danger concealed within the stillness of the library itself.
A spell cast long before, bound to a condition.
Delay Casting.
A technique so demanding that even master mages avoided using it freely.
It was a spell cast in advance and bound to specific conditions—such as a timer, or a direct trigger.
But this trap went even further.
Like a serpent lying in wait within the shadows, the moment someone touched it, the magic that had been held back detonated instantly. No warning. No chance to evade.
Only a single foot separated Ingrid from the trap—
just one foot between life and death.
It happened too fast for thought—
too fast for spellcasting, for shouting, for choice.
By all rights, fate had already sealed her death tonight.
And yet—
Beside her stood Rein.
An unpredictable variable.
In the split second the violet light flared—before the roar of released mana thundered through the library—Rein caught the motion at the corner of his eye.
His instincts moved faster than thought; his body reacted without waiting for his mind.
Ingrid felt a brutal impact against her shoulder.
The world spun.
Her body was hurled sideways before she could understand why.
A shrill scream cut past her ear—
less than half an inch away.
Cold.
Final.
Death brushed her skin and missed.
In that instant between life and death, Rein moved at an almost impossible speed.
His leg slammed into Ingrid’s right shoulder with full force, sending her flying clear of the arrow’s trajectory. Her body crashed into a pile of books nearby, volumes exploding outward as they struck the floor.
But the movement wasn’t solely to save her.
It also altered his own position—his body leaning backward just enough for the black arrow to streak past him.
Unfortunately, it did not stop there.
A piercing scream rang out.
Librarian Belle—
who had never moved from that spot,
who had done nothing at all—
had no time to dodge or defend herself.
The black arrow punched through her right shoulder. Bright red blood sprayed into the air as the projectile tore straight through her body and embedded itself into the bookshelf behind her.
An explosion followed.
Wood splintered. Paper scattered. The shockwave hurled Belle’s body into the air, her face contorted in agony before she slammed hard against the stone floor.
“Belle!” Rein shouted, spinning toward the sight.
“No… no!” Ingrid forced herself up, staring at the motionless librarian lying in a widening pool of blood.
Rein remained perfectly still.
He raised a hand, stopping Ingrid from moving, then closed his eyes briefly and murmured:
Oculus Manae, aperi.
When his eyes opened again, the blue within them burned like fire in the darkness. Mana Vision activated, sweeping the room for threats.
But hope vanished just as quickly.
There were no magical reactions left—nothing.
Rein’s jaw tightened.
Too late.
Just a second too late.
Rein’s brows knit together, yet Ingrid felt the tension radiating from him.
“A trap…” he muttered.
“And the Delay Casting level… higher than expected.”
Suddenly, hurried footsteps echoed from the corridor. The door flew open, and Master Rachel appeared.
She entered with composed grace, every step deliberate, ready to respond to anything. Her sharp, blade-like gaze scanned the room before locking onto Belle’s bloodied body.
“What happened here?”
Her voice was cold—controlled, absolute.
She showed no outward shock. Instead, a subtle pressure spread from her presence, changing the atmosphere of the room entirely.
Rein watched in awe as she moved.
The magic she used was utterly different from his Mana Vision.
Rachel’s mana expanded outward—
not as sight, but as inquiry.
It washed through stone, wood, and air alike,
extracting answers from everything it touched.
“This is…like sonar?” Rein whispered, unable to tear his eyes away.
And yet—even with such refined detection—the trap had been hidden perfectly beneath harmless-looking piles of old books, evading even Rachel’s spell.
Or perhaps…
The culprit knew exactly what Master Rachel was capable of.
Once Rachel confirmed there were no further threats, she rushed to Belle’s side and dropped to her knees. Her right hand pressed against the wound as blood continued to pour out.
A glowing green magic circle formed around her palm, radiant and warm enough to make the entire room feel brighter.
“Cure Moderate Wounds…” Ingrid stared in awe.
“No incantation…” she whispered.
“She didn’t even pause to channel mana.”
Rein helped Ingrid to her feet, his expression heavy, as if bearing an immense weight. Guilt and unanswered questions churned inside him.
“What happened, Rein?” Rachel asked, never breaking focus on the healing spell.
He looked up at her, lips tightening before he spoke—quiet, but sincere.
“Someone planted a Delay Casting trap.”
He paused—just a fraction.
“I should’ve noticed it sooner.”
His calm tone couldn’t hide the frustration and self-blame beneath it.
“It was hidden under the books in that corner. A contact-trigger type.”
“A contact-trigger?” Rachel repeated slowly, frowning.
“Yes. A form of Delay Casting I’ve never seen before. Ingrid triggered it by accident. I saved her—but Belle…”
He fell silent, eyes drifting to the injured librarian.
Ingrid stepped closer, gripping the sleeve of his coat firmly, as if anchoring him.
“No,” Ingrid said at once—too fast to be polite.
“You’re not the one who did this.”
“I was the one who touched the brazier,” Ingrid said hoarsely.
“If someone has to take responsibility… it should be me.”
Rein shook his head, trying to stop her.
Rachel watched them both, her expression calm—but deep within her crimson eyes lay understanding born of centuries of experience.
“You’re both wrong,” she said evenly.
“Even I misjudged it,” Rachel said quietly.
“This was planned with precision—hidden deep enough that even forensic magic would have failed to notice.”
The words silenced them both.
Before them, Belle—who had been gravely wounded—was slowly but steadily recovering. The gaping wound in her shoulder sealed itself. Shattered bone realigned. Torn flesh, tendons, and blood vessels knit together at an unnatural pace.
Rachel’s healing was nothing like ordinary restorative magic.
It rewrote the body—forcefully.
Watching it unfold with her own eyes, Ingrid swallowed hard.
And a single thought rose unbidden in her mind.
If it were me…
I wouldn’t have been able to save her.
Not now. Not ever.
Whispers leaked in from outside the office—uneven, frightened.
Students crowded the doorway, peering in as if staring at something they didn’t want to see—some on tiptoe to peer through the gap, others murmuring in low voices that trembled with fear and worry.
“What’s happening in there…?” Lenora whispered to Noah beside her, her voice shaking.
“I don’t know either. But it has to be serious. Look—Master Rachel even looks stressed,” Noah replied, gesturing toward the elf instructor.
“And Librarian Belle? She… she’s going to be okay, right?” Tara asked, her voice so anxious that Sally hurried to soothe her.
“Calm down, Lady Tara. If Master Rachel is here, everything will be fine. It has to be.”
While the atmosphere outside churned with small-scale chaos, the room itself was wrapped in an eerie quiet—broken only by the breathing of those inside and the soft green glow of Master Rachel’s healing magic.
The moment Master Rachel stepped into the space, Rein—who had been cautiously using Mana Vision—cut the flow instantly.
As the magical overlay faded, his normal sight returned.
His knees nearly buckled—but he forced himself to stay upright.
Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.
Even activating it for a short time had already drained him near his limit.
He drew a deep breath, trying to suppress the exhaustion spreading through his limbs, as he and Ingrid moved closer to Belle’s body still lying on the floor. The old woman’s groans came in waves; the face that was usually composed was twisted in pain—too painful to look at directly.
Rein glanced at Belle, then spoke to Ingrid in a lowered voice, as if unwilling to disturb the wounded any further.
“Looks like… she’s in worse pain than we thought.”
Ingrid pressed her lips together and nodded faintly before whispering, “It’s not normal pain… restoring the body with magic…” She paused, swallowing with difficulty. “…it’s like taking pain that should fade over time—and crushing it into a single moment.”
The golden-haired girl looked down at her own hands as they began to tremble. She clenched them tight, trying to restrain the storm of emotions—worry, fear, and helplessness.
Not long after, the open wound—raw flesh exposed—began to knit together. A wet, unmistakable sound followed—bone grinding back into place.
Belle screamed sharply, her face slick with sweat—then, little by little, she calmed. Her breathing slowly returned to normal.
“Only minor injuries remain… things that still need follow-up treatment,” Master Rachel said as the green ring of magic faded away.
“All right, Belle. You should be safe now,” Rachel added, her voice warm and steady. Then she turned to Ingrid. “Help take her outside first. Let another Healer Faculty member take over. You can bring her to the infirmary downstairs—there…”
Her words cut off abruptly.
Rachel’s crimson eyes snapped to Belle’s shoulder—where the wound had been.
Black lines crawled across her shoulder—
branching like veins, spreading with unnatural speed.
“W…what is this…?” Rachel murmured low.
Her voice was quiet—yet the alarm in it was so clear everyone felt it.
Belle’s face began to twitch, as if something were seizing control of her body. A scream tore from her throat—raw, broken, and wrong.
It felt like something was clawing at the mind itself.
The torment made everyone in the room feel as if their own minds were being carved open.
“O-or…!” Ingrid cried, eyes widening in horror, both hands flying to cover her mouth.
Rachel paused just long enough to assess. A green magic ring formed again in her hand.
She tried healing again.
The black lines didn’t even hesitate.
After a beat, she switched tactics—casting Sleep over the elderly librarian’s head instead.
A spell meant to force the target into slumber.
And the result was immediate: Belle stopped convulsing. The wailing ceased at once.
Master Rachel turned to Ingrid, calm on the surface but razor-tense beneath.
“My mana is being rejected,” Rachel said.
“This isn’t physical trauma.
This is a curse.”
“A… Necrotic trap?” Ingrid breathed out, the color draining from her face. “So it was high-tier dark magic?”
Her voice wasn’t loud, but in the hush of the room, every word tightened the air like a noose.
“Yes… definitely dark-element,” Rein answered evenly—though inside, turmoil churned.
When it came to cruelty like this, only one figure surfaced in his memory: a silhouette in a black cloak, standing in shadow with eyes glowing red like hatred made flame.
A warlock…? Or was it…?
Then Ingrid’s voice cut in again, shaking as she watched the black lines reach Belle’s elbow.
“Master… can you remove curses?”
Rachel looked at the girl and shook her head slightly, answering in a level tone.
“Elves like me don’t specialize in anti-curse magic. By nature, we have resistance to curses already… but this kind of dark-element magic is not ordinary. Only a priest of Luminara could handle it.”
Rachel’s words froze Ingrid for a heartbeat—then she blurted out, frantic.
“Master Kael was the only priest of Luminara in the Healing Department…”
Ingrid’s voice faltered.
“…and he died a few hours ago.”
Her voice fell on the last sentence.
She hesitated, then murmured, “If it were Master Chloe…”
Rachel lowered her gaze to the curse’s spread and replied at once.
“Master Chloe isn’t here. She won’t make it back in time.”
The girl paused for a moment, as if she’d just remembered something, then spoke again.
“But—Master Chloe prepared Holy Water,” Ingrid blurted out.
“It can purge dark-element curses.”
The moment she said it, Rachel’s expression shifted. Her crimson eyes widened.
“Holy Water from the High Priestess of Luminara…”
Rachel nodded once.
“Yes. That would be enough.”
“Ingrid—where is it?”
The girl answered instantly, as though she didn’t need to think.
“In the Vault.”
Rachel gave a short nod and issued the order immediately.
“Then go. Get it—now.”
But before Ingrid could step away, Rachel raised a hand and stopped her. The elf’s face was sharp with decisive certainty.
“Wait.”
Rachel raised a hand.
“If you go down alone and come back, it will already be too late. We’ll take Librarian Belle down there and treat her inside the Vault instead.”
Rachel didn’t waste another second. She lifted a slender hand and cast wind magic. A green magic circle unfolded beneath Belle’s body, smooth and precise. The old woman rose gently from the floor—floating about three feet up—then slid forward in the direction Rachel guided.
Rachel moved briskly toward the library door, speaking in a firm, urgent tone.
“Ingrid—you know exactly where the Holy Water is, right? Follow me. Now.”
The golden-haired girl hurried after Rachel—half walking, half running. But after only a few steps, she stopped abruptly and turned back toward Rein, her face unusually serious.
She leaned close and whispered quickly—too low for anyone else to hear.
Rein frowned, then nodded.
“Mm… I understand.”
Outside, near the book-return counter, voices buzzed with argument and alarm. All seven students had crowded the library doors, each face showing fear and restlessness after seeing Belle’s condition.
Mirela stepped forward, her voice sharp with panic.
“Master Rachel, you should let us out! This place isn’t safe!”
Noah, a tall, lean boy, added with a trembling voice and darting eyes.
“Yes… if the culprit is one of us, and you’re not here—who’s going to protect us?”
The shouting and bickering swelled until Rachel exhaled heavily. She stepped toward the students, her razor-sharp gaze taking them in one by one.
Then she spoke—cold, commanding—so powerful that everyone froze.
“You will remain here until morning,” Rachel said coldly.
“Or until I give new orders.”
“Some of you—or all of you—may be targets. We don’t know when the culprit will strike again. And tonight, there is no place safer than here.”
Her voice wasn’t loud, yet the pressure in it crushed every attempt at protest.
“Rein,” she called.
The name cut cleanly through the noise.
Rein, standing at the very back of the group, stepped out of the shadows without a sound.
“Yes, Master?” he asked. His voice was unnaturally calm.
Master Rachel slipped a hand into a pocket beneath her white cloak. She searched briefly, then pulled something out and tossed it straight toward Rein.
“Take it,” she said flatly.
Rein caught it on instinct, hands opening to receive it. Even though he looked composed, confusion was written plainly on his face. He lowered his gaze to what he held.
It was a silver insignia—cold and heavy, about half the size of his palm.
The metal gleamed with fine craftsmanship, its surface covered in arcane symbols and ancient script engraved in intricate detail. Along the bottom edge, crisp lettering read:
Forensic Magic Investigator
“What is this?” Rein asked, lifting his head to Rachel, eyes full of questions.
Please don’t let it be what I think it is.
Rachel stared straight back at him, serious and unwavering.
“From now on, you will investigate this case as a temporary Special Agent of Forensic Magic. That badge grants you legal authority under Arcadia’s magical law.” Her words were precise, her tone cold but forceful.
“You will protect everyone in this room,” Rachel said.
“And you will identify the culprit.”
“And one more thing.”
Her eyes locked onto his.
“Don’t die before I return.”
For Rein, it felt as if time stopped. He stared down at the badge in his hand again.
No… seriously.
How does my life keep getting this screwed up?
He let out a long sigh.
“But… why me?” he finally asked.
Master Rachel gave a faint smile.
“Because I believe you can do it. And it’s an elf’s intuition.”
She said it without leaving him room to argue, then turned and walked toward the grand doors of the library.
Ingrid hurried after her—but just before passing through, she stopped and looked back at Rein, her gaze carrying something he couldn’t quite name—and didn’t have time to think about.
The heavy doors of the library closed slowly. A soft creak slid through the vast silence—like a final warning telling everyone to brace for what was coming.
Rein stood in the quiet, staring down at the metal insignia in his hand. The light from the mana lamp overhead glinted faintly across its surface as his long fingers turned it over once, twice. For a moment, he looked lost in thought. A quiet sigh escaped his lips; his face remained impassive, yet something unreadable stirred in his deep-blue eyes.
He pinned the badge to his battered black cloak.
The metal clicked softly into place. But with that insignia fixed to it, he looked strangely more imposing, as though he’d just stepped into a far heavier role.
“All right…” he murmured to himself, straightening his posture. “Let’s end this fast. I want to go back to sleep.”
He turned to face the students behind him. They huddled in small circles, whispers continuing even as they tried to keep them low. The air was thick with nerves, and every eye fixed on him as if waiting to see what would happen next.
A faint smile touched his lips.
It wasn’t gentle.
And it wasn’t friendly.
It didn’t match his usual demeanor at all.
The seven suspects instinctively drew closer together.
Their gazes flicked from Rein to one another—suspicion everywhere.
Rein stepped into the middle of the group. When he reached the center, he stopped—then began to speak in a simple, steady voice that carried weight—
“All right,” Rein said.
“Let’s stop playing the werewolf game.”
His gaze swept across everyone’s faces one by one. “I figure you’re all dying to get some rest by now, right?”
His voice wasn’t loud, yet it rang out like a struck bell. Everyone froze for a moment. Silence fell, and tension spread through the air—slow, heavy, and inexorable, like a powerful current beneath still water.
Mirela was the first to break the silence. She stepped forward, planting both hands on her hips, irritation written plainly across her face.
“Even if you did help us, that doesn’t mean you have the right to—”
“I’m an Investigator right now,” Rein cut in, not letting her finish. He tapped the badge on his cloak once.
The metal clicked softly.
His eyes locked onto hers. “And as you heard, I have legal authority. If you don’t want trouble, then just play the game and get it over with.”
Mirela frowned, anger flashing in her eyes. She shot back without a hint of fear.
“You’re just someone playing a role because Master Rachel told you to!”
The words flew like an arrow straight at their mark—but the boy didn’t flinch in the slightest. He chuckled softly, then turned to another boy in the group—Julian, with short reddish-brown hair. Julian’s face had gone a little pale the moment he realized he was being addressed.
“Is your sister always like this?” he asked in a teasing tone, though his gaze was strangely serious.
Julian hesitated. After a moment, he glanced at his sister standing beside him with crossed arms. Mirela shot him a sharp look, but Julian gave a small, reluctant nod.
“Well, at least you’re not lying about that,” the boy said, letting out a quiet laugh. It sounded like he was enjoying the situation, even though his expression remained calm.
Standing before them with his messy hair and faint smile, the boy projected both confidence and mystery at once. Yet there was something in his eyes that unsettled the others.
Even without saying much, he made everyone uneasy and unsure how to respond. Some stood stiffly, as if trying to hide something; others cast sidelong glances at one another, suspicion growing.
Rein drew a deep breath before speaking. His voice was gentle, yet carried a weight that forced people to think.
“Whether there’s a culprit among you or not, I don’t know. There might be—or there might not.” He paused, his gaze moving slowly from one listener to the next, as if weighing their thoughts. “But as you’ve seen, I saved all of you from dozens of zombies. So naturally, I can protect you from a culprit as well.”
“In this room, I’m the only combat mage,” Rein said calmly.
“And I placed third in the last Arcadia Grand Magic Tournament. Everyone else here is a healer. You can draw your own conclusions.”
His words lingered in the air. No one dared to argue. The memory of him cutting down zombies with decisive, ruthless efficiency was still vivid.
Several faces stiffened.
A few pairs of eyes widened.
“I remember now… you’re Rein. The one who took third place even though you're just a first-year.”
Julian’s voice was quiet, but it was enough. Almost immediately, the others reassessed Rein, their attitudes shifting from annoyance to caution.
Rein continued, seemingly indifferent to Julian’s comment or the sudden change in atmosphere.
“And anyone who doesn’t cooperate,” His tone dropped, cold and sharp.
“becomes the prime suspect. Fair enough?”
He fell silent. His left hand adjusted the badge on his cloak, as if straightening it, while his right slipped into the pocket of his black cloak. At the same time, Rein slowly scanned every face.
“And then,” he said deliberately, pointing at people one by one, “I’d have no choice but to report that…” His finger paused on someone, then dropped lightly.
“She… no. He.”
A pause.
“Or maybe not.”
His voice dragged on, playing a psychological game that made everyone feel exposed. “That person… is the culprit.”
His finger stopped in front of Seris.
For the first time, Seris flinched.
A soft laugh escaped Rein, but instead of easing the tension, it only intensified it. People shifted uneasily; some took deep breaths, trying to calm themselves.
“After that,” Rein continued, his voice lowering slightly, as if telling a frightening story, “that person would probably be taken away for a long, thorough investigation.
“You all know how unpleasant forensic magic can be.”
The words forensic magic made several people twitch. They all knew what it meant—the arcane discipline of extracting truth through magic. Effective, yes, but neither gentle nor painless. Silence settled once more, until Tara spoke up.
“I’m not the culprit!” Tara blurted out.
“Me neither!” Noah added.
Rein raised an eyebrow at their responses. Instead of replying, he chuckled softly again.
“True enough…” he said evenly, stretching his arms slightly—far too relaxed for a situation like this. “Some people just get caught up in bad luck. Even I’m stuck in here with you.”
He spoke as if it were the most ordinary thing in the world, then laughed again—this time sounding more self-mocking than anything else.
Suddenly, his demeanor shifted. He stepped forward slightly, clasping his hands in front of him.
The pose was unmistakable—like a king about to issue commands to his subjects.
“All right,” he said firmly, with a hint of amusement. “We’re going to play a simple game. Nothing complicated. I’ll ask questions, and you’ll answer exactly as I say. No overthinking. If I tell you to jump, you jump. Simple, right?”
He paused, letting his words sink deep into everyone’s minds, then slowly raised his hand and pointed around the room.
“But if anyone refuses…”
His voice dropped to a whisper.
“That person is the culprit.”
The messy-haired boy leaned forward deliberately. His smile returned, but this time it was a sharp, predatory grin—full of cunning and anticipation for what would come next.
Though every eye was fixed on him with wariness, he didn’t seem to care in the slightest.
“Well then…” He snapped his fingers.
“Shall we begin?”
These entries expand the lore and mechanics introduced in this chapter.
Completely optional—read only if you enjoy diving deeper into the system.
Spells Codex
CURE MODERATE WOUNDS – Elven Variant (Advanced Healing – Stratosphere Tier)
Category: Healing / Advanced Regeneration
Tier: Stratosphere (Advanced Elven Magic)
Element: Wood + Wind
Mana Cost: Very High
Casting Method: Vocal / Channeling
Description:
An advanced form of restorative magic used by Master Rachel—an elven healer of Stratosphere-tier caliber. Unlike traditional Cure Wounds spells which rely on light-element magic, this version is rooted in elven natural affinity, combining wood (symbolizing rebirth and regeneration) with wind (symbolizing circulation and acceleration).
Elven healing spells differ fundamentally in mechanism. Rather than merely stimulating the body’s natural regeneration, they force the body into rapid repair—activating stem-cell-like processes and accelerating tissue growth at an explosive rate.
Mechanism:
– Wood Element: Induces immediate cellular genesis and structural repair; mimics rapid stem cell multiplication.
– Wind Element: Enhances mana circulation and accelerates the healing process, ensuring energy and nutrients reach affected areas swiftly.
– Unlike standard light-based healing (which works by encouraging the body to heal itself), this spell essentially overrides the body’s limitations, forcing near-instant regeneration.
Healing Effect:
– Can close deep lacerations, fractures, and soft tissue trauma within seconds.
– Especially effective in critical trauma cases where time is essential.
– Commonly used in high-stakes field operations or magical trauma centers.
Drawbacks:
– The regeneration is so aggressive that it causes intense pain during healing, akin to forced cell division.
– May cause temporary nerve shock or muscle cramping during recovery.
– Requires precise mana control; improper use may result in tissue rejection or scarring.
Notable User:
– Master Rachel – Senior healer and faculty member at Arcadia Academy.
– Her spell combines ancient elven techniques passed down through noble wood-elf bloodlines.
Notes:
– While most healers in Arcadia rely on light-element spells such as Cure Wounds or Light of Luminara, Rachel’s method is biological rather than divine.
– It is not taught at the Academy due to complexity and elemental prerequisites.
– The spell’s full effect was demonstrated in Chapter 28, during a high-intensity emergency healing sequence.
DARKNESS ARROW (Stratosphere-Tier Cursed Projectile)
Category: Offensive / Curse-Embedded Projectile
Element: Darkness
Mana Cost: High
Type: Ambush Spell
Description:
A deadly spell that condenses high-density darkness-element mana into the shape of a narrow, ten-inch-long projectile—resembling an arrow. Known for its high penetration power and devastating secondary effects, the Darkness Arrow is often used in ambushes or assassination traps.
Mechanism:
– Upon impact, the arrow pierces through flesh, bone, and even light cover with extreme force.
– It delivers both physical trauma and magical infection simultaneously.
– The moment it embeds in a target, it releases a fast-acting Necrotic Curse that spreads like an aggressive magical infection.
Necrotic Curse Effect:
– The curse spreads rapidly through the body, mimicking the behavior of a magically-enhanced infection.
– Attempts to heal the target using light or restoration magic only worsen the condition, as the curse clings to newly-regenerated tissue and uses blood circulation to spread further.
– Victims often die within minutes unless treatment is immediate.
– In rare cases, the corpse may reanimate as an undead if the curse fully matures.
Cleansing Methods:
– Can only be neutralized by Divine Curse Removal Spells performed by certified priests or priestesses.
– Alternatively, Holy Water from the Church of Luminara can be used to purge the curse—this is especially effective if blessed by a High Priestess.
Notable Usage:
– The arrow used in Chapter 28 was hidden using Delay Casting (Contact Trigger) and nearly killed Librarian Belle.
– The curse resisted Master Rachel’s healing, confirming its divine-level complexity.
Tier Classification:
– While the projectile itself could be cast by an Expert-Troposphere caster, the embedded curse is consistent with Stratosphere-tier spellcraft, possibly from the Divine War era or forbidden tomes.
Notes:
– Rein suspected the mechanism involved was highly advanced, explaining why even Master Rachel’s detection magic failed to sense the trap.
– Its dual nature (physical + magical) makes it one of the most feared forms of delayed magical weaponry in dark magic arsenals.
Magic Detection (Master Rachel’s Version)
Category: Sensory Magic / Mana Scanning
Tier: Troposphere-tier (Stratosphere-tier Performance in Expert Hands)
User: Master Rachel (Elf Healer, Arcadia Kingdom)
Description:
A specialized form of magic detection that mimics sonar-like behavior, this technique allows the caster to detect magical traces, spells, or enchantments hidden within a surrounding area. Master Rachel’s version is an advanced evolution of standard detection spells, expanding the effective radius and enhancing its interpretive sensitivity.
Mechanism:
The user emits rippling pulses of mana in all directions—like expanding waves through water. When these pulses encounter magical energy or active spells, they reflect back to the caster. The returning signal is then interpreted through the caster’s mana perception, much like how sonar returns echoes to a submarine.
However, the effectiveness of this technique relies entirely on the caster’s ability to sense and interpret mana signatures, meaning training, sensitivity, and magical affinity play vital roles.
Detection Radius:
– Standard Version: ~30 feet in a straight path toward a specific target
– Master Rachel’s Version: more than 100 feet omnidirectional pulse, sweeping through the environment like sonar
Strengths:
– Effective in enclosed environments or places where vision is blocked
– Can detect invisible magical effects, such as traps, barriers, or cloaking spells
– Does not require line of sight
– Useful for forensic investigation, battlefield scans, and locating residual mana
Limitations:
– Requires calm, focused mana control
– Accuracy depends on caster's perception and experience
– High-tier masking or stealth spells can still hide from detection
– Ineffective if the user misinterprets reflected signals
– Does not identify the spell—only its presence and location
LEVITATE
Category: Support / Mobility / Utility
Tier: Expert-Troposphere
Element: Wind
Casting Method: Vocal or Silent Casting (depending on control level)
Range: Touch or Short Radius (~10–15 ft)
Description:
A controlled wind-element spell that manipulates localized air currents to gently lift a person or object into the air. Unlike standard Hover spells, which rely on broader magical force to suspend targets, Levitate (Wind-type) focuses on precision and softness, making it ideal for medical use, forensic analysis, or delicate extractions.
Mechanism:
By channeling mana into the surrounding air, the caster generates upward and stabilizing currents, creating a cushion of wind beneath the target. These currents not only lift the subject but also stabilize their position in midair, allowing fine adjustments in height and orientation.
The spell is known for its gentle lift and silent execution, ideal for preserving scene integrity during investigations or moving wounded individuals without causing further harm.
Known Users:
– Master Rachel, who used this spell in Chapter 28 to raise Bell’s body gently for examination in the Sealed Library murder investigation.
– Healers and elven casters who specialize in wind or supportive magic.
Advantages:
– Highly stable and gentle; does not jostle or harm target
– Excellent for forensic, ceremonial, or medical applications
– Easier to sustain than full flight spells
– Minimal risk of mana backlash or recoil
Limitations:
– Limited vertical height (typically under 10 ft for safe usage)
– Effectiveness varies based on caster’s wind-element affinity
– Not suitable for high-speed movement or combat mobility
– Cannot lift excessively heavy objects (weight limits scale with mana input)
Related Spells:
– Hover (General-use levitation; broader force application, less precision)
– Wind Step (Directional movement using air bursts)
– Aerial Suspension (Advanced wind support for multiple targets)
Notes:
– Although classified as a utility spell, Levitate (Wind-type) is highly respected among high-elven casters for its subtlety and efficiency.
– In the context of Chapter 28, the spell helped maintain evidence integrity while inspecting the crime scene.
SLEEP
Category: Debilitation / Control
Tier: Primary Troposphere
Element: Wind / Mind-affiliated (Neutral)
Casting Method: Vocal / Gesture-based / Pre-inscribed
Mana Cost: Low–Medium
Range: ~15 feet (Single-target focus)
Description:
A basic but highly effective control-type spell used to induce immediate unconsciousness in a living target. Frequently employed in medical emergencies, stealth operations, or battlefield crowd control. Though non-lethal, it directly targets the nervous system and can be dangerous if overused.
Mechanism:
The caster channels mana into a targeted wave that penetrates the cranial region of the target. Once inside, the mana interacts with the central nervous system, suppressing neural communication and slowing brainwave activity. The result is a sharp drop in consciousness, leading to sleep or a trance-like state.
The spell’s effects are similar to natural sleep but magically induced.
Duration of unconsciousness varies by:
– Caster’s mana control
– Target’s resistance
– Intensity of mana used
Notable Effects:
– Forces a humanoid target into magical slumber
– Can halt convulsions or panic responses in emergencies
– May cause memory disruption if overused
Limitations:
– Ineffective on undead or non-humanoid creatures without a functioning nervous system
– Susceptible to magical resistance or mental shielding
– Overuse on a single target may cause neural fatigue or memory lapses
– Limited to targets within 15 feet
Known Users:
– Master Rachel, who used it on Belle during a magical corruption incident to stop lethal spasms when healing magic failed
Notes:
– Sometimes taught to Healing Department mages as an emergency countermeasure
– Considered a “soft counter” in non-lethal mage duels or investigations
– Often confused with mind magic, but operates through physical neural suppression rather than emotional influence
Spell Techniques
Contact-Triggered Trap (Delay Casting Technique)
A rare form of delay-cast spell where the magic detonates immediately upon physical contact with the trigger object.
– In this case, it activated when Ingrid touched a brazier.
– Rein recognized the mechanism too late.
– The spell fired a high-speed, dark-element arrow that severely injured Librarian Belle.
Curses
Necrotic Curse
A dark-element curse embedded into Belle’s body by the black arrow.
– It spread rapidly through her body after Master Rachel healed her physical wounds.
– Rejected further mana-based healing, indicating it was a curse, not a physical affliction.
– Required Holy Water from the High Priestess of Luminara to purge.
Magic Weapons & Artifacts
Holy Water (Master Chloe’s Version)
– Special divine-grade holy liquid created or blessed by a high priestess of Luminara.
– Capable of purging advanced dark-element curses.
– Previously prepared by Master Chloe and stored in the Vault.
– Essential in countering the curse infecting Belle.
Other
Forensic Magic Investigator (Temporary Title)
– Title and badge given to Rein by Master Rachel.
– Grants legal authority under Arcadian magical law to investigate magical crimes.
– Rein is made responsible for protecting the seven suspects and solving the case.
– The badge is engraved with arcane symbols and the title itself.
The King’s Game
– A psychological interrogation tactic employed by Rein.
– Based on the real-world “Werewolf” game referenced earlier.
– Rein positions himself as the central authority figure (“King”) and forces the suspects into a controlled Q&A.
– The rule is simple: Refusal to cooperate = prime suspect.
– Rein uses tone, presence, and strategic manipulation to keep everyone under pressure
Sometimes it simply takes the center of the room.
everyone must choose how they play.
please consider leaving a Review and hitting Follow —
Royal Road only notifies followers when new chapters drop.
The game has begun.
— Re:Naissance