Night slowly descended over the Royal Arcane Academy.
The once lively campus gradually fell silent.
Most students had already returned to their dormitories, exhausted after a long day of exploration and introductions. Only a few lanterns still flickered along the stone paths.
Lucien Blackwood stood beneath the shadow of an ancient oak tree, watching the towering silhouette of the Grand Library.
The largest magical archive in the entire empire.
Thousands of spellbooks.
Centuries of research.
And somewhere inside…
A forgotten treasure.
Lucien checked the pocket watch in his hand.
11:47 PM
Right on schedule.
In the original story, Adrian Vale had been punished earlier that evening for accidentally damaging a training dummy during his first practical class.
The academy supervisors had ordered him to clean the storage rooms beneath the library.
Lucien remembered the scene vividly.
While searching through the dusty archives, Adrian had discovered a loose stone behind a broken bookshelf.
Hidden there was an ancient spellbook.
One that changed everything.
Lucien's eyes gleamed faintly.
"Tonight, that story changes."
He adjusted the dark cloak around his shoulders and walked toward the library entrance.
The large oak doors were closed.
But Lucien had already expected that.
He raised his hand.
A faint whisper of mana gathered at his fingertips.
"Silent Unlock."
A soft click echoed.
The door opened slightly.
Lucien slipped inside.
The Grand Library at night was completely different from the bustling halls during the day.
Rows of towering bookshelves stretched endlessly into the darkness.
Dust floated in the air.
Moonlight streamed through the high stained-glass windows, casting faint blue patterns across the marble floor.
Lucien moved quietly between the shelves.
His footsteps made almost no sound.
Because he already knew where he was going.
The Archive Section.
Few students ever came here.
Most of the books stored there were outdated magical research or damaged manuscripts.
Exactly the type of place where something valuable could remain hidden for years.
Lucien descended a spiral staircase toward the lower level.
The air grew colder.
Drier.
More ancient.
When he reached the bottom floor, the corridor lights were dim.
At the far end of the hallway stood a small wooden door.
The Old Archive Room.
Lucien pushed the door open slowly.
The hinges creaked.
Inside, stacks of old books and broken shelves filled the room.
Dust covered almost every surface.
But Lucien's attention went directly to one particular corner.
A damaged bookshelf leaning slightly against the wall.
Exactly as described in the novel.
He walked toward it calmly.
His heart beat faster.
Even though he already knew what was hidden there.
Lucien grabbed the side of the shelf and pushed it slightly.
It moved.
Behind it—
A loose stone.
Lucien knelt down and carefully removed it.
Inside the hollow space lay a thin black book.
Its cover was made of strange leather.
Ancient runes shimmered faintly across the surface.
Lucien picked it up slowly.
The moment his fingers touched the book—
A sudden surge of mana rushed through his body.
The runes glowed brighter.
As if recognizing him.
Lucien opened the first page.
Golden letters slowly appeared across the parchment.
Mana Compression Technique
Lucien's breathing stopped for a moment.
Even though he already knew this spell existed…
Seeing it in person was different.
This technique allowed a mage to condense their mana reserves, making every spell far more powerful while using less energy.
It was the foundation of Adrian Vale's rise.
The first step toward becoming the future Archmage.
Lucien smiled.
"Not anymore."
He flipped through the pages quickly.
The instructions were detailed.
Precise.
Even someone without a strong magical background could attempt the technique.
Lucien sat cross-legged on the dusty floor.
He closed his eyes.
Mana flowed through his body like a quiet river.
Normally, beginner mages had very unstable mana control.
But Lucien was different.
He possessed the natural talent of the Blackwood bloodline.
And now—
He also possessed knowledge of the future.
Lucien began following the instructions carefully.
Gather the mana.
Condense it.
Compress it toward the core.
At first, the energy resisted.
But Lucien remained calm.
Minute after minute passed.
Slowly…
The chaotic mana began to stabilize.
Then suddenly—
A sharp pulse exploded inside his chest.
Boom.
Lucien's eyes snapped open.
A wave of magical pressure burst outward.
Dust scattered across the floor.
The candle flames in the archive room flickered violently.
Lucien looked down at his hands.
The mana flowing through his body felt different now.
Denser.
Stronger.
More controlled.
A quiet mechanical voice appeared again.
[Mission Complete]
Hidden Spellbook Obtained
Reward Activated
Mana Talent +30%
Lucien laughed quietly.
"Perfect."
He stood up and closed the spellbook.
This alone had already changed the story dramatically.
But Lucien knew something even more important.
When Adrian Vale arrived tomorrow night…
The spellbook would be gone.
The first step of the protagonist's legendary rise—
Erased.
Lucien placed the book inside his cloak.
Then he pushed the bookshelf back into its original position.
No one would notice the difference.
At least not immediately.
Lucien walked toward the door of the archive room.
But before leaving, he paused.
A strange thought crossed his mind.
"What will the future Archmage do…"
"…without his first miracle?"
Lucien smiled faintly.
Then he disappeared into the dark corridor.
Far above in the dormitory buildings—
Adrian Vale suddenly woke from sleep.
His heart beat strangely fast.
For reasons he could not explain.
He had the uncomfortable feeling that something important had just been taken from him.
Something that should have belonged to him.
Adrian stared out the window toward the distant library tower.
A faint uneasiness settled in his chest.
But he had no idea…
The story had already begun to change.
And the villain…
had taken the first step.