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  It was the second daylight from the time June was ‘willingly’ abducted to this world. Waking up late from a peaceful slumber, he had to endure repetitive monotonic questions from a fake princess, a moody looking guy, a big-boob blonde, a bodybuilder, a lecher, a candlestick maker-

  Sorry, wrong reference, -and an overly enthusiastic kid, I mean.

  He was treading across the regal looking neighborhood which he, by the way, barely noticed as he passed by servants scuttling to abide their masters’ errands. His attention wandered to his memory of yesterday when he passed out from mana poisoning. June was unconsciously approaching the Library, a towering erection of circular marble stones. The entrance was decorated by fine celestial masterpieces, sculpted by ancient artists of great talent. Around the establishment were short thin bricks that barricade the entirety of the premises.

  He was in the zone and epiphany is but a step away. His dim witted understanding of mana was being altered as his previous memory flashed by. Barely reminiscing the events that transcended a day ago, his thoughts carried him to the crevice of breakthrough.

  Mana can be used not only for the emission of elemental essence, but also to strengthen or destroy the body of the user. At first, he connected the association of mana to the physical skills used by some of his party members. He then concluded that mana can also alter the function of the sense organs.

  This hypothesis was further tested through his previous experience of getting mana poisoned. Before he was able to manipulate mana, his internal mana pores were still sedentary, hiding themselves inside his body. This may be true to all the Descended with insufficient skills in mana control.

  Early in one’s life, every person’s mana core can be directly accessed by only one or two mana pores usually located in the user’s palm. This makes consumption of mana to be great due to its wasteful and inefficient flow which may affect the success, duration and power of using mana hungry skills.

  By opening the other pores, the mana flow is maintained and only fewer mana is wasted and dispersed to the surroundings. They act as ventilating shafts that regulates excess mana though recycling, hereby reducing the consumption. Not only they act as regulators but they also connect to many parts of the human body, especially in our sense organs. This may lead to better movements, sharper senses and tougher muscles and bones...even Penis Engorgement, every dude's dream.

  I see.

  June predicted that attempting to manipulate one's own mana may take a few weeks, even months under normal conditions. However, he was confident that talented High-humans, including his own party members, will be able to master the skill only in a few days.

  Unlike the others high-humans, his baptism was indeed different.

  The flying ship’s crystal emitted mana radiation that forcefully opened all of June’s pores the longer he stayed exposed. The said mana pores activated one at a time till all the pores are opened and swollen with mana. The mana core generated threads of mana that interconnects the pores with each other. This led to disorientation as every sense organ was filled by unrestraint mana which increased their functions for a few seconds. He was on the verge of blowing up and was only saved by his quick thinking and Pale’s healing ability.

  Wasting mana by firing spells nonstop, June was able to ease the load. Nevertheless, this was only a temporary first aid. By vehemently attempting to control each and every swollen pore, he redirected the flow to cycle through his entire body. This process was excruciating to the point of madness and a single mistake may end June’s life.

  Fortunately, he pushed through.

  At the moment, June was confirming his theory by attempting to activate branching mana pores forming a line from his Energy core to his left eye. He controlled the output to the bare minimum as he was afraid to become blind. His pink eye emitted a bluish hue as his eyesight became clearer, magnifying the scenery in front of him. He controlled the intensification and was delighted by what he sees.

  Ladies and Gentlemen, behold the human telescope!

  Still unsatisfied with his success, he continued the experiment as he traced the mana from his eye towards the part of the brain that controls vision. A miniscule mana pore which was inactivated was located near it. He slowly stimulated the pore by pouring the bare minimum mana, increasing the volume by the second. He finally stopped the inflow as too much mana may lead to unsatisfactory effects. His eyes are now blue in color. Nothing else happened as his concentration was suddenly-

  *thud!*

  June came back to reality when he tripped through the low hanging gate, mouthing curses from his lack of awareness of the surrounding. Some scholars who saw the spectacle laughed as he straightened up his garb and smiled meekly, embarrassed from the unwanted attention. He was about to climb the outer hall steps when notifications emerged in his peripheral vision.

  June smirked at his good fortune. Gaining a skill to detect mana even though his skill proficiencies are still mediocre reduced the regrets he felt when he didn’t choose the other heavenly defying traits like Limit Break, Telepathy or Atlantis’ blessing, to give a few. He noted to himself to practice with this skill as it had limitless potential. One of them would be confirmed inside the Lesser Archives of Thessascus.

  He approached the Receptionist’s desk as he walked inside the building. He was greeted by an ancient looking grandma with loose violet cotton robes. Her silver hair was long, braided and reaching down her feet. Great wisdom and knowledge was apparent in her old drooping eyes.

  “Heh~ A Descended in the Noble’s ward, I’m intrigued. Young one, may I know your purpose for coming here?” she asked curiously as June slapped his hand in his chest and bowed his head in respect.

  It still wasn’t known to the natives that the descended has the ability to know the name of a person just by looking at him/her. Inspired by Pandora, June decided to test his luck once more.

  “Greetings honorable elder. My name is June Heistman, I came here with the guidance of the Goddess Gaia. Her great excellency tasked this lowly servant of hers to search for someone named Griselda Geldrin in hopes that she may impart me with knowledge to help better serve her people.” A good moment has passed before the old lady’s lips dare move. Her drooping eyes widened with shock as she stammered for words.

  “O-oh m-my my, D-did she now? To think that it was true that the Gods have chosen your kind to lead us against the threat of other evil races. Dear dear, you have come to the right place child. For you to know of my old name, the Goddess may have told you huh...”

  June was overjoyed when she saw the old woman blabbing her heart out. After using {Identify} on the old lady, only her new name, old name and titles appeared. Her level must be incredibly high as two question marks blurred her other information. He waited for her to calm her heart as he looked around.

  “I would like it if you call me Granny Gidda, as do everyone else. I do not use my old name no more you see. Please keep everything you’ve heard about me a secret from everyone as I am not so awfully fond of attention.”

  “Forgive my lack of respect Granny Gidda, I am as new as a budding sprout. I just came to this world just a day ago and my knowledge still lacking. I do hope that the elder did not take offense for my brash introduction.”

  “Hoho~ It’s quite alright young one. I assume you are here to do some light reading and to know the history of this world huh?”

  “Yes Grandma Gidda.”

  “Very well, leave your Status card here and go ahead and start reading on the second floor. It is where the basic history and basic knowledge of the Kingdom are recorded. Meanwhile, I would be in the back room procuring you a new Archive Identification card for free. Good gracious, did the Goddess talk often about me?”

  “I heard that you are only a few steps away from attaining sainthood and you are one of the most powerful Arcane users ever recorded in the history of humans. I guess the Goddess mentioned you a few times. Is it really true that back in your prime, you were one of the prettiest mage as well?” June guessed as Gidda touched her blushing face.

  “My my, what an eventful day it is. Even the Goddess knew of my name! When I die, I will passed away happy knowing the Goddess will be by my side. Such fortune!” I held my hand containing my badge as Griselda swiped it and walked away happily to the Administrators’ room.

  The library has five floors covered with stacks of tomes, books, scrolls documents and manuscripts of old. June smiled as excitement empowered his determination. He realized that his {Arcane Visualization} has ended its duration and his mana bar was close to zero. Before the skill was finished though, he took note of the tomes which released bluish aura.

  He jogged to the stairs leading to the second floor with haste. His hands were sweaty as he reached for the first book he saw. It was hardbound, brown and tattered. He activated his {Thousand Tongues} as he read the title, ‘The History of Aetheria’. June has no desire to read cover to cover of the thick book. He activated {Instantaneous Reading} the moment his mana bar allowed it.

  It took June a couple of minutes to finish reading the six inched thick book. He smiled as his Int. stat increased yet again. He was about to grab a few books again when he saw the old lady approached him from the side.

  “Young man, your identification card for this establishment is ready. Like your Nobleward card, you must drench this in your blood as well to prove its authenticity. This Archive is open from eight in the morning and closes at 9 in the evening. You can come here as often as you like.” The old lady had a surly expression as she gave me my card and my badge. She continued speaking.

  “Only few ever came here in thirst for knowledge. Because of the location, the common people don’t have access here and the nobles are too lazy to allow them to nor do they come themselves. They themselves pay for scholars to teach! Ha! As if tutoring from incompetent fools can impart them enough insight. So child, what time would you be leaving so my old bones can clean up?”

  “Hahaha, I would like to apologize for your old bones for I will be here longer. I’m planning to burn daylight here and extend my stay till closing time. If it’s alright with you, I would like to help cleaning up the place for I got nothing else to do Grandma.”

  “Fine by me! Tell you what, I have no money on me at the moment so I cannot pay for you services. However, I am willing to offer you a good deal if you are interested.”

  “I am interested, go on”

  “If you work for me, I can leave you the key to this place! You will assist me with ordinary chores like sweeping and maintaining the place clean and sorting out the documents. Your reward is that you can stay here for as long as you like! I can even give you access to the fifth forbidden floor if you do a good job. What say you?” tempted the old lady.

  “I will work three times a week till the ninth moon and if I can bring home 5 borrowed books of my own choosing then you have yourself a deal Grandma Gidda”

  “Six times a week, one book” (Gidda)

  “Three times a week, four books”

  “Five times a week, two books” (Gidda)

  “Three times a week, three books!”

  “Four times a week, three books!” (Gidda)

  Four times a week, two books, and you teach me Alchemy, I can’t compromise less than that.”

  “Deal!”

  Accept.

  The Old lady was very intriguing. She was both an Archmage and an Alchemist at the same time. Even though June can’t feel any {Killing Intent} or {Pressure} from the old lady, by using his {Arcane visualization} he was scared shitless by the amount of moss tinged mana surrounding the old one like a gigantic jade sphere. He swore to himself to never piss off the old lady.

  June wiped his sweat as Gidda gave him a copy of the key which he kept safe in his inventory. The old lady walked away from him after handing a piece of parchment with his assigned chores for the week. It was already quarter till five in the afternoon and June was adamant in starting the chores early. All those books are not going anywhere anyway as reading them can wait till he finished his all the tasks listed.

  It was already four in the morning when he finished sorting the mess of parchments in the hall room. June scrubbed clean the floors from the first to the fourth level. The drawers and shelves have encryptions of runelore magic which maintain the books away from dust and decay so it does not require further wiping. He finished dusting the sculptures as well. Giddy looked pleased as her chores that were supposedly to be finished in four days took only the entire night. She notice the kid collapsed in the fourth floor as she sat in a corner, drinking her tea. She levitated June towards the back room and started removing his clothes and started kissing him-

  Just kidding. (This novel doesn’t have the mature content tag!)

  Gidda levitated June towards the back room. She then conjured a blanket out of nowhere and placed it on the body of the youth as she herself locked the front door and went towards her room in the fifth floor. It was nine in the morning when June woke up. Still sleepy from the activity from the night before (not what you think!), he hastily grabbed three books and drowsily made his farewell to the old lady.

  He then made his way back to the crimson manor for a late breakfast, noticing that everybody, from the servants to his friends were a bit sleep-deprived. He sipped his morning coffee while reading ‘The very recent Compilation of Human Kingdoms that haven’t fallen yet- by Tineus Wormshaft’. Pandora and Kira grabbed a book each without asking permission and started reading as well.

  “Whatchu got there mate?” (Pale)

  “Books” (Pale)

  “Wherdja get it?” (Pale)

  “Lesser Archives of Thessascus, the tallest building here in the Noble’s ward. Look for Granny Gidda. Tell her, June sent you and you’d be taken care of.”

  Reading was brief as June took a bite out of the eggs in his plate. He passed the book to Pale as he was done reading it. Kira and the others are planning to head to the Bazaar later on so he submerged Kira in useless equipment for him to sell.

  June grabbed the book Dora was reading while she screamed in irritation. “Hey! I wasn’t done reading that! Have you got any manners? Didn’t your mommy ever teach you that it’s bad to steal other’s book whilst they’re reading it?!” June sighed at the irony of Dora’s argument. He squinted his eyes while everybody else laughed.