They entered the vast library.
The place was massive—bookshelves towering like walls, filled with ancient tomes. Magicians and soldiers patrolled the area, maintaining strict order. The air buzzed with power and silence.
But suddenly, a squad of soldiers surrounded Hayato.
"Why are you surrounding me?" Hayato asked, narrowing his eyes.
A man stepped forward from the shadows. His presence was commanding. He wore a long robe embedded with symbols and carried an air of authority.
"I am Archvivon, the Head of the Magic Library," he said calmly.
He looked at Hayato coldly. "We cannot allow a criminal to enter this sacred place. You are to be captured and imprisoned."
Hayato froze. This guy… he still remembers everything. His memory hasn't been manipulated. He thought quickly. He's strong, maybe too strong. Last time I met him, he still had his memories. That confirms it. He's a puppet… and a dangerous one. I need to escape—he doesn't know Ren and the others are with me.
Morvon trembled behind them, frightened by the sudden tension. Ren gently placed a hand on his shoulder. "It's alright, Morvon. Stay calm."
Ren and Ryota exchanged a glance. They understood the danger but didn't yet know the truth about Archvivon. To them, this looked like another case of memory manipulation.
Hayato wanted to speak out, to explain everything. But revealing the truth might raise suspicion and put the others in danger. Especially since he'd entered slightly ahead of them and Archvivon hadn't noticed their connection.
Without warning, Hayato vanished, using his speed to sprint away. The guards were caught off guard.
Archvivon's eyes narrowed. He raised his hand and fired a blast of Light Magic.
Hayato dodged. "That was strong," he muttered, feeling the scorch of light pass by. But I minimized the damage.
Archvivon didn't chase. "We cannot fight here—it would destroy this town ." With a final glance, he walked away, not suspecting Ren, Ryota, or Morvon.
Ren watched him disappear. "We shouldn't follow. We need to find answers ourselves."
They wandered deeper into the massive library, scanning shelves, checking titles. After a while, Ryota pulled out a large, dusty book titled "The History of Magic."
Ren's eyes lit up. "Let's take a look."
The book read:
Magic is a powerful and unique gift bestowed upon humanity by divine beings known as Celestial Beings. The reason behind this gift remains a mystery.
When magic was first given to mankind, five reality-bending powers were also granted to five individuals. Their identities remain unknown, but it is believed these powers can be transferred. Those who possess them naturally have extraordinary magical potential.
However, magic comes with a cost. Prolonged use weakens the body—depleting strength and stamina. Overuse can lead to long-term or permanent damage. The human body, in essence, is slowly worn down by the very magic it wields.
To wield magic, one must either have natural talent, undergo intense training, or be created with specialized magical traits. Magic is activated through focused mental control, drawing mana both from within and from the surrounding environment.
Over time, humans adapted and classified magic into types:
Basic Magic Elements – Linked to nature (fire, water, etc.)
Advanced Elements – Combinations of basic elements
Semi-Celestial Magic – Rare, but not as powerful as true celestial magic
Celestial Magic – Direct gifts from celestial beings; immensely powerful and unique to each user
Then there is the "Hex" – a technique that pushes magic to its limit, temporarily boosting power drastically. However, using Hex risks instant and severe damage to the body.
Ren closed the book slowly. "There's no mention of memory manipulation or curse magic…"
Ryota nodded. "But this is the first time we've read that magic was a divine gift. That part is huge."
Ren's eyes narrowed. "And those five reality-bending powers… What exactly were they?"
Ryota flipped through more pages. "It explains the basic and advanced elements well. Also semi-celestial magic. But nothing specific about celestial magic types."
Ren crossed his arms. "It must be because of how rare and unique they are. That's my guess."
"But…" he trailed off, thinking. Why would celestial beings give humans such powerful abilities in the first place?
They continued their search, finding more books—about the origin of magical beasts (blessed by celestial beings), ways to increase magic potential, consequences of overuse, and how to control Hex.
Yet still, not a single word about memory manipulation or the curse.