Warning! Warning! If you don't want too many spoilers, skip the following synopsis.
Volume 1 Synopsis:
Volume one introduces Cedric Glensrevins de Ans, a young man leading an ordinary life in Astranvale, the capital of Eisenreich. His destiny changes when he unexpectedly awakens as a 'Deviant', an individual blessed with Neva energy, and forms a bond with his unique Viriant, Ivy, who manifests as a book. Amidst his confusion, Cedric meets ArashvielVarenhart (Arash), a mysterious, high-ranking figure who guides him in understanding the world of Deviants. This encounter is followed by an incident where Cedric defeats another Deviant and anomously absorbs the defeated opponent's affinity and "Key." Ivy, bonded with Cedric, also begins to display her unique ability to predict the future through her blank pages, while simultaneously awakening hidden memories that hint at her true identity. This volume also introduces ErynaZacries, a gentle girl who catches Cedric's attention, and ChloeZacries, Cedric's old friend from middle school, who holds a great secret about an ancient lineage. Cedric also begins residing at Count Zacries' house, Eryna's father, unaware of Eryna and Chloe's relationship. This volume focuses on Cedric's awakening as a Deviant, the discovery of his powers, and the beginning of his interactions with key characters who will shape his destiny.
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The faint chirping of birds blended with the whispering wind rustling through the leaves. The scent of wet earth and cold morning dew filled the air, caressing the senses. Amidst the serene countryside, a stone monument stood tall, reaching for the sky. Intricate carvings adorned the monument, telling heroic tales of a forgotten past.
An eight-year-old boy with snow-white hair and clear bluish-purple eyes stood before the monument. He wore worn and slightly dirty, yet well-maintained clothes. His feet were bare, stepping on the cold, wet grass. His innocent face looked up, observing the carvings on the monument with an expression of awe. This was Cedric.
Suddenly, a violent tremor shook the earth. The clear sky turned dark, swallowed by swirling storm clouds. A deafening rumble followed, accompanied by flashes of lightning. The wind blew fiercely, carrying leaves and dust. The monument, once sturdy, now cracked and began to crumble. Cedric stumbled, trying to keep his balance.
An adult man appeared from nowhere, his body indistinct, shrouded in a mysterious aura. His face wasn't clearly visible, but Cedric could feel immense power emanating from him. The man extended his hand, and in an instant, Cedric felt his body lift, moving away from the collapsing monument.
When Cedric opened his eyes, he was somewhere else. A vast blue sky stretched above, and tall green trees surrounded him. The scent of wildflowers filled the air. There were no signs of destruction or storm. The monument had vanished from his memory, as if it had never existed. The mysterious man also disappeared, leaving Cedric alone in the tranquil forest.
Little Cedric felt strange, as if something was missing from him. He tried to recall what had happened earlier, but his mind seemed to refuse. There was only emptiness. An emptiness that would continue to haunt him into adulthood, buried in his subconscious, waiting for its time to be revealed.
Several years after that incident, Cedric often experienced the same nightmare: images of cosmic destruction, collapsing stars, and a void engulfing everything. These dreams came without warning, so vivid and clear that he could never forget them. However, the dream about the monument never resurfaced, as if it had been completely erased from his memory. He kept this secret tightly, even from Chloe, his childhood friend who was always by his side.
That morning, sunlight streamed through the curtains of his cramped room. Cedric woke up with a slight headache. "Damn... overslept again," he mumbled, glancing at the wall clock that showed a quarter to eight. Before he could get up, the clinking of plates and the aroma of toast wafted into his senses.
Cedric frowned, who was in the kitchen? With hurried steps, he left his room and found Chloe busy preparing breakfast. Her flowing, silvery-black hair gracefully cascaded, complementing her ruby eyes that always seemed calm.
"You... how did you get in?" Cedric asked, half-surprised.
Chloe casually turned, holding up a spare key. "Did you forget? I have a duplicate key. Besides, if I didn't wake you up, you might skip school for a whole week," she replied, serving him toast and a glass of milk.
Cedric smiled faintly, then took a seat at the dining table. "You're overreacting."
"Overreacting? You know you've been late often lately. Staying up too late again?" Chloe looked at him sharply. "Your eyes... they look tired."
Cedric shrugged, trying to avoid her gaze. "I just read late. Nothing to worry about."
After breakfast, they walked to school together. The cool morning air was filled with light conversation between them, until they finally arrived in class. The first period went normally, until Cedric fell asleep in the middle of the teacher's explanation.
In his sleep, a strange dream came to him. He was in a vast library, towering rows of books surrounding him. The scent of old paper and dust filled the air. In the middle of the library, a book glowed faintly on one of the shelves. The dream felt so real, calling to him, as if answers awaited him there.
Chloe, sitting next to him, nudged his chair repeatedly, but Cedric remained sound asleep.
"Glensrevins!" the strict math teacher's voice broke the silence. A piece of chalk flew swiftly, hitting Cedric's forehead accurately. "Stand up and solve the problem on the board!"
Cedric woke up startled, but without hesitation, he stepped forward. Unexpectedly, he solved the complex problem perfectly, leaving the entire class silent. Chloe stared at him in disbelief. "You were sleeping... but you could answer?" she whispered when Cedric returned to his seat.
Cedric merely shrugged, as if it were no big deal. Recess arrived, and remembering his dream, Cedric decided to head to the library. Coincidentally, on his way, he saw a student carrying a stack of book-filled boxes, looking wobbly. The stack was so high it blocked the girl's view. The books looked like they would tumble at any moment. Without thinking, Cedric ran and held the boxes before they fell, supporting the weight with one hand.
"Thank you... I'm sorry for the trouble..." the student murmured, her voice soft and barely audible. She looked down shyly, her long, glossy brownish-blonde hair falling to cover part of her face. Cedric could see the soft purple shimmer of her slightly hidden eyes.
"It's nothing," Cedric replied kindly, a little surprised by the softness of the girl's voice. "I'm Cedric Glensrevins, Class 2-3."
The girl lifted her face slightly, her lips forming a small, captivating smile, though faint. "I'm Eryna... from Class 1-2."
Cedric glanced at the small badge on her uniform pocket that read "Library." "Are you a librarian?"
Eryna nodded gently, her hair swaying slightly. "Yes. I'm helping to organize new books." Cedric felt a strange sensation, as if a small spark ignited in his heart as he looked into Eryna's soft purple eyes. A feeling he had never experienced before, warm and soothing.
"In that case, let me help," Cedric offered, taking some of the boxes from Eryna's hands. Though heavy, he felt light beside the girl. "There are so many of these books."
Eryna smiled faintly, this time a little clearer. "Thank you, Cedric. This will help a lot."
They walked together towards the library, light conversation flowing between them. Eryna explained about the new books they had to organize, her eyes occasionally sparkling when discussing her favorite genres. Cedric listened carefully, enjoying the quiet and comfortable atmosphere beside the girl. They arranged books on tall shelves, their hands occasionally brushing by accident, and each time it happened, Cedric felt a strange, growing thrill.
While organizing books in a quiet, narrow library aisle, Cedric heard a faint whisper calling his name. The voice was so close, as if whispering in his ear, yet Eryna seemed not to hear it.
His steps stopped in front of a dusty shelf, where an old book glowed faintly. The dim light was strange, unnatural, and seemed to call to him.
Curiosity compelled him to take the book. Its cover was dull, but it held a mysterious allure that made it hard to look away. As his hand touched its surface, the pages of the book opened on their own, revealing blank sheets in the middle. Mysterious patterns began to emerge, glowing and moving unnaturally, as if invisible ink was being written upon them. Without warning, Cedric felt his vision spin and instantly fainted, the book slipping from his grasp and falling to the floor.
When he regained consciousness, he was in the library's lounge. Eryna and a friend of hers looked at him worriedly. Eryna explained that she found him fainted in the aisle and brought him there. Eryna's face was pale, clearly she had panicked at the time. Cedric thanked them and hurried back to class, slightly embarrassed by the incident.
After school, Cedric opened his bag and was surprised to find the old book inside. He clearly remembered dropping it in the library. Confused and a little annoyed, he instinctively threw it out the window.
"Cedric, what did you throw away?" Chloe asked, who happened to see him.
"Oh, just trash," Cedric replied casually.
Chloe glared at him. "Littering! You know you shouldn't do that, right?" Cedric just smiled faintly, trying to change the subject.
They walked home together. On the way, Chloe said, "My dad says you're invited for dinner again tonight."
Upon arriving at Chloe's house, Chloe reminded him again, "Don't forget or fall asleep tonight!" Cedric nodded, still thinking about the book.
As soon as he got home, Cedric threw himself onto his bed, feeling something amiss, as if something had been left behind or forgotten in class. He then got up and rummaged through his bag. To his surprise, when he checked his bag, he found the ancient book with the blank writing had reappeared inside, lying right among his school books.
Cedric recoiled, his back hitting the wall. His heart pounded wildly, as if it would leap out of his chest. The book floated in the air, opening on its own, and glowing brighter. From the center of the now glowing pages, the light formed a small, beautiful creature, resembling a fairy with transparent wings and a gentle aura. The creature floated gracefully in front of him.
"Greetings, my Deviant," a soft yet authoritative voice sounded directly in Cedric's mind, not through his ears. "I am your Viriant, Ivy. You can call me Ivy."