A cold feeling swept my body, almost like I sank into the void deep beneath the ocean. I couldn't feel my limbs; there was no reaction. But I can open my eyes.
It was dark. And I'm not even sure if I am conscious right now or just in a state of suspended mind that will gradually dissipate. The feeling is so enigmatic and incomprehensible. But if my memory serves me correctly, didn't I already die? I know should have. After all, I was just writing a new spell when a sudden pain pierced through me, and then I... died.
My body continued to sink into the unknown void. When I opened my eyes, I saw a faint glow that extended into a narrow tunnel in the distance. It drew me in, propelling my entire body inward and sucking me into the light. What could be there in the light? Don't tell me it's—!
No, wait... It's not heaven, right? Or maybe it is? Throughout my life, I haven't had any exceptional evidence proving the existence of heaven or the so-called "Paradise" introduced by many devout followers of our nation's religion. As a scholar, I was interested in the idea that there might be a second realm that only opens up when our soul gets free. Unfortunately, I couldn't focus on that path after I discovered magical energy.
I continued to swim through the tunnel. As I got closer, the white glow became brighter and brighter. There was no escaping whatever was calling me at the end of this light. I was prepared to finally end this temporary consciousness when suddenly—
"Wah...! Wah...!"
A cry.
The sound of a newborn baby wailing can be heard as I enter the white frame. And then it happened...
"Ouh! He finally opened his eyes!"
"Look, dear! He's very cute."
"Everyone! Come around and take a look at my son!"
"Those black hair and his crimson-red eyes are astounding! He looks like you, Garen."
"Haha! I know, right?! I'm sure he'll grow as handsome as me in the future. Now then, what do you wanna name him, dear?"
"Hmm, as we previously discussed, we would name him Lugh. Lugh Acrylis. It means "Light" or "Brightness" and is mostly associated with their knowledge, wisdom, and elite craftsmanship."
"Mhmm! As expected of you, my beloved wife. You really are smart! No objections from me! Very well, welcome to our world, my Lugh Acrylis!"
A muscular man raised my small body upward. Beneath me was a frail woman who had just recently got out of labor. I stared at the crowd who had been cheering my birth in a daze. I was baffled, confused, and wholeheartedly feeling terrorized by what was happening. This isn't normal.
Something was wrong...
***
2108 Era Nebula
1000 years since the death of the Legendary Grand Magister and Sorcerer—Arkan Valis
It's been seven whole years since I was reborn into this world as Lugh Acrylis.
At first, I thought I was gonna have a hard time adapting to the new environment I was in. After all, compared to my old world, where everything seems ancient and unorganized, today's world is comprised of mid-industrial to advanced technology and a systemized way of living.
Magic still exists in this current era, as expected. But for some reason, I can't help but feel that there was something wrong with the way they approached the spells.
But regardless, I'm happy that Magic has made its way to this era.
To be honest, it wasn't fun being reborn. I don't believe that we'll have a second life after you die, but I have to face reality.
One thing I didn't account for was that I was able to retain memories of my old life, including knowledge, habits, and specifics. This is a phenomenon that wouldn't normally be seen in a newborn child, yet my existence was an exception to this rule for unknown reasons.
During my early years in this world, I spent most of my life being cradled by my smart Mother named Emma Acrylis.
It was a weird experience to have an awakened consciousness inside a baby, and I couldn't bear that I had to remain still and live in a cycle of just being taken care of.
Well... Not that I really mean that. Back when I was still Arkan Valis, I grew up in an orphanage and wasn't able to meet my parents. So these newfound feelings and experiences are fresh to me.
I thought, "So this is what it would feel like to have parents who would love and take care of you."
Unexpectedly, after years of being held and nurtured by my parents, I came to love and treasure them as well.
But I know that these fleeting moments wouldn't last... Somewhere in the future, I'll have to tell them the truth that I'm not really their son, that a middle-aged man was only embodying this vessel. And I'm sorry for that... I really do.
***
By the age of five, I was finally able to kinda roam around the house and do some reading.
Emma was shocked at first when she learned that instead of playing in the fields or running around in the garden, I spent my time reading books stacked on the shelves.
The contents of the book itself are primarily magic, but it exudes an oddity that I can't wrap my head around.
Is this still based on Codex Arkanum? The foundation is similar, but the grammar and algorithm are fragmented.
As I was about to delve deeper into the books, my mother caught me again, making me thrash around like a child. I have to pretend that I still can't read properly, otherwise I'd risk catching their suspicions about what I am.
"My~! Look here, dear. Our little Lugh is reading..."
"Mhmm, well, that's odd, I thought he'd be running around on the outskirts by now. I wanted to teach him swordsmanship and train his body." Garen voiced out.
"Would you stop that already?" Emma glared. "You know that our poor boy is still too young and frail to hold heavy equipment."
"R-Right... Ahaha, sorry."
"Besides, isn't it adorable that he wants to learn and study instead~?"
"You're right. It seems like he does take after you, my love. You'll have to start tutoring him sooner or later."
"Do you think he'll be interested in learning magic at some point?" Emma asked.
"Well, if he's already inquisitive at this age, then surely he'll come across magic too and develop a liking for it."
"I see... I guess I'll have to prepare when that time comes."
***
Certainly, sensing my growing curiosity about the current magic of this world, Emma decided to teach me about its fundamentals.
She started by explaining the basic rules of magic, which is something that I already picked up by observing how the people in our village use it.
Of course, as the primary author of Codex Arkanum, conjuring magic spells was very easy. However, when I tried casting one for myself, the impact of the spell got reflected and made me stumble back, causing my right arm to scrape on the ground and bleed.
"Ow!"
"Ah, my baby! Are you okay?" Emma, panically, helped me stand up. "Your arm is bleeding..."
"S-Sorry, mother..." I groaned. I feel embarrassed. I keep forgetting that this is the body of a seven-year-old child. Looks like I won't be able to handle Codex Arkanum's spells immediately without proper training and conditioning.
"Shhh... It's alright, let me see it."
Emma lifted my arm gently and inspected the wound. I then sensed a slight change in the density of the surrounding magical energy.
"Listen, my dear Lugh... Always remember that magic is absolute in our world." She said with a hint of unease. She then extended her arm and gently opened her palm, and a shimmering glow entered my field of vision as it accumulated in her hand.
"By flame that flickers, by water pure, Let vitality flow and long endure. From depths of weariness, I now arise, With renewed strength that never dies. Energy courses through my being, Vitality restored, my spirit freeing. Reviucio Infina..."
With a smooth wave of her hand, a string of light caressed through my arm, slowly cleaning the wound and healing me. After that, it dissipated through the air.
My eyes widened a bit in surprise as I observed how she cast the spell. The approach to the spell was definitely different from what I established. Other than that, she muttered a long incantation, which is unnecessary in conjuration.
So the method was definitely revamped inefficiently, as expected. It's no wonder that they had to chant those long sentences...
"Phew, you're okay now, my baby..." Emma smiled.
"Mother, may I ask a question?" I said.
"Hmm? Sure, baby..."
"Do people always have to memorize those long words to cast a spell?"
She paused for a moment before answering.
"Well, your mother doesn't really know much about the intricacies of magic, so I'm not sure. Commoners, like us, have always known that to cast a spell, we should always thank God for blessing us with the ability through incantations."
Huh? Thank "God" for giving them the ability? That's ridiculous... You don't need a religious symbol to affect the essence of magic. Also, I'm the one who discovered magic and helped people learn it!
"That's why when we chant them, it's like we're being grateful for granting us their power. I've also heard that thanking God improves the effect of the spells, so many mages in our nation do it."
"Is that really how it works!?" I asked vehemently.
"Well, yes... At least that's what your mother learned when I was serving in the church as a healer." She smiled wryly.
"Then what about Codex Arkanum!? Does anyone still know about the Hundred Original Spells?!"
If Magic were able to reach this day of age, then surely someone would still recognize the founder of the codex, right?
"Umm, sorry..." Emma replied dejectedly. "Your mother doesn't know anything about Codex Arkanum or Hundred Original Spells."
"W-What?! But..."
"Ah! Is that something you read from the books on our shelves? Hee hee~ perhaps you'll learn more if you enter a Magic Academy in the future. I'm afraid my knowledge is not enough to quench your thirst..." She booped my nose.
No... There was no article or subject about the history of magic in the books. Both the Codex Arkanum and Hundred Original Spells cannot be found.
"T-Then what about Arkan Valis? Do you know who he is, Mom?"
"!!!" Her eyes widened in terror, almost as if she were fearful of something. "Where did you learn that name?!" She asked
"What do you mean? Arkan Valis is the founder of Magic—"
"He's not!!!" She screamed. "The person you called Arkan Valis... is an evil heretic who murdered thousands of people centuries ago. He isn't the founder of Magic."
My eyes widened in surprise, and I was left speechless...
Me? A heretic? An evil figure?! What the hell is going on?!
Emma stood up and leaned through the ledge in the open windows. She took a deep breath and sighed.
"The one who gave us Magic is none other than God."