Chapter 13 – The Awakening of Magic and Aura
Still shaken by the revelation about the First Duke, Chris sat cross-legged on the cold marble floor of the Arcana Library, the faint light of the rune on his chest pulsing in rhythm with his heartbeat.
Across from him floated Arcanis, watching in silence, his translucent form flickering with the ambient magic of the library.
The spirit finally broke the silence.
"Tell me, Chris… how did you come to know of the Soul Runes?"
Chris looked up, his expression solemn, yet steady.
"From a friend. A very dear friend."
There was no hesitation in his voice.
Arcanis blinked, his expression unreadable for a long moment. Then, he gave a slow nod.
"I see. You speak with truth. The magic reacts to lies here—and yet, it remains still. Your friend… must be someone remarkable."
Chris smiled faintly. "She was."
With that, Arcanis turned, his voice calm.
"Then may your path unfold as it must. The Library is yours—for now."
The spirit vanished into the air, leaving Chris alone in the endless halls of magical knowledge.
Chris stood, wobbling slightly, his body still sore from the soul-carving ritual. But something had changed.
He closed his eyes, channeling mana through his veins, cautiously this time.
Unlike before, the energy flowed smoothly—clean and vibrant. No resistance. No turbulence.
"It's stable…" he whispered in disbelief.
Then he felt it—an internal click, like a lock turning within him.
A surge of warmth flooded his core.
He had advanced.
From the brink of collapse… to a 3rd Circle Mage.
"Already?" he muttered. The rune's effect… it had restructured his mana channels, strengthened the pathways, and restored balance.
But there was more.
His breathing slowed, instinctively shifting into the Sword Emperor's technique.
The aura responded.
For the first time in this life, it pulsed in his navel—strong and alive.
The refinement had begun.
By the time the second week passed within the Arcana Library's temporal space, Chris had undergone a silent evolution.
He had devoured tomes on elemental manipulation, spiritual theory, and combat incantations. Not only could he wield 3rd Circle spells with precision, he now understood them. Felt them.
"So this is what it means to walk both paths again…"
And on top of it, his aura had condensed into the first tangible form—a shimmering core of energy centered just below his abdomen.
He had reached the realm of a 1st-Star Aura Knight.
In two weeks, he had surpassed what took most nobles years.
Yet this was only the beginning.
The Library had secrets. The rune had opened doors.But the world outside waited—with plots, power, and peril.
And Chris… was finally ready to meet it again.