A visit to the library
Eris wasn't done yet.
She could plan all she wanted, but without knowledge, she'd never improve. If her magic was unstable, she needed to understand why. If it was tied to her creativity, she needed to know its limits and possibilities.
And there was only one place in the castle where she could find such answers.
The library.
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She made her way through the castle's halls, keeping her pace measured. Servants bustled past, offering quick bows, but she barely acknowledged them. Her mind was already elsewhere.
The library was vast—a towering collection of knowledge, housing texts on everything from war strategy to divine history. But she wasn't interested in any of that.
She needed books on Neutral Magic.
A few scholars and court mages occupied the grand space, murmuring among themselves as they pored over scrolls and tomes. Eris moved quietly, scanning the shelves.
She found the section she needed—a massive set of books bound in aged leather. The titles varied:
The Three Tiers of Magic: A Study of Power and Potential
Neutral Magic and Its Role in Society
Harnessing the Unstable: A Guide to Adaptable Magic
She grabbed the first one and settled at a secluded corner near a high window, where afternoon light streamed onto the wooden desk. Taking a steady breath, she flipped open the pages.
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The Three Tiers of Magic
The book began with a structured explanation.
Magic is divided into three fundamental tiers:
1. Inferior Magic
The weakest form of magic.
Mostly practical or supportive in nature.
Common among ordinary individuals with little magical talent.
Often dismissed as "useless" due to its lack of raw power.
Examples:
Glowlight (a minor spell to illuminate dark spaces)
Threadbind (a spell used by tailors to mend fabrics instantly)
Whisperlink (a spell used for short-distance communication)
Eris frowned. Some of these sounded useful—just not in battle. She moved on.
2. Neutral Magic
The most versatile tier.
Not as overwhelmingly strong as Divine Magic but far more adaptable.
Ranges from elemental manipulation to unique, specialized abilities.
Relies on understanding and refinement rather than raw power.
Examples:
Stormcalling (manipulating localized weather conditions)
Bloodweaving (enhancing one's physical body using minor blood magic)
Spatial Warping (short-range teleportation, often unstable)
She paused.
Versatile. Adaptable.
That described her magic perfectly.
Unlike Divine Magic, which was predetermined by fate or lineage, Neutral Magic depended on the user's growth. It wasn't a gift—it was a skill.
She turned to the next section.
3. Divine Magic
The rarest and most powerful tier.
Bestowed upon individuals of great destiny or noble bloodlines.
Directly tied to divine entities, the system, or ancient pacts.
Encompasses reality-defying abilities such as absolute control over elements, resurrection, or time manipulation.
Examples:
Celestial Command (bending natural laws at will)
Divine Edict (forcing obedience upon the weak-willed)
Eternal Regeneration (healing from fatal wounds instantly)
Eris' jaw tightened.
Celeste had Divine Magic.
Her twin had been born with power written into her very existence, while Eris was left to figure everything out on her own.
She forced herself to focus. Divine Magic wasn't important right now. What mattered was Neutral Magic—her magic.
She flipped to the next chapter.
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The Nature of Neutral Magic
Eris skimmed over minor subtypes—elemental magic, sensory enhancement, bloodline-based magic—until she found something relevant.
Creativity-based magic.
Her heart skipped a beat.
She straightened, tracing the words with her finger.
> Creativity-based magic is among the rarest subtypes of Neutral Magic, as it requires both imagination and willpower to manifest. Unlike traditional magic, which follows set principles, creativity magic draws directly from the caster's thoughts and emotions.
She turned the page eagerly.
> Strengths of Creativity Magic:
Limitless Possibilities – Can create a variety of forms, depending on the caster's knowledge and visualization skills.
Versatility – Can adapt to different situations, making it unpredictable.
Non-Traditional Combat Potential – While not inherently offensive, it can be used creatively for defense, support, or misdirection.
She nodded slowly.
If she refined it properly, she could turn it into a powerful tool. She just needed control.
> Weaknesses of Creativity Magic:
Instability – Without proper focus, creations may flicker, dissolve, or warp into unintended forms.
Emotionally Driven – Negative emotions such as fear, doubt, or anger can corrupt creations or weaken their structure.
Temporary Creations – Objects formed by this magic tend to vanish over time unless reinforced.
That explained everything.
Her unstable dagger. The flimsy shield. The way her magic had reacted wildly when she was panicked.
It wasn't that her magic was weak—it was that she hadn't mastered it yet.
Eris leaned forward, absorbed in her studies.
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Losing Track of Time
She didn't notice the hours slipping away.
She kept reading—studying examples of past wielders, theories on how creativity magic functioned, ways to refine it.
One passage suggested meditation to stabilize thoughts before casting.
Another recommended sketching ideas beforehand to create clearer mental blueprints.
Eris frowned. That was something she did naturally—she'd always absentmindedly drawn symbols and patterns. Maybe that was a clue to how her magic worked?
She scribbled notes in a small ledger, listing key ideas:
✔ Training Focus: Stability, duration, refinement.
✔ Possible Weaknesses: Overreliance on emotions, lack of proper form.
✔ Exercises to Try: Sketching before manifesting, controlling emotions before casting.
A soft chime echoed through the library—a bell signaling the evening hour.
Eris blinked.
Had she really been here all day?
She stretched, feeling stiffness settle into her shoulders. The golden light outside had darkened into deep orange hues.
For the first time in a long while, she felt something different.
Not fear. Not helplessness.
Determination.
She had a path forward now.
Closing the book, she gathered her notes and stood.
Tomorrow, she would put everything to the test.
Morning Practice
Eris stepped into the open courtyard, the crisp morning air carrying the scent of damp stone and fresh earth. The castle grounds were quiet, save for the distant clang of training swords from the knights' barracks.
She had spent hours reading last night. Now, it was time to put theory into practice.
She rolled her shoulders, shaking off the lingering stiffness from sitting too long. The first step was stability.
Taking a steady breath, she held out her hand.
Focus. Picture it clearly. Define its form.
A dagger. A simple one.
She imagined the smooth weight of the hilt, the cool edge of the blade. The way light should glint off its surface.
Something flickered in her palm—shifting, unsteady. The outline of a dagger took shape, but the edges wavered like mist, parts of it flickering in and out of existence.
Eris frowned.
It wasn't enough to just think about the shape. She had to believe in it.
She tried again, this time sketching it in her mind like she would on paper. Etching in the details—the balance, the texture, the weight.
A dagger solidified in her grip. Not perfect, but far more stable than before.
Her pulse quickened. Progress.
She turned the weapon over in her palm, testing the balance. The metal felt real. But as soon as doubt crept into her mind—
What if it's not strong enough?
The blade shattered like glass, dissolving into golden embers.
Eris gritted her teeth. Doubt. That's the problem. Her emotions were tied too deeply to the magic itself. If she hesitated, the magic faltered.
She tried again. And again.
Each attempt brought small improvements. The dagger lasted longer. Its weight felt more natural. But the more she pushed, the more strain built in her mind—like trying to grasp a thought just out of reach.
Her breathing grew heavier.
Pace yourself.
Instead of forcing another weapon, she shifted her approach.
She crouched, brushing her fingers against the dirt.
A shield this time—flat, circular, sturdy. A clear image, a steady breath.
Golden light pooled beneath her hand, swirling like liquid metal. The shield formed, the surface smooth but… incomplete. The edges blurred. It flickered, unstable, and then—
A crack split through the center.
Eris jerked her hand away as the shield collapsed into golden dust.
She exhaled slowly.
She was improving. But not fast enough.
She needed control. A way to reinforce her magic, stabilize it.
She closed her eyes.
One passage from the book stood out—"Sketching before manifesting creates a clearer mental blueprint."
Eris reached into her pocket, pulling out a small piece of charcoal and the notes she had scribbled down last night.
She wasn't just going to imagine the shape. She was going to define it first.
With careful strokes, she began to draw.
Chapter 14 – Fractured Reflections (Continued)
A Minor Breakthrough
Eris exhaled sharply, rolling her shoulders as she shook out her fingers.
An hour.
She had been at this for an hour, and she had nothing to show for it.
The dagger she tried to manifest kept flickering, fading before it could take form. The shield she attempted collapsed into formless mist. Each failure grated on her nerves, feeding frustration into her thoughts.
Why?
She had studied. She had prepared. She was doing everything right.
Eris grit her teeth, forcing herself to stay calm. Losing focus would only make things worse.
She turned back to her notes.
✔ Sketch before manifesting.
✔ Envision the structure in detail.
✔ Control emotions.
She closed her eyes and took a slow, steady breath.
This time, she imagined something simpler—a dagger, no embellishments, just a sharp blade and a sturdy grip.
She lifted her hand, calling the magic forth.
The dagger flared into existence—solid, sharp.
And then it held.
Not for seconds. Not as an illusion.
It stayed.
Eris gasped, tightening her grip around the hilt. The weight felt real. She swung it lightly—no distortions, no instability.
Her heart pounded.
She tried again, this time forming a rapier.
It took a little longer, and she had to push harder, but the weapon manifested.
She turned it over in her hands, feeling its form, its balance. It was still a little too light, a little off—but it was progress.
Then, it hit her.
Why was she improving so fast?
Her gaze flicked to the system screen she had checked earlier in the morning.
— Energy Reserves: 2500 units — Magic Recovery Rate: +10%
A whole 1000-unit increase since she first entered the game.
That much?
She clenched her jaw, unease creeping in.
It explained why she had lasted so long. Why, despite an hour of trial and error, she had barely felt drained.
Was this… a good thing?
On one hand, it meant she had more room to grow. It meant she could push further without collapsing.
On the other…
It reminded her that everything she gained here came from this twisted game.
She inhaled slowly, pushing those thoughts aside. She had no time for doubt.
For now, this was her reality. And if she wanted to survive, she had to use every advantage.
Eris glanced at her notes one last time.
✔ Training Focus: Stability, duration, refinement. Significant improvement. ✔ Possible Weaknesses: Overreliance on emotions, lack of proper form. Still a concern, but manageable. ✔ Exercises to Try: Sketching before manifesting, controlling emotions before casting. Proven effective.
She wasn't perfect yet.
But she was getting there.
Eris straightened, stretching out her sore limbs. She had been at this for three hours now.
Her magic was improving. She was improving.
For the first time in a long while, she felt capable.
She wasn't just reacting anymore. She wasn't just struggling to keep up.
She was taking control.
But magic alone wouldn't be enough.
If she wanted to survive, she needed more than spells and clever tricks.
She needed to know how to fight.
And there was only one person in the castle who could teach her that.
The retired knight.
With renewed determination, Eris turned toward the training grounds.
It was time to learn how to wield a blade.