The deeper we walked into the Magic Tower, the stranger the architecture became.
The corridors were vast and circular, spiraling slowly upward like the inside of a gigantic shell. Runes glowed faintly along the walls, and streams of soft blue light floated through the air like drifting fireflies.
It felt less like a building…
And more like a living organism made of magic.
After walking for several minutes, I glanced at the mage walking beside me.
"May I ask something?"
He looked at me with mild curiosity.
"Of course."
"Would it be possible for me to read some books while I wait for the ceremony?"
His expression changed slightly.
"The books of the Magic Tower are not accessible to outsiders."
My shoulders dropped slightly.
'Of course… it wouldn't be that easy.'
But the mage continued.
"However… there are exceptions."
He stopped walking and turned toward me.
"The Arkwright family is one of the great pillars that helped establish the Magic Tower alongside the Imperial Family and the Great Archmage." He said his tone carrying trace of respect.
However this statement made me uneasy.
"I thought that my ancestors didn't believe in the concept of th magic tower"
"Pffffft ha ha ha ha" he began to laugh making me uncomfortable.
'Did say something funny? If I remember correctly the Arkwright didn't do anything'
Th mage seeing my face stooped laughing and cleared one drop of tears on his eyes.
"Excuse me but I heard that your family was really discret. I never thought that it would be that extend."
"Could you be a little more clear?"
He stopped on his track and then looked at me.
"Well the Arkwright have actually been the one proposing the idea to the first emperor but he always rejected the idea founding it stupid but his son the second emperor didn't see it the same ways"
"So as your ancestor give up on the idea the second emperor pushed it until it became true because at the opposite the emperor have what it took to found the Magic tower." He finished as he began to walking again leaving me completely took back by this new information.
"Wait, wait, wait" I said as I followed him rapidly"you make it sound like the second emperor stole the ideas of my ancestor and took all the credit"
He didn't say anything for a second but after some time he say :
"He didn't took the credit it just that your family have always been discret and they don't like the spotlight and like I said the emperor have the fund necessary for this plan contrary to yours."
I see looking at the tower and the different epoch a idea of tbsi ampleur could cost so much and my family couldn't afford it and the first emperor surely didn't wanted to waste too much.
The second emperor surely wanted to prove himself and took the initiative and then make the magic tower still they was something strange about the storie.
"Why then my family isn't mentioned at all then."
"Because the six family couldn't take it well that touch idea come from a lesser family than them so they pressured the emperor to change a little the history versions."
'Those fucker' I cursed them internally. They really much more arrogant than what I remembered was written.
" officially you aren't from a foundation but the mage foundator still wanted to conserve the truth and spread to his apprentice and only us know the thruth."
Seem like not everyone is as bad those six bastard.
"So I can read something?" I said my eyes liting up slightly.
The mage smiled faintly."yes but..." il levea la main en Montreal un seul doigts.
"only the first layer. I'm sorry but they still ate Rule we need to follow"
I simply nodded my head after all that was more than enough for me.
'Jackpot'
He guided me through another corridor until we reached a massive pair of doors.
Unlike the portal earlier, these doors were made of dark ancient wood reinforced with silver runes that pulsed softly.
The mage pushed them open.
What appeared beyond them made me stop walking.
The library of the Magic Tower.
No—
Calling it a library felt like an insult.
It was more like a cathedral of knowledge.
Rows upon rows of enormous bookshelves stretched endlessly in every direction. The shelves were so tall they reached nearly three floors high, connected by delicate floating stairways made of translucent magic.
Thousands of books rested quietly in their places.
Some were ancient leather-bound tomes.
Others were sealed inside glass containers glowing with protective enchantments.
Floating orbs of warm golden light illuminated the room, drifting slowly between the shelves like silent guardians.
Above us, the ceiling curved into a vast dome painted with constellations and runic diagrams.
It looked like an entire map of the universe had been carved into the roof.
Empty.
No footsteps.
No whispers.
Just the quiet breathing of knowledge itself.
"Where are the other?" I asked
The mage chuckled softly.
"Normally the library is quite lively."
He gestured around the empty hall.
"But today is a special day."
"The Art Awakening Ceremony is one of the most important events of the Empire."
"Nearly every mage of the Tower is preparing for it."
"So for the moment…"
He spread his arms slightly.
"You have the library almost entirely to yourself."
That sounded dangerously tempting.
"I will return to guide you when the ceremony begins," he said calmly.
Then he turned and began walking toward the exit.
The massive doors closed slowly behind him.
And suddenly… i was alone,alone inside one of the greatest libraries in the world.
I rubbed my hands together.
"Alright…"
Time to do some research.
I walked between the towering shelves, scanning the titles.
Most of them were too advanced.
High Ritual Theory
Dimensional Magic Structures
Advanced Constellation Contracts
'Yeah… no thanks.'
I was doubtful I could understand one sentence in those book so I just ignored them.
Then finally I spotted something interesting.
A book with a simpler title.
"Introduction to Art Manifestation."
Perfect.
I pulled the book from the shelf and opened it.
A faint smell of old parchment rose from the pages.
Then I began to read.
***
Art.
Art is the manifestation of a person's desire, conviction, and existence.
It is not simply magic or a spell you use.
Every human is born with the seed of an Art planted deep within their being.
The seed grow alongside his owner growing and accumulating everything.
Emotion,memories and more importantly mana.
The seed grow and awaken at the age of 17. The reason the seed awaken at thus age have been long a mystery.
After many years of student it have been revealed that the seed awaken at this age because it was the moment the body was ready to accepts the seed.
The body at 17 was neither too young or old. It was at the pinnacle of the young maturity and exactly 1 years before the body reach it full growth.
When the seed awakens this event is known as the Art Awakening.
The strength and nature of an Art depends on the individual's spirit, their experiences, and the depth of their convictions.
No two Arts are completely identical.
Even abilities that appear similar often manifest differently depending on the person who wields them.
Exemple three people manipulate a Art related to fire could be completely different type if fire.
One could be related to the of a dragon the other could be related to the fire of a Phoenix and one could be litteraly the fire if the sun.
I stopped reading for a moment, everything was alike the game I turned the page as I already know everything.
The Seven Ranks of Art
Arts are classified into seven ranks.
Each rank represents the potential, power, and rarity of the seed.
When the seed awaken it emanate a color this colors represents the rank of the seed and it evaluate the rank of the ability Art.
From lowest to highest:
Gray
Green
Blue
Purple
Gold
Crimson
And finally—
Blank
Each colors determines the rank of your seed for and hsi Art abilities.
For each colors their are a rank:
Gray represents the mortal rank
Green represents the primeval rank
Blue represent the elite rank
Purple represents the lord rank
Gold represent the Saint rank
Crimson represent the mythical rank
Blank represent the divine rank. The rank of purity of the God.
Throughout the entire recorded history of the Empire…
Only a few individuals have ever awakened such power.
People wielding divine rank art abilities are meant for greater thing than anyone else.
Edward slowly closed the book.
"…And tonight the protagonist awakens three of those."
He leaned back in his chair and sighed.
"Yeah… that's completely fair."
I continued reading the book but it was filled with thing I already know after some time I replaced it in his place.
***
Few hours have passed and...
Knoc knock
I heard a the door being knocked the mage from earlier stood before me bit contrary to earlier he looked very tired.
Well he surely have many thing to do.
" the ceremony will began I think it time you took place "
"Yes" I answered as I stepped out of the libraries I have passed a few hours inside and tried to find something about reincarnation or transmigration.
Nothing was here and I couldn't go further unless I became a mage of the Tower it would be impossible to see more and from what I understood I was deeply connected to the royal family so it was a lost cause.
Closing the door I followed the mage silently, "seven rank" I murmured under my breath even in history some people with lower Art have raised on top I knew that I could not awaken a good one.
After all Art are related to personal experience and I was a completely different person unless I inherited everything from the ex Edward i would not be able to awaken a good one.
In other word only the God knew what will happen tonight.