"Why are you working as a butler when you're a B-rank? If you don't mind me asking," Leo inquired while following Klaus down the corridor.
Klaus chuckled softly, as if he had heard this question many times before. "At first, it was the money," he admitted without hesitation, glancing at Leo when he noticed the slight crease of confusion in the young man's expression. "Forty gold coins per month," he added, and the number alone made Leo's brows rise in surprise. Klaus caught the reaction and gave a knowing nod. "Exactly. You won't find this kind of offer in many places."
"But you said 'at first,'" Leo pressed, sensing there was more beneath the surface. "Do you have other reasons now?"
A wry smile tugged at Klaus's lips as he looked ahead, recalling his early days in this unsettling place. "At first, I was terrified. Not just of this mansion, but of her," he confessed. "She scared me more than the house itself. I even ran away a few times. But somehow, I kept coming back. I'm not even sure why anymore—it's like something pulls me here. Maybe because I know she needs me, or maybe because I understand that someone below B-rank wouldn't survive being the butler of this house."
Their conversation carried them to a pair of towering doors, polished dark wood gleaming under the morning light. Three maids, who had been following them, stood like statues nearby as Klaus pushed open the doors and led Leo into a grand dining hall. The table stretched an impressive ten meters, a feast laid out along its length with an overwhelming variety of dishes. Klaus guided Leo to the far end of the table, where only one chair awaited positioned directly across from Alexia. He took his seat across from her, hesitating briefly before reaching out to select a few dishes. Once his plate was filled, he began to eat, and only then did Alexia finally speak.
"Your training begins today," she announced, her tone leaving no room for argument. "You'll read every book I give you and learn every spell I teach you. If you have questions, you will ask me directly. Klaus will explain your other duties." She paused to sip her wine, her gaze sharp. "You will also train with Klaus for three hours every day. I do not like weak bodies."
Leo couldn't suppress a faint smile at her final remark. 'Neither do I,' he thought to himself.
"I will test you on all the spells at the end of the period I've set. If you fail, I will throw you out," she continued coldly.
"Can I read other books too?" Leo asked, a spark of eagerness in his voice.
Alexia raised an eyebrow, visibly surprised by his question, though the expression lasted only a heartbeat. "If your rank reaches the level required for them, then yes, you may."
Leo's smile widened. He already had two abilities that gave him an edge in this world. One was his keen sense of being watched—an awareness he had yet to fully understand. The other was his remarkably fast reading speed, now further enhanced by his domain. He felt a quiet surge of confidence as he thought of these advantages.
Alexia rose from her chair, and Leo, sensing that she expected him to follow, quickly stood as well. They walked together through the endless corridors until they arrived at an enormous circular library. Leo's eyes widened in awe. Shelves filled with books lined the walls, spiraling upward into darkness so deep he couldn't see the ceiling. The sheer scale of the library dwarfed the one at his old association.
Without a word, Alexia raised her hand, and five thick books floated from the shelves to her, then drifted smoothly into Leo's arms.
"Read all of these in the next thirty days," she instructed firmly.
Leo glanced at the weighty tomes in his hands, each one dense with knowledge. 'Is she upset because of my earlier question?' he wondered. 'No normal person could read all of these in such a short time.' He wanted to check their titles, but Alexia was already moving again, leaving him no choice but to follow. They exited the library and stepped into a courtyard—larger and unlike the one below. This yard was clearly designed for training, with racks of weapons lining its edges and plenty of open space for combat practice. It was a true battleground for warriors in training.
Alexia stood at the edge of the training ground while Klaus stepped into the center. A sword appeared in his hand as if conjured from thin air. "Show me what you've got," he said.
Leo put his books in his bag, walked to the middle of the ground and raised his hand. One of the swords from the corner of the yard began to float toward him. As it reached his grasp, he wasted no time and charged straight at Klaus.
A flurry of slashes followed. Leo attacked relentlessly, but Klaus parried and blocked every strike with ease, as if predicting each move before it came. The exchange lasted several minutes, Leo pushing himself harder with each attack.
Just as Leo prepared to charge again, Klaus raised his hand. "That's enough. I've already seen your level. We'll start properly tomorrow."
"Good. I'll leave the rest to you, Klaus," Alexia said, turning away and leaving the yard.
Leo watched her go, then turned his gaze back to Klaus. His sword was already floating back to its original place.
"Let's go back to your room."
Leo nodded and followed Klaus down the hall. When they reached his room, Klaus opened the door for him.
"Make sure to get a good rest — it might be your last one for a while. Also, the other duties the lady mentioned will start early in the morning, so wake up at six and be ready." He paused, then added, "Do you want me to call the maids to help you change?"
"No, I'd rather do it myself."
Klaus gave a nod and left, closing the door quietly behind him.
Leo stepped behind the room divider, found something that looked like sleepwear in the large drawer, and changed into it. Then he walked over to the big king-size bed and pulled out his books, dropping them beside him on the mattress.
"Let's see what we have," he muttered.
He picked up the first book. The title, Spellbinder, was embossed in faded silver letters. He opened to the first page and began reading, flipping through the pages as he went. The book delved into the nature of pure magic, explaining its raw potential and how it could be combined with other magical paths to create more powerful effects. One chapter even introduced a variety of new spells, some of which seemed advanced but intriguing.
The next book, The Study of Flow and Control, had a worn leather cover, as if it had been read many times before. Inside, it focused on the techniques for mastering control over one's mana, detailing exercises to sense, guide, and stabilize the flow of energy within the body. Leo found the diagrams especially helpful, showing clear pathways and energy circuits.
The third book was Binding the Arcane: Principles of Permanent Enchantments. As its name suggested, it explored enchanting in depth—particularly the complex methods of binding spells to physical items. Higher-level techniques were explained with both theory and examples, from simple charms to advanced, permanent enchantments that could last a lifetime.
The fourth book, The Arcane Capital: Aclisa, was more of a reference guide. It contained maps, cultural notes, and descriptions of important landmarks across the city.
Lastly, he picked up Mystery, a thin but dense book filled with theories and methods about illusion magic. It explored not only how to craft convincing illusions but also how to manipulate perception and mislead opponents in battle.
From all the books, along with his own Red Moon, Leo decided to start with The Arcane Capital: Aclisa. He lay on his bed and drew the book into his domain. Seated on his large stone chair within the quiet expanse, he began reading intently. He skimmed through chapters about the Mage's Quarter and the sprawling marketplaces, mentally noting parts that might prove useful in the future. The book painted a detailed picture of the city's structure, its various districts, and hidden corners, offering glimpses into the daily life and opportunities the capital had to offer.
Leo had a few more hours before sleep, and even more time in his domain, so he kept reading.
He turned the pages, his eyes scanning the dense text. The Arcane Capital: Aclisa was filled with intricate details about the city's many layers. The first chapter covered its origins, tracing back centuries to when Aclisa was just a cluster of small villages. Over time, the city expanded, especially after mages developed technologies that made life easier, drawing more and more people to settle there.
Leo paused on a section that described the Mage's Quarter, the heart of Aclisa's magical community. It was a sprawling district, further divided into several areas of its own. The lower part, known as Arcane Alley, was a maze of narrow streets where street vendors and lesser magicians peddled enchanted trinkets, spells, and potions. Further up lay the Crystal Tier, home to prestigious magical shops and grand architecture—buildings of shimmering glass and enchanted stone that changed color with the time of day.
Leo read with fascination about the Covenant Citadel, a towering spire where the ruling body of mages, the Council of Ten, resided. The Council governed the kingdom and served as one of the few connections between the lower city and the elusive upper city.
Beyond the Mage's Quarter sprawled the Market of Miracles, a vast open-air bazaar where nearly anything could be bought or sold—provided one had enough gold or influence. Rumors spoke of rare and potent artifacts being traded under the cover of darkness, exchanged by shadowy figures who came and went without ever revealing their true identities.
Leo studied a map of the market, which highlighted hidden pathways and secretive places of interest.
"This book isn't illegal, is it?" he muttered to himself.
He flipped a few pages ahead and found information on the Arcane Research District, where the brightest minds in magic conducted experiments, created new spells, and advanced the boundaries of arcane knowledge. The district was home to the University of Arcana, a prestigious institution where mages trained in various paths, and hoped that one day, they could rise to join the Grand Magistrates—the highest magical ranks in the kingdom.
A few chapters later, Leo came upon a section that outlined the underground passages beneath the city, where a different kind of life thrived. There were rumors of underground factions, black markets, and secretive cults that operated in the shadows. Some of the darker mages, those who had been cast out from society, resided in these hidden depths, away from the law and the gaze of the Council. It was said that once you ventured into the depths of the city, it was easy to disappear forever.
Leo marked these sections, recognizing that Aclisa was not just a place of magic and learning, but a city teeming with secrets, danger, and untold opportunities. He would need to navigate carefully, understanding the power structures and the hidden risks that lay behind every corner. There was more to this city than met the eye, and Leo had a feeling that his path would cross with its darker undercurrents sooner rather than later.
He closed the book, realizing he was already halfway through it. Unfortunately, this was the shortest one in his collection.
After sitting quietly for a while, trying to absorb everything he'd read, Leo took out his watch. Seeing he still had a little time, he pulled a stack of blank papers from his bag and began inscribing the Hallucination Trap spell onto them. One by one, he worked through the pages. By the time he had finished preparing a hundred spells, his focus was starting to wane.
Finally, he stepped out of his domain. The information from the book still swirled in his mind, thick and heavy, but exhaustion was quickly catching up with him. He placed The Arcane Capital: Aclisa on the bedside table. Without another thought, he slipped into bed and sank into a deep, dreamless sleep.