I tear my gaze away from the mirror, still reeling from everything. My new appearance, the floating game-like interface, the impossible reality that I've been reincarnated—it's all too much and yet not enough.
I need answers.
My eyes drift to the bookshelves lining the wall. They're crammed with leather-bound volumes, their spines embossed with gold lettering in a language I somehow understand. Weird. I don't remember learning this script, but the words make perfect sense.
"Fundamentals of Mana Theory," I read aloud, running my finger along one spine. "Elemental Affinities and You. Introduction to Combat Magic." My heart races. This is it. Real magic knowledge, right here in front of me.
I pull out a thick tome titled "A Beginner's Guide to Magic and Affinity Discovery." Dust motes dance in the sunlight as I crack it open. The pages are yellowed but pristine, filled with neat handwriting and detailed diagrams.
The first chapter explains the basics. According to this, everyone in this world is born with mana—magical energy that flows through the body like blood. But not everyone can use it effectively. That depends on your affinity.
I flip through pages eagerly, scanning the text.
"Affinities determine which elements a mage can manipulate," I read aloud. "The eight primary elements are: Fire, Water, Earth, Wind, Light, Dark, Lightning, and Ice. Most individuals possess one or two affinities. Three is rare. Four or more is nearly unheard of."
My fingers tingle as I read. The book goes on to describe how affinities manifest—usually during childhood when mana first awakens. But there's a section on discovery methods for late bloomers or, apparently, people like me who just showed up in a new body.
I find what I'm looking for: "The Affinity Revelation Technique."
The instructions are surprisingly simple. I need to channel my mana outward while keeping my mind clear, then observe what elements respond. Easy enough, right?
I set the book down on the table by the window and take a deep breath. The morning air is crisp and clean, carrying the scent of pine and something floral I can't identify. I close my eyes and try to feel the mana the book described.
At first, there's nothing. Then—there. A warmth in my chest, like an ember glowing softly. I focus on it, willing it to grow. The warmth spreads through my body, flowing down my arms to my fingertips. My skin prickles with energy.
"Okay, now outward," I murmur, following the book's instructions.
I push the energy out, letting it spill from my hands like water. My eyes snap open.
The air around me explodes with color.
Crimson flames flicker at my right hand.
Blue-white ice crystals form at my left. Arcs of yellow lightning crackle between my fingers. Emerald wind swirls around my arms. Golden light pulses from my chest.
Dark shadows pool at my feet. Brown earth trembles beneath me. Clear water droplets materialize and float around my head.
All eight elements. At once.
"Holy shit," I breathe.
The display lasts only a few seconds before the mana dissipates, leaving me gasping and exhilarated. My hands are shaking—not from exhaustion, but from pure adrenaline. I check my status window, which helpfully appears when I think about it.
MP: 7,800 / 8,000
I barely used any mana for that. And I have all eight affinities. All of them.
I laugh, a slightly manic sound that echoes in the empty room. "The angel wasn't kidding about making me powerful."
I grab the book again, flipping frantically to the chapter on multi-affinity users. The text warns that having multiple affinities makes it harder to master any single element—you spread yourself too thin. But there's a note in the margin, written in different handwriting: "Unless your mana pool and control are exceptional."
I glance at my Intelligence stat. 100. My Wisdom stat. 60. Something tells me I'll be fine.
The book also contains basic spells for each element. Starting techniques that any beginner should be able to manage. I scan through them hungrily:
Fire: Ember - Creates a small flame (50 MP)
Water: Aqua Sphere - Forms a ball of water (50 MP)
Earth: Stone Bullet - Launches a small rock projectile (50 MP)
Wind: Gust - Produces a burst of air (50 MP)
Lightning: Spark - Generates a small electrical discharge (50 MP)
Ice: Frost Touch - Freezes a small area on contact (50 MP)
Light: Illuminate - Creates a glowing orb of light (50 MP)
Dark: Shadow Veil - Obscures the user in darkness (50 MP)
According to the book, learning even one of these spells typically takes weeks of practice. The mana manipulation required is complex, and getting the elemental attunement right is tricky.
But I have Angel's Blessing. "Allows the user to learn any spell effortlessly."
Let's test that.
I focus on the Fire section, studying the diagram showing how mana should flow to create Ember. It's like a circuit—mana travels from your core, through specific channels in your body, then ignites as it exits through your palm. The book emphasizes visualization and intent.
I hold out my right hand, palm up. I picture what I want: a small flame, warm and controlled. I feel the mana in my chest respond, eager. It flows down my arm exactly as the diagram showed, like it knows the path by instinct.
A tiny orange flame appears, hovering just above my palm.
"No way," I whisper. "I just… I just cast a spell. Just like that."
The flame dances cheerfully, responding to my thoughts. When I imagine it growing, it swells. When I want it smaller, it shrinks. It's intuitive, natural, like the magic is an extension of my will.
I dismiss the flame with a thought and immediately try another. "Aqua Sphere."
A perfect ball of water forms in my other hand. Then "Stone Bullet"—a smooth pebble materializes and hovers. "Gust"—wind whips through the room, rustling the pages of open books.
One by one, I cast each basic spell. They all work perfectly on the first try. No practice needed. No struggling with mana control. Just intent and execution.
My MP drops steadily:
MP: 7,400 / 8,000
MP: 6,900 / 8,000
MP: 6,400 / 8,000
Even burning through spells, I've still got plenty of juice left. And I can feel my mana slowly regenerating, a gentle trickle refilling the reservoir.
I'm grinning like an idiot now, practically bouncing on my feet. This is incredible. This is everything I dreamed of and more. I'm not just powerful—I'm a natural. The kind of protagonist I used to read about in web novels.
I grab another book from the shelf: "Intermediate Elemental Magic." If I can learn basic spells instantly, what about harder ones?
I flip to a random page and find a spell called "Flame Lance"—a concentrated spear of fire that can pierce armor. The description warns that this is a Tier 2 spell, requiring significant mana control and practice. Most fire mages take months to learn it. It costs 300 MP to cast.
I skim the instructions, absorbing the mana flow pattern and visualization. Then I try it.
A blazing lance of fire erupts from my hand, shooting across the room and scorching a black mark on the stone wall. The heat is intense, and the spell feels powerful in a way the basic Ember didn't.
MP: 6,100 / 8,000
That took a chunk of mana, but it worked. First try. Again.
"Okay," I say, looking at the growing collection of spellbooks around me. "Okay, I need to be smart about this. I can learn anything, but I should focus on spells that'll actually be useful."
I spend the next hour devouring books. I learn:
Tier 2 Spells (200-400 MP each):
Fireball (explosive ranged attack)
Ice Wall (defensive barrier)
Lightning Bolt (fast, piercing strike)
Stone Armor (temporary protective shell)
Wind Blade (cutting slash of air)
Healing Light (minor wound restoration)
Shadow Step (short-range teleportation through shadows)
Water Whip (flexible, mid-range attack)
Tier 3 Spells (500-800 MP each):
Inferno (area-of-effect fire storm)
Blizzard (freezing zone attack)
Thunderstrike (massive lightning attack from above)
Earthen Bind (roots that trap enemies)
By the time I finish, my MP is hovering around 1,000 / 8,000, and my head is spinning with knowledge. Spell formulas, mana patterns, elemental theory—it's all clicking into place like pieces of a puzzle I was born to solve.
I pause and lean against the bookshelf, catching my breath. Even after casting dozens of spells—including several high-tier ones—I still have MP left. That's... that's insane. Most beginners would be completely drained after casting just a few Tier 2 spells. But I can spam high-level magic like it's nothing.
"Is this what the Angel's Blessing meant by enhanced stats?" I mutter, staring at my hands. "My mana pool is massive for Level 1. This has to be way above normal."
I think about the numbers. If Intelligence determines MP, and the formula is INT × 80, then someone with 10 Intelligence would have 800 MP. I have 100 Intelligence, giving me 8,000 MP. That's ten times the normal amount for my level.
I'm essentially a glass cannon—incredible magical power, but still physically weak. My HP is only 1,500, which is probably just slightly above average for Level 1. One good hit could still take me down.
But with this much magical firepower? I won't let enemies get close enough to hit me.
I check my status window again:
Level: 1
EXP: 0 / 100
Skills: Angel's Blessing, Ember, Aqua Sphere, Stone Bullet, Gust, Spark, Frost Touch, Illuminate, Shadow Veil, Fireball, Ice Wall, Lightning Bolt, Stone Armor, Wind Blade, Healing Light, Shadow Step, Water Whip, Inferno, Blizzard, Thunderstrike, Earthen Bind
The list of skills has expanded dramatically.
I'm still Level 1, but I'm already packing an arsenal that would make veteran mages jealous.
A knock on the door makes me jump.
"Young master Sol?" a woman's voice calls. "May I enter?"
I freeze. Young master? So I'm not just some random person in this world—I have a position. Probably a noble, judging by this fancy room.
"Uh, yeah! Come in!" I call back, hastily closing the spellbooks and trying to look composed.
The door opens to reveal a middle-aged woman in a maid's uniform. She has kind eyes and graying hair pulled back in a neat bun. She bows politely.
"Good morning, young master. I hope you slept well. Breakfast is ready in the dining hall. Lord Drake requests your presence."
Lord Drake. My father, presumably. Or maybe this body's father. The semantics are confusing.
"Right, yeah. I'll be down in a minute," I say, trying to sound natural.
She nods and leaves, closing the door softly behind her.
I look down at myself—still wearing the fancy tunic and boots. I guess I'm as ready as I'll ever be.
Time to figure out who I am in this world or rather I'll decide that.
But first, I take one last look at my reflection in the mirror. White hair, red eyes, lean build. Sol Drake, Level 1 mage with the power of someone ten times my level.
A grin spreads across my face. "This is going to be fun."
I head for the door, magic still tingling at my fingertips, ready to discover what this new life has in store for me.