The Extra Who Stole the Hero's System
Chapter 23: Enchanted Grimoire

Chapter 23: Enchanted Grimoire

THIRD PERSON POV

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In the world of Ostina, mana was the very unit of existence, an omnipresent life essence that flowed through the air, the earth, and all living things. It was the raw, fundamental energy from which all supernatural phenomena sprang.

Yet, how one interacted with this essence defined their discipline. Mana arts, for instance, were the direct manipulation of this raw mana for various functions – offensive, defensive, or supportive. A practitioner of mana arts might condense mana into a protective shield, or channel it to enhance their physical speed, or even project it as an offensive force. The mana itself retained its ethereal, shimmering form, its essence unchanged, merely shaped by the user’s will.

Magic, on the other hand, was a more complex, transformative discipline. It involved the transubstantiation of mana into one of the three fundamental categories of elements: primary (like fire, water, earth, air), secondary (such as lightning, ice, or metal), or advanced (more esoteric and powerful elements, often requiring immense skill).

Transubstantiation, the physical appearance of the mana changes, becoming tangible fire or solid ice, but its core essence, its raw mana composition, remained the same. It was a subtle but crucial distinction: mana arts sculpted mana; magic transmuted it. Both required a mana core to store refined mana — manex, but the application differed slightly.

Evelina Sapphire, with her innate talent and unwavering dedication, was aiming to be a practitioner of both, though her focus for the upcoming Ostinian Mage Knight Academy Entrance Exam leaned heavily towards honing her defensive mana arts. The Academy placed a premium on control and resilience, especially in the initial stages.

Deep within the Sapphire manor, underground, lay a specialized training hall. It was here, in the quiet hours of the afternoon, that Evelina prepared for the entrance exam.

She began her session with meditation, a process she had practiced since childhood. Sitting cross-legged on a cushioned mat, her spine straight, she closed her eyes. Her breathing deepened, becoming slow and rhythmic. She reached out with her senses, drawing in the ambient mana from the surrounding air, guiding it through her body, and refining it into pure, condensed manex within her mana core, a secondary organ nestled near her heart. The process requires immense focus and control, preparing her for the rigorous training ahead.

Once her mana core was sufficiently charged, she opened her eyes. Before her, floating gently in the air, was the Enchanted Grimoire, Kai had acquired for her. It shimmered with light, its pages turning silently, seemingly of their own accord. The book was a magical training partner, capable of casting mock spells and simulating real combat scenarios.

"Begin simulation: Offensive Mana Arts, Level 3," Evelina commanded, her voice clear and firm.

The grimoire’s pages flipped rapidly, then settled on a specific page. A soft hum filled the air, and then, from the grimoire’s open pages, ethereal arrows materialized. They were made of pure condensed mana, glowing with a faint golden light. These were the ’Soaring Arrows,’ a basic offensive mana art, designed to test a practitioner’s defensive capabilities. The grimoire fired them with surprising speed and precision, a series of glowing projectiles aimed towards Evelina.

Evelina’s eyes narrowed in concentration. Her hands moved, in subtle motions, channeling the manex from her core. "Vexal Wall!" she said, her voice steady.

A vertical wall of pure mana erupted before her, fusing from the air itself. It was a translucent, vibrant light golden, energy wall. The Soaring Arrows slammed into the Vexal Wall with dull thuds, dissipating against its surface, sending ripples across the wall Vexal wall. The wall held firm, absorbing the impact, then slowly faded away.

"Again!" Evelina commanded, a bead of sweat tracing a path down her temple.

The grimoire complied, firing another round of Soaring Arrows, faster this time, from different angles. Evelina moved, her agility impressive, and made another Vexal Wall, perfectly timed, perfectly placed.

The training continued, a relentless cycle of attack and defense. The grimoire would launch various projectiles and Evelina would respond, conjuring Vexal Walls, sometimes two or three in quick succession, her movements fluid.

For every successful defense, Evelina responded with a quiet nod of satisfaction, and each near-miss with a slight frown of determination. She was pushing herself, honing her reflexes, strengthening her mana arts.

After some intense minutes of training, Evelina’s breathing became heavier, her brow furrowed in intense concentration. She was pushing her mana core, pushing her physical limits, determined to master her defensive arts. The Academy Entrance Exam was near, and she left nothing to chance.

High above the training hall, within a discreet viewing section built into the manor’s layout, Kai Lorne watched. He stood there, his eyes fixed on Evelina’s movements. He had found this hidden vantage point while exploring the manor’s less-used passages, a place where he could observe without being seen.

His gaze shifted between Evelina’s determined face and the vial of the Knight’s Trial Elixir that rested on a nearby stone ledge. He had managed to dissuade Evelina from taking it immediately, but he knew her ambition. She wouldn’t discard such a valuable, supposedly beneficial potion easily.

He watched her make another Vexal Wall, deflecting a barrage of mana bolts from the grimoire. She was good. Very good. Her mana control was impressive, her dedication undeniable. But what if she decided to take the elixir? The system...

He was ready. Ready to intervene. Ready to act. He didn’t know what form the severe side effects might take, or how the corrupted mana signature would manifest, but he anticipated it. He might be an imposter, living a borrowed life, but he is now Kai Lorne, her supposed adopted brother. And he has just one aim— to survive, and he will thwart anything that will prevent that.

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