The Frugal Mage

[ Mission Progress Updated ]

[ You have absorbed secondary insights on the concept of Spell Harmony. Proceed to the True Source Text to complete the mission. ]

[ Target: "On the Principle of Spell Harmony" a forgotten manuscript located within the Restricted Archive, Second Floor.

Requirement: Access and read. ]

Rayven paused upon seeing this.

"So, the one I need isn't among these seven…"

He could only sigh as he couldn't really complain about this. After all, he was about to get a discount voucher and 50 gold coins once he completed this. Furthermore, he only needed to read some books and pay the entrance fee for this library.

He closed The Seats of Power carefully, feeling both satisfied and disappointed about his progress.

But at least now he knew the real target.

The "Restricted Archive." That sounded exactly like the sort of place he'd need either special permission… or extra coin.

He then returned the books he had collected and stretched his numbing arm a bit.

As he made his way toward the spiral stairs deeper into the second level, he passed a few figures. Unlike him, they wore fine scholar robes. They glanced at him briefly but dismissed him immediately.

He wasn't wearing something that would identify him as a Mage or a Scholar after all.

As he continued looking around, he found another room on the second floor. It was a small room with a written Restricted Archive on its door.

Rayven found a desk manned by a weary-looking receptionist woman...

"How can I help you?" she muttered, thinking that Rayven just wanted to ask the location of some books.

Rayven smiled wryly. "There's… a particular manuscript I'd like to see. 'On the Principle of Spell Harmony.' Is it possibly in the Restricted Archive?"

To be honest, he was unsure why the knowledge or principle of Spell Harmony would be so restricted.

Rayven couldn't help but feel curious about what kind of secret it had.

Nonetheless, the woman didn't seem to think too much of it.

"That?" The woman then checked the list and confirmed that no one had borrowed that book just yet.

As a matter of fact, no one had ever checked the book. Still, there was a note that it was in the restricted section because the author seemed to have a complicated background.

"It's here…" She finally said.

"Is there a fee?" Rayven asked cautiously.

"Just one silver coin. Because all the books inside had no other copies. The ones you saw at the first and second levels are all copies. The original ones are inside the Royal Library…"

Rayven gently nodded as he understood the difference.

It was no wonder it was placed in the restricted archive.

Still, after the five copper for the first floor, ten silver for second-level access, and now another one silver… he couldn't help but feel a little concerned at his spending.

But since he would earn 50 gold coins, he could only forget about it.

Nonetheless, there was no way he wouldn't try to do something about it.

"If I already paid ten silver to get into this level, surely a thin manuscript isn't worth that much?"

The woman wryly smiled as this was something she had heard many times. "It's the rules. I'm not the one making it up."

Rayven could only sigh and pay the price. "Fine."

Reluctantly, he fished out a silver coin and slid it across the desk. She accepted it before she stood up and took the book from the archive room.

It took her only a few moments to get the manuscript he was searching for…

"You can't take it outside, but you can read this here for seven days without additional payment."

Rayven thanked the receptionist and soon, he finally held the manuscript…

"On the Principle of Spell Harmony."

He then found a seat to browse through the book.

Rayven sat, laid the manuscript open, and began to read.

"The principle of Spell Harmony is not an art of survival. A mage who imprints Spells at random would have their Mana Heart suffer, and their Path collapses under its own contradictions."

Rayven's eyes narrowed as the text unfolded.

As he continued reading, Rayven finally learned the various Mage Paths that this world was known…

He confirmed that there was indeed an Enchanter's Path like Thyruz, the Beast Summoner's Path, the Elementalist's Path, and others…

The manuscript also noted that if they followed a certain path, then the strength of their spells would be a lot stronger, even if they did not deliberately amplify their spells.

Unfortunately, Rayven didn't find the Battlemage, the Arcane Manipulator, and the Mystic Explorer Path in the list.

"There's a lot more path than I thought…" Rayven mused as he checked some of most interesting Mage Paths in the manuscript.

The first one that caught his attention was Storm Herald's Path.

The Core Spells were Wind Manipulation, Lightning Invocation, and Sound Resonance.

The Spell Harmony, or probably combo, was also noted in the manuscript. Wind carried lightning, while sound could be shaped by the turbulence of air. Together, these spells amplified speed and destructive impact.

It was an interesting path, and the document had even left a warning.

Apparently, attempting to include fire in this set often led to collapse, as flame stole the air needed for harmony.

'Interesting take…' He mused.

The next was the Earthwarden's Path.

This time, Core Spells were Stone Shield, Growth Pulse, and Gravity Bind.

It was written that the resilience of stone complemented the nurturing essence of growth. Then, gravity formed the stabilizing anchor, binding them into a defensive trinity.

As for its warning, it was noted that discord often arose if one attempted to merge rapid-fire spells, like lightning or pure flame, into the steadiness of earth…

Just like that, Rayven was absorbed in reading through the various Mage Paths!

He couldn't help but feel amazed at the True Seeker's Path, Spirit Cultivation's Path, Holy Spirit's Path, Dark Dominion's Path, and many others!

After learning all of this, Rayven couldn't help but have second thoughts about his Mystic Explorer Path!