"The root of magic is knowledge," Im said, standing before Leon, Dahlia, and Flower in the manor's study. "Talent helps, but learning is everything."
It was late spring, and Leon was twelve. After verifying the salt-purification method, Im had officially accepted him as a student. The technique had earned him a decade of free tuition, and future magical materials would be covered by his work as Im's assistant. At long last, his dream of learning magic was coming true.
Im began with the world's history— a tale Leon had never heard in village stories or books.
"Once, the continent was whole," Im said. "Many races lived in peace, struggling to survive. But conflicts arose, and gods walked the earth, fighting for faith and power. The church ruled, backed by divine magic, even over the seas, where merfolk worshipped their own deities."
"Eight thousand years ago, the first mages emerged. They studied the world, questioned nature, and dissected divine magic, creating spells of their own. They were weak then, no match for priests or knights— most could only perform small tricks."
"Five thousand years ago, the Gods' War began. It ended with Mars, the God of War, and Tonatiuh, the Sun God, battling for supremacy on Mount Paradise. Mars lost, but in his rage, he self-destructed, splitting the continent into four pieces."
Leon leaned forward. "Four pieces? Where are the others?"
"North Sen— where we are. East Pole, where the sun rises. Thunder Continent to the southwest. And Ocean Central, an island continent ruled by elves, who rarely allow outsiders." Im paused. "Tonatiuh's fate is unknown. He didn't fall— priests still receive divine magic— but he hasn't been seen since."
"Priests have real magic?" Leon asked, surprised. The village's harvest priest had never performed anything supernatural.
"Few remain in North Sen," Im said. "This is mage territory. After the Gods' War, gods withdrew from the world, only granting magic to their followers. Mages rose, and tensions with the church grew. Mages believed knowledge should be shared to strengthen humanity; the church feared it would erode faith. The final war ended with mages victorious, thanks to a legendary sage who surpassed all others. The church retreated to East Pole, and a balance was struck."
"Why isn't any of this in the history books?" Leon asked.
"Ordinary books don't teach magic," Im said. "And mages are rare. This region is remote, with no magical materials, so few visit. You're lucky to have met me."
After the history lesson, Im turned to magic basics— explaining the flow of energy, the importance of focus, and the role of symbols and incantations. He also dragged Leon into experiments with charcoal, testing its absorbent properties.
"The real value of your salt method isn't the salt," Im said, as they filtered water through charcoal. "It's the charcoal. It removes tiny impurities— perfect for potions. Previously, we relied on slow settling and magic circles, which were costly and imperfect. This will revolutionize potion-making."
They spent weeks testing, recording, and writing a paper. Leon frowned when he learned its purpose. "A paper? For your teacher?"
"For the academy," Im said, pride in his voice. "Bernaron Root Primary Mage Academy, the first of its kind. Most mages in the empire and neighboring kingdoms studied there. If you excel, I'll recommend you."
"Is there a higher academy?" Leon asked.
"No. All schools teach the same depth— apprentice and mage classes. Apprentices have six years to become full mages, or they're expelled. Mages have six years to become White Robe Mages, or they graduate. After that, you're on your own."
"What if you're not good enough?"
"You can audit, but you'll get no extra guidance, and lab fees are steep. Auditors subsidize the official students. It's a harsh system, but it weeds out those who don't belong."
Im smiled. "But I think you'll belong, Leon. You have the mind for it."
Leon nodded, staring at his notebook. Magic wasn't just spells and fireballs— it was history, science, endless curiosity. For the first time, he felt like he was truly following in Eldrin's footsteps, chasing knowledge, chasing the truth.
The journey had just begun, and this time, he wasn't alone.