside and its already dawn.
__________
Lucas (2 Message)
Jessy (1 Message)
Ars
Zoey
Sarah
___________
Lucas was asking where I am. And Jessy was asking if I am fine.
I stood up and placed the grimoire back to where I had taken them and went out heading to canteen.
It seems that I skipped lunch. I called for both Lucas and Ars for dinner but they didn't answer the call. Then I called Jessy.
She picked up.
"Bell! I heard you were in bed for 3 days are you okay?!".
'Hi Jessy. I am just fine really. I thought I was only sleeping'.
"I thought you were dying!".
'I am too young to be dying Jessy', I let out a little laugh.
'Anyway, I wanted to get dinner you want to come?'.
"Yesss wait me at the canteen!".
Soon, I reached the canteen and sat down on a nearby table. After few minutes finally I see Jessy along with Zoey and Sarah next to her.
"Bell! I heard from Jessy you were dying!", said Zoey.
"Yeah, we thought you had an illness you were hiding", continued Sarah.
'What are they on about?', I thought.
We actually went to the upper floor and ordered a really delicious steak for each of us as a 'celebration' for my good health.
We then returned to each others dorm.
As I entered the apartment, I knocked on Lucas's door before going in.
"Huff...Huff...", Lucas was panting with sweats dripping down his body.
I see Lucas was doing sit ups with his upper halves exposed. He was doing some work out.
"Oh, Bell, you are here. Where were you before?".
'I just went to the library to study a bit'.
"Oh.", Lucas replied as he understood why I don't bother to tell him.
I averted my eyes from staring at him too long.
"Bell".
I looked at Lucas again to hear what he's gonna say.
"Watch this".
He twitched his chest muscle up and down, as if trying to impress me.
"Its cool right?".
W-what is he on about now? I feel a bit flustered with him teasing me like this.
'Ars's is better', I told him out of my nervousness.
"Hey! That hurts!", said Lucas with a pouting expression. I feel bad for saying that accidently.
I immediately run away to my room not wanting to handle the situation.
Sigh. Maybe I should try to control my emotions better.
I took my cloths off and went to take a bath. I took my time as I think about the future events, and what should I do next. Maybe I should ask Mr. Keith if there's a place I can train secretly. He knows I can use Frost magic after all.
I finished my shower and wore a set of loose pyjamas and lied down on bed. I felt a bit tired today. Many things to handle. I am worried for my future too.
***
Some pressure on my stomach and slight warmth wake me up.
Eh?
I was sleeping sideways against the wall. I could feel someone else next to me, hugging me.
A-Ars?
He opened his eyes to look at me.
W-wait-
Before I can say anything, his lips already touched mine.
"I am really worried... I thought you...", Ars spoke a relieved look in his eyes.
'Ars, I am fine, really. I was just asleep for some times'.
I hugged him back to assure him.
Is he, really that dependant on me? Why he seemed so scared that I would be gone? Is he like this with Princess Dianna or his friends? I was sure he was not at all like this in the early parts of the novel.
I wonder if our relationship right now is a mistake. Perhaps that Watcher is right after all. Ars might had become too attached to me, the only support he have currently.
But, it will be temporary. Soon he will meet her, his rival and his future friends. I assured myself of Ars's future.
I wonder if he's able to kill the demon's leader in this state. What if, he had become weaker because of me?
As worries surrounds me, his hand moved to caress my back, and towards my waist. His lips came close to mine.
...
Has he always been like this in the original story?
But still...
Being with him, I too can forget my worries.
***