Chapter 47: Ring of Clarity

Leo sat at the edge of his bed, his mind restless. Today was Sunday—the day of the meeting. He couldn't shake the worry that the information he was absorbing could corrupt him. Despite this, he reflected on the previous meeting. He had learned a great deal, and more importantly, he hadn't heard any whispers.

'Maybe that place is shielded from the outside world' he thought. 'Perhaps the things I learn there are hidden from the creatures of the underworld.'

His gaze drifted to the back of his hand, where the mark from the meeting was hidden from view. 

'If that's true, then I shouldn't dwell on it. Even if I'm protected there, it doesn't mean I'm safe here. My thoughts are still vulnerable.'

With a quiet exhale, Leo stood up trying to push aside his worries. There was no point in over thinking it.

Leo had already completed his morning training and shower. He stood up, stretching his arms with a satisfying crack. It was time for breakfast. He always looked forward to his mother's cooking—it had a warmth and comfort that made it the perfect start to any day. Her meals were always full of flavor, simple yet expertly prepared.

Now, in his daily life Leo found himself relying on magic in almost every situation. It wasn't just about convenience; it helped him hone his spellcasting and increased his mana reserves over time. He was always looking for ways to improve, to find new opportunities for growth.

As he walked out, he could already smell the savory aroma of food wafting from the kitchen. His mother was busy at the stove, humming happily as she worked. Rosie was coming out of her room, her hair a tangled mess clearly just waking up. She headed for the bathroom which meant there was no need for him to wake her up.

"Morning, Mom," Leo greeted her, taking a seat at the table.

"Morning, sweetie," she replied brightly, her smile always a ray of sunshine that seemed to light up the room.

Leo sat down at the table and after a few minutes Rosie joined them, still looking half-asleep but clearly enjoying the smell of breakfast. As the meal was prepared, the plates and utensils began to float into the air, moving gracefully and arranging themselves neatly on the table.

Lisa glanced at Leo, a hint of amusement in her voice. "Is it alright to use magic for things like this?"

Since Leo had used telekinesis so often around the house, it was no surprise to her. 

"Of course," Leo answered with a smile, taking a bite of his food. "It helps me grow, too."

Unlike Lisa, Rosie always seemed to watch in awe, as though it was still a new trick to her. Even though he used magic regularly, her excitement never waned.

After they finished their breakfast of scrambled eggs with vegetables, Leo helped clear the table. Once the chores were done, he bid his mother and Rosie goodbye, then left the house to head for the grand cathedral.

It was the illusion day and Leo was eager to see how his training was progressing.

The walk to the cathedral took him about fifteen minutes. When he entered the classroom, Ray was already waving eagerly from his seat.

"Leo!" Ray called out enthusiastically.

Jerald raised a hand, though his wave was more subdued, less energetic than Ray's.

'Now I'm Leo? When did we become so familiar?' Leo thought, amused. He hadn't expected such casual greetings, but he supposed it wasn't unwelcome.

Leo scanned the room for a moment, his eyes landing on Elna in her usual quiet corner at the back. She sat with her back straight, her posture as composed as ever. He found his gaze lingering on her, unable to resist the urge to study the one feature he could never quite see—her ears. Though he saw Liamond nearly every day, the same mystery surrounded him; his ears, like Elna's, were always hidden beneath his hair.

He turned back to Ray and Jerald, smiling as he waved back at them. He then moved to his seat, settling into the familiar rhythm of the classroom.

A few moments later, Edgarth Wells, their illusion teacher, entered. 

"Last time, you learned about the word 'Whole.' Now, I'm going to teach you your next spell," Edgarth began, his voice steady. "By adding 'whole' to most of the spells you've already learned, we can create a more powerful version of that spell. For example, the Illusion spell, when combined with Whole, can manipulate a person's feelings on its own. While slower, it's more suited for different situations." He then drew the symbol for Fear on the board, his chalk scraping loudly against the surface.

"When we use the Fear spell, its effect is strongest on the first target to see or touch it. Others will feel a slight sense of fear, but it's something that even a ordinary person could easily overcome. In short, it's a spell that targets a single person."

He added the word 'whole' to the symbol, making the lines sharper and more intense.

"By adding 'whole,' two things happen. First, the spell becomes far more powerful, but it also requires significantly more mana. Second, the spell no longer targets just one person. If the spell is cast by touch, it's just a more potent solo effect. But if it's cast by sight, it targets anyone who sees it."

Edgarth paused for a moment, letting the students digest the information before continuing.

"Later, if you ever manage to reach B and A rank you'll be able to cast the spell in midair or simply by speaking it aloud."

Ray raised his hand. "Teacher, can you show us how casting a spell with just your voice works?"

Edgarth gave a look, his gaze shifting toward the class. He watched them carefully for a moment before whispering, "Fear."

Instantly, a wave of dread washed over all four students. Leo fought to remain calm, but the fear was overwhelming, too intense for his mind to focus. It felt like the grip of a terrifying monster's hand wrapped around his throat, suffocating him, preventing him from even drawing a breath.

The sensation stretched on for what felt like an eternity before Edgarth whispered a second word.

"Calm."

And just like that, the suffocating dread vanished leaving the students gasping for air, their hearts still racing from the lingering aftereffects.

Edgarth turned his gaze to Ray. "Are you satisfied?"

Ray was breathing heavily, his hands still trembling. "Yes, sir."

"Good. Then start drawing the spell and casting it. Focus more on the drawing—using too much mana at once can corrupt you, so be careful."

The students quickly obeyed, each of them starting to draw the symbols on the papers that had appeared in front of them. 

The rest of the day was spent with the students focused on drawing and casting the spell. When class finally ended, Ray and Jerald approached Leo to say farewell.

"Leo, do you want to go somewhere?" Ray asked, his voice light.

Leo shook his head. "No, I have enchanting in half an hour."

"You do enchanting too?" Jerald asked, surprised.

"Yes, it's my second path," Leo replied.

Ray blinked, clearly taken aback. "Really? Well we'll see you tomorrow, then."

Ray and Jerald turned to leave, but Leo called after them.

"Ray?"

Ray stopped and looked back. "Yeah?"

"Can you not provoke Mr. Edgarth again?" Leo asked, his tone serious but calm.

Ray scratched the back of his head, sheepish. "Oh, that… yeah… I guess…"

Before Ray could respond further, Elna's gaze landed on them sharp and unyielding. Her eyes were silent but conveyed the same message Leo had just given: stop provoking Edgarth. Ray froze for a moment, his face flushing with embarrassment and a hint of unease.

He lowered his head, mumbling, "Sorry."

Elna turned and walked away, ending the conversation. With that,the group dispersed, each of them heading in different directions.

After finishing his lunch, Leo made his way to the enchanting class. The lesson proceeded as usual, with Cristina focusing heavily on reinforcing previous techniques. However, one thing was different—she was noticeably more watchful of him, her sharp gaze lingering on his every movement.

Once the class ended, Leo rushed back to his association for patrol duty. No matter which of the three patrol routes he had to go, he had become a familiar face. Both ordinary citizens and troublemakers recognized him, and despite his young age, few dared to act recklessly under his watch.

After completing his daily duties and sharing dinner with his family, Leo retreated to his room. He locked the door pulled the curtains shut and prepared for the secret meeting. Excitement bubbled in his chest—today, he would receive his very first personally owned magical item.

Minutes passed as he waited in silence until the now-familiar sensation washed over him. In the blink of an eye, Leo found himself seated at the large stone table, surrounded by shadowy figures cloaked in mist.

"Welcome, my friends, to another conclave of our order," Mr. Sage's voice echoed, deep and commanding, carrying effortlessly through the haze. "As is our custom, let us commence with the fulfillment of promises made at our last gathering."

Mr. Crow reached into his bag and pulled out a silver ring etched with faint runes. Leo, in turn, retrieved a small sack filled with twenty gold coins from his pocket. After paying his rent and purchasing supplies for his home, he had 97 gold coins remaining.

Leo carefully took the ring, inspecting it briefly before slipping it into his bag.

He met Mr. Crow's gaze and gave a nod. "Mr. Crow, your obligation is hereby absolved."

Mr. Crow returned the nod. "Likewise."

With the transaction concluded, Mr. Sage's voice cut through the silence again. "Now, let us proceed to the heart of our agenda."

It was Mr. Crow who spoke first. "Mr. Light, Mr. King, how is the plan progressing?"

Mr. Light leaned slightly forward. "With Mr. King's assistance, the news is spreading rapidly. Certain groups have begun discussing it, while others are already preparing to hunt the beast."

Mr. King gave a curt nod. "As Mr. Clone mentioned previously, if we succeed this will benefit all of us greatly. However, we must also consider the possibility of failure and prepare a Plan B."

"What 'ifs' are we talking about?" asked Mr. Immortal, his voice sharp.

"If the pirates fail entirely," Mr. King continued, "there's a chance the beast could become enraged—or worse, absorb their power and grow even stronger. We know almost nothing about its nature and if that happens, it could become a threat as severe as the Shadow Land."

At the mention of the Shadow Land, Mr. Crow's attention shifted to Ms. Shadow. "What's the latest on the Shadow Land?"

Ms. Shadow's voice was calm but firm. "No significant changes. A group from the Light Kingdom arrived recently, but they've been unable to breach the defenses."

"Mr. Immortal, I've found a page from The Book of the Dead," said Ms. Eye calmly.

The air in the room grew tense.

"What?" Mr. Immortal shot up from his seat, his chair scraping against the stone floor.

Nearly everyone turned their heads in surprise.

"As you instructed last time, I didn't look at it," Ms. Eye continued, her voice unwavering.

"Where did you find it?" Mr. Immortal's voice was sharp, edged with a mix of excitement and desperation, like someone who had just been reunited with a long-lost treasure.

"Well, I can't tell you that," she replied curtly.

"No matter," he said, brushing the evasion aside. "What do you want for it?"

Ms. Eye reached into her bag and pulled out a neatly folded list. "I've prepared my demands in advance. In addition to the listed items, I want two thousand gold coins and an explanation of what this book contains—generally speaking, of course."

Leo's mind was reeling with surprise. The demand for two thousand gold coins, paired with an extensive list of items, shocked him far more than the mention of the Book of the Dead itself. 

Mr. Immortal's eyes scanned the list. His face darkened and frustration flickered across his features. "This is… a lot."

"You said it yourself—the book is priceless," Ms. Eye said evenly, unflinching under his gaze.

With a reluctant sigh, Mr. Immortal folded the list and tucked it into his bag. "Fine. Do you wish for a private conversation?"

"No, you can share it with everyone."

Mr. Immortal leaned back in his chair, his gloved fingers pressed against his temples. "They say this book was written by Death itself—not a metaphor, not a title, but Death. The very concept, the embodiment of finality, put ink to parchment and sealed truths not meant for mortal minds. It doesn't contain simple spells or tricks of power; it holds absolute commands over the forces of life and decay. It contains spells not even the Codex Arcanum holds."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the table lingering on each cloaked figure as if measuring their understanding—or their worthiness.

"This book is not just ancient—it's primeval. The ink used to write it isn't ordinary; it's said to be mixed with the blood of forgotten gods. The parchment? Torn from something older than time itself. It's riddled with curses so potent that one mistake—a single misplaced syllable or a momentary lapse in focus—could destroy not just the reader, but everyone within miles."

Mr. Immortal's voice lowered further, becoming a strained whisper. "Merely touching the book without preparation could drive a person mad. It requires rituals, seals, and sometimes even sacrifices just to turn a single page. And even then… understanding what's written is another trial entirely. The symbols and words warp, twist, and bleed across the page if the reader's mind isn't fortified enough."

He paused, his gaze lingering on Ms. Eye. "Is that sufficient?"

Ms. Eye gave a slight nod. "You'll have the page at our next meeting."

Satisfied—or as close to it as he could get—Mr. Immortal sank back into his chair. But it was clear his mind was still consumed by thoughts of the book.

Leo, unbothered by the weight of the conversation, turned to Mr. Crow and asked casually, "Mr. Crow, can you get me a copy of the Codex Arcanum?"

Ever since the name had been mentioned, Leo's curiosity had been piqued. A book containing every known spell? Its value in his hands would be immeasurable.

"I can," Mr. Crow replied with his usual composed demeanor. "It'll cost you fifty gold coins."

While the sum was significant—more than half of what Leo had left—he nodded without hesitation, maintaining his calm facade. "I'll have the gold ready for the next meeting."

Mr. Crow gave an approving nod in return.

At last, Mr. Sage, who had remained a silent observer throughout the exchange, lifted his head. His voice, calm yet commanding, filled the room.

"This meeting is adjourned. See you all next Sunday."

The mist thickened briefly, then began to dissipate as the figures around the table faded one by one into the shadows.