Morning sunlight spilled through the dormitory windows, casting warm patterns on the stone floor. Corven sat at his desk, fingers tracing the edges of his notebook, when a gentle knock echoed again at his door.
"Elira?" he called, looking up.
The door creaked open, and there she stood — bright-eyed, confident, and dressed in a finely tailored uniform that bore subtle silver embroidery.
"I thought I'd check in," she said with a smile. "Besides, there's something you should know."
Corven leaned back, curious.
"Elira Silvermantle," she began, "is from the Silver Market — the most influential merchant family in the kingdom. They control trade routes, caravans, and a vast network of connections. You could say we're rich in more than just coin."
She shrugged playfully. "Because of that, I've been introduced to almost everyone here at the academy. It's like being a walking invitation."
Corven raised an eyebrow. "That must be… exhausting."
"Sometimes," she admitted. "But it has its perks. I get to hear things others don't — rumors, opportunities, secrets."
She stepped closer. "And you, Corven Blackfeather? You're from one of the oldest Archducal families. That name carries weight, even if your mana doesn't."
Corven smiled wryly. "Weight and expectation can be a heavy burden."
Elira nodded thoughtfully. "That's why you need allies. And I'm here if you want one."
For the first time since arriving at the academy, Corven felt the faint stirrings of hope.
Elira leaned casually against the doorframe, a mischievous smile playing on her lips.
"So, Corven," she began, "you're a Maker now, right? That means you're going to need a steady supply of ingredients. And that's where someone like me comes in."
She gestured dramatically. "Imagine this: you want to craft a legendary sword. You need the finest metals, rare herbs for enchantments, maybe a pinch of phoenix ash if you're feeling fancy."
She winked. "I can get you that—and at a price that won't bleed your mana dry."
Corven raised an eyebrow. "Sounds like you're trying to sell me something."
"Guilty," Elira laughed. "But seriously, ingredients are the backbone of creation magic. Without them, even the strongest mana is useless."
She paced the room, animated. "There are markets everywhere—some shady, some official. A good Maker learns which markets to trust and how to negotiate. Knowing your ingredients means knowing your creations."
She stopped and looked him in the eye. "For your Anime? Creation genre, though? That's a whole different beast?... You'll have to find creative substitutes."
Corven nodded slowly. "Like using memories instead of physical items."
"Exactly," Elira said, grinning. "And if anyone tells you that's impossible, they just don't know the right merchants yet."
Corven watched the door click shut behind Elira, her cheerful energy lingering like a scent in the air.
He turned toward his notebook and opened a blank page. But his mind was already racing.
She doesn't even know what anime is.To her, I'm just another client. A future customer with a strange genre and a noble name. She talks like this is business—and maybe it is. But for me? This is survival. This is everything.
He leaned forward, pen hovering over the page.
Forget kunai. Forget shuriken. If I want to prove this genre has weight, then I need to aim higher. Something that embodies what anime can do. Something legendary.
His hand began to sketch roughly in the margins—thick plates of silver-white armor, radiant light blooming from between its seams.
Divine Armor — the sacred set worn by Kouki Amangawa. (from Arifureta)A holy relic. A western-style suit of armor enhanced by evolution magic.Capable of absorbing mana from the environment, reducing mana costs, extending Limit Break duration...And generating a veil of light as an active barrier.
Corven's pen paused.
In this world, no one has ever seen anything like this. But I've seen it—through those memories. I know what it looks like, how it's meant to feel, even what it represents.
He started listing ingredients:
Refined mithric steel or a similar high-grade magical alloy
Mana-reactive crystal cores
Light-element herbs or beast drops to simulate divine energy
A stable medium for magic infusion (engraved runes, maybe modified academy circuits)
He frowned.
I don't have half of these.But Elira might know where to find them—or who to talk to.
He closed the book and whispered to himself:
"If I can even create a prototype of this armor… then they'll have to take me seriously."
Outside, the academy bells rang—another class, another lecture.
But inside his room, a different kind of lesson had begun.
He closed the notebook slowly, the image of the Divine Armor still glowing in his mind.
In this world, no one's ever seen anything like it. But I have.I've seen it fight. I've seen it shield lives. I've seen it absorb mana, not drain it.
His eyes sharpened.
If I can build even a rough version of this... I might not have to suffer from low mana anymore.What if I could wear my solution? What if I could make something that feeds mana into me, instead of the other way around?
He sat back in his chair, heart pounding quietly in his chest.
Maybe this is how I fight back.Not through strength... but through knowledge. Through stories.
A slow grin pulled at his lips—sharp, determined.
Anime isn't just entertainment. It's a library of forgotten answers.
And with that thought, Corven began writing ingredient substitutions and rough design notes into his notebook. No more hypotheticals.
The work had begun.