Chapter 21: 21. Chapter 21: Talent Manifestation

Chapter 21: Talent Manifestation

After Vasida left, Moran took a bath and changed into comfortable pajamas before finally finding the time to study the *Newcomer's Guide* and her Book of Cards.

Once it passed six in the evening, the bells of the academy castle never rang again.

Moran didn't know the exact time.

She only knew that she had read through the *Newcomer's Guide* meticulously, having a general idea of everything mentioned within. When she closed the booklet, she discovered that the previously empty second page now contained new information.

The curriculum for next week had been updated.

From Monday to Friday, there was one class in the morning and one in the afternoon, each lasting two hours.

It was packed tight, without a single empty slot.

However, for the entire upcoming week, there was only one subject—*Introduction to Alchemy*.

"Does the Witch Academy place this much emphasis on alchemy? Given Mama Shana's level of alchemy, that shouldn't be the case!"

Moran couldn't figure it out, so she set the thought aside, knowing she would find out once classes started on Monday.

She set the *Newcomer's Guide* aside and summoned her Book of Cards.

Vasida had already figured out the function of the Devouring Stomach, and Sylph had a direction for testing the Myriad Box ability.

Only she had no clue whatsoever regarding her Book of Cards; she needed to step up her efforts.

An exquisite and complex gold-engraved cover, recessed card slots, purple gemstones, and blank inner pages—Moran inspected the book inside and out.

Her only finding was that even the paper of the inner pages only *looked* fragile; whether torn by hand or cut by a knife, it could not be damaged in any way.

Although Moran had named it the "Book of Cards" herself, the inspiration she received when she first manifested it did indeed suggest that the book was a binder meant to hold cards.

But while the book was here, not a single card could be seen—only a dark, empty indentation, which left the witch utterly perplexed.

Moran picked at every corner of the card slot, but still, nothing changed.

The more she lacked a clue, the less she was willing to give up.

When the six o'clock morning bell rang, Moran finally snapped out of her trance and left her dormitory in a daze.

In Dormitory No. 59, Lilith woke up punctually upon hearing the bell.

Stretching with a pleasant mood, she opened the door. "A day has passed; I wonder if the juniors have adapted to academy life yet—Moran? Why do you look as haggard as a vampire that's been air-dried for hundreds of years? Is your paternal lineage also vampiric?"

Having stayed up all night, unable to do anything about her Book of Cards, Moran arrived to find her senior with dark circles under her eyes and an even worse expression

"I don't know if my paternal lineage has anything to do with vampires, but I do know that you're the only one who can give me some advice, Senior! Senior, how did the predecessors first explore the functions of their Talent Manifestations?"

Lilith understood immediately. "You don't know how to start working on your Talent Manifestation?"

Moran nodded heavily. "I studied it all night and still have no clue. I only discovered that the Book of Cards is quite difficult to damage; I haven't found any mechanisms or ways to activate it."

"Mechanisms? Activation methods?" Lilith froze. "How exactly did you spend your whole night 'studying'?"

Moran recounted her "full-body inspection" method of research, concluding with, "I really checked every tiny pattern on the book. Whether I rubbed it, pressed it, or anything else, nothing changed."

Lilith pressed a hand to her forehead.

"Moran, you are a witch, a sorceress! This is your Talent Manifestation, not some low-class mechanical trap! Do you even know what a witch's Talent Manifestation actually is?"

Moran shook her head.

"Right, I forgot that the *Little Witch Series* doesn't cover these things at all. You'll understand once you read books related to witches in the future, but let me give you a brief explanation!"

Lilith said

"The reason a Talent Manifestation is called a Talent Manifestation is that it is actually our talent itself. Using magic as an energy source and based on our own subconscious perception, it condenses into a physical form.

Therefore, when exploring the abilities of a Talent Manifestation, the shape and type of the manifestation can provide certain clues.

For example, Vasida's Devouring Stomach can convert food energy, and my Bloodthirsty Needle can extract blood; these can all be inspired by the type of manifestation.

As for your Book of Cards, the type is quite rare, and I don't know what it's for either. But since it is something condensed based on your subconscious, you must have an understanding of it, right?"

Moran nodded.

She had been heading in that direction last night! Since it was a Book of Cards, the cards were the key, but she couldn't find a single card after searching all night.

Seeing that she understood, Lilith continued: "Besides the hints from the physical form, don't forget that the energy source of a Talent Manifestation is magic!

Sometimes, it's not that the Talent Manifestation hasn't shown its power, but that it lacks energy—it lacks a driver!

Just like my Bloodthirsty Needle; if it isn't driven by magic, even if it draws blood, it's no different from an ordinary syringe. So, injecting magic into your Talent Manifestation is one way."

Moran stared at the dim, lusterless card slot on the cover of her Book of Cards, suddenly realizing, "So it just hasn't had its batteries installed!"

"Batteries? What batteries?" Lilith was puzzled.

"The energy source!" Moran explained. "Senior, how do I inject magic?"

"Magic is a part of our bodies, just like our hands and feet. You drive it with instinct, control it precisely with your will, and let it burst with emotion. However..."

Before Lilith could finish her sentence, she saw Moran's Book of Cards begin to float.

Subconsciously, Moran drove her magic into the Book of Cards.

At this moment, staring at the indentation on the cover of the book, her deep purple eyes shone with startling brightness.

Coupled with her withered, pale face, Lilith felt it was more terrifying than when she herself was having blood drawn.

Watching Moran's magic surge into the Book of Cards without any sign of slowing down, Lilith's heart raced like thunder.

Channeling magic is easy, but controlling it is hard.

To be this aggressive on her first time channeling magic—she better not drain all her magic at once!

Moran's eyes were now focused solely on the Book of Cards.

She had completely lost perception of her surroundings. She only knew that with just a little more, just a little more magic, the thing she wanted would appear in the slot.

Wait, what was it she wanted?

Book of Cards, Book of Cards... of course, it was cards!

What kind of cards?

A flash of confusion crossed Moran's eyes, followed only by determination.

She wanted a card that could guide her in developing the Book of Cards and improving herself!

A card that belonged solely to her!

Within the slot, a soft white light surged, and a square card gradually took shape...

(End of Chapter)