Library

Kibi closed his book and stood up, ready to guide Phaistos to the library. They left the common room and walked through the academy's corridors, their footsteps echoing in the studious atmosphere of the place. Phaistos felt his mind brimming with questions and excitement at the thought of discovering new knowledge. They passed by several classrooms where apprentices were practicing manipulating various elements, and display cases containing ancient and fascinating magical artifacts. Finally, they reached a grand building, its entrance adorned with intricate carvings depicting magical symbols and mystical creatures wrapped around imposing columns. Once inside, they were greeted by a sense of vastness and serenity, as towering shelves filled with ancient tomes and scrolls stretched out as far as the eye could see.

As he admired the view that stretched all around him, Phaistos asked Kibi how the library worked. Kibi, happy to share his knowledge, explained in detail the functioning of this majestic place.

"The academy's library is divided into several sections," Kibi began, showing the different levels and corners of the immense room. "There is a section for beginners, where the basic books on magic and elements are found. Then there's an intermediate section for those who already have some mastery and are looking to deepen their skills. Finally, there's an advanced section that deals with special spells for apprentices who demonstrate great talent or have reached an advanced rank."

"How do they categorize apprentices as beginners, intermediates, and advanced?" Phaistos asked.

"According to what I learned today in the Hall of Thunder, since there are 9 ranks of apprentices. Magical institutions have decided that apprentices of rank one to three are beginners, apprentices of rank four to six are intermediate, and apprentices of rank seven to nine are advanced," he replied with a certain pride in his voice.

"Oh, I see... Wait, you've already taken classes in the Hall of Thunder. Doesn't that mean you've already broken through the initial stage and become a true student of the hall?"

Kibi smiled proudly. "Indeed, Phaistos. I managed to break through the initial stage and become a true student of the Hall of Thunder. This has allowed me to access more advanced knowledge and strengthen my skills. However, I have not yet reached the second apprentice rank; I'm still lacking a bit of magical power."

[Kibi Osei]

[Rank 1: Initiate]

[Magic Power: 27]

[Combat Power: 16]

[Metal middle stage - 20%]

[Thunder middle stage - 0%]

[Spiritual Origin: A-]

[Magical Control: E]

[Lineage: ???]

[Talent: ???]

"Congratulations on your progress, my friend. You are clearly the best among us, but I'll surpass you soon, you'll see," said Phaistos with a tone mixing admiration and determination.

"I can't wait to see you surpass me anyway. Soon, we can train together to see who is the best in combat," Kibi replied enthusiastically.

As they continued teasing each other, joking about their progress and challenges, they arrived at a crossroads within the library. There, at the center of the crossroads, stood a majestic altar, carved from glistening white marble. On the altar rested a blue orb, shimmering with a thousand lights under the dim glow of the chandeliers. The orb seemed to emit a faint glow as if it contained a mystical energy ready to be unleashed. Around the altar, symbols carved into the stone told ancient tales of mages and their incredible powers. The whole scene created an atmosphere of mystery and reverence, instantly capturing Phaistos's attention. Even Kibi, who had seen the altar before, was surprised by its splendor.

As Phaistos was still awed by the magnificence of the altar, Kibi explained its purpose. "This altar is not just for decoration. When you approach and place your hand on the orb, it will scan your magical power, combat power, and spiritual origins. Based on that, it will present you with the various manuals in this library that are interesting for you. That's how I got my new spell earlier."

Phaistos listened carefully to Kibi's explanations, impressed by the advanced magical technology of the altar. He wondered what secrets the orb could reveal about his own abilities. "Just by placing my hand on it, it can present me with different learning paths. How far does the technology of the magical world go?" Phaistos asked rhetorically.

Kibi smiled and gestured for Phaistos to approach the altar. "Honestly, I had the same reaction as you. After all, this is not something we encounter in our daily lives. What I can tell you is that the orb will provide a list of recommended manuals and grimoires directly into your mind, based on your profile. It works a bit like the first learning manual you received in the white room."

Phaistos felt a surge of excitement. He slowly advanced towards the altar and placed his hand on the orb. Instantly, he felt a slight vibration, followed by a gentle warmth spreading through his hand. The orb began to glow more intensely, projecting luminous patterns into the air.

After a few moments, a series of symbols and runes appeared around the orb, forming a sparkling circle. Phaistos could feel the mystical energy circulating around him, as if the altar was probing his very essence. Finally, the symbols stabilized and a soft, almost ethereal voice was heard.

[Phaistos Astraeus]

[Rank 1: Initiate]

[Magic Power: 22]

[Combat Power: 16]

[Light initial stage - completed - awaiting a breakthrough]

[Water middle stage - 10%]

[Spiritual Origin: B-]

[Magical Control: E+]

[Lineage: ???]

[Talent: Time Attribute]

The symbols and runes around the orb began to shine again, projecting a soft and soothing light. Phaistos felt a wave of knowledge pouring into his mind, as if he was receiving instructions and recommendations directly from the orb.

"Reading recommendations for Phaistos Astraeus: [Rank 2: Water Lance], [Rank 2: Light Explosion], [Basic Combat Strategies], and [Introduction to the Time Attribute]," he heard in his mind.

Phaistos slowly removed his hand from the orb, still amazed by the experience. He turned to Kibi, a smile full of gratitude on his lips. "That was incredible. Thank you for showing me this. We should tell the others later. Given the few people around us, it doesn't seem very well known yet. We might as well take advantage of it to get ahead of the others."

Kibi nodded, sharing Phaistos's enthusiasm. "Yes, you're right. The more prepared we are, the better. Now, I must tell you that given our current rank, we can only borrow one manual. So, you'll need to make your choice among the four that were suggested."

Hearing this, Phaistos refocused on his status and the orb. He immediately noticed a novelty in his status—a talent for time magic. However, he had absolutely no idea what a talent was for now, so he thought it best not to focus on it until he understood it better. This allowed him to eliminate the first of the books.

Phaistos thought carefully about the remaining three manuals. Each offered unique opportunities to enhance his skills and strengthen his abilities as a mage. He wanted to make the most judicious choice to progress quickly.

"So, I have [Rank 2: Water Lance], [Rank 2: Light Explosion], and [Basic Combat Strategies]," he thought aloud. "I could choose the manual on the water lance to deepen my control over water, or the light explosion to strengthen my light attacks. But the basic combat strategies could also help me better understand the art of combat so I can have a fallback in case my spells fail."

Kibi, noticing Phaistos's intense reflection, intervened. "I think you should choose the manual that will help you fill your current gaps. If you feel the need to strengthen your control over water, take the Water Lance. If you prefer to improve your light attacks, go for the Light Explosion. As for combat strategies, they could give you a more comprehensive view of using elements in combat."

Phaistos nodded, grateful for his friend's advice. After a moment of further reflection, he made his choice. "I will take [Basic Combat Strategies]. I think understanding how to use my skills strategically will give me an advantage in upcoming battles. Besides, I am already learning another Rank 2 spell for my water element, and my light element has not made a breakthrough yet. It's pointless to work on that for now."

As his final choice was solidifying in his mind, he suddenly received more information about the book in question.

[Basic Combat Strategies]

[Rank: None]

[Element: None]

[Description of the Grimoire: This grimoire is a collection of techniques and strategies to help you build an inner understanding of the art of war and combat. It has been constructed using the experience of countless magicians and fighters who walked the earth before you. It does not focus on a specific vocation but on the main aspects of a battle. This book is part of a complete collection. It is the first volume, and once you have assimilated all the knowledge contained within, you will be authorized to access the subsequent volumes.]

[Would you like to choose this book as your first library loan? As a first loan, you will not have to pay any fees to obtain it.]

As Phaistos saw all the information related to this book, he decided to open the details on the other books as well. This was to avoid missing a good opportunity to improve himself.