Chapter 4: The Sylvan Citadel and the Library of Growth
Entering the Sylvan Citadel felt less like walking into a building and more like being enveloped by a vast, silent, living being. The main entrance was a massive archway formed by two naturally curving roots that spiraled upward, the bark smooth and polished to a deep mahogany sheen.
Liam's Level 2 Mana Sense flared violently. Inside the Citadel, the ambient Mana wasn't just dense; it was concentrated, swirling in visible, faint currents of emerald light. It felt like walking through a warm, humid storm.
Apprentice Sylva led the new Candidates—Liam, the nervous Fire Affinity girl named Anya, and the silent Neutral Affinity boy, Theron—through winding, root-carved corridors. The floors felt yielding, like packed moss, and the walls pulsed with a gentle, internal light provided by glowing fungal strands woven into the wood. The air smelled perpetually of fresh rain and cedar.
After a confusing journey up what appeared to be a vertical elevator shaft grown from the tree itself, they reached the Candidate level.
"This will be your home," Master Thorne announced, gesturing to a long, vaulted hall lined with dozens of small, arched wooden doors. "You are no longer mere Candidates. You are Apprentice Candidates. You will be fed, housed, and, most importantly, taught."
Sylva then stepped forward with a serious demeanor. "Your immediate goal is to master the foundations of your Affinity and achieve the rank of Official Apprentice within the next three years. If you fail to demonstrate sufficient progress, you will be sent home. Magic is not charity."
She handed each Candidate a small, polished wooden tablet, slightly larger than Liam's palm.
"This is your Candidate Slate. It acts as your key, identification, and assignment tracker. Your first task is to visit the Library of Growth. You will spend the rest of the day researching and practicing your core Affinity skills. Report to the dining hall at sundown."
Liam grasped the Slate tightly. It vibrated slightly with Mana, a small, continuous pulse.
He quickly found his allocated room. It was small but clean, containing a wooden cot, a sturdy desk, and a window grown into the bark that looked out onto the endless canopy of the forest far below. Compared to the leaky shack in Oakhaven, it was a palace.
Before heading out, Liam sat at the desk and pulled up his System. He needed a strategy.
Name: Liam (Elian)
Status: Apprentice Candidate
Affinity: Nature (Geomantic Path)
Mental Power: 5.2 / 5.2 (Recovery Status: Nominal)
Skills:
• Mana Sense (Passive): Lv 2 (1/200)
• Basic Plant Control (Active): Lv 1 (22/200)
• Basic Soil Manipulation (Active): Lv 0 (0/100)
His priority was clear: level the two active skills to Level 1.
The Library of Growth was a sprawling, dizzying space built into a vast, hollowed-out section of the main trunk. It was illuminated by soft, flowing Mana lights, and instead of paper books, it held millions of wooden scrolls and etched crystal orbs.
Liam navigated the complex using the instructions etched into his Slate and found the section dedicated to Geomancy. He picked up an orb labeled Geomancy Fundamentals: Early Levels.
As he held the orb, a cool pulse of information flooded his mind, primarily focusing on techniques for small-scale earth and plant interaction. The text emphasized the concept of "Soft Soil Projection" and "Root Alignment Theory."
He returned to his room, eager to practice Basic Soil Manipulation. The core concept, the scroll explained, was altering the moisture and density of the earth beneath his feet.
He looked at the small patch of loose, organic soil and moss beneath his desk.
Dampen. He visualized drawing the ambient Mana—the vibrant green light he could now perceive—and condensing it into the soil, binding the particles together.
Mental Power: 5.2 / 5.2 -> 5.0 / 5.2 (Cast: Basic Soil Manipulation)
A small, satisfying puff of steam escaped the soil. He touched the patch. It was hard, dense, and slightly slick with moisture. Success.
Loosen. He reversed the flow, forcing the energy to rapidly excite and push the water out.
Mental Power: 5.0 / 5.2 -> 4.8 / 5.2 (Cast: Basic Soil Manipulation)
The soil turned dusty and loose, crumbling easily. He repeated the process for two hours, watching the percentage tick up on the System. Each successful cast added a small amount of experience.
Just as he hit a significant milestone, a low knock came at his archway door.
He quickly dismissed the System panel and opened the door to find Anya, the Fire Affinity girl, standing outside. She looked tense, clutching her Candidate Slate.
"L-Liam? Master Thorne said we should try to cooperate," she whispered, her eyes wide. "My Fire Affinity is... weak. The library material is overwhelming. How did you manipulate the Root Barrier so easily?"
Liam saw an immediate opportunity to establish a peer relationship, but also to protect the secret of his System.
"It wasn't easy, Anya," Liam said honestly. "My affinity is Geomantic—earth and life. The barrier was made of wood, and wood is rooted in the earth. I focused on making the earth beneath the roots soft, so the roots couldn't hold their interlock. It's about leveraging the source of the power."
He continued, offering practical advice that sounded profound. "For you, Fire, focus on what feeds it. Air, heat, or volatile materials. Don't try to burn the Citadel; try to create a tiny, self-sustaining heat source. That is mastery."
Anya's eyes widened with understanding. "Self-sustaining... not just a spark. Thank you, Liam. I'm going back to practice."
As she hurried away, Liam leaned back against the cool wood of his door. He had provided genuine, useful advice based on general magical principles, and in doing so, he had secured a potential ally without exposing his System.
He turned back to his desk, feeling the satisfaction of progress, both in magic and in social maneuvering. He was ready for the final push.
Basic Soil Manipulation (Active): Lv 0 (98/100) -> (100/100) -> Level Up!
Basic Soil Manipulation (Active): Lv 1 (0/200) - You can now manipulate soil properties over a wider radius (2m) and sustain a minor alteration for several minutes.
Two skills now at Level 1. Liam settled back, gazing out at the vast, green world that was now his training ground. The system was a path, and he was taking the first steps of a very long journey. The work had just begun.