As Adrian and Serena walked through the estate's corridors, Serena peppered him with questions.
"Father said you've made machines that don't need magic. How? And I heard you've been staying in Tulia, how's it been? Are the people kind?"
"Tulia's good. The people are nice. As for the machines, it's just engineering — levers, gears, that sort of thing. Nothing fancy."
Serena's eyes dimmed slightly. "Are you staying? After you're done, I mean."
He shook his head. "No. I'll go back to Tulia once the job's done. This place… it's not mine anymore."
Her face fell, and she looked ready to cry again. "Why? You're family. You belong here."
"It's complicated," he said, softening his tone.
She wiped her face, forcing a smile. "Then I'll follow you. I mean it."
Adrian laughed, trying to lighten the mood. "Oh, really? You'd leave all this for a village workshop?"
"You bet I will," she said with a fierce voice. "You're my brother. I don't care about fancy halls or titles."
He sighed, touched but firm. "Don't worry yourself, Serena. You've got a life here. And you'll soon have to leave for the academy. I'll visit, I promise. And I'm working on Communicators — devices that let you talk across miles—"
"Like magic?" she interrupted, eyes wide.
"Better," he said with a grin. "No spells required. I'll send you one when it's ready."
They talked more as they walked, reminiscing about simpler days. Serena shared that Julian was still a ghost, slipping through the estate's shadows, while Diana had grown colder to her.
By the time they reached Adrian's old room, their conversation had woven a fragile bridge over the years apart.
Serena opened the door with a flourish. "Tada! Just the way you left it."
The room was familiar yet transformed. The wooden bed was neatly made, its quilt smoothed. His old desk stood by the window, polished to a shine.
All the books that were once left on the bed were now in the shelf in perfect order.
"Thank you," Adrian said, stepping inside. "You didn't have to do all this."
"I wanted to," she said, lingering at the door. "Need anything? Water? Food?"
"I'm fine."
"Okay, bye," she said quickly. "I'll fetch you for lunch." Before he could protest, she was gone, the door clicking shut.
Adrian settled onto the bed, placing his bad aside. "So I'm back here," he murmured, his gaze sweeping the room.
His eyes lingered on the bookshelves, memories flooding back. He'd spent countless nights poring over those texts, chasing knowledge hoping to become a future wizard.
Suddenly, he remembered the new ability he had acquired last night from reaching Level 6.
He summoned the description with a thought, the interface flickering in his mind:
[Lore Grasp]
>>Touch a book to assimilate its contents instantly, storing the knowledge in your mind and the Tech Core's database. May cause mental fatigue.
"OP," Adrian whispered, a grin spreading across his face. "Now's my chance to test it."
He approached one of the books. Principles of Mana Flow. As a boy, he'd studied it obsessively, hoping to grasp the magic that eluded him.
He touched the cover, and a notification flickered in his mind:
[Assimilate 'Principles of Aetheric Flow'?]
[Yes/No]
Selecting [Yes], he braced himself. A torrent of knowledge surged — concepts of mana channels, elemental balances, and spell catalysts — flooding his mind and the Tech Core's database. It was intense, like drinking from a river, but the influx stopped short of overwhelming, leaving him clear-headed and exhilarated.
"It works," Adrian said, a thrill in his voice. He moved to the next book, Glyphs of Warding, then Essence of Fire Magic. Each touch triggered a prompt, and each [Yes] delivered a burst of magic lore.
By the time he'd assimilated all the magic books in his room, he paused to reflect. The information was precise but elementary compared to his knowledge on Magic Theory.
His gaze shifted to the door as a plan formed in his head.
"The library," he muttered. His mission was to plunder its most potent texts, using [Lore Grasp] to master advanced magical theories if there were there.
Resolved, Adrian opened his door and stepped into the corridor. A maid was polishing a candelabra nearby, her apron crisp against the stone walls.
"Excuse me," he said with a calm voice. "I'd like to visit the library."
The maid bowed. "Yes, Master Adrian, but I must seek the permission. One moment." She scurried off, returning minutes later with a nod. "You're granted access, sir. This way."
She guided him through tapestry-lined halls to the library's towering doors. As they swung open, Adrian was struck by the familiar grandeur.
The library was a cathedral of knowledge, its vaulted ceilings adorned with frescoes of celestial sigils.
Stained-glass windows cast light across oak tables, and shelves soared to the rafters, accessible by sliding ladders.
As a boy, Adrian had made this place his sanctuary. Now, he was back.
He surveyed the shelves, noting that most of the books were on history. They held little value for his goals for now; as his target was still the magic section.
Easily finding it after some moments, Adrian approached the shelves.
He wasted no time, reaching out to touch one of the books. A prompt appeared:
[Assimilate 'Mana Resonance'?]
[Yes/No]
He chose Yes, and a rush of insights flooded his mind. Satisfied, Adrian began to devour book after book.
He moved quickly; touching and assimilating knowledge like he was in an eating contest.
By the time he had consumed every magic-related tome in the library, his head began to throb slightly. What surprised him the most was that he marveled he hadn't collapsed.
'Great!'
Almost as if waiting for his remark, a notification flashed:
[Sufficient Magic Knowledge Acquired.]
[Magic Theory Knowledge Evolved.]
[Unlocked: Magic Theory 2.]
At that moment, a final surge of understanding hit and it seemed like all the knowledge he had gotten began to resonate with each other and merge into one profound knowledge bank.
But with it that came a sharp, searing pain, stabbing through his skull, forcing him to grip a shelf to steady himself and in moments, he collapsed.