An expanse of pure white spread in front of Jennifer. She couldn't tell where the land she stood on ended and where the sky began. She looked around, trying to make sense of where she'd found herself.

Am I inside the book? That can’t be. No dimensional magic can have this much space crammed into a tiny book. And why is this thing among the normal books of the library?

There weren’t any answers to her question. But there was a voice.

“It has been a while since I’ve had a visitor here,” the voice spoke. A shadowy figure moved towards Jennifer, the dark form slowly taking form. “How curious, to think one of Alphion’s chosen would end up finding this message of mine."

An elf stood in front of Jennifer, his hair gray from age, grayer than any half-elf she'd ever seen, and half elfs aged faster than true elves. Simple white robes inscribed with golden letters adorned him, some kind of tree branch set around his head like a crown, as his long pointy ears poked through his long hair strands. Jennifer stared in awe, and confusion. She'd never seen an elf before, and from what she knew they didn’t age. Not like mortal creatures. They lived for centuries without change to their physique. At least, that's what she'd read.

Not much is known of them, seeing how they live hidden in mazes of misty forest.

“Well, let’s not tarry. You don't seem to recognise me, so I assume it has been long enough that people have forgotten my name. Such is the toll of time. Even the dragons fell to it, after all,” the old elf said, waving its hand as mist started to flow. Bushes and vines rose from the ground, a carpet of grass flowing ahead.

Magic flowed freely as the old elf spoke, his words carrying a heavy weight with them, causing Jenn to listen raptly. “There were three calamities that threatened the world. The first were the giants that shook the very lands as they raged against the new order,” the elf said, waving his hands and magic spread, an image forming.

She saw the giants loom like mountains above an army that was little more than ants. The giants skin shone in the sun, their bronze skin glinting as they ravaged the army. Each swipe, each swing destroyed hundreds of lives. The war raged, spells and skills unlike any she 'd seen before clashing. The giants fell one by one, brought to their knees by the tiny people.

“The giants, the cloud-striders, the sky bearers, there were many names we called them with. The oldest civilisation of this continent, if you were to not count the budding kingdoms of the depth. Amongst them was the first Calamity, The Death of the Sky. Led by their kind, they in their contempt, forgot that the new order was one that provided strength. And levels were not to be taken lightly. Thus the giants fell, and with them, the First Calamity,” The elf said. The name rang with power, causing Jenn's head to swim. Even as Jenn fought to recover, he waved his hands once more and the images shifted. As they resolved, she found a wide ocean sat in front of her.

“The second calamity came from the edge of the world, the dark seas that separates these lands, from those that lie beyond. From their depths the krakens and the mer rose against the changes brought on by the new magic. The wrath of the sea was felt for decades, led by the Death of Light, as it brought the darkest magic of the ocean bare. The war lasted almost a century. Yet, triumph was not theirs. They too fell with time.”

Massive monsters rose, of various sizes and shapes. The mer-folk and the krakens, the many, many creatures of the vast ocean. They blotted out the land as they fought against the land-dwellers.

“Yet it is neither of these, that I am here to talk about. No, my purpose lies with the last of the calamities. The creature that shook the world to its core and brought the old order to its knees. A beast so strong, it took the wrath of gods to bring it down.” Even as the old elf spoke, his voice turning resonant. Wind flowed around Jennifer, magic unlike any she'd seen spreading in front of her.

A vast shadow flew above her head, a beast roaring as it tore through kingdoms with each breath.

“The Third Calamity, he who we have named The Death of Dragons. Meiphor,” the elf said as the magic rose. The world around Jennifer shook with power, as his voice imprinted itself into the very creation of where she stood.

A Dragon flew above her head, four massive wings spreading from its back. They cast a vast shadow over her, a single wing large enough to cover all of Lienmont. Hundreds of other dragons flew in the distance, fire burning in their mouths as they attacked the massive four winged dragon. Yet Meiphor flew without care, fire erupting like the hottest lava from it’s maw as it shot at the dragons.

“There were many, who fought against the beast, to try and bring it low. The strongest of warriors, and the grandest of arch mages. They rode high on dragons, allied with common cause. Yet the beast moved undeterred as it brought the mighty dragons down as though they were no more than birds of prey.”

Thunder crackled in the sky as a bright shining figure moved through. Wings of light spread wide as a spear of lightning shot at the beast, tearing through one of its wings. The monster roared in pain for the first time since the scene had started, tumbling down to earth. The wrath of the gods continued, as lightning struck the monster repeatedly.

“It took the very gods interfering to bring the monster down. And even then, Meiphor’s corpse had to be sealed away by the Old Order, buried deep beneath the earth, to prevent it from rising again. There have been Tier 12 beasts before, yet Meiphor may perhaps have been the worst of them all,” the elf paused then, turning towards her. There was a strange sense of nostalgia to his voice. A pain, as if the events were more than just history, or mythical folklore.

“Meiphor may have been stopped, but his purpose had been fulfilled. The dragons succumbed, their Matriarch dead. Dragon magic was lost forever, and their progeny are perhaps the only being who carry wisps of the great old magic,” the images waited, and Jennifer realised that she'd been holding her breath.

“B-but why? Why would he kill his own kind?” she asked the elf, and he sighed.

“Revenge perhaps. Or malice. I cannot say. Very few know of Meiphor’s origin. And even fewer know of the time before the beast became known as the Death of Dragons. The Old Order may have known. Your guardian, Alphion, must’ve known as well. But these questions are not mine to answer. My purpose is to carry the message, so that time does not allow people to forget the prison,” the elf said, as mist started to flood around them.

“Go, Mark of Time. You have heavy burdens. I only hope you find your answer this time,” the elf said, his form fading into the mist. And the world collapsed around Jennifer.

“[Spell Suppression]” the words rang and Jennifer jerked in her chair. She felt the skill flow over her, as a hand snatched the book away from the table.

“And that’ll be going into the restricted book section,” Nathaniel said with a slight smile. “Not how I expected our first meeting to go, I must admit.”

“W-what are you doing here?” Jennifer asked dumbly, confused at why he’d arrived so quickly this time around.

“I happened to be in the vicinity, and have some other work at the academy so I decided to drop by on the girl who claimed to have invented some of my own magic shaping methods. That was before I found you with this ancient book here,” Nathaniel said patting the book in his hand.

“I don't know why they thought it was a good idea to leave something so old to sit around the library ungoverned. It's practically an artifact based on its age alone,” Nathaniel said, raising his voice slightly. Jennifer saw the Librarian perk up at the counter.

“In either case, let’s move to the training hall, where you can show me what your techniques and I’ll check how accurate your bold claims are.”

Jennifer nodded silently and Nathaniel turned around, handing the book to the Librarian who nervously fumbled once it had been placed in her hand. The two of them made their way out of the library, moving towards the section of the building that contained the training halls.

But Jennifer’s mind remained stuck in what she'd seen in the book. The elf had mentioned Alphion. The same name she'd seen when appraising her Mark all that time ago.

Not to mention that dream with that white dragon, what relation is there between the trial and the dragons? Were the dragons the one who established the trial? It doesn’t seems so. Not if I believe what the elf said.

She didn’t get much time to gather her thoughts as they arrived at the training hall.

“Well, let’s get started then. Can you show me what your spell shaping trick is?” Nathaniel said walking ahead.

Jennifer took a breath in, as she started to mentally prepare what she had to say. Can’t mess it up. Time to do this again.

❖❖❖

It took the better part of an hour to finish all the demonstrations, and little details. The look of utter shock on Nathaniel’s face when Jennifer had told him about her affinity core was certainly satisfying. A deep frown decorated his face now as he considered her.

“Well, you’ve all but convinced me to pull you under my wing. Your levels may not be exceptional, but those skills... with your background, and a rare affinity? Certainly a tempting deal. I imagine even a Grand Magus would be willing to teach you if you work hard enough.

Jennifer’s eyes widened at his words. “Wait really? A Grand Magus… but, I’m just…” Jennifer trailed off, as she realised that the world “normal” really couldn't be used to describe her. Not anymore. She'd gained two levels in close to two months. More than she had in the last year combined. And she could still feel her class growing rapidly, her next level up not too far off.

“Aren’t Grand Magus’ really picky in selecting apprentices? It’d be an amazing honor to be an apprentice under one, but why would they pick someone like me?” Jennifer asked Nathaniel, who rubbed his chin as he looked at her.

“You seem blind to your own value, Jennifer. How old are you? Seventeen right? Do you know what the average level of a mage of that age is? Level 12 to 15, at best. Your levels are, as I said, not exceptional but you're still a fair bit above average. But that isn't even the part that matters, no. Your crafting skills, and the fact you could come up with a shaping skill that took me years to finalise? That, alongside your expanded mana pool, ability to use your spells in combat despite not having a [Mage] class, and an affinity core in a rare affinity point towards a very bright future in just four to five years,” Nathaniel said, his words giving Jennifer pause.

“You also have a budding aura. By Zweir, you’re one strange girl. It’s like you’re trying to rush ahead as fast as you physically can, despite not having the levels for it,” Nathaniel remarked and Jennifer found that his words rang true. She had been pushing herself all this time. Desperately so, to make up the gap between the monsters that threatened her city. And somewhere along the way, she'd forgotten how ridiculous all of this was compared to her past only a few months ago.

“Regardless, we’ll be working on reinforcing your aura. Starting early will help manifest a stronger aura, not something many get a chance to work on. That alongside affinity training and basic combat practice will be the focus of your training for the next month or so.”

Jennifer nodded, bowing to Nathaniel. “Thank you, for accepting my sudden request,” she said, trying to be as earnest as she could be. This training was her chance to grow. While she still had time, she'd try and reach as far in her magic as she was allowed to. To defeat monsters like the Sand Mage, and that shapeshifting demon, she would need stronger magic. Much stronger.

And money. I still need to get that light Core, maybe I can get Gavril to come with me.

“If you’re thankful, then I suggest you make the best of training under a Ranked-plate. I may not be Ranked-Plate myself yet, but there is a reason my team is. Now, let’s not waste time. First, your affinity core,” Nathaniel said sharply and Jennifer smiled as she followed his instructions.

It was time to challenge her limits in magic. And surpass them.