The next day, at the Imperial Royal Library.
Qiaolin and Gabriela arrived at the appointed time, but the guards informed them that they needed to wait a while longer.
“Lord Osaran is handling official business. Please wait patiently.”
Standing to the side, Gabriela pouted slightly.
“What? He’s making us wait even though we saved him last night?”
“He’s probably dealing with the assassins from last night. It’s fine; we aren’t short on time.”
Osaran was the most senior figure in the Empire, with a status second only to the Council.
His existence alone served as a deterrent to neighboring countries.
An assassination attempt on such a figure was a scandal significant enough to shake the entire nation.
It was only natural to prioritize such matters.
The two did not have to wait long before Osaran arrived.
The guards flanking him had clearly increased in number.
“Good morning, Lord Osaran,” Qiaolin greeted him warmly.
“Haha, my apologies. Making you wait so long was quite rude of me!”
At Osaran’s signal, the guards opened the library doors.
A scent mixed with pine and faint incense wafted toward them the moment the doors opened.
As they stepped into the library, the hall opened up before them.
Rows of dark mahogany bookshelves were neatly arranged, and the nearby desks were polished so brightly they were like mirrors.
Qiaolin glanced at the books on the shelves.
Most had leather covers, and some were even inlaid with various gemstones that glittered luxuriously in the sunlight.
Quite a few of the books emitted faint ripples of Magic Power.
‘Interesting.’
Under Osaran’s lead, the group walked deeper into the library.
“These books are for royalty and specific members only. My magic isn’t stored here.”
Osaran explained with a smile, “Don’t let the emptiness fool you. Usually, many people study here, mostly children of wealthy families and students from the Imperial Academy. However, it isn’t open to the public yet. Haha.”
“In previous years, did you bring the mages who passed the test here to choose their magic?”
Qiaolin asked.
“Yes. They can choose any magic, and I imprint the spell’s brand into their minds. They also leave behind their identification records. If the magic is ever used for evil or abused, we can find them.”
Osaran paused before continuing, “But for you, it doesn’t matter how much magic you want to learn here.”
“Haha, just treat me like an ordinary mage. Learning one spell is enough.”
Osaran smiled but said nothing.
The group reached a narrow corridor.
Osaran had his attendants wait outside and invited Qiaolin and Gabriela to enter.
“This is the secret room where the magic is stored.”
With a wave of Osaran’s finger, the candles on the walls flickered to life.
Qiaolin saw rows of cabinets before him, each labeled with the magic’s attribute and the year it was created.
Wind, fire, earth, water, and holy—it was all there.
Gabriela curiously reached out to touch a cabinet, but a barrier of Magic Power immediately blocked her.
The girl pulled her hand back as if she had received an electric shock.
“I have placed a Magic Restriction on these. Only I can take the magic from within.”
After all, many of these spells were accidental creations with extremely unstable power and effects.
Even Osaran, the creator, sometimes couldn’t grasp them.
While these dangerous spells were kept here, they had to be sealed to prevent leaks and destruction.
“I need a magic that allows for long-distance teleportation,” Qiaolin said.
“Teleportation magic?”
Osaran beckoned lightly, and one of the cabinets opened.
Several parchment scrolls floated out.
Even today, the most common way to preserve magic was to write the incantations on parchment.
It maintained the “truth” of the magic.
It acted as a special anchor; when a spell was created, its incantation became the only way to express it in this world.
If the incantation were ever corrupted or damaged, it would affect the spell’s effectiveness or even its existence.
Besides humans, magic required a vessel that could maintain its “truth.”
For nearly 10,000 years, parchment had been the best tool for recording magic.
“I created two types of Space Magic in my early years. One can teleport any inanimate object within visual range. It is called Void Projection.”
Osaran offered a parchment scroll to Qiaolin.
Upon hearing the effects of Void Projection, Qiaolin shook his head decisively.
Setting aside the fact that it only worked on inanimate objects, the distance did not meet Qiaolin’s standards.
The Demon King’s Castle, his destination, was over 10,000 miles away.
If it was limited to visual range, no amount of magic amplification would allow him to see 10,000 miles.
“Then how about this one?”
Osaran said.
“Folding Warp. It can teleport the caster and anything attached to their Magic Power to any location. There are no distance or regional restrictions. However, the caster must be able to visualize the destination in their mind. To be precise, you must have visited the place at least once.”
“Oh? No distance restrictions?!”
Even Qiaolin’s eyes lit up when he heard this.
Space Magic was inherently rare and often had flaws, such as being unable to transport living beings or only working over short distances, much like Void Projection.
“That being said, the conditions for its use are quite harsh. In a sense, it is still a half-finished product.”
Osaran laughed bitterly.
“Because the teleportation speed is close to instantaneous, the caster sometimes cannot react in time. It often causes physical stiffness, momentary loss of focus, and other side effects. Without powerful Mental Power to control it, the destination will be inaccurate, and there is even a risk of teleporting into a wall. The Magic Power consumption is also quite high…”
“In other words, as long as I have been to a place before and can visualize it when I use the magic, I can teleport there, right?”
Qiaolin interrupted Osaran, speaking calmly.
“That is essentially it… I almost forgot who you are. In terms of both Mental Power and Magic Power, you are a being that surpasses all races. I fear you are second only to God.”
“Don’t make me sound so divine. Even if God wanted to teleport from one place to another, it might not be as efficient as your magic.”
Qiaolin laughed.
“I think this magic suits us perfectly. I’ll choose this one.”
Qiaolin looked at Gabriela, seemingly seeking her opinion.
“I have no objections, of course…” the girl said.
Osaran waved his hand.
White Magic Power wrapped around the parchment scroll and slowly unfurled it.
The knowledge within transformed into Magic Power and surged into Qiaolin’s mind.
[I SHALL CARVE THE PATH, I CONQUER SPACE. IN MY NAME, TEAR THROUGH THE VOID. 10,000 MILES AWAY, YET CLOSE AT HAND — FOLDING WARP]
As the line of the incantation surfaced in Qiaolin’s consciousness, he completed the chant.
He subconsciously visualized the small hut where he used to live, and then his figure vanished instantly.