My Muscle System in the Mage World

Chapter 159: Haste makes waste

Aur meticulously skimmed through the books on the shelves, examining each one with care.

With plenty of time at his disposal, he could afford to take his time.

After all, haste often leads to mistakes!

As Aur searched for his spells, three pairs of eyes kept a close watch on him from the moment he entered the room.

"What are your thoughts on this kid, older brother?" one voice inquired.

"That kid may possess self-awareness and intelligence, but without talent, he's merely a grain of sand destined to be blown away by the wind. At best, he might reach tier two, but he's not worth our investment," replied a cold voice, reminiscent of the one Aur had heard upon entering the treasury.

The other two pairs of eyes nodded in agreement as they averted their gaze from Aur.

"Indeed, big brother. We should return to our training. Although our potential has already been maximised, we can still slow our ageing with our methods. That kid isn't worthy of stealing our attention here."

"Very well then, you two can leave. I will keep an eye on him," the 'big brother' said in a cold voice, and the two figures silently retreated into the shadows.

Watching their fleeting departure, the 'big brother' shook his head with a sense of resignation.

"No matter what method they use, their lifespan is already dwindling. Unless they obtain the lifespan spell, what difference does a few months make?" he muttered to himself, his gaze fixed unwaveringly on Aur. Despite his words, his eyes remained cold and indifferent.

"I will remain loyal to this village until the end," he declared, a flicker of determination flashing in his eyes.

Meanwhile, Aur spent an entire day meticulously poring over the pages of the book.

Now before him lay two carefully selected spells, chosen after a day of thorough searching and contemplation.

Both spell books were adorned with covers made from the hide of an ancient animal, but there was a distinct difference between the two. One was noticeably thinner than the other, while the other was thicker and sturdy.

"Thieving magic and lightning magic…"

Aur muttered while looking at both the books. The smaller thickness belonged to the thieving magic book, containing very few spells compared to the bulkier volume of lightning magic.

"Lightning magic has terrifying strength, and its combat prowess is formidable. It might even surpass the ice magic wielded by William," Aur thought, his gaze narrowing as he contemplated the contents of the books.

"The thieving magic has very few spells, almost as few as the spells from my life magic. However, it still comprises a complete set of spells covering all aspects of combat strength. But these thieving magic spells lack combat power entirely; it's as if they have no combat strength at all; they are only used for support…"

Aur glanced at the two books again, his crimson pupils flickering with uncertainty.

While contemplating his choice, Aur meticulously analysed his surroundings, scanning not only the current floor but also the ground and upper levels of the treasury.

Within his heightened perception, Aur could sense countless powerful artefacts on the upper floor.

Yet, amidst this abundance, he couldn't shake the feeling of being watched by a cold gaze since he had set foot in the treasury. Although Aur couldn't pinpoint it with his senses, he couldn't shake the nagging intuition.

This unnerving sensation made him hesitant to further explore or take anything else from the treasury.

"What should I have expected?" Aur grumbled inwardly, feeling the weight of the scrutinising gaze from above.

With the eerie surveillance lingering, he felt compelled to withdraw for the time being, despite the allure of the artefacts on the upper floor.

With a resigned sigh, Aur casually selected a book and glanced around the treasury with a sense of confusion.

"Senior, I choose this magic," Aur announced with a forced smile, trying to mask his unease.

"Are you certain about your choice?" The familiar cold voice that had greeted him upon his arrival echoed once more through the chamber.

"My intuition was correct."

Aur couldn't discern the source of the voice, but he bowed respectfully nonetheless.

"Yes, senior, I am certain about my choice," he replied with conviction.

"Very well," the cold tone persisted as a small flicker of light materialised before Aur's eyes.

"Accept it."

Aur nodded obediently, and in an instant, the flicker of light entered his mind. His crimson eyes snapped open, flooded with a deluge of raw memories that cascaded through his consciousness, overwhelming him and compelling him to sit cross-legged in response.

"Thieving magic is among the most intricate forms of magic. Though the spells within this discipline are few, each requires extraordinary comprehension to inscribe into your mental space," the cold voice explained, now laced with a hint of amusement.

Yet, Aur was too absorbed in the torrent of information to register the change in tone, his mind consumed by the influx of knowledge.

With that said the 'big brother' became entirely silent.

With those words, the 'big brother' fell into complete silence.

After an hour or so, Aur rose to his feet, a smile gracing his features.

"Thank you, senior," he expressed, his countenance filled with respect as he exited the building.

The man observed Aur's departure from the treasury with meticulous attention, never once averting his gaze.

Once Aur had departed, the man let out a sigh, his gaze returning to its previous vigilance.

"If only he possessed a bit more talent, he could have been a valuable asset to the village, but..." Regret tinged the man's expression briefly before his countenance hardened once more, veiling his emotions behind a mask of stoicism as he melted back into the shadows within the treasury.

Outside the building, Aur cast his gaze back at the grand treasury.

"I will return one day," he vowed silently, his crimson eyes flashing with determination and cunning.

Upon his return, he was met by a man clad in white armour.

"Cameron?" Aur's internal confusion was palpable.

Cameron greeted him with a smile on his face, he was the person who previously had guided Aur to the class to attend the mandatory session.