"Today, we will learn about the Basics of Incantations."
Lisa conjured a ball of fire that orbited the classroom before slowly fading away.
"Incantations aren't just useful for mages. Swordsmen, archers, even assassins—all can use incantations as a form of support. Whether to enhance their strength, weaken an enemy's defenses, or create openings in battle, anyone can utilize them differently depending on their profession and situation."
She walked slowly down from the podium. Her steps were almost soundless on the wooden floor. Instinctively, every student straightened their backs slightly as she passed.
"Magic is the language of the world," she continued. "A language written not with letters, but with will and wonder. Shaped not by sound, but by understanding. Magic is the language of the world—and it is emitted not from the body, but from the will."
"Can anyone explain how incantations work?" Lisa asked.
The question was simple, yet the room grew quieter than before.
Some students lowered their heads, pretending to ponder. Others froze in silence.
A young man raised his hand. He wore neat attire and had emerald green eyes.
Lisa gestured gently. "Yes, go ahead. Introduce yourself and explain."
"My name is Alter Vulkan, from the Vulkan family—a mage."
His messy green hair suggested he was quite the hard worker.
"Incantations work through three basic elements: Intent, Medium, and Application. Intent is the user's will or purpose. The medium can be a pattern, sound, hand gesture, or even blood. Application is how mana is used to channel intent through the medium and turn it into a tangible effect."
His explanation was correct. Anyone who properly understood these three elements could go further. But, as Lisa had mentioned, only mages could unlock the secrets of advanced incantations.
"Exactly, Alter. Incantations are..."
***
Time passed like thin clouds over an ancient forest. The clock on the wall—a mechanical artifact with a bronze frame and hands that clicked softly with each minute—emitted a flash of green magical light from its glass, signaling the end of class.
Lisa glanced at them briefly before saying, "Alright, since our time is up, you must choose your specialized training for next week. And prepare yourselves for combat practice next Sunday."
Instantly, sheets of paper materialized in the air and floated down in an orderly manner, each landing precisely on the students' desks. Not a single one went astray. Each sheet contained a specialized training form, with options like Advanced Magic, Mana Control, Tactical Combat, Swordsmanship Arts, and more.
"Fill out these specialized training forms and submit them by tomorrow."
Lisa stepped down from the small podium and walked out. As she left, the classroom buzzed with conversation as students discussed their choices.
Van looked puzzled, staring at the form he had just received.
"What did you choose, Dex?"
Dex thought for a moment before answering. "Since I'm a mage, I'll probably choose Advanced Magic and Mana Control."
Van, beside him, nodded slowly. "Alright, I'll stick with my class focus as a swordsman." His tone was confident, hinting at an internal deliberation about how basic magic could support his swordsmanship.
After a brief chat, Van and Dex decided to visit the library.
In the crowded corridor, the two moved slowly, walking side by side. Each carried their neatly folded forms tucked into their pockets.
Their shoes stepped on the cold, clean floor, each footstep nearly silent—adding to the quiet atmosphere.
They stopped before a large door.
Engraved with the emblem of a book and an ancient scroll—the symbol of the Arcanum Library.
They entered, and the bustling yet silent atmosphere unfolded within the vast library.
When they stepped inside, the library stretched out like an endless maze. Shelves soared toward the invisible ceiling, filled with books, scrolls, memory crystals, and strange artifacts encased in glass orbs.
"The Arcanum Library—where the world falls silent and knowledge speaks." This was the largest library in the entire world.
The shelves rose dozens of meters high, arranged like organic, breathing corridors. Some shelves even curved like giant ribs turning toward them, filled with neatly bound books, glowing scrolls, and transparent crystals pulsing slowly.
"Whoa... isn't this place a bit too grand to be just a library?" Van was struck by its magnificence. Though he wasn't much of a reader, even he couldn't help but be amazed upon entering.
The world wasn't just made of power and techniques. It also consisted of buried history, locked secrets, and knowledge that lived long after its creators had died.
As they ascended back toward the main level, the afternoon sunlight streamed through stained-glass windows, painting their skin with shadows of red, green, and gold.
The sound of footsteps echoed from the eastern side of the library.
A woman emerged from behind the stack of books she was carrying, her long robes flowing gracefully like tongues of flame. She walked slowly, as if the books might tumble if she weren't careful. Her eyes were golden, her hair cascaded down her back in waves that seemed to move even without wind.
"Dex..." Van's voice broke the silence. "We've walked pretty deep. The shelves have changed. What kind of book are you even looking for?"
Van had followed Dex here out of curiosity about what books the library held.
Dex glanced around. True—the bookshelves, once made of old wood, had now transformed into black stone veined with silver. The crystal lamps above no longer emitted white light, but a bluish glow reminiscent of starlight in the night sky.
He randomly pulled a book from the history section. Its title was written in an unfamiliar language, the letters like spirals endlessly coiling inward. As his fingers touched the cover, the book opened on its own. Its pages were blank.
But slowly, words began to form on the page, as if written by an invisible hand.
Dex read silently, growing more and more curious with each word.
"In the last war of the old world, seven heroes exchanged their bodies for peace?"
Van peeked at the book Dex was reading and spoke up.
"Are you curious about the story of the seven heroes?"
"Not really, just coincidence. What does 'exchanged' mean here anyway?"
Van placed a finger on his chin, thinking for a moment. "How should I know? The author of this book was one of the companions of the hero Alen, and he's dead now without explaining what he meant."
"Alright then, anyway, it's not that important."
Dex closed the book and returned it to the history shelf.