A New Beginning

The first rays of dawn filtered through the worn fabric of Evan's tent, casting soft golden light on his resting figure. He stirred awake, stretching his arms and rolling his shoulders. The aches and bruises from the previous day's brutal training were no longer there, thanks to the medicinal salve he had applied. His skin felt fresh but sticky, a reminder of the powerful magic that had healed him overnight.

Evan sat up and rubbed his face. "At least the salve worked," he muttered, glancing at his arms and legs. The cuts and scratches that had littered his body were gone, leaving no trace of the grueling session.

Rising, he grabbed a clean towel and headed to the shared bathing area. The early morning air was cool, and the ground damp with dew as he crossed the camp. Few apprentices were awake, giving him a rare moment of peace.

The bathing area was a modest setup, Evan selected a corner cubicle, peeled off his worn clothes, and began washing off the residue of the salve.

The warm water soothed him, washing away not just the remnants of the salve but also the stress of the previous day. As he ran his fingers over his healed skin, he marveled at the power of the salve. It wasn't perfect—there was still a faint tightness where the deeper scratches had been—but it was a luxury for someone at his level.

Drying himself quickly, he dressed in his cleanest tunic and pants. His reflection in the small, scratched mirror hanging in the cubicle caught his attention. For the first time in a while, he didn't look as worn down. "I look… alive," he said with a small chuckle.

---

Back at his tent, Evan found Cedric waiting for him, sitting cross-legged on the ground with a nervous expression.

"Morning, Cedric," Evan greeted, his voice lighter than usual.

"Morning," Cedric replied, standing quickly. "Listen, we need to talk."

Evan tilted his head. "What's wrong now?"

Cedric hesitated before blurting out, "Jonas is watching you. After yesterday, he knows about the coins you've been earning. He's not happy."

Evan frowned but didn't seem surprised. "Figures. He humiliated me yesterday, and now he's trying to find more ways to mess with me."

"Yeah," Cedric said, shifting uneasily. "But the reward for that mission—it's big, right? Sixty merit coins?"

Evan nodded. "That's right."

"Then maybe… let me go pick it up for you? If Jonas is already watching, it's better if you avoid him today."

Evan studied Cedric for a moment, then nodded. "Alright. Thanks, Cedric. I'd rather not give him any more excuses to mess with me."

An hour later, Cedric returned, holding a small leather pouch with a triumphant grin. He tossed it to Evan, who caught it and opened it to reveal the glittering contents.

"Sixty merit coins, just like you said. You're officially richer than most of the camp," Cedric said, laughing.

Evan poured the coins into his hand, letting the metallic clinking sound fill the air. Combined with his existing funds, his total reached 168 merit coins—a fortune for an apprentice of his rank.

"Not bad," Evan said, smirking. "Maybe being a 'flying target' isn't such a bad gig after all."

Cedric's grin faltered. "You're serious? You're thinking about doing it again?"

Evan shrugged. "It's dangerous, sure. But look at this." He held up the coins. "This isn't just money. It's freedom. Supplies. Opportunities. I can't ignore that."

Cedric crossed his arms, his face serious. "Just don't let greed get you killed. One mistake, Evan."

"I know," Evan replied, pocketing the coins. "I'm not rushing into anything. But for now, I need to focus on the long game."

---

Deciding to put the immediate risks aside, Evan set his sights on a new goal: spells. With his financial worries eased, he could afford to explore resources that had previously been out of reach. He headed toward the central tower, aiming to visit the Library of Foundations on the second floor.

The library was a sight to behold. Towering wooden shelves filled with books and scrolls lined the circular room, and soft crystal light illuminated the space. Apprentices of various ranks moved quietly between the aisles, absorbed in study.

Evan approached the librarian, a stern woman with streaks of silver in her dark hair, who looked up from her desk. "Name?" she asked curtly.

"Evan Tharann."

She scanned her ledger and nodded. "Second section to your left. Beginner-level texts on magical theory and rune integration."

Evan hesitated. "Do you have anything more advanced? Something that could help with mental projections or rune adaptations for combat?"

The librarian raised an eyebrow, her stern face softening into a faint smile. "Mental projections? Combat applications? You're in the wrong library for that. Here, we focus on the foundations—meaning of runes, their integration into equipment, and, occasionally, magical theory. For your request, I'd recommend starting with basic magic and understanding its interaction with your core."

She pointed toward one of the towering bookshelves, the layout of the library sprawling out like a maze of endless corridors. "Block A, Section 3," she instructed. "Look for the red tags. You might find something that helps lay the groundwork for what you want to achieve."

Evan nodded and turned toward the indicated section. The library seemed impossibly vast for a building that appeared modest from the outside. It was as if the interior bent the laws of space, allowing an endless array of shelves to stretch far beyond what should have been possible. As Evan walked, he couldn't help but marvel at the quiet hum of magic that hung in the air, giving the place an almost living presence.

Evan's thoughts drifted as he navigated the rows of books. He remembered the spells he had seen in action: Lerris's Corrosive Tide, a fog of acidic mist that corroded everything in its path. Upon closer analysis, it had seemed like a basic wind spell—Breath of the Wind—adapted by the influence of Lerris's corrosive core to create a more destructive effect. Similarly, the acid sphere Lerris had used to dissolve the Sap Archer's wooden spear appeared to be nothing more than Water Sphere, twisted by his core to gain its acidic properties.

"And those spears Arvid conjured?" Evan muttered to himself. He couldn't quite figure that one out. The vines and earthen constructs seemed like something derived from Earth Spire, but he wasn't sure. The possibilities were endless with core influence, and it only made Evan more determined to figure out how to replicate those effects for himself.

At Block A, Section 3, Evan scanned the shelves until he found what he was looking for—three books on basic fire magic. The titles gleamed faintly under the crystal lights:

"The Spark Within: Ignition Basics" - Covering the foundational principles of Flame Spark, a single-target spell meant to ignite objects or enemies with concentrated energy.

"Flowing Embers: The Art of Fire Manipulation" - Detailing Fire Wave, a mid-range spell that projected a ripple of flames to sweep across the ground.

"Inferno Seeds: A Beginner's Guide to Destructive Potential" - Introducing Ember Burst, a short-range explosive spell designed for situations requiring quick, controlled bursts of power.

Evan ran his fingers over the embossed titles, feeling their weight—both literal and figurative. He hadn't chosen fire magic because he thought it aligned with his Origin Rune. Unlike those fortunate enough to have elemental tendencies, his core was a wildcard—unique but without a natural affinity for any element. Fire wasn't an obvious choice for him, but it didn't need to be.

Instead, Evan had chosen fire because of its raw, destructive potential. Of the basic elemental spells—water, fire, earth, and wind—fire held the greatest promise of causing damage. And damage was exactly what he needed. He was tired of being cornered and humiliated. If he was going to climb out of the oppressive system of the Arcane Camp, he needed power.