Prelude to Irrationality

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 the state of a 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 in 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 is 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! No objections. Very well, welcome to our world, 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 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 when I was still Arkan Valis, today's world is comprised of high technology and a systemized way of living.

To tell you the truth, it wasn't fun being reborn. I don't believe that you'll have a second life after you die, but I have to face reality. One thing that I didn't account for was that I was able to retain the memories of my old life, including knowledge, habits, and specifics. This is a phenomenon that you wouldn't normally see from a newborn child, yet my existence was an exception to this rule.

To find the truth about what happened, I spent the last two years researching the New World. I went to a nearby local library with my father, whose name is Garen, and picked up all the books, journals, documents, and newspapers related to every turning point in the history. And of course, I also went to find out if Magic still existed in this era.

To my surprise, the study of Arcane Arts or Magic in general lasted several centuries up to the present, which led to numerous groundbreaking discoveries in natural sciences. Not gonna lie, I was pretty elated when I heard that the people of this era still use magic. Perhaps Magic is the reason why we have technology now.

Seeing that everyone appreciates the concept that I authored made me happy, but that happiness wouldn't last long when I read a cryptic article about magic that caught my attention.

I settled down at a nearby table with a few students also reading textbooks. I then called out to someone, whom I presumed to be a young student, in a soft voice.

"Excuse me, Miss...?"

The woman beside me took off her reading glasses and stared at me. "Yes...?"

"I apologize if I happen to disturb your studies, but I was wondering if I could ask you a few questions about a topic in Magic." I voiced out.

"Wow, you're a very polite kid, aren't you. It's fine, I was about to take a break anyway. You can ask whatever you want." She smiled.

I can't tell her that I'm a kid with the mind of a 30-year-old mage.

"Thank you. It just so happens that I stumbled upon this article that reads [The Holy Order of Arcane Arts proposed a bill of the issuance of Mandatory Military Service or Conscription for those who have an innate talent for Sorcery or Magic thereof]. If it is possible, could you tell me more about this?"

"..." She blinked.

"Umm, Miss...?"

"Oh! Sorry sorry! I was just surprised that a kid like you is curious about these complex issues. Well, as the title itself said, it was an issued order from the newly reformed Valis Magic Institute, though they are now affiliated with the Crown Loyalists and are recognized as a religious group. After the Thalorian War 500 years ago, to strengthen our Nation's International Security, they employed talented magicians and sages to become tools for war."

"What...?"

"Apparently, due to the destructive nature of Magic back in those days, the top members of each department from our government were in consensus that Sorcerers should become our 'protector' per se." She explained.

"You mean that as a soldier, correct?" I asked.

"Yes. However, there are some scholars and renowned sorcerers from different Magic Schools who opposed this decision. Rumors spread that the Crown Loyalists are only using our talented mages to dominate the continent and to bring more power. That's what I learned from historical research. Political issues are kinda not my forte, so I'm sorry if I can't explain more."

"No, no, your knowledge and understanding have been a tremendous help, Miss..."

"Call me Vanessa. Vanessa Hamilton."

"Oh, I'm Lugh Acrylis. Nice to meet you, Miss Vanessa." I shook her hand.

"Hehe, it's refreshing to see someone interested in our history. It's not something I would expect from a boy like you. By the way, how old are you?" She asked.

"I'm seven, what about you?"

"Ah, you're a first grader then? I'm twelve."

Oh? She's only twelve and yet I can feel immense knowledge and magical energy emanating from her.

"Do you often come to this local library, Miss Vanessa?"

"Yep. I am mostly inside this library for the rest of the day. It's because I want to pass my entrance exam to the Caer Thalor Institute of Archaeomancy and become a Runic Decipherer."

"Caer Thalor Institute? Is that a school or something?" I haven't heard that institution ever since I was born.

"Ah, I'm not surprised that you are not aware of its existence, they're far from this remote place after all. It's one of the Four Academies established to nurture today's mages and sorcerers. Caer Thalor is a school that specializes in Pale Weaving, Runic Archaeomancy, Soul Echo Binding, and Studies of Forgotten Codices."

My eyes widened when I heard about Forgotten Codices and Soul Echo Binding.

"Wait, Miss Vanessa!"

"Hmm? What is it?"

"Do you know about Codex Arkanum?" I asked. If everyone is still using magic till this day, then that means the references and studies are directly tied to my own Codex, right? After all, without Codex Arkanum, they wouldn't be able to discover the full context of Magic and nature itself.

"Codex Arkanum? Hmm, is that a newly released spell book or something?" She tilted her head.

"Huh?"

"If it is not, then I'm afraid I do not know about it." She sighed.

"What? But then, how do the mages of this generation use or learn about magic?"

"This generation? Umm, the four academies just use a grimoire that the Holy Order of Arcane Arts distributed for general studies. The professors from these schools are the ones teaching them about their practical use and application. Is there something wrong with it?"

"I'm confused. So they're learning magic from recreated textbooks as well? Not the codex?!"

"Y-Yes, I believe that's what everyone has been doing for the past millennium or so—" 

The chair that I was sitting on fell sideways as I stood up, causing a loud, cluttered noise in the hallway. Everyone stared at the source as I digest every information that I learned in silent rage.

This is unforgivable! First, they eclipsed the Hundred Original Spells Codex Arkanum, authored by me, and used those who studied them as tools for war. And now they're trying to dilute my teachings with their abominable methods. Almost as if they're using the Four Academies as a factory to produce inferior and mediocre mages.

For what?! To cause a war?! This isn't the ideal future that I envisioned when I first started writing Codex Arkanum. I won't forgive them. Someone needs to stop them before it's too late!

"Miss Vanessa..." I called out.

"Yes? Are you okay? You look pale—"

"Can you please bring all of the grimoires that the Holy Order gave? And I want you to meet me in the local park tomorrow, if that's okay."

"E-Eh?! Umm... I guess I could do that, but what are we gonna do with it?"

"We'll learn magic the right way..." I declared.

Miss Vanessa doesn't seem like a person who would want to confer with the Holy Order. And she's also a promising candidate, talented enough to enter a magic academy. If I were to pick a starting point for my influence, she would be the perfect student.