Perceive Magic

The library.

Scorching sunlight streamed through the stained-glass windows, casting mottled patches of light and shadow across the bookshelves.

The petite, adorable silver-haired girl lay on a hammock, swinging her little feet as she read, while the black-haired youth beside her sat cross-legged on the floor, his head lowered over a book resting on his lap.

Golden light fell over them both, and even the air seemed steeped in tranquility.

Bong! Suddenly, a deep bell sounded from outside the window, long and heavy.

The bell rang three times in succession, finally rousing Xian from his immersion in the books.

His gaze left the page as he looked somewhat blankly at the girl on the hammock beside him.

"Your Highness, that is the bell of the Castle Clock Tower. It means it is noon," Ilith explained softly.

"Without realizing it, the whole morning is already gone!"

Xian glanced at the dozen or so books scattered across the floor. He stood up, rubbed his sore, numb thighs, then stretched with all his might.

"I'm so hungry." Only then did Xian feel the emptiness in his stomach, as though he could devour an entire pig.

Knock, knock.

At that moment, the Oak Door to the library was gently knocked upon.

Who would come to the library at this hour? Could it be Viscount Hughes? With that question in mind, Xian walked over and opened the door.

Outside stood a beautiful young girl carrying a food basket and an old man dressed in a black tailcoat. They were Anlìyà and Old Xiao En.

"Your Highness, I made you something to eat. I heard from Butler Xiao En that you were in the library, so I brought it over."

Anlìyà looked at the tall black-haired youth before her, a trace of delight flashing through her azure eyes. As if presenting a treasure, she offered the food basket to Xian with both hands.

However, he did not take it. After pondering for a moment, he looked toward Old Xiao En.

"Butler Xiao En, may I allow my maid and attendant to enter the library?" Xian asked.

Knowledge was the most precious treasure in the world. Naturally, he hoped Anlìyà and Berg could read more of the books here as well.

"In principle, no." Old Xiao En paused.

"But if it is you, Your Highness, I believe that even if you emptied the entire library, my master would laugh and help me move it with you."

Just as Xian thought he was about to refuse, Old Xiao En suddenly changed his tone, bowing respectfully.

This old man already had one foot in the grave, yet he was quite humorous.

"Please thank Viscount Hughes for me. And tell him that I am looking forward to tonight's banquet," Xian said calmly.

"It would be my honor."

"So many books. As expected of a noble's library!"

Anlìyà covered her mouth as she gazed at the towering rows of bookshelves before her, her delicate face filled with astonishment.

Back in Fruit Basket Village, her adoptive father Robert had only one tattered literacy book, shared by the entire village.

"Anlìyà, you may read any of the books here, but I suggest you start with Introduction to Blessing and Encyclopedia of Blessings."

Xian spoke indifferently. Even now, Anlìyà still did not have a Profession Blessing above her head.

According to her, Robert had forbidden her from doing farm work and only let her handle kitchen scraps, which had prevented her from taking up the farmer profession.

"Thank you, Your Highness."

Gratitude flashed through the girl's eyes. She set the food basket on the floor and gently opened it. At once, a faint wheat fragrance mixed with a rich meaty aroma wafted out, making even Ilith on the nearby hammock put down her book and look over involuntarily.

Inside the basket were three steaming white rolls and a large piece of caramel-colored meat, coated in golden-orange honey sauce and curling slightly at the edges.

"Your Highness, this is Honey Deer Leg that I learned from Aunt Mei Li, the castle's head chef. Please give it a try."

Anlìyà spoke softly, then looked at him expectantly.

Xian picked up the knife and fork from the basket, cut off a piece of meat covered in honey, then took a white roll. A bite of bread, a bite of meat.

The next moment, the wheaty fragrance of the bread and the sweetness of honey intertwined in his mouth, while the tender venison left an endless aftertaste.

Xian's eyes narrowed unconsciously.

"It's delicious," he said sincerely.

This taste was absolutely no worse than those Michelin restaurants on Blue Star, though it wasn't as if he had ever been to one. "As long as Your Highness likes it."

Hearing praise from the man she loved, the smile on the girl's pretty face bloomed as brilliantly as a sunflower in spring.

"By the way, where is that kid Berg?"

Xian asked as he gnawed on bread and venison.

It was already noon. That kid couldn't still be asleep, could he? "Butler Xiao En said that not long after you woke up, he went to the Martial Arts Training Field at the castle to learn swordsmanship from Sauron Knight," Anlìyà answered.

Learning swordsmanship? Xian recalled that Encyclopedia of Blessings had mentioned that the Hunter's advanced profession seemed to be Hunter.

Judging from the name alone, swordsmanship did not necessarily seem to be a requirement for advancing to Hunter.

In essence, Encyclopedia of Blessings should have been called a Blessing catalog. After all, it only listed profession names and contained nothing at all about advancement requirements or abilities.

"The barrier of knowledge really is as difficult to surmount as heaven." Xian sighed inwardly, deciding to ask Viscount Hughes about it the next time they met.

The other party was a Morning Star Rank powerhouse and a noble lord. He surely knew more than Xian did.

"Ilith, would you like some?"

After eating until he was about seventy percent full, he offered the food basket—containing one white roll and one-fifth of the deer meat—to the silver-haired girl on the hammock, who had been secretly swallowing her saliva.

"Thank you for your generosity, Your Highness!" Ilith happily accepted the basket.

These were ingredients from your own castle. Did she really need to thank me? Xian shrugged, deeply appreciating how pleasant it was to have a good identity.

"Ilith, if I wish to become a mage, is the first step Perceive Magic?"

After Ilith finished enjoying the food, he set down Basics of Magic in his hand and asked.

"Yes, Your Highness. Perceiving magic is indeed the first step on the path of magic."

Ilith hurriedly rose from the hammock and stood back on the floor, then bowed respectfully as she answered.

"However..." Ilith's expression was somewhat hesitant.

"Speak freely," Xian said calmly.

"Not everyone has the talent to perceive magic. In fact, only a very small number of people possess it, and they often need several years of meditation before they can successfully perceive magic," Ilith explained.

Though saying this might anger the noble prince, she still felt she had to make it clear beforehand, lest he waste his time for nothing.

After all, countless nobles had spent years meditating as children in hopes of becoming mages, only to gain nothing and waste the golden years for training.

"I have already learned that much from the books. You only need to teach me how to meditate," Xian said calmly.

He had read several books related to magic, but they were all filled with miscellaneous history and introductions. The moment they touched on how to actually meditate and perceive magic, there was nothing at all.

Damn barrier of knowledge!