Chapter 4
The faint creak of the heavy doors echoed behind Lucien as he stepped into the grand library of House Velebrandt. Towering shelves lined the chamber, reaching towards a high ceiling painted with celestial murals. Dust particles danced in the filtered sunlight streaming through the high arched windows, casting a serene glow upon the polished floor.
Lucien took a breath, his footsteps muffled by the luxurious crimson carpet. He scanned the seemingly endless sea of books, their spines bearing golden titles and ancient runes. "This... this could take a while," he muttered.
Hours passed. Row after row, shelf after shelf, Lucien poured over texts ranging from geography to arcane theory. And yet, what struck him most wasn't the knowledge—no, it was the language.
He was reading fluently.
"...Wait," Lucien whispered to himself, blinking in realization. "This isn't Japanese... or English. I don't even know what this is."
Even more perplexing, he'd been speaking it too—effortlessly. Whether it was to his maid, the guards, or his parents... It came naturally, as if ingrained.
He leaned back, closed the dusty tome, and narrowed his eyes thoughtfully. "Is this part of the character I reincarnated into? Or the system adapting me to this world?" He considered it briefly, then let out a sigh. "Well, if it benefits me, no point in overthinking it."
With that, he turned his focus back to the text.
The next tome was thick, bound in beast hide, and etched with metallic sigils. Its title: The Core Principles of Power and Awakening. Lucien flipped through the pages, eyes widening with every line.
This world didn't run on a singular form of strength. Instead, it was divided into three primary forces:
Aura — A raw and physical power, honed through discipline and body refinement. Often wielded by humans, beastkin, and intelligent monsters. Aura reinforced the body, weapon strikes, and heightened instincts.