Chapter - 46 Kingdom of Magic Ø 

"Damn it" Edward uttered through gritted teeth.

He had fucked up.

The dam that Edward created to restrict the free flow of mana within his body crumbled subsequently after his return. 

 Fortunately, then it had remained dormant, until Edward unknowingly stimulated his mana, causing the dormant reservoir to rapidly flood his body with frost and spiritual energies.

His veins and mana circuits both in unison started to bulge threatening to burst, due to the abrupt presence of the energy. 

Just moments ago, his mana paths were devoid of energy, but now they were overwhelmed with an excess. In an attempt to handle the surge of vibrant energies coursing through his body, Edward strained to expand his mana circuits to accommodate the influx.

However, this effort fell short.

Losing grip on the flow of his mana, the once dim alley erupted in a dazzling burst of potent asura aura. The already devastated surroundings suffered even more devastation, The trash scattered into the air slowly falling back to the ground like leaves during autumn. The weathered walls began to fracture under the pressure.

At the epicenter of chaos, a massive frosted flame blazed, reminiscent of the Lionheart's signature look. 

In response to his body's pandemonium, Edward clutched his chest and began to forcibly slow his heartbeat. 

Gradually, the immense amount of mana began to ebb away.

As this happened an individual watched terribly confused. 

"Should I help," thought Cassian. 

***

30 minutes prior.

Perched at a weathered reception desk was a youth with frayed gray robes, his wheat-blond hair tousled and unkempt. Currently, he shuffling through precarious stacks of unorganized parchment to make space for his meager meal.

It was nothing much—just a simple loaf of bread. The night had settled in, and time slipped away, leaving him little chance to savor this modest feast before he had to continue his shift.

Working overtime felt like fuck. Under normal circumstances, he would have dismissed such a request without a second thought, but desperation had driven him to choose this, he was in an impoverished state. The young man was forced to face one of the many of life's tribulations. Having enough money, and he was... broke.

All because the council had deemed his thesis unworthy; he couldn't help but think they likely never even glanced at it. 

"Two years ago, Eugene Lionheart, the adopted son of the Lionheart clan—the celebrated prodigy, they say—was accepted into the library of Akaron," Cassian mused, irony dripping from his thoughts.

"Just how the hell is that fair? He's not even an archmage," grumbled the youth 

Slouching in his chair and accepting his predicament, the youth's gaze fixed on an old oil amp in the corner of his desk that barely cast any light.

"How much longer do I have to endure this before I can return to studying peacefully at the White Tower, free from this burden?" thought the wheat-haired youth,

His constant view for the next several hours would be rows of shelves of odd proportions and sizes. Each is clearly too small for the books they sell at the store.

The building itself was stuffy and cluttered, with the smell of mold, ink, and aged parchment lingering in the air. 

"That's probably why no one comes here," Cassian said loud enough for his boss to hear "But whenever I tell that old geezer, he just insists on leaving things as they are," he carried 

"BOY!" bellowed the youth's employer, finally fed up with his antics.

"Yes, sir" 

"Have you checked the books?"

"I have sir,"

"You have? ... Well, check again. Knowing you, you probably messed something up," the employer replied.

As Cassian listened to the old man, he sluggishly pushed himself out of his chair and began checking the contents of the shelves. 

This activity continued for about thirty minutes until suddenly, the building was rocked by a tremor, and an overwhelming rush of intangible energy surged through the air.

"What's happening?.. No, not my books!"

Luckily, there seemed to be no significant damage inside, just a few minor things here and there.

"Damn it," Cassian muttered as he observed all his efforts over the past half hour go to waste. However, as he sensed the lingering mana in the air, his thoughts shifted from frustration to the mysterious force emanating from the alley.

"I don't get paid enough for this shit," thought the youth timidly 

"What on earth was that?" bellowed the elderly man amid the confusion.

"How am I supposed to know?" Cassian countered, brimming with frustration.

"Then check it, BOY!"

"Fuck," muttered the youth under his breath clearly dismayed 

"What was that!"

"Nothing," he replied, putting on an act of ignorance.

Walking to his desk the youth grabbed his wand and slowly walked to the bookstore's back exit.

With a twist of the doorknob, he silently pleaded, 'Please be nothing, please be nothing, please be nothing...'

When he finally opened the door, it emitted a loud, squeaky protest.

"Screak!"

Stepping out onto the pavement with his wand at the ready, he scanned both directions.

And then he spotted the cause of the commotion.

***

What met the employee's view was that of a tattered figure with a wild cascade of ashen gray hair, a face marked with blood and sweat, and donned on his face was a large prominent scar sliced along his cheekbone. cladded on his body was a large majestic cloak colored a deep blue with silver inscriptions. And most notably the unknown person was radiating a very powerful ice aura. 

"Should I help?" pondered the employee. 

___

:}

Cassian is a name of Latin origin.