The Library Heist

The next few weeks were a blur of frustration and relentless experimentation. Kurt returned to the clearing, day after day, attempting to master the energy weapons. He could summon them now, effortlessly, without the elaborate enchantments the nobles used. Spears, swords, axes – they materialized at his will, shimmering and potent. But they remained inert, mere extensions of his will, not instruments of power.

He could feel the energy within them, a raw, untamed force, but he couldn't control it. He couldn't direct it, couldn't unleash its potential. It was like holding a magnificent beast on a leash, knowing it could tear through anything, but being unable to command it to move.

"There has to be more to it," he muttered to himself, his small brow furrowed in concentration. "It's not just the summoning. It's… the wielding."

He realized, with a growing certainty, that he needed knowledge. Proper knowledge. Not the fragmented glimpses he had gleaned from overheard conversations or the simplified versions in children's stories. He needed the source, the core principles of Astra Knowledge. And he knew where that knowledge was kept: the City Central Library.

The City Central Library was a grand edifice, a towering structure of stone and glass, filled with countless scrolls and tomes. It was also a place strictly reserved for the nobility. Commoners were rarely, if ever, allowed inside.

But Kurt was desperate. He knew that entering the library was a dangerous, almost suicidal, undertaking. But the alternative – remaining powerless, forever trapped in this cycle of frustration – was even less bearable.

He devised a plan, a risky gamble that relied on his small size, his quick wit, and a healthy dose of audacity. He acquired some discarded noble clothing – a too-large tunic, some ill-fitting breeches – and, with some clever adjustments and a bit of dirt smudged on his face, he managed to pass himself off as a young, slightly disheveled noble boy.

The guards at the library entrance eyed him with suspicion, but his confident stride and his (slightly shaky) imitation of a noble's haughty demeanor seemed to work. He was allowed to pass, his heart pounding in his chest, his mind racing with a mixture of fear and exhilaration.

Inside, the library was a breathtaking sight. Towering shelves stretched towards the high, vaulted ceiling, filled with countless scrolls and books, their spines adorned with gold lettering and intricate symbols. The air was thick with the scent of old paper and leather, a silent testament to the accumulated knowledge of centuries.

Kurt tried to appear nonchalant, wandering through the aisles, his eyes scanning the shelves for any section that might contain information on Astra Knowledge. He found a section labeled "Ancient Arts" and began to carefully examine the titles.

He pulled out a thick, leather-bound volume titled "The Foundations of Energy Manipulation" and began to read, his eyes scanning the dense text. He found references to "Essence," to "channels within the body," and to techniques that sounded vaguely familiar to the concepts hinted at in the book he'd found in his father's workshop.

He was so engrossed in his reading that he didn't notice the man approaching him until it was too late.

"I don't believe I've seen you here before," a voice said, a voice that was both smooth and sharp, like polished steel.

Kurt froze, his blood turning to ice. He slowly turned around, his eyes meeting the gaze of a tall, imposing man with piercing blue eyes and a stern expression. The man was dressed in the elegant robes of a high-ranking noble, and he radiated an aura of authority and suspicion.

"I… I was just…" Kurt stammered, his carefully constructed facade crumbling under the man's intense scrutiny. "I… I am…"

"Your family name?" the man interrupted, his voice hardening. "I do not recognize your face. Nor your… your bearing. And there is no way a peasant could have snuck in here. The security systems would have been triggered instantly."

Kurt's mind raced. He knew that any hesitation, any sign of weakness, would betray him. He had to act quickly, decisively. He took a deep breath, his small hands clenching into fists.

"I… I cannot reveal my family name," he said, his voice surprisingly firm, though his heart was pounding like a drum against his ribs.

The man's eyes narrowed, his gaze intensifying. "Cannot? Or will not? Are you implying that you are too… ashamed to speak it? Or perhaps… perhaps you are not a noble at all. Perhaps you… you snuck in here."

The accusation hung in the air, heavy and damning. Kurt knew he was on the verge of being exposed, of being thrown into the city dungeons, or worse. He had to do something. He had to prove himself.

He took another deep breath, focusing his will, channeling the energy he had learned to summon. He remembered the feel of the energy, the image of the spear, the power he had glimpsed in the nobles' hands.

He extended his hand, his eyes fixed on the suspicious noble, and spoke the words, not as an elaborate enchantment, but as a simple, direct command.

" Tempestas Lance. "

The air shimmered, and a spear of pure energy materialized before him, hovering in the air, radiating a faint, blue light. It was a perfect replica of the weapon he had summoned countless times in the clearing, but this time, it felt… different. It felt charged, potent, ready to be wielded.

The suspicious noble stared at the spear, his face paling, his eyes widening in disbelief. He had seen many nobles summon their Astra, but never with such speed, such raw, unadorned power. And the fact that this young boy had bypassed the library's security system... it was unheard of.

He bowed his head, his voice suddenly contrite. "My… my apologies, young lord," he stammered. "It seems I have made a… a misunderstanding. Your skill… it is… remarkable."

Kurt held the spear for a moment longer, letting its energy pulse through him, letting the silence hang heavy in the air. Then, he dismissed the weapon, and it vanished.

He looked at the noble, his expression carefully neutral. "That… that is quite enough," he said, his voice still a bit shaky, but filled with a newfound confidence.

The noble nodded, his eyes still wide with awe and a hint of fear. He quickly excused himself and hurried away, leaving Kurt alone in the aisle.

Kurt let out a shaky breath, his shoulders slumping slightly.

That was close, he thought, his mind racing. He had gotten away with it, but he knew he couldn't rely on such a risky display again. He had proven his ability to summon, but he still didn't know how to wield the power.

He looked back at the towering shelves, at the countless scrolls and tomes that held the secrets he craved. He had gained access to the library, but his quest for true Astra Knowledge was far from over.