He picked up the "Magic and Beasts" book next. Again, the notification popped up.
[Understand the book—1 soul point]
He accepted without hesitation. Another rush of information filled his head, this time about the various magical creatures that roamed the world. He learned about their habits, their weaknesses, and their abilities. He felt a strange mix of awe and fear as he imagined encountering some of these beasts.
[Magic and Beasts has been understood.]
Interesting.
He picked up the third book, "Magic and Occupations."
[Understand the book—1 soul point]
After accepting, his mind was filled with information about the various occupations that involved magic, such as enchanting, alchemy, and weapon crafting. He learned about the skills and knowledge required for each profession, and he began to understand how magic permeated every aspect of society.
[Magic and Occupations has been understood.]
He grabbed the next book, "Impacts."
[Understand the book—1 soul point]
He accepted, gaining knowledge of magical impacts on the world, history, and even the very fabric of reality. It was more theoretical than practical, but it gave him a broader understanding of the potential consequences of wielding magic.
[Impacts has been understood.]
Only two more books to go. He grabbed "Beast Life."
[Understand the book—1 soul point]
This book filled him with information about the different professions that used magic, including weapons creation, alchemy, and enchanting items. He became aware of the abilities and skills needed for each occupation and started to realize how magic was present in every part of society.
[Beast Life has been understood.]
Only one book left. He felt a strange sense of anticipation as he picked up "Magic and Abilities."
[Understand the book—1 soul point]
His mind was flooded with information about different magical abilities, their origins, and their potential applications. He learned about rare and powerful skills, some of which were even legendary.
[Magic and abilities have been understood.]
He closed his eyes for a moment, processing the sheer volume of information he had absorbed. He felt different, somehow. He had a greater understanding of magic, its history, and its potential.
He then decided to find more books that might help him. As he stood, he noticed the scholar still engrossed in a book at the front desk. Saying nothing, he quietly made his way back to the section where the earlier books had come from.
Slowly, he scanned the shelves, taking in the titles. "These books look a bit more advanced." He gathered a few promising ones and returned to his seat.
"Advanced Magic Theory"
"Practical Spellcasting"
"Magical Item Creation"
"Advanced Bestiary"
"The History of the Great Mages"
"Forbidden Magic"
He sat down and picked up "Advanced Magic Theory."
[Understand the book—1 soul points]
The information this time was complicated and detailed. The ideas were difficult for him to understand. It was like trying to learn calculus after only knowing basic arithmetic. But he persevered, slowly piecing together the fundamental principles.
[Advanced Magic Theory has been understood.]
He felt a slight headache, but also a sense of accomplishment. He glanced at the next book, "Practical Spellcasting."
[Understand the book—1 soul points]
This book was a welcome change from the theoretical nature of the previous one. It was filled with diagrams and step-by-step instructions for casting various spells. From what he had learned, he needed to use some incantations and magic circles to use the spells that were not in the book and could only be bought from the market or learned in the academy.
[Practical Spellcasting has been understood.]
He grabbed "Magical Item Creation."
[Understand the book—1 soul points]
He accepted, and his mind filled with knowledge of enchanting, transmuting, and imbuing objects with magical properties. He learned about different materials, runes, and rituals required for creating powerful artifacts.
[Magical Item Creation has been understood.]
Next up was "Advanced Bestiary."
[Understand the book—1 soul points]
He accepted, bracing himself for another wave of information. This book delved into the more obscure and dangerous magical creatures. He learned about their unique abilities, their ecological roles, and the best strategies for dealing with them. Some of the creatures described were so terrifying that he felt a chill run down his spine.
[Advanced Bestiary has been understood.]
He picked up "The History of the Great Mages."
[Understand the book—1 soul points]
He accepted, eager to learn about the legendary figures in the world of magic. He read about their triumphs and the secrets they had uncovered. was inspired by their dedication and their pursuit of knowledge.
[The History of the Great Mages has been understood.]
Only one book left. "Forbidden Magic."
[Understand the book—1 soul points]
The information that flooded his mind was dark and disturbing. He learned about the sacrifice-related rituals, soul-corrupting spells, and reality-shattering abilities. Even the names of those who had previously used them were listed.
[Forbidden Magic has been understood.]
He closed his eyes, trying to process the weight of what he had learned. His perspective on magic underwent a significant change.
But now, the sheer volume of information began pressing down on him. His head felt heavy, as though the knowledge had physically settled behind his eyes.
He had learned the books too quickly, driven by urgency and curiosity, but now he was exhausted. It was best to rest and let all the insights settle; he made his way back to the front desk.
"I read those books," said Neuman, placing two silver coins on the desk. The scholar nodded knowingly, saying nothing. With that, he returned back to his room.
The scholar's brow furrowed slightly as he collected the books to put them back on their shelves. He remembered that these weren't the exact ones he had handed over to Neuman.
His astonishment increased when he identified some books much more complex than the ones he had originally supplied. It was hard to think anyone would understand such books in a single day.
He hesitated, thinking about it. Maybe the young man had just glanced at them, interested more by curiosity than by understanding. He dismissed the idea with a silent shake of his head. Perhaps the boy had just looked at the covers or flipped through a couple of pages. Nevertheless, as he put the last book away, a thought of it lingered in the back of his mind.