The palace library occupied a large room with a high arched ceiling on the third floor of the East Tower. Tall windows with stained glass allowed sunlight to enter, creating beautiful patterns on the marble floor.
Bookshelves towered to the ceiling, containing thousands of volumes with various colored covers. Rolling ladders were strategically placed in several corners to reach the books on the top shelves.
Madam Hilda followed faithfully as Maulana entered the library, her small steps echoing in the vast room.
"Lady Elara, it's a pleasure to see you again today," greeted a young man with round glasses who was arranging the books. Maulana recognized him as Master Reed, the young librarian in charge of assisting library visitors. "Picture books again today?"
Maulana nodded, but then dared to ask, "Are there... books about the world?"
Master Reed seemed surprised for a moment, then smiled broadly. "You mean maps, Lady Elara? Of course. We have a fine collection of atlases for children, with colored pictures."
"Yes, that!" Maulana nodded enthusiastically, pretending to be a child interested in pretty pictures, not vital geographical information.
Master Reed led them to a low table in a comfortable corner, near a large window. He placed a large book with a worn leather cover.
"This is the best atlas for children to learn from," he said, opening the book. "With colorful illustrations and simple explanations."
Maulana quickly became absorbed in the pages of the book. The maps, drawn in amazing detail, showed a large continent called Alterra, with six major kingdoms occupying it.
His small finger traced the coastlines and mountain ranges, trying to understand the scale and location. He was in the Celestian Empire, one of the three largest powers on the continent, located in the central-eastern region.
To the east of Celestian lay the Kingdom of Sylvanor, dominated by dense forests and inhabited mainly by Elves. To the north was the Nordheim Federation, the land of the Dwarves with its rich mountains and mines.
South of Celestian was the Sultanate of Mirajah, a land of deserts and oases with large cities that were centers of trade. In the far east lay the Republic of Easthold, the most technologically advanced country on the Westfold continent. And in the far north, beyond the Misty Mountains, was Klanland, a wild region inhabited mainly by Beastfolk and nomadic clans.
"This world is so vast," Maulana murmured unconsciously.
Master Reed smiled. "Indeed, Lady Elara. And this is only the Westfold continent we occupy. Our Celestian Empire is located at the westernmost tip of this continent, facing the largely unmapped Western Ocean. To the east, beyond all the countries I mentioned earlier, there are three other continents—Southmere, Dragonspine, and the Isles of Ash. However, most of these three continents are still unexplored."
"Why?" Maulana asked curiously.
"The very long distances, dangerous monsters in the oceans, and..." Master Reed paused for a moment. "Some people believe that there is something preventing people from crossing the great oceans. As if there is an invisible barrier that makes navigation very difficult. Ships that try often return with stories of compasses spinning wildly or storms that appear suddenly."
"Is that magic?" Maulana asked, his round eyes widening with curiosity.
Master Reed smiled at the child's intelligence. "Some scholars believe so. But no one knows for sure. Perhaps one day, when you grow up, this secret will be solved."
Maulana nodded slowly, his eyes returning to the map. The Celestian Empire, located in the western part of the Westfold continent, was divided into twelve provinces, with the capital, Imperial City, located in the central province.
"Where are we now?" he asked.
"We are in Imperial City, right here," Master Reed pointed to the central point on the map. "In the heart of the Empire, where the Imperial Palace is located."
Maulana absorbed this information quickly. He was at the center of the Empire's power. The perfect place to gain knowledge and influence.
"Can I see another book?" he asked. "About... magic?"
Master Reed's eyebrows rose. "Magic? That's quite a... advanced topic for a child your age, Lady Elara."
"I just want to see the pictures," Maulana pretended to sulk. "Mama can make tea hot with magic. I want to know how."
Madam Hilda chuckled softly. "Lady Elara is always curious about everything. Perhaps there's no harm in showing her a basic book on magic with illustrations."
Master Reed seemed to think for a moment before nodding. "Alright. I have just the book for that."
He returned a few minutes later with a medium-sized book with a shimmering blue cover and silver symbols on it. "This is 'An Introduction to the World of Magic for Young Beginners' by Archmagus Thalion. It has many illustrations, but also contains basic explanations."
Maulana could hardly contain his excitement when the book was placed in front of him. Carefully, he opened the pages, amazed by the beautiful illustrations that showed various types of magic.
He learned that magic in this world—or mana, as they called it—was divided into five basic elements: Water, Fire, Earth, Wind, and Aether (pure magic). Mana itself was energy that could be accessed by anyone through practice, although descendants of mages had a much higher probability of developing strong magical abilities. Each mage usually had a natural affinity for one or two elements, although with intensive practice, they could master more.
"Which element is the strongest?" Maulana asked, trying to sound like an innocent child.
Master Reed smiled. "No element is the strongest, Lady Elara. Each has its own strengths and weaknesses. What's important is how you use your talent."
"The Luna family usually has an affinity for Aether and Water," added Madam Hilda. "That's why your family's symbol is the moon and waves."
More new information. Maulana nodded as if he already knew. "And the Emperor's family?"
"The Imperial Solaris family has an affinity for Fire and Aether," replied Master Reed. "The sun and light are their symbols."
"Fire and Water," Maulana murmured. "Like... opposites?"
Master Reed and Madam Hilda exchanged glances, slightly surprised by the child's analytical intelligence.
"Yes, in some ways," Master Reed said cautiously. "But it is precisely the opposing elements that can create a strong balance when combined correctly."
Maulana pondered this. Was the marriage between the Solaris and Luna families a form of political alliance to combine opposing magical powers?
He flipped through the pages of the book, finding a section on how to activate magic. Apparently, most magic required a combination of mental focus, magic words, and sometimes certain hand gestures. Magic crystals and wands were often used as conductors to help direct and amplify the flow of mana.
"How does someone learn to use magic?" Maulana asked.
"Noble children usually begin formal training at the age of five, when their mana channels are sufficiently developed," explained Master Reed. "They study at the Royal Magic Academy or with private tutors."
Maulana stored this information in his memory. There were still two years before he could begin to study magic formally. But there was no harm in starting to understand the basic theory from now on.
"Can everyone use magic?" he asked again.
"In theory, yes," replied Master Reed. "Everyone has mana within them, only in different amounts and strengths."
"But the descendants of mages, especially from noble families, have a much greater chance of developing strong magical talents," added Madam Hilda. "Therefore, most powerful mages come from noble families."
"Although there are famous exceptions," Master Reed coughed slightly. "Some of the strongest mages in history came from humble backgrounds. There are people from common backgrounds who suddenly show extraordinary magical talent, although it is very rare."
Maulana sensed a political undertone in this exchange. It seemed that although in theory everyone could use magic, in practice, status and magical ability were still very much linked in this world. As the emperor's daughter and a descendant of two powerful mage families like the Imperial Solaris and Viscount Luna, his position was special—although as the child of a consort, his status was lower than his siblings from the main empress.
As he turned the next page, his attention was drawn to an illustration about "Daily Magic Practices". The pictures showed how magic was used for everyday tasks—heating water, turning on lights, cleaning rooms, strengthening building materials, and even keeping food fresh longer.
"So magic isn't just for fighting," he murmured, his engineer's mind immediately evaluating the practical potential.
"Of course not, Lady Elara," said Master Reed. "Magic is an integral part of daily life in the Empire. Only a small fraction of mages specialize in combat magic."
Maulana nodded, his mind racing. With his technical knowledge from his previous life and an understanding of magic in this world, the possibilities were limitless. He could combine the mechanical principles he understood with the power of magic. Perhaps create magical machines that had never been conceived before.
But first, he needed to understand this world even more deeply.