Talent Manifestation!

After Vasida left, Lyra finally had a moment to breathe. She decided to unwind by taking a long, hot shower. Stepping out, she wrapped herself in a soft, luxurious robe. Only then did she find time to sit down and properly go through the "New Student's Guide" and examine her own card book, something she'd been curious about for a while.

The college castle was eerily quiet. By the time she glanced up, it was past six in the evening, and the bells had long since stopped ringing. She had no idea what time it was—here, it seemed, time followed its own strange rhythm.

As she flipped through the guide, reading every detail carefully, she started to form a basic understanding of the academy's rules, courses, and expectations. When she finally closed the booklet, something unexpected caught her eye. On what had previously been a blank second page, new text had appeared as if by magic.

Next week's course schedule had been updated.

From Monday to Friday, there would be one class in the morning and another in the afternoon, each lasting two hours. No room for breaks or extracurriculars; just wall-to-wall classes. But what really surprised her was that every class for the entire week was the same: "Introduction to Alchemy."

"Does the Witch Academy really prioritize alchemy this much?" Lyra wondered aloud. "Considering Shana's mother's level in alchemy, this doesn't seem right."

She mulled it over but found no answers. It was something she'd have to figure out when classes started on Monday. Sighing, she set the guidebook aside and focused her attention on her card book; a mysterious object that had been bothering her ever since it materialized.

Vasida had already made progress in understanding her own abilities, having figured out how to use the Swallowing Stomach, and Sylph was experimenting with the Box of Ten Thousand Species. But Lyra? She had no clue about the card book in front of her, and the frustration was gnawing at her.

The book itself was beautiful; intricately carved with gold details, embedded with deep purple gemstones, and filled with blank pages that felt far too delicate to be ordinary. But no matter what she tried, it remained frustratingly inert. Even its name, "Book of Cards," which she had chosen when it first appeared, seemed to mock her. There wasn't a single card inside, only an empty, black slot meant to hold them. It made no sense.

Determined, she checked every inch of it again, inspecting every groove, every corner, hoping for a hidden switch or some trigger. Nothing. The book was seemingly indestructible, immune to any attempt to tear or damage it. But for all its durability, it offered no clues on how to unlock its secrets.

Hours passed, and Lyra's patience was wearing thin. Her efforts yielded no results, and the mystery of the card book only deepened.

Then the morning bells rang.

Lyra hadn't even realized how much time had passed. She blinked, her head heavy from a sleepless night, and left her dorm in a daze, still lost in thought. Dormitory No. 59 was already awake, and Lilith, her lively senior, had risen with the sound of the bells.

Lilith stretched, a broad smile on her face as she opened her door. "A new day!" she declared cheerfully. "I wonder how the freshers are settling in. Lyra?" Her eyes landed on her junior, who looked pale and drawn, like she hadn't seen sunlight in weeks. "You look like a vampire who's been starved for a century. Are you sure your paternal bloodline doesn't include any vampires?"

Lyra groaned, her dark circles betraying a long night of fruitless study. "I don't know if I'm part vampire, but I know I need your help, Lilith! I can't figure out this card book for the life of me. Please, tell me, how did you first learn to use your innate manifestation?"

Lilith's teasing smile softened with understanding. "Ah, so that's what's got you in such a state. You're stuck with your talent manifestation, huh?"

Lyra nodded miserably. "I stayed up all night trying to make sense of it, but I'm no closer to understanding it. The only thing I know for sure is that the book is practically indestructible. There's no mechanism, no activation; nothing!"

Lilith raised an eyebrow. "Mechanism? Activation? What exactly were you doing all night?"

Lyra launched into an explanation, detailing her painstaking efforts to examine the book. "I tried everything; rubbing, pressing, tearing. I even checked every grain in the paper! But it just…doesn't do anything."

Lilith couldn't help but laugh, gently pressing her hand to her forehead. "Oh, Lyra, you're thinking about this all wrong! You're a witch, a sorceress, not some trap mechanic! Your card book isn't some puzzle box you can open by brute force or logic. Do you even know what it means to have an innate manifestation of talent as a witch?"

Lyra blinked, suddenly feeling very foolish. "I… suppose I hadn't thought of it that way."

"Clearly!" Lilith grinned. "Let me teach you the proper way to approach this, it's not about finding a hidden switch; it's about understanding the magic inside of you."

Lyra shook her head, feeling a little lost.

"Yeah, I suppose I forgot that's not exactly in the 'Young Witch's Guide,'" she admitted. "I'll have to dig into some of those deeper witchcraft books soon. But could you give me a quick rundown?"

Lilith smiled warmly, already eager to share her knowledge. "Of course! Let me explain the basics," she began, her voice taking on a more instructive tone.

"You see, the reason it's called a 'Talent Manifestation' is because it's literally a reflection of your innate talent. It's not just some random object; it's formed by magic, using your own subconscious thoughts and instincts as its foundation. This allows your talent to condense into a physical shape that reflects your inner self."

Lyra leaned in, intrigued, as Lilith continued.

"When you're trying to figure out how to use your talent manifestation, the key is to pay attention to its form. The way it looks can give you clues about its powers. For instance, take Vasida's devouring stomach, it transforms energy from food, right? That ability is tied to its appearance. My bloodthirsty needle, on the other hand, extracts blood, and its design gave that away. These objects reflect who we are, and the power they hold is often hinted at by their shape and function."

Lilith paused for a moment, then gestured to the card book in Lyra's hands. "But your card book? That's a rare one. I've never seen anything quite like it, so I can't tell you exactly what it does. But because it's a creation of your own subconscious, you have the answers somewhere deep inside. You just need to unlock them."

Lyra nodded thoughtfully. That was what she had suspected the night before. The cards were obviously the key to understanding the book, but she had spent hours searching and still couldn't find any trace of them.

Lilith noticed that understanding dawned on Lyra's face and pressed on. "Another thing; don't forget that the source of power for a manifestation is magic! Sometimes, it's not that the manifestation can't work, it's just starved of energy. For instance, my bloodthirsty needle does nothing unless I charge it with magic. Without that, it's just an ordinary syringe. You need to channel magic into your talent manifestation if you want it to come to life."

Lyra's gaze fell on the dull, empty card slot on the cover of her book, and suddenly, a light bulb went off in her mind. "So that's it; there's no battery!" she exclaimed.

Lilith blinked, confused. "Battery? What are you talking about?"

"I mean, it doesn't have any energy, that's all. Senior, how do I inject magic into it?"

Lilith grinned, glad to see Lyra making progress. "Magic is a part of us, like our hands or our feet. It moves naturally with instinct, but it can also be controlled with precision if you focus your thoughts. Strong emotions can fuel it too. The key is—"

Before she could finish, Lilith's words trailed off as she noticed Lyra's card book begin to float in the air, as if responding to her growing excitement.

Lyra, completely absorbed, had already begun channeling her magic into the book without realizing it. Her deep purple eyes glowed with an intensity that Lilith had never seen before. Coupled with her pale, sleep-deprived face, Lyra looked more like a phantom than a witch.

Lilith's heart raced. The sheer amount of magic flowing into the Book of Cards was astounding. It was impressive, sure, but also reckless. "Whoa! Slow down there!" Lilith's voice rose with concern. "It's one thing to call on magic, but if you let too much go at once, you'll exhaust yourself!"

But Lyra wasn't listening anymore. Her focus was entirely locked on the card book. The world around her faded away, her mind consumed by one singular thought; just a little more. She could feel something stirring inside the book, waiting to emerge, if only she poured a bit more magic into it.

With unwavering determination, Lyra's thoughts sharpened. What was she hoping for? What kind of card did she want?

A flicker of doubt crossed her mind, but it was quickly pushed aside by a burning resolve. She knew exactly what she needed. A card that would help her understand and unlock the true potential of the Book of Cards. A card that would guide her, help her grow, and truly make the book her own.

The groove on the cover began to glow, soft white light swirling within it. Slowly, almost imperceptibly at first, the outline of a square card began to take form in the ethereal light. The energy intensified as the card solidified, coming into existence right before her eyes…