The adrenaline crash was brutal. Leaning against the cold stone pillar, I focused on drawing breath, the metallic taste of spent mana thick on my tongue. The manor was silent again, but the silence now felt different. It was no longer oppressive; it was mine. The shadows in the corners felt like loyal subjects waiting for a command.
Elara approached hesitantly, a clean towel and a cup of water in her hands. "Young Master... you are... unharmed?" Her voice was a mixture of reverence and lingering shock.
"I am functional," I said, accepting the water. It was cool and real, a stark contrast to the ephemeral power I had just wielded. "See that the door is barricaded. Use whatever you can find. It won't stop a real assault, but it will discourage curiosity."
"Yes, immediately, Young Master!" She scurried off, a new sense of purpose in her steps. Her loyalty was now a tangible asset. [Loyalty: 65%] was a firm foundation to build upon.
Alone again, I turned my attention inward. The System's reward pulsed gently in my awareness. [Library - Unlocked].
Access Library, I thought.
The world didn't dissolve, but my perception shifted. The dusty foyer seemed to overlay with a vast, impossible space. I stood in an endless, silent library. Shelves made of dark, polished wood stretched into infinity, stacked with books bound in leather and strange, alien materials. The air smelled of old paper, ink, and ozone. It was a place of pure knowledge.
A single, familiar book floated before me. Its cover was pristine black leather, and embossed on it in silver foil was the title: Villain's Code: My Academy System of Justice.
My novel.
Tentatively, I reached out. The book opened of its own accord, its pages flipping rapidly before settling on a chapter titled: Arsene Adel - Background & Known Skills.
I devoured the information. It was my writing, but annotated with System-generated footnotes and details that felt more real than anything I'd typed on my keyboard.
...The Arsene bloodline grants an affinity for Shadow and Void magic, drawing power from internal resonance rather than ambient mana... - [System Note: Bloodline purity currently at 17%. Awakening conditions for higher-tier abilities unknown.]
...His training, conducted in secret, has granted him basic proficiency with a dueling dagger... - [System Note: Skill: [Dagger Proficiency - Beginner]. Can be upgraded via practice or System Points.]
...The pattern on his neck must be concealed at all costs to avoid persecution... - [System Note: Skill: [Shadow Veil - Basic] can obfuscate the mark. Higher ranks can alter facial features and build temporarily. Mana cost: 5/minute.]
This was a goldmine. It wasn't just a history book; it was a strategy guide to my own life. I could see my weaknesses, my potential growth paths. I focused on the [Shadow Veil] skill. The knowledge of how to channel mana to create a subtle distortion over my skin flowed into my mind. It was intuitive, like remembering a forgotten fact.
I willed the skill to activate. A faint, cool sensation spread across the back of my neck, like a layer of silk. I couldn't see it, but I knew the damning pattern was now hidden from view. [Mana: 265/350]. A minimal but constant drain.
Next, I willed the book to show me the entry for Black Rose Academy.
The pages flipped again, revealing maps, faculty listings, and student profiles. My heart rate picked up. Here they were. The main characters. The heroes. The future love interests.
Kaelan Starfall: Protagonist. House Starfall. Affinity: Light & Solar. Talent: [Radiant Soul] - Mana regeneration and purity is significantly higher than average. Naturally charismatic. Currently unaware of his true heritage. - [System Note: Primary love interest candidate. Fated enemy. Relationship path: ???]
Lady Seraphina "Sera" Valerius: Daughter of Duke Valerius. Affinity: Lightning. Talent: [Lightning Reflexes] - Cognitive and physical reaction speed are enhanced. Proud, competitive, holds a deep-seated grudge against the Arsene name. - [System Note: Rival route. Tsundere archetype potential. Relationship path: ???]
Elara Thorn: Commoner scholarship student. Affinity: Plant & Earth. Talent: [Green Thumb] - Can communicate with and accelerate plant growth. Shy, intelligent, hides a powerful defensive potential. - [System Note: Support role. Loyal companion route. Relationship path: ???]
Seeing Elara's name confirmed a theory. The story was already changing. In my original draft, she was a minor, nameless servant who died in the manor's purge. Now, she was a named character with a defined role and a connection to me. My actions had ripple effects.
The library could also show me my own status in detail.
[Status: Arsene Adel] Race:Half-Demon (Purity: 17%) Mana Core:Stage 1 (Awakened) Mana:265 / 350 Physique:Weak (Improves with Mana Core advancement) Traits:[Darkness Affinity - Basic], [Mana Manipulation - Basic], [Killing Intent - Basic], [Absorption - Dormant], [Manipulation - Basic] Skills:[Shadow Tendril - Basic], [Shadow Bind - Basic], [Shadow Veil - Basic], [Dagger Proficiency - Beginner] Titles:[Fox of the Ruined Manor] System Functions:[Library], [Mana Sense] (Unlocked at Core Stage 2)
The path was clear. I needed to get stronger. I needed to get to the academy. And I needed to weave myself into the story in a way that wouldn't get me killed by the protagonist or his friends.
I closed the Library interface, the endless shelves fading back into the reality of the ruined foyer. Dawn was beginning to lighten the sky through the broken door. I had a plan.
"Elara," I called out. She appeared moments later, her expression attentive. "We're leaving. Gather any valuables you can find that are small and portable. Coin, jewelry, anything. We have a long journey ahead."
"Journey? To where, Young Master?"
I looked towards the east, where the first rays of sun were painting the horizon.
"To school."