The Library of Valeria wasn't a room; it was a cathedral of data.
Hexagonal glass pillars stretched toward the ceiling, each one pulsing with the blue light of stored knowledge.
Markus strode into the grand library, books looming overhead, shelves climbing toward a vaulted ceiling, the smell of centuries-old leather and forgotten names.
The old librarian, Isaac Darwin, sat by the information counter, fascinated by young Markus. It's uncommon for first-year students to visit the library on their first day of school.
Isaac's staff badge beeped.
[Send Markus to my office – Elena]
"Sigh, boy, the headmistress requests your presence," Isaac gestured to Markus.
"See you around, boy."
Markus glanced at the elderly librarian and politely bowed.
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Name: Isaac Darwin
Age: 151
Class: Banshee
Affinities: Sound (SS)
Level: 69
Strength: 80
Agility: 80
Constitution: 119
Intelligence: 173
Available free attributes: 0
Active Skills:
Sound Blast
Silent Steps
Sound Barrier
Echo's Avatar
Resonating Pulse
Sound Domain
Passive Skills:
Fist Mastery
Imperial movement technique
Echolocation
Body Refinement (Stage 6)
Array Mastery (Grandmaster tier)
Equipment:
Dimensional Storage Ring (Tier 4)
Valerian Royal Academy Elder's Insignia
Hollow Staff (Artifact)
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(Wow, he's definitely one of the hidden guardians of this academy.)
Markus thought to himself as he entered the lift ascending up to the 5th floor.
**
"Welcome to my humble office. This planet has never before seen one with the ability to manipulate space as you do, young child."
Elena beckoned Markus over, "Would you like some tea? These are the finest leaves from the Asian continent."
"Sugar, Milk, Honey?"
Elena asked as she gracefully poured 2 glasses of black tea.
"2 cubes of sugar and milk, please," Markus said, enchanted by the fragrance of the tea leaves.
"Here, sit, we have much to discuss," They sat by the couch in the corner of her office.
"I'm sure you are wondering why I requested your audience. Enjoy your tea while I explain myself."
"Do you believe in fate?"
Markus was stunned, setting his porcelain cup down, pondering an appropriate response to the headmistress.
"I'm not so sure what you mean, headmistress." Markus deftly replied.
"When I first saw you, an artifact I recovered from a tier 6 portal reacted. Countless researchers have experimented on it, but the results were inconclusive; we have no idea what this artifact does."
Elena took out an ancient key, intricate carvings etched over the key's surface, and its midnight black color seemed to absorb light from all directions.
The key landed in Markus's hands, spatial resonance pulsed as they made contact.
Small sensory links between his body and the artifact made the "Fate" connection feel stronger.
**
Item: Key to the temple of Space
Tier: God
Description: Unlocks the secret domain of Space, once belonging to the high priest of Nyx
**
"Headmistress, I would like to propose a trade," Markus boldly requested.
"A trade? It seems this key is not as simple as it looks," Elena smirked, leaning back into the couch, sipping on her tea.
"I'll help you, like how I helped my Grandparents in exchange for the key, but you have to make a mana oath to keep the secrets I hold," Markus solemnly declared.
"So, it seems, their ascension into level 70 is indeed related to you," Elena pondered.
"Don't be surprised, young child, 2 peak level 69 awakened humans evolving into level 70+ high humans, even a fool could make the connections," Elena chuckled. "The key is yours; however, I would be lying if I were to say I'm not interested in what it unlocks."
"I'll let you know when I figure it out myself. Let's head to the open space in your office, Ma'am." Markus walked over to an intricate Persian rug and sat cross-legged.
"Ma'am, sit in front of me, and start meditating," Markus took out an earth elemental stone from his infinite-dimensional inventory.
The stone crumbled into dust as Markus extracted its essence and channeled it into Headmistress Elena.
"Focus, I'll unlock your latent elemental potential."
A warm brown aura pulsed from Elena's body. Chains shackling her evolution disintegrated.
Elena focused her mana inwards to prevent harming Markus from the boundless energy flowing out of her.
"Ahhh, so that's what it feels like, you have a dangerous gift, young child, don't worry, I'll keep your secret safe," Elena chanted and performed a mana oath, binding her heart with mana.
"If the world knows about your capabilities, every General and Emperor would hunt you down," Elena mused.
"Markus, my boy, there is no one amongst your peers who is capable of standing alongside you. You are excused from class participation and are allowed to self-study for the remainder of the semester.
However, academic missions are still mandatory; you are allowed to take on missions up to level 29 to earn more credits. I'll see you when I complete the condensation of my mana core."
Elena wrapped Markus in her signature Earthen transportation spell, as he was sent to the main dining halls of the academy, an intricate Earthen lotus blooming as he stepped off the spell.
The Earthen transportation spell didn't just move Markus; it folded the very ground beneath him. One moment, he was in the scent of high-grade tea and ancient ink; the next, he was standing in the bustling Dining Hall, a stone lily blooming and then crumbling into dust at his feet.
The spectators froze, forks halfway to their mouths. That was the Headmistress's signature move. To see a first-year emerge from it—calmly checking his watch for lunch—sent a ripple of whispers through the room that even the Vane family cronies couldn't ignore.
(Man, I could barely feel the spell traversing through the academy; her control over the Earth Elements is monstrous.)
Markus strode over to the food display counters as he helped himself to a generous serving of tenderloin steak, wild boar ribs, and salad.
"BIG BRO!!!" Rosanne shouted across the dining hall.
She promptly snatched up a serving of lunch consisting of seafood and multi-grain rice.
"SEE, SEE!!!" Rosanne manifested an orb of light and condensed it into the size of a tennis ball.
"The teaching assistant said I'm the fastest to progress in Elemental control in class aside from you," Rosanne proudly exclaimed, her chin pointing towards the ceiling.
"You silly girl, we've been playing and practicing together since we were 1, how could you compare yourself to me?" Markus flicked her forehead, a red mark forming between her brows.
"I won't be attending classes with you guys anymore, I'll be spending my time in the library learning about history, and doing alchemical research," Markus deftly cut the steak into strips.
"However, I'll still join you guys for academic missions. The headmistress exempted me from classes before lunch."
Markus felt a pull from his dimensional inventory and promptly finished his meal and excused himself.
"Your brother is a freak of nature, Rosanne," Jessica mumbled, "At least he can still participate in missions with us."
Rosanne stared at her lunch, appetite vanishing as quickly as her mood. The food sat there, uninviting, a collage of colors she no longer had the energy to taste.