Nathan had learned everything he currently understood by reading the letter left behind by the late Magician. Next to that letter sat the Grimoire once used by the old old man, a thick, ancient-looking tome sealed shut by the conditions of its own magic. He couldn't access it yet. The Grimoire rejected him because he was not a Magician, at least not in practice or recognition. Still, the letter made it clear that Materama had prepared every necessary step to ensure Nathan would lack nothing on his path toward becoming one.
With the letter's instructions in mind, Nathan made his way to the basement where the Magician had stored his research. It was also the place where Materama had performed most of his experiments, documented his breakthroughs, and preserved his entire life's study. The moment Nathan reached the bottom of the stairs, he felt surrounded by an overwhelming weight of knowledge. Rows of shelves filled the large basement, each packed tight with scrolls, books, manuscripts, and strange diagrams scribbled on parchment. The place smelled of faint dust and arcane ink.
There was too much to go through. Far too much. Many of the books held information so advanced that Nathan suspected he wouldn't understand them even if someone stood beside him, explaining every line. Magic was complicated, and he was only taking his first baby steps into a world that Materama had already spent decades in.
Nathan decided to start simple. He scanned the shelves and picked out a book that had "Basic" written across its cover, hoping it would ease him into understanding magic. Unfortunately, opening it only worsened his confusion. The pages were filled with diagrams that looked like tangled strings of symbols, circles layered over other circles, and words written in a script he couldn't make sense of. The more he squinted, the less he understood. His frustration grew steadily until he closed the book with a defeated sigh.
He returned it to its section, determined not to give up. There had to be at least one book among these shelves capable of helping him understand the fundamentals of magic. As he scanned through the titles again, something caught his eye, a single book placed in an isolated corner of the shelf. Unlike the others, this one was encased in a ceramic container, perfectly preserved and noticeably newer than every other book in the basement.
Curious, Nathan retrieved it carefully. Once he freed it from its casing, he realized it wasn't a regular book. It was more like an encyclopedia, large, weighty, and meant to contain fundamental information. Perfect for beginners.
He headed to the reading section at the side of the basement. A chair and small table had been placed there for Materama's convenience. Nathan set the encyclopedia down and took a seat, already sensing he had discovered exactly what he needed. On the cover, printed in bold lettering, were the words: "Introduction to Magic."
One glance at the title was enough to tell him this was the right book. Something about it clicked instantly, as if it were a direct answer to his desperate search. With anticipation, he opened the cover to the first page. The initial section offered homage to the authors who had contributed to it. Nathan skimmed through the long list, at least a dozen names, maybe more. He suspected every one of them had been High-level Magicians or beyond.
His attention paused when he spotted a familiar name among the list.
Materama.
Nathan smiled softly. Somehow, he felt strangely proud.
The next section immediately dove into explaining the types of Magic Users that existed in the world. Intrigued, Nathan read further, leaning closer to ensure he didn't miss anything.
The information left him stunned in a way he didn't expect.
Nathan had always believed, like many others from his world, that Magic Users were simply Mages. And that the pinnacle of Magehood was the Arch Mage, with Apprentice Mages being the starting point. But the encyclopedia wasted no time in correcting that common misconception. According to the book, Mages were only one of several classifications of Magic Users. Magic, as an art, was broader and far more diverse.
There were, according to the encyclopedia, five primary categories of Magic Users.
He read the first category:
Mages — Magic Users who specialized in elemental magic. Their primary domain involved the classical elements: fire, wind, water, and earth. They were the elementalists, the wielders of nature's raw forces.
Next were the Mystics — individuals less known for flashy spells and more for their spiritual insight. They specialized in divination, foresight, and spiritual cultivation. Nathan imagined them as the world's version of monks, sages, or meditative practitioners.
A yawn slipped out of Nathan's mouth before he could stop it. He didn't realize he still had leftover drowsiness lingering in his body, but he refused to give in to it. The topic was far too intriguing to pause now. Understanding the nature of magic would directly influence how he learned it.
He blinked the sleep away and moved on to the next entry.
Sorcerers.
His expression tightened as he read. Sorcerers were classified among the condemned types of Magic Users. Their practices involved sacrifices, sometimes grave ones, or invoking dark forces, including demons. Nathan felt an immediate chill crawl over his skin.
"This world has demons?" he muttered, disturbed by the idea.
On Earth, demons were simply figures of myth, symbols of evil. Here, the existence of demons seemed to be an accepted truth. The thought of encountering one in person, let alone fighting one, filled him with dread. Earth's knowledge alone was enough to tell him demons were trouble. Mixing that with a world where magic existed? Absolutely terrifying.
He shook off the shudder that crawled down his back and pushed the thought away. Preferably deep into the same place his breakfast was slowly digesting.
He continued reading.
The next category listed was Witches and Wizards — Magic Users who relied heavily on herbal mixtures, potions, and concoctions. But what caught Nathan completely off guard was the line stating they were also adept practitioners of curse magic, voodoo, and binding arts.
Nathan stared blankly at the page, letting silence settle around him. He reread the section to make sure he hadn't misunderstood. He hadn't. The information was clear.
Just moments ago, he had already given Sorcerers the top spot on his personal scale of "Magic Users to avoid at all costs." But now Witches and Wizards were giving them stiff competition. Between the dark rituals of Sorcerers and the curse-heavy practices of Witches and Wizards, he wasn't sure which group he feared more. All he knew for certain was that he wanted nothing to do with either of them.
Resolute in that decision, he continued to the final type.
Warlocks.
He leaned forward, almost squinting, making sure he read the term correctly.
Warlocks were described as Pioneers of Magic Characteristics. They were Magic Users who channeled magic from within themselves, not from outside sources. They didn't cast spells the usual way. Instead, they used characteristics and traits, a concept Nathan struggled to understand. Magic being used as traits rather than spellcasting confused him deeply.
If they were pioneers, did that make them inventors? Innovators? Something else entirely? No matter how he considered it, they remained categorized as Magic Users. Their existence alone widened the boundaries of what Nathan thought magic could be.
With this, he had covered all five major types.
He leaned back slightly, exhaling slowly. The knowledge expanded his understanding far more than he expected. But it also raised a question he could not ignore:
"How do I know which category of Magic User I belong to?"
The thought lingered heavily in his mind.