Entering the building, Klyde approached the long counter near the centre of the hall.
Behind it stood a few attendants. One of them, a woman in her early twenties, looked up as Klyde approached.
"Welcome to the Treasure Hall." She gave a professional smile.
"You're here to receive the star sequence for a constellation, I assume?" she asked.
"Yes," Klyde nodded. "Do you have a list of all the constellations currently available to students?"
The woman gave a small nod. "Of course. All apprentices are entitled to review the public-access constellations."
She turned, retrieving a thin booklet from beneath the counter, and placed it before him.
Klyde picked it up and began to skim.
Inside it contained the names of Tier 1 constellations, with each having a brief description of its benefits and capabilities.
After a few minutes of reading, among the list of constellations Klyde could choose from, he narrowed it down to three names that he believed would benefit him the most.
They were: Hunter, Thief and Shaman.
If Klyde learnt the Hunter Constellation, the initial benefits would be enhanced perception, intuition and cognition. He'd also have an affinity with light weapons like daggers and bows.
As for the initial benefits of learning the Thief Constellation, he'd get an increase in agility and dexterity. Similarly, he'd also have an affinity with light weapons with the addition of an affinity with shadows, allowing him to be more stealthy.
Lastly, the initial benefits of learning the Shaman Constellation would be a raise in his mental fortitude and spiritual perception, allowing him to see spirits. Moreover, he'd also have a higher affinity with lightning mana so he can learn spells of the lightning element much easier.
'These three are all useful and have good potential,' Klyde mused.
Firstly, it was a no-brainer that Hunter suited him the best. As a transmigrator with plenty of knowledge, the only thing limiting him is his memory. However, with this constellation enhancing his cognition, that would be less of an issue and he can use his future knowledge efficiently and to the best of his ability. Furthermore, the high-tier subsequent constellations are also very useful and powerful.
As for the Thief Constellation, in the novel, he had a good impression on its abilities and its potential. Furthermore, it's much easier to follow the star sequence due to its core nature.
As for the Shaman, one of the places Klyde previously thought of going to but changed his mind after considering the dangers would now be more accessible if he had the abilities of a Shaman. However, this constellation suited him the least. Plus, the core nature of this constellation was also a bit troublesome.
After carefully contemplating, Klyde said, "Could I get the star sequence for the Hunter Constellation."
The attendant nodded and turned toward a cabinet behind the counter. She selected a rectangular, metallic encasing.
"Inside it is a scroll containing the Hunter Constellation's star sequence. You just have to follow the instructions in the scroll," she said, placing it in front of Klyde. "That'll be five magic crystals."
Klyde reached into the pouch given to him earlier that day and handed her the exact amount.
"Lastly," she continued, retrieving a parchment and a small, ceremonial pin, "you must complete a contract of silence. This ensures you will not leak the knowledge or your star sequence to others."
Klyde accepted the parchment, noting that intricate runes were inscribed across it, forming a magic contract.
Having expected this, he didn't hesitate.
After pricking his finger with the pin, he let a single drop of blood fall onto the paper.
The runes shimmered briefly before dimming.
"Please be warned," the woman then said seriously, "Should you violate this contract, the backlash will not be pleasant."
Klyde offered a nod.
With that, he turned and exited the Treasure Hall.
With the scroll in hand, Klyde made his way toward the apprentice living quarters.
After walking for a few minutes, Klyde arrived at one of the residences reserved for new apprentices. These living quarters were freely provided by the academy for all first-year Magi. While they weren't lavish, they were well-built and clean, far from shabby.
Just as he reached the door of his room, another student approached at the same time.
The boy noticed Klyde.
"It looks like we'll be neighbours," he remarked.
Klyde had a brief look of curiosity. "You've also recently been admitted to the academy?"
The boy nodded with a smile.
"That's right, I managed to get my affinity tested, becoming the talk of my village after it was revealed I had the talent to become a Magus!"
'Hm, so he's also a commoner like me,' Klyde mused.
The boy extended a hand.
"I'm Aiden. I'm a first-year."
"Klyde. I'm also a first-year," Klyde introduced himself simply, shaking his hand.
Aiden chuckled. "It looks like we'll be seeing each other often."
He added, "I wish you luck. I heard from my peers that being a Magus can be quite daunting and dangerous."
Klyde nodded. "Likewise."
After their brief exchange, Aiden said his farewells and entered his room.
Klyde pondered slightly, trying to recall if Aiden had appeared in the novel. After a moment, he shook his head and took out his room key handed to him by the academy.
'He seems quite unremarkable, at least, not notable enough where he'll play a key role in the novel,' Klyde pondered. 'Though, what did I expect? The chances of me being neighbours with an important character is close to none.' Klyde chuckled inwardly, pushing the interaction into the back of his mind.
Upon entering his room, Klyde noted that the place was quite simple — a bed, a desk, a bathroom, and a small window looking out toward the academy grounds.
"Not bad."
After exploring the room with his eyes, Klyde placed the metal encasing carefully on the desk and stood by the window, taking in the fading light.
He wore a slightly complex expression.
These few hours he had spent in this world had made him come into terms with his transmigration.
Klyde had begun to accept that this will likely be his new life and reality.
However, in his heart, he hasn't truly understood whether he felt scared, excited or regretful about his future in this world.
Only time could tell…
With a sigh, Klyde stepped away from the window.
Picking up the encasing, Klyde opened it and took out the scroll.
Unravelling it, a diagram of a body of stars was revealed to Klyde, forming the constellation of the "Hunter."
There was also writing on it, explaining how one can form the constellation step by step.
Klyde already knew the star sequence of a constellation was essentially stars being drawn to form a "picture."
One by one, you add stars until it forms the desired constellation. The more completed it is, the more benefits you receive from the constellation.
After creating the first star, the apprentice would officially become a Magus and gain the abilities of that constellation.
In the world of Magi, this process of creating stars is called "modelling."
With nothing better to do, Klyde decided to do this process.
He sat on his bed and got comfortable.
To create these stars, an apprentice would first have to enter their sea of consciousness.
The sea of consciousness was like a separate space only accessible to Magi as only people with a mana affinity have them.
In the lesson today, the professor had taught everyone how to enter their sea of consciousness.
Klyde took a deep breath and took some time to get into the right state of mind.
The room was quiet — eerily so.
Even the wind beyond the window had gone still.
But Klyde didn't notice.
'Now, all that's left is to enter my sea of consciousness.'
However, just as he was about to close his eyes, he heard it — the faint sound of a droplet falling.
Drip.
Klyde's gaze instinctively drifted to the ceiling. However, at the sight, his breath caught in his throat.
His ceiling was bleeding.
Drip. Drip. Drip.
Inky black droplets of an unknown substance began falling, spreading quickly across the room, painting everything in a hue that seemed to absorb all light.
The walls warped, melting into black, as though they were being swallowed by darkness.
As a reader who has seen enough novels, Klyde's first instincts told him one thing—
Run!
Klyde wasted no time and leapt to his feet, quickly sprinting toward the door, however, by the time he was only a step away, the dark liquid had already consumed the entire frame.
His hand reached out, but instead of the solid wood he expected, his fingers passed through empty air.
He was a fraction of a second too late!
'Damn!' Klyde cursed inwardly.
The door was gone.
No—
It wasn't just the door.
Everything had vanished.
There was no sign of his room anywhere.
It was as if Klyde had stepped into the void and left stranded in an infinite space of darkness.
"Greetings."
A mysterious voice sounded behind him — it was cold and ominous, yet also alluring and pleasant.
But the voice only caused Klyde to feel a sense of dread.
All his instincts told him that his worst fear had come to life.
This was… a god!