Chapter 44 – Fundamentals of Magic
The sun was just rising on the horizon, painting the sea in strokes of gold and orange. William stepped out of his cabin, stretching his arms, still carrying the heaviness left by a long and vivid sleep. A few sailors on the deck caught sight of him and gave him a casual wave from a distance.
William raised a hand in return, a faint smile on his lips and his head held high—without a hint of arrogance. Just... mutual respect.
He stopped in front of Aurus's door. For a moment, he lifted his hand to knock, but didn't go through with it. A calm, steady voice reached him from inside.
—"Come in, William. I've been expecting you."
The door creaked open by itself, as if the ship itself acknowledged his presence.
Inside, William found himself momentarily speechless. Aurus's cabin was ten times the size of his own. On one side, several tables overflowed with vials, jars of emerald-colored liquid, polished metal tools, and rune stones pulsing with a dim light. Bookshelves stacked high lined the walls all the way to the ceiling.
In the center, beneath the soft glow of a floating lamp, Aurus read from a thick tome. A spiral of bluish energy rose from his right hand, twisting upward before dissolving into the air.
—"Sorry I took so long," William said, still in awe of the room. "Something... made me sleep more than usual."
Aurus didn't look up from his book.
—"It's a side effect of awakening to mana for the first time. No need to apologize. Tell me, how do you feel?"
William paused. It wasn't just fatigue. There was something different about him.