Sadly, all didn't go to plan, as integrating the broken sword was the simple part. Getting any form of energy into the mana crystal was an attempt at futility.

  "We are screwed. The whole can't use magic, has really messed up our brilliant plan." I complained after several hours of planning and implementing.

  We were stuck completely stuck at an impassable gap. Converting XP to mana was easy, as that versatile energy source could become anything conceivable, and we had the conversion programs to do it.

  "Problem is, none of us has mana circuits to channel and manipulate the mana we generate. So we can't tether it to the mana crystal." It was a point that hurt my pride and probably Jenny's as well.

  We lacked the capability and knowledge to use magic. So I sat staring at a weapon we designed but couldn't power. It was like having access to a nuclear reactor without knowing how to safely connect your appliance.

  "Wait a second, that crystal is pretty much just a static mana circuit. If we can somehow figure out how it works. It could become a tool to harness magic." I suggested and then frowned. "That would require learning magical formations and all that jazz. Not sure how in the hell I can learn all that here."

  Suddenly, in the distance, a soft thud sounded before a hiss of pure hatred. Casting a glance, I saw my trusty old pal Jeremy voicing his displeasure at a fallen book. Sighing, I got up and walked over. Shaking my head at the weirdo little cat, I picked up the book to show it was nothing to fear or be worthy of someone's feline wrath.

  "Look, it's just a book about." I stopped mid-sentence. Reading the title, my eyes widened at the absolutely ridiculous event. This had to be a deus ex machina moment, as the title was literal. "A Guide to Magical Formations." I repeated, and then glared at the cat suspiciously.

  This had to be a coincidence. He was a cat. No way he can read books off a shelf and so drop the exact book we needed. Crouched, I stared into those innocent eyes, searching for a trace of intelligence.

  Two minutes of staring netted me watery eyes, a soft meow and Jer waltzing off like he had better stuff to do. That cat was weird, but then again, we are all weirdos made by weird gods. In fact, who made Jeremy? I don't think I recall anyone taking credit for his inception.

  Shrugging, I left that for another time. As of now, studying was a must if I wanted to create an Aetherblade. Damn, that sounded so cool and needed to be made manifest in this world. It would be an absolute disservice to all of reality.

  Returning to my seat, I opened the book to the first page. Which turned out to be a disclaimer by the author. And based on this, getting into magical formations was a risky business, at least according to the so-called Archwizard Tiberius Felwin.

  Disclaimer by Archwizard Tiberius Felwin, Tower Lord of Felwinter. Greetings, dear student, scholar, peer and people who should put this book down unless they blow themselves up. We intend this guide for the discerning scholar of the magical arts. Strictly for those with a functional soul, a stable anchor on this material plane and, of course, the appropriate class.

  Well, that was actually a pretty decent disclaimer. I mean, a book that deals with magic should have something like this. But the appropriate class thing would make all this tricky. While I am completely magically inept, I can create magical effects. At least I sort of can.

  Reading through the rest of the book, I found it pretty enlightening and mind-numbingly confusing. The first few chapters went through the basics of spell formations and then how to apply them to a system class. The book offers new students several tips for securing a class or profession focused on creating magical artifacts.

  Yeah, professions are just a fancy word for a focused subclass. Unlike classes, people gain professions differently, and Tiberius, a swell dude, explained this. The first chapter goes into tips for classers and professionals.

  While obtaining a class is the dream of most prospective students of the arcane. It is advisable to learn a profession from a respectable source of knowledge. The Felwinters School of Wizardry is one such location to learn excellent professions with very affordable tuition.

  "Did he just market himself in a book on magic?" I couldn't help but say aloud.

  The sheer audacity of the act was hilarious and made me wonder about its efficacy. Did he assume his school and therefore realm would stand the test of time? Because knowledge remains long after kingdom's fall.

  Regardless of this supposed Archwizard's predilections for commercial advertising, he went into some good stuff. Outlining several professions that sounded interesting but were completely useless to me. Since it required connecting to the ever-present system to transfer the profession. But I continued reading.

  Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

  These professions, as outlined above, are the best options for starting your journey into arcane formations. But if you already have a class, that will suffice well. A focus on spellcraft's theoretical aspects is especially helpful if your class already includes that.

  The rest of the chapter outlined the best classes known to the scholar and probably his attempt to sell Felwinter as the best place for magical knowledge. Next chapter, he finally got into the good stuff.

  The study of arcanum underpins the basics of magical formations. I suggest that those unfamiliar with these concepts put this book down and reconsider their life choices. Arcanums are the building blocks for spellcraft; every concept conceivable by mortals has an associated Arcanum.

  To utilise them in any form of magic, one must study and truly understand them. Some examples include the Elemental Arcanum. Fire, water, earth, air and spirit. The five basic elements of life and matter. Being tangible arcanums, we can interact with daily. They are the simplest to study and understand.

  Take the fire arcanum as an example. Many low-tier wizards use it in their attempts to feel superior by flinging fireballs around and causing unnecessary destruction. But with a scholarly mind, a superior intellect can plumb the depths of the Arcanum. There are many methods of doing so. Anyone with the will can perform, while some require special methodologies to seek arcane truths.

  Philosophical meditation is the most common practice among prospective wizards and scholars. It revolves around the internal contemplation of the Arcanum and relies on prior knowledge and patience. First, study fire intellectually—how it breathes, lives, and consumes—before meditating on its arcanum. Then, once you have gained sufficient knowledge. One must meditate surrounded by the element within their mind and outside their body.

  This method is probably the simplest and the most lengthy in process. Reserved for patient scholars who wish to gain a grander understanding of our reality. The classes that are produced from this endeavour are more tailored toward magical engineering, with some reportedly aiding the combat-focused kin.

  Attunement is another method used by aspiring wizards and mages. Some consider it the best method for singularly focused practitioners. While it limits your class choices in the future. It can produce impressive students in a particular field. For most following this path, prior magical knowledge in the art of soul attunement or help from a learned mentor is a must.

  Two major ways of attuning one's soul to a particular arcanum. By using an attunement ritual to bind the element to your soul or through the arduous method of exposing one's body and mind to a magical region. Experts consider the second method highly dangerous and rarely recommend it.

  Researchers performed the last method, experimentation—considered a fool's errand—with minor success. It requires creating experimental magical formations and spells in the hopes of enlightenment through trial and error. It relies solely on the whims of the system granting you a class at its leisure. Those who have committed to this method have dedicated years to experimentation before being graced with a class.

  Remember, the trial-and-error method cannot work simply by copying others' work. Almost all magical formations are unique to the practitioner. With generic spellcraft requiring the grace of the system to acknowledge it as a basic spell.

  What followed was a lengthy chapter on how to create formations and how to utilise them with the three major methodologies. It went into more technical details and, to be honest, it became less and less understandable to a layperson.

  But the gist of it made sense, especially on the very important subject of the absolutely vital necessity for what this author refers to as the arcane spark. Which was just fancy talk for having efficient mana circuits and a mana pool. Alas, he discussed how builders of magical artifacts studied the arcane spark of mortals and copied their features to create objects.

  With this in mind, I could work out the theory and, with some trial and error, apply magical formations to a mana crystal. The trial-and-error method is indeed the best option. Attunement and meditation probably won't work without the so-called spark. So, drawing formations and pushing mana into it seemed the best option.

  This means I need to sacrifice a good chunk of experience points on a trial-and-error basis. That was not sustainable, and I really hoped I'd get lucky on my first try.

  "Oh, this is going to be a pain." I said out loud as I skipped to the basic formations chapter.

  Congratulations! You’ve unlocked the [Arcane Headache] debuff. Side effects include: glazed eyes, excessive sighing, and yelling at your cat for being suspiciously smarter than you.

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