I make a comment about reading comments and suddenly there's comments.

This story felt 5x longer than usual. But sorry to disappoint, its not.

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Sitting in silence staring at the screen, I mentally began to go over what I knew about the spell and its construction. Most of it was new to me, but I could begin to see underlying similarities to other spells I knew. Nothing big or groundbreaking, but the basics of how it worked. Just like that a nest should be built on a branch, I could dimly catch a glimpse of the way this spell would prevent itself from collapsing the second this specific spell was cast. Nothing helpful that could allow me to create my own spell, but still promising.

Fourteen circles in a complicated array, centered on a focal point with a stream of formless mana running directly through the focal point. I can kind of see how it'll works to create an effect, the way the spell formation meshes to form the spell. Though how the lightning actually comes into play, I just can't see it.

How does it go from formless mana to lightning? And shouldn't it be light mana that's transformed into electricity? Am I missing something? Light mana from what I've seen is connected to light, and a relation to lightning as well if I'm reading this spell right. It certainly contains elements of light mana. And yet, I don't understand how this spell could work. I see how it works, but not how it-

Arod coughed, catching my attention and losing my thoughts. I almost groaned at him.

He apologised oblivious to my dismay, I could feel myself approaching a breakthrough..

"Jon. I'm sorry if I brought up bad memories"

Ah, he seems to think I'm still caught up over a memory of cake baking dead parents.

I waved him off with a light smile "Don't worry about it", his expression clearing I tried to resume my train of thought, but failed. I just couldn't slip back into the groove I had going, the thoughts that was leading me into a new direction.

Its simply too noisy, the low murmurs as the others talked to their instructors and the grunts as they move through their motions. Arod watched me patiently, watching and waiting silently for me to continue reading. He seems really invested in my wellbeing, even though we met like a hour ago. Seeing me looking at him, he smiled reassuringly.

Giving up on it for the time being, I turned my attention back towards the cookbook. It looks pretty normal even if a little messy. Stains and blots as ink dripped from the author's quill, smudges where his hand had rested. Scrawled words when the author grew lazy, scratched out words as he corrected his mistakes.

Really, if I didn't know what the book contained I would have completely missed the way some of these mistakes connected together forming words and sentences, telling me of a secret contained within using broken grammar and roundabout words. It was interesting to see it in work, the words describing the spell as a bolt of lightning from the casters fingertips, the caster's mouth shouting words into the air.

'Cracking the air, striking the sky. Folding thunder lightning strike!'

As Arod had stressed and the books had focused on, the author had placed a lot of importance on every sound you make, the feeling of mana in your throat and the way you formed this to mesh with the words. I really need to test it, do specific words matter in voice spells? Later tonight perhaps.

Their language was certainly different from English, more emphasis placed on throaty noises.

Spending the next half hour going through the books, I pretended to be interested as the books were proved useless.

Written Language: Sanien has been learned

WIS +1

Unable to learn Minor Heat (Voice). You do not have affinity for this element

Unable to learn Light Rain (Voice). You do not have affinity for this element

It didn't really surprise me, those spells were not of my alignments. I still had to read through the books though, didn't care to explain that the spells inside them were useless to me.

The most interesting book of the four was 'Races of the Beastlands'. Inside it contained sketches and descriptions of multiple types of monsters, wings and fangs outlined in vivid detail even as it pointed out their habits and weaknesses with the defining characteristics listed besides the monster.

Again, there was no new skills to be gained from this. No free stats, but I didn't mind. The contents were interesting and the quest was something I couldn't help but look forwards to.

QuestRaces of the Beastlands!DescriptionDiscover and meet all 22 races of the Beastlands!

Races Meet: 0/22

Rewards2000 EXP

Potential to discover a new skill

Potential to receive a new title

Its not so much I looked forwards to carrying out the quest, a few of the monsters listed inside that book were very difficult to find. But that skill and title..

Reminds me, if that title is something like increased relations with non-humans; would that god count as a non-human?

Pleased with how fast I had picked up reading, skimming through the pages and absorbing their contents with ease. Arod once more determined to ask for permission for the library or to seek out new books I could learn, neither of us suffered under the illusion he would have much luck.

But he was determined, dissatisfied with the way my talent was being wasted. I had made it clear that I was going to stay here while I wait for the others to finish their training, he was unhappy with it and worried that I can't fight, but I reassured him that the others could protect me. I could even learn from Rob his Ice Magic on the trip.

I wasn't staying with them out of loyalty or anything, just wanted to lower the chances of the quest failing for abandoning the team. It will also gives me more time to give a favorsome impression on the team and to break into their library.

This 'topple the kingdom' quest hasn't seemed to tell me the truth either, despite stating there were immediate rewards I'm still lacking that 1,000 gold and I have not received training in a class of choice. Unless Arod's three spells qualifies for that..

Is the 'class' even an official class recognised by gamer or just a way of training?

Would be sort of nasty if gamer had a class system I guess, limited to one path in the way of skills and spells even if the usable ones are easily trained up.

What would my current behavior even fall under? Magic Clubsman? Spellsword? Magician/Warrior? Gravitational Warrior?

Sigh, I wish. Even as I thought my body moved through motions as I attempted to use the spells in the books, yelling the corny chants only doable because no one was laughing at me. Messages of failing to learn continuously popping up like spam as I robotically obeyed Arod's optimistic encouragement.

Finally I had enough, sat down as I wanted to rest. Arod saw I was no longer willing to train and took his leave, meaning to talk to other mages on my behalf. I only watched the others for a few minutes before I got up and left the courtyard behind, seeking out my new room as I followed behind a old maid, when we arrived I frowned in disapproval as she showed me in.

The bed was fine, as was the table in the middle. The thick richly decorated tapestries hanging off the walls tastefully were also fine. But what I didn't like, what I really really didn't like was that massive window which exposed half the room to daylight.

It's interesting they have glass here, in such high quality too but that's not the point. The window overlooks a large area of the palace being on the second story, and while it looks extremely fancy I couldn't help but feel this room offered little in the way of actual privacy.

How many peekholes are there in the walls hidden in the decorations? How many spies watching hidden outside the window looking inside? My mage sight doesn't see anything, but it doesn't mean they don't have spells that can't do that. It doesn't comfort me that the others had their rooms next to mine, I could already predict the way they would excitedly and happily exclaim over their new rooms.

But guys, can this even compare to home? Do you not worry about being spied on?

I guess not, its just me that they hate.

"I'd like another room" I turned to the maid, "One without windows"

She hesitated as she looked at me, then thought a little. Thinking of somewhere to my liking, she spoke warily as she watched my facial expressions for signs of distaste. "The rooms without windows are normally delegated to servants"

"That's fine" I nodded towards her.

Seemingly relieved, she led the way through several corridors and the courtyard before we finally entered another room.

This room was nowhere near as fancy as the other room, it was actually pretty bare. But the selling points was its large amount of space and the door appearing to be solid wood.

Empty bed frame and simple table with two chairs were the only contents, but this wasn't a bad point. There's tons of space to practice with my club if I chose to do so.

I nodded approvingly "This room will do"

"I'll make the arrangements, feel free to wait in the courtyard as I prepare the room"

"I'll wait here" I spoke to her retreating back, this place wasn't dusty.

My largest concern was the 'arrangements' being to spy on me, such as drilling a tiny peek-hole into the wall while I'm out. I was a bit paranoid, but given the state of the previous room..

The day passed boringly, I spent most of the time in my room before we were invited to a banquet. That was also equally boring as it was a small affair, nobles invited and eagerly talking to the equally eager heroes with the 'king' (duke) seated next to the heroes. My own chair the furtherest away and next to Kira who was more than happy to chat to me.

A few nobles did try to talk to me, and I was more than happy to match up to their enthusiasm in an effort to levelup my acting skill. But whether it was my conversational topics or behavior I'm not sure, for they quickly made their excuses and left. Could be they realized who I was.

In the end acting only leveled up once.

SkillActingLevel2 [4%]Believability of your behavior improves by 12%

Do I seem that fake?

Weirdly enough, the others in our 'team' still took time and effort to try include me in things, drawing me into conversations where I felt distantly unwelcomed as they talked about our homeworld Earth, the exciting things back there and the genius I was.

Kira especially loved to talk about me, so much that as the others in the group began to give their excuses I politely left myself, unable to listen to the unshamed passion that flowed from her lips.

I still hadn't told the others in the team I was being excluded from real magic, it wouldn't help. I may tell them later, but not where they will make a scene.

I know them by now, sincere and loyal. They would definitely fight this unfairness on my behalf, arguing with the duke himself that I shouldn't be treated in this manner. Force them to bow under pressure before the demands of their summoned heroes.

It made me feel a little warm inside, squashed by the awkwardness when I think of how I'm going to leave them, abandon them and pursue the path of my own choosing. But its for the best right? Training and growing stronger, killing the beastking before they even reach the boss battle. This is the right thing to do yes?

Still, I can't help but think I am betraying them. They're sincere about me, eager to include me in their group and more than happy to think of me as a friend. Not a single one of their actions are anything less than sincere.

If I complained about my treatment and forced the kingdom to teach me magic, I wouldn't stand to benefit. It felt like too much stress to handle, better I just do things myself.

Besides, I have another plan.

Tonight, sneak out my room and look for their library. What's the worst that could happen?

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A loud horn continuously played as I scrambled towards the window, slipping the books I had grabbed into my inventory even as I leaped towards the small gap while assisted by gravity cloak.

At this time I'm dressed in another pair of dark black robes, had a lot of those made in the previous world. They're great. Easy to move in and hard to see in the dark.

Crawling through the small window the same way I had got in I heard the library door slam open, a voice yelling out of sight from behind the shelves with a snarl "Find him!"

With a small grunt as my shoulders squeezed through the small window, gravity forcing me through as I popped outside I began to fall before correcting it into flight, soaring away from the tower with my heart pounding.

Glancing down as I rapidly moved away I could see figures scurrying across the ground, responding to the loud noise with numerous nametags stating their status as magicians. Before they could even think to look up, I was gone.

Blood pounding with excitement, I rapidly flew down the corridors and into my room, closing the door even as I whipped off my black robes and shoved them inside my inventory leaving just underwear on as I slipped back into bed.

Closing my eyes, it wasn't even a minute before my door slammed open and a light shone inside. "He's in here!" someone yelled, halo of light surrounding him as I feigned sleepiness.

"What's going on?" I asked sleepily as I sat up, heart pounding as I saw his level.

Raz lv.32 Fire Combat Mage

"An intruder. Stay in your bed" Raz snapped, stepping aside as two others rushed in past him.

Shining a light in all corners, scanning over the table and chairs they quickly overturned my abandoned piles of clothing in fruitless search.

Commanding me out of my bed, they quickly looked at my bare skin before overturning my bed in search of something.

"Nothing's there" one of my assailants reported to Raz, Raz glaring at me before turning away.

Shouting "The room is clear!" into the hallway, he stepped aside once again as the two other mages left my room as fast as they had entered as he glared at me.

"Stay inside, there's been trouble" he commanded, closing the door behind him and leaving me in darkness. I could see under the door the bright light and shadow as someone stood next to my door, hallway lit up with spells.

Really, they're overreacting. You'd think that I had just stolen their crown jewels, the treasury of their kingdom or assassinated the prince. What's a few books even worth?

Summoning a torchlight and sitting on the chair while almost naked, I waited a minute for someone to investigate my light before picking up my bedding from the floor and remaking my bed.

The first order of business was crawling back inside my bed, creating a small tent between my legs as a protective screen to hide what was in my lap. Opening my inventory, five newly acquired books were placed beneath the covers.

With a triumphant glance at the door, I cracked open the first book.