The room was quiet beneath the pale silver light of the lamp hanging above the desk. Soft light spread across the polished floor and the edge of the bed, while beyond the window the night of the academy remained calm and silent beneath the stars.
Ivan slowly closed the book of Basic Meditation Method in his hand.
At the same time, inside his mind, Nova rapidly organized and categorized all the information from the book before transmitting it toward Ivan's memory region. A faint stinging sensation spread through his head, causing Ivan's brows to knit slightly together. Fortunately, compared to the first large-scale transfer, the pain this time was far weaker.
A few moments later, the stinging gradually faded away. Ivan slowly exhaled and a strange feeling appeared in his mind. Every page of the Basic Meditation Method now seemed deeply engraved within his memory, as though he had memorized the book word for word after reading it for countless years.
Ivan placed both books neatly on the desk before returning to the bed and sitting down cross-legged. The room once again became silent, illuminated only by the faint glow of the magical lamp hanging above the desk.
According to the Basic Meditation Method, the first step of meditation was the construction of the First Meditation Rune. But before that, one first had to enter a meditative state. For that, the mind had to remain calm, focused, and completely clear of distracting thoughts.
For ordinary wizard seeds, this alone was already a difficult obstacle. As long as a person remained awake, countless thoughts naturally emerged within the mind. Desire, fear, memory, imagination, emotion—those things constantly disturbed concentration and prevented the mind from reaching true stillness.
That was why many wizard seeds struggled greatly during their first meditation attempts. But Ivan was different. Ivan possessed Nova.
Following the instructions recorded within the book, Ivan slowly regulated his breathing while his body relaxed little by little. At the same time, Nova subtly adjusted the frequency of Ivan's neural activity, helping stabilize the chaotic fluctuations within his mind.
Gradually, the chaotic thoughts within Ivan's consciousness quieted down. The distractions faded one after another, and his consciousness slowly became still like a calm lake beneath moonlight.
After stabilizing the mind, the next step was to sense the Soul Sea. According to the meditation method, every wizard possessed a spiritual core where mental energy gathered. It existed deep within consciousness itself and could only be perceived after entering a focused meditative state.
Ivan concentrated on the center of his forehead. According to the descriptions recorded inside the book, the Soul Sea resembled a circular sphere shimmering like endless ocean waves. Following that description, Ivan repeatedly imagined an illusory blue sphere surrounded by flowing ocean-like radiance.
Time slowly passed.
Then—
He felt it.
Within the darkness of his perception, a faint blue radiance slowly appeared. It resembled a shimmering ocean suspended within endless void, while countless ripples flowed across its surface, illusory yet strangely real.
Ivan immediately understood that this was his Soul Sea. The blue ocean-like radiance surrounding the sphere was his mental energy.
A trace of excitement flashed through Ivan's heart, but he quickly suppressed it and stabilized his emotions once more. The book had repeatedly warned against emotional fluctuations during meditation, because even the slightest carelessness could disrupt concentration. Once concentration faltered, even a tiny deviation while constructing the rune could destabilize the entire structure and trigger a mental backlash.
Ivan carefully extended his will toward the Soul Sea. According to the instructions within the book, he now had to mobilize mental energy and separate a strand from the Soul Sea in order to construct the First Meditation Rune.
Slowly, under Ivan's control, a thin strand of blue mental energy separated itself from the ocean-like sphere. The moment the strand emerged, Ivan felt an indescribable sensation within his consciousness. It was as though an invisible hand had suddenly appeared inside his mind and was now connected to the thin strand of mental energy.
He cautiously controlled the thread.
Up.
Down.
Left.
Right.
At first, the sensation felt extremely clumsy and awkward, like a person attempting to move an unfamiliar limb for the very first time. But after several minutes of continuous practice, Ivan gradually adapted to the strange feeling. The mental thread slowly became steadier beneath Ivan's control, and only after fully stabilizing it did he carefully guide the thread toward the center of his Soul Sea.
And at that moment, the true challenge finally began.
The construction of the First Meditation Rune.
Ivan's expression gradually became serious. According to the Basic Meditation Method, the rune had to be formed with absolute precision. Even the slightest deviation could destabilize the structure and cause the entire rune to collapse instantly. The backlash from failure would directly impact the practitioner's spirit and mind itself.
Even with Ivan's Fourth Grade aptitude, the first mental backlash would still be painful because his spirit had not yet adapted to rune construction. So Ivan could not afford to be careless.
Just as Ivan was about to begin constructing the rune, Nova's calm mechanical voice suddenly echoed within his mind.
"Master, would you like me to activate the Auxiliary System and directly assist with rune construction?"
Hearing Nova's voice, Ivan was not surprised. Nova was fundamentally bound to his soul itself, and if granted permission, Nova could temporarily control portions of Ivan's body and consciousness. Naturally, controlling mental energy was also possible.
If Ivan wished, Nova could directly control the mental energy thread itself and construct the First Meditation Rune with extreme precision. At the same time, Nova was already recording the entire process while continuously scanning Ivan's body for abnormalities.
After hearing the proposal, Ivan remained silent for several seconds before slowly shaking his head.
"No."
"I must do the first attempt myself."
This was not blind stubbornness. Ivan had already thought deeply about this matter long ago. Nova was his greatest support within this unfamiliar wizarding world, and without Nova, Ivan would never have adapted to the strange magical civilization and its systems so quickly.
But Ivan understood something very clearly.
There were situations where Nova could not help him.
The Trial of Eternal Will upon the recruitment island was proof. During that trial, Nova had been unable to interfere directly, and Ivan had survived only through his own determination and willpower. And in the future, there would unavoidably be more situations like that.
If Ivan relied entirely upon Nova for everything, then the moment he encountered a situation beyond Nova's assistance, he would collapse immediately. That was unacceptable.
Nova could support him, guide him, and assist him, but Ivan himself had to become strong enough to stand alone. Otherwise, he would merely become a cripple dependent upon external assistance.
And in this cruel wizarding world, such people died early.
After stabilizing his thoughts, Ivan focused once more. The thin thread of mental energy slowly moved through his Soul Sea, and following the method recorded within the meditation book, he carefully began carving the First Meditation Rune. The process itself appeared strangely simple at first glance.
Once a section of the mental energy thread was positioned correctly upon a rune node, Ivan only needed to slightly loosen his control, and the mental thread would naturally stabilize in that location. Simple in theory, but terrifyingly difficult in practice. Every line had to be exact, every angle perfectly precise, and every rune node flawlessly connected without the slightest deviation.
Ivan's focus gradually reached its limit. He carefully guided the mental thread through the first curve, then the second, then the third, while the outline of the First Meditation Rune slowly began taking shape within the center of his Soul Sea. Time quietly passed, and Ivan's concentration became increasingly intense as sweat slowly formed across his forehead.
The consumption of mental energy itself was not particularly high, but maintaining absolute focus for such a long period was extremely exhausting for the spirit. Half of the rune was already complete, and everything was progressing smoothly. But at that exact moment, a sudden wave of mental exhaustion struck Ivan's consciousness.
His focus trembled for only a split second.
And that single moment was enough.
The mental thread suddenly shook slightly, causing one line of the rune to deviate from its intended trajectory. The change was tiny, almost impossible to notice at first glance, yet the moment the deviation appeared, the entire meditation rune suddenly began trembling violently inside the Soul Sea.
Nova's warning immediately rang out within Ivan's mind.
"Warning."
"The integrity of the mental rune is rapidly declining."
"Fifty percent…"
"Forty-two percent…"
"Thirty-six percent…"
"Thirty-two percent…"
Ivan's expression immediately hardened. He instantly understood that the construction had failed, and without hesitation, Ivan abandoned the focused mental state and prepared himself mentally for the incoming backlash.
A few seconds later, the half-finished rune suddenly shattered apart. Countless fragments of blue light exploded throughout the Soul Sea like broken stars scattering across a dark night sky. At that same moment, intense pain erupted through Ivan's mind as though a heavy hammer was repeatedly smashing directly against his skull again and again.
"Mgh…"
A muffled groan escaped from Ivan's lips while a trace of blood slowly trickled down from the corner of his mouth. The pain lasted for several long seconds before gradually weakening, but even afterward, his head still trembled violently from the lingering impact of the mental backlash.
Ivan slowly opened his eyes, his face slightly pale. He wiped away the blood with his sleeve before leaning lightly against the bed and calming the turbulence spreading throughout his Soul Sea. The pain was worse than he had expected, and fortunately, his Fourth Grade aptitude had greatly reduced the damage. If it had been a First Grade aptitude holder, the consequences would have been disastrous.
After resting quietly for some time, Ivan gradually began analyzing the cause of failure while Nova simultaneously replayed the entire recorded process within his mind. Ivan carefully observed every detail without missing even the slightest movement, and soon he finally understood where the problem had originated.
Controlling mental energy looked simple on the surface, but in reality it consumed an enormous amount of concentration. As the construction progressed further and further, the strain upon his spirit gradually increased. Combined with the nervousness from his very first rune construction attempt, his control destabilized for only a brief moment.
And that single mistake collapsed the entire rune.
After identifying the issue, Ivan slowly closed his eyes once more. Instead of stopping, he prepared for a second attempt almost immediately. According to the meditation book, the period immediately after the first mental backlash was both the best and the worst time for continued meditation and rune construction.
The best because the mental backlash stimulated the dormant mental energy and temporarily increased activity within the Soul Sea. The worst because the mental backlash itself had already damaged the spirit. During this period, mobilizing mental energy and constructing runes actually became much easier, but if one overexerted themselves, the spiritual damage would worsen rapidly.
Ivan naturally would not waste such an opportunity.
This time, however, he activated Nova's auxiliary support. Nova would not directly assist in constructing the rune itself and would only help stabilize Ivan's mental condition. Gentle neural frequencies slowly spread through Ivan's mind, stabilizing his emotions while maintaining his concentration at its peak condition.
The effect was immediate. Ivan felt his mind becoming extraordinarily calm and clear while every distracting thought rapidly faded away almost instantly. The sensation was nearly identical to the Meditation Incense described within the meditation book, a precious auxiliary item often used by wizard apprentices to improve concentration during meditation.
But one stick of Meditation Incense cost at least ten low-grade magic stones. Ordinary wizard apprentices were naturally reluctant to use such an expensive meditation aid regularly. Yet Nova's auxiliary support achieved almost the same effect entirely for free, causing Ivan to feel secretly delighted inside.
This alone could save him enormous future expenses.
With Nova's assistance, the second construction attempt became far smoother than before. The mental thread moved steadily through the Soul Sea while one rune node after another connected perfectly. One curve stabilized after another, and gradually the First Meditation Rune began forming beautifully within the Soul Sea like a blooming geometric flower formed from blue radiance.
Time quietly passed once more. Nearly an hour later, the rune was finally approaching completion, and only the very last node remained unfinished. But just before the final connection could completely close, a thought suddenly surfaced within Ivan's mind.
Without hesitation, Ivan intentionally shook the mental energy thread.
The nearly completed rune trembled violently before collapsing once more into countless shattered blue fragments throughout the Soul Sea. A mild sting spread through Ivan's head, but compared to the first backlash, this level of pain was almost insignificant.
After calming the Soul Sea, Ivan slowly opened his eyes once more. There was naturally a reason behind his deliberate failure. According to the meditation guidebook, even Fifth Grade aptitude geniuses usually required at least a week to construct the First Meditation Rune successfully.
The most talented individuals needed at least five days, while the historical record holder had taken only three days to complete the first rune. As for Fourth Grade aptitude holders, they generally required around half a month to successfully construct the First Basic Meditation Rune.
If Ivan, a supposed Fourth Grade aptitude holder, completed the rune within a single night, the result would simply be far too abnormal. Such terrifying talent would immediately attract dangerous attention, and high-level wizards might eventually begin investigating him thoroughly.
And once people started digging deeply enough…
Nova's existence could eventually be exposed.
Wizard seeds and wizard apprentices were insignificant existences within the wizard world. To truly powerful wizards, they were no different from insects that could be casually crushed with a single wave of the hand. The Academy might maintain rules internally, but outside the Academy, no one would care if a weak apprentice disappeared or was quietly killed.
And every wizard apprentice eventually had to leave the Academy in order to obtain resources and experience.
Ivan had no intention of becoming a target so early.
He would reveal only enough talent to appear excellent, but not monstrous. Outstanding, but not terrifying. In the cruel wizarding world, exceptional brilliance without sufficient strength and powerful backing often led only to an early death.
Ivan slowly glanced toward the window. The moon had already climbed high into the night sky, and it was nearly midnight. Feeling slightly exhausted from the repeated attempts at rune construction, Ivan finally lay down upon the bed and slowly closed his eyes.
Several minutes later, sleep quietly overtook him.
And the night passed in silence.
Morning quietly arrived beneath the peaceful sky of the academy. Warm sunlight slowly filtered through the curtains and spread across the room, illuminating the floor, the bed, and the silver-white academy robe hanging nearby.
Ivan slowly opened his eyes before sitting upright on the bed. His head felt unusually refreshed and clear. Although both rune construction attempts had ultimately failed last night, the repeated meditation had still tempered his mental energy to a certain degree and strengthened his control over mental power.
After washing up briefly, Ivan walked toward the living room and began his usual knight training routine. Sword swings, body strengthening movements, and breathing exercises followed one after another in smooth rhythm while the Knight Breathing Method continuously circulated throughout his body.
An hour later, Ivan slowly exhaled a stream of hot air. The muscles across his body relaxed slightly as the heat rising from his skin gradually faded away. Only after calming his breathing did he calmly speak,
"Nova, show me my current status."
A transparent blue panel immediately unfolded before him.
Name: Ivan Thornheart
Age: 16
Race: Human
Strength: 6.7
Agility: 6.6
Constitution: 6.8
Mental Energy: 3.9
Ivan nodded satisfactorily after seeing the numbers. All three physical attributes had already surpassed 6.5. He was now only one step away from officially becoming a Mid-Level Knight.
As for his mental energy, it remained at 3.9. According to Nova's calculations, this was already close to the maximum limit his current physique could support. Only after becoming a Low-Level Wizard Apprentice and completing a life-level transformation would the invisible shackles restraining his body loosen further, allowing his mental energy to continue increasing once again.
At that moment, Ivan's gaze unconsciously lingered on the number beside his age.
Sixteen.
Without even realizing it, nearly a year had already passed since his transmigration into this world. And it had already been several months since he left the Valen Continent behind.
A trace of nostalgia slowly surfaced within Ivan's eyes. He still remembered Baron Joseph. Although their relationship had never been particularly close or warm, the man had still provided him shelter and allowed him to train as a knight despite his illegitimate status.
And there was also his older brother.
From childhood until now, the other party had never bullied or mocked him. On the contrary, he had always acted properly as an elder brother should. Even after Ivan's transmigration, both of them had treated him genuinely well.
Those memories were not easy to erase.
For a brief moment, the distant image of Thornheart Territory quietly surfaced within Ivan's mind.
Then—
Ding!
A familiar sound suddenly interrupted his thoughts.
The bronze badge resting on the table emitted a soft glow before projecting a transparent holographic display into the air.
"Attention all Wizard Seeds."
"The Ancient Byron Language courses will officially begin today within the Teaching District."
"Attendance is mandatory for students unfamiliar with the language."
"Students already proficient may arrange their schedules as they see fit."
The message slowly faded away shortly afterward.
Ivan merely glanced at the projection calmly. He was already proficient in the Ancient Byron Language, so naturally there was no need for him to waste time attending introductory classes.
Just then—
Knock. Knock.
The sound of knocking echoed from outside the room.
Under Ivan's instruction, Eve, the alchemy assistant puppet, immediately walked toward the entrance and opened the door.
Standing outside was Olivia.
Her emerald-green eyes brightened slightly after seeing Ivan, but in the very next moment, her entire body froze in place.
Ivan had only just finished his knight training. His upper body was still bare, revealing lean muscles covered with faint traces of sweat beneath the morning sunlight.
Olivia's face instantly turned bright red.
"Y-You…"
She hurriedly covered her eyes with both hands. Unfortunately, the gaps between her fingers were suspiciously wide.
Ivan also froze briefly before finally realizing his current appearance. A rare trace of embarrassment immediately appeared across his usually calm expression.
He quickly grabbed the clothes hanging nearby before throwing them over himself.
"You can stop pretending not to look now," Ivan said helplessly.
Olivia immediately lowered her hands before blinking innocently.
"I wasn't looking."
Ivan, remembering the obvious gaps between her fingers earlier, nearly laughed out loud.
For a moment, the atmosphere inside the room suddenly became much lighter. The previous awkwardness faded considerably as Ivan invited Olivia inside before both of them sat down upon the sofa.
Olivia still seemed slightly embarrassed and occasionally avoided eye contact, while Ivan himself coughed lightly once or twice to hide the remaining awkwardness in the air.
Fortunately, Eve quickly came to the rescue carrying breakfast.
The simple meal immediately eased the atmosphere.
While eating together, the two gradually began speaking naturally once more. Olivia lightly stirred her drink before looking toward Ivan curiously.
"Have you already decided your wizard path?"
Ivan paused briefly before nodding slightly.
"I already have some ideas… but I'm still organizing my thoughts for now."
Naturally, he avoided revealing too much information.
Olivia sighed softly while staring down at her drink.
"I'm still confused."
"There are simply too many choices."
"I don't even know what suits me."
Seeing the troubled expression on her face, Ivan quietly thought for a moment. Yesterday, he had focused almost entirely on books related to his own future path and basic magic theory materials. Because of that, he had not paid much attention to information regarding Olivia's elemental affinities.
After finishing breakfast, Ivan calmly proposed,
"Then let's go to the library today."
"We can properly research the wizard paths suitable for you. Anyway, since you already understand the Ancient Byron Language, there's no need for you to attend the introductory class either."
Olivia blinked slightly after hearing his words. Soon afterward, a bright smile slowly appeared across her face.
"Really?"
Ivan nodded calmly.
"Choosing the wrong wizard path affects the future too much. It's better to be careful from the beginning."
Olivia slightly lowered her head, quietly hiding the happiness within her eyes.
"…Thank you."
Her voice was soft.
But completely genuine.
Shortly afterward, Ivan changed into his silver-white academy robe. Then, together, the two left the residential building and walked toward the distant academy library beneath the warm morning sunlight.
A brand-new day within the academy had quietly begun once again.