The System Archivist

Snake Calendar, Year 2025

10th Day of August, Late Morning

The Inner City of Nova Asta, Winchester Family Household

The midday sun peeked through the curtains as Accel Winchester finally stirred in bed. His body ached from the relentless training the day before, but the cramps had subsided enough to let him move without wincing. He glanced at the clock: 11:45 a.m. He groaned and rubbed his face. "Looks like the morning's gone," he muttered, stretching stiffly.

After a quick shower, Accel prepared a simple lunch at home. The house was quiet. His parents were at work, and his younger siblings were busy with school. The solitude was both a relief and a reminder of how little time he'd had to spend with his family since enrolling at Unity College. He ate silently, pondering how best to spend the rest of the day.

The thought of pushing through his soreness with another workout quickly left his mind. Instead, he decided to take a walk around the Inner City. Perhaps something would catch his eye.

The Inner City Streets of Nova Asta, Early Afternoon

The streets of Nova Asta's Inner City bustled with activity. People moved purposefully, whether rushing to work, enjoying a café, or visiting one of the city's renowned landmarks. Accel strolled aimlessly, his hands in his pockets, his mind still turning over yesterday's events.

The Inner City Streets of Nova Asta, Astalight Archive

He noticed a modest building tucked between two larger structures as he wandered. Its architecture was simple but inviting, with an engraved sign above the door reading: "Astalight Archive." Curious, Accel pushed the door open, greeted by a faint chime.

Inside, the library was smaller than he expected, but it radiated an air of quiet focus. Wooden shelves lined the walls, filled with books of varying sizes and ages. A few holographic terminals hummed softly in the corners, and sunlight streamed through tall windows, illuminating the space in a warm glow.

"Welcome," said a soft voice. Accel turned to see an older woman seated behind a counter, her silver hair tied neatly in a bun. She wore small, round glasses and gave him a polite smile. "Are you here to browse or study?"

"Uh, study, I guess," Accel replied, still taking in the surroundings.

"First time here, I assume?" she asked. When he nodded, she gestured toward a clipboard. "You'll need to fill out an application to use the library's resources. It's a simple process."

Accel stepped forward, scribbling his details onto the form. As he handed it back, the librarian glanced it over. "Accel Winchester... A Unity College student?"

"Yes, ma'am," he said.

"Well, welcome, Accel. Feel free to explore. If you need assistance, just ask."

Accel wandered through the shelves, his eyes scanning the spines of books until one title caught his attention: "Basic Magic Fundamentals." The cover was simple, with an embossed image of elemental symbols representing fire, water, wind, and earth. Intrigued, he pulled it from the shelf and settled at a nearby table.

As he opened the book, his Scan skill activated instinctively. Lines of glowing text overlaid the page, processing the content into his system. His energy dipped slightly, but the process felt smoother than before. His Store skill followed, capturing the information into his mental archive for later review.

He read intently, his focus broken only by the occasional footsteps of other patrons or the librarian's soft movements. The book began with an introduction to the elements, their properties, and how they interacted with the world.

"Fire is the embodiment of passion and destruction. It is both a tool and a weapon, capable of warmth and devastation in equal measure."

Accel's Auto-Adaptation skill activated quietly, analyzing the information and incorporating it into his understanding. He felt a faint but noticeable change in his User System as his Knowledge Attribute increased by +1, a steady improvement that would continue with every hour spent reading. (User System Attribute = Knowledge: 10 (+1))

Astalight Archive, Afternoon

As he turned the pages, Accel came across a section on basic spells. One in particular caught his eye: "Kindle Spark." The spell described how to summon a small flame by concentrating energy into one's palm and igniting it with a controlled release.

Archivist System Notification:

Skill Acquired: Kindle Spark (Beginner First Level)

Description: Summon a small flame in your palm. Useful for lighting objects or as a minor offensive tool.

Energy Cost: 5 ENCO

Despite the achievement, Accel frowned. He attempted to summon the flame as described, but nothing happened. A second Archivist System notification followed:

Skill Use Restricted: Understanding insufficient. Further study is required.

"Well, that's frustrating," he muttered, leaning back in his chair.

"Everything all right?" The librarian's voice startled him. She stood nearby, her gaze curious but kind.

"Yeah, just... trying to figure something out," Accel admitted.

She smiled knowingly. "Magic is a patient art. The more you learn, the more it reveals itself. Don't rush it."

He nodded, grateful for her encouragement. "I guess I just have to keep at it."

As the afternoon stretched on, Accel continued reading, absorbing the basics of energy manipulation, elemental theory, and practical applications. His Scan and Store skills leveled up, progressing from Beginner First Level to Beginner Second Level.

When he finally closed the book, the sun had begun to dip in the sky. Accel returned the text to its shelf, feeling a mix of satisfaction and determination. He thanked the librarian on his way out, her parting words lingering in his mind.

"Come back anytime, Accel. The pursuit of knowledge is never-ending."

With a faint smile, he stepped into the cooling evening air, ready to face whatever challenges awaited him next.

(Overview)

Kindle Spark (Beginner First Level)

Deals 5 Damage upon using as a weapon of use.

Have a 1%/3% of chance getting burn effect.

Due to Accel's unable to yet understand fully about the skill, he was restricted from activating the skill.