The library's restricted section required special permission to access, but Axnem's family name still carried enough weight to open certain doors. Professor Leira had provided him with a research pass, though her knowing look suggested she understood more about his sudden interest in historical magical anomalies than she let on.
"Mana Convergence Theory by Master Aldric Voss," Noharim read aloud from the spine of an ancient tome. "Published three hundred years ago. Think it's relevant?"
"Everything's relevant until we know what we're looking for," Axnem replied, though privately he knew exactly which texts would prove most useful. In his future memories, these same books had been crucial to understanding the crisis that was now beginning to unfold.
Kai had joined them despite his initial reluctance, though he spent more time complaining about the dusty atmosphere than actually reading. "How do you two actually enjoy this? My eyes are going to fall out from squinting at these ancient texts."
"Because knowledge is the foundation of power," Noharim said absently, her attention focused on a diagram showing theoretical mana flow patterns. "Look at this—it's describing something called 'cascade resonance failure.' When one magical node destabilizes, it can trigger failures in connected systems across vast distances."
Axnem's pulse quickened. That was exactly what had happened in his original timeline—a domino effect that had spread across multiple kingdoms, ultimately destabilizing the magical foundations that held their civilization together.
"There's more," Noharim continued, flipping through pages with growing excitement. "According to this, the effect can be artificially induced if someone understands the underlying mathematical principles. But the calculations required would be... incredibly complex."
"Complex enough that only a master-level scholar could attempt it?" Axnem suggested, though he already knew the answer.
"Or someone with access to resources beyond normal academic reach," she replied thoughtfully. "The author mentions something called the 'Convergence Equations'—mathematical formulas that could theoretically predict and manipulate large-scale mana events."
Kai looked up from his own halfhearted reading. "So you're saying someone might be causing these problems on purpose? That's a terrifying thought."
Axnem stood and walked to one of the tall windows overlooking the academy grounds. Students moved between buildings in their normal routines, unaware that their world might be under attack by forces they couldn't even comprehend. In his future memories, most people never understood what had really happened—they just knew that magic became unreliable, that ancient protections failed, and that the careful balance of power between kingdoms collapsed.
"We need more information," he said finally. "Historical records, mathematical proofs, anything that might help us understand the pattern."
"You sound like you're planning to solve this yourself," Kai observed, echoing Noharim's earlier comment.
"Maybe I am," Axnem replied quietly, his reflection staring back from the window glass. Behind him, his friends continued their research, unaware that they were racing against a timeline only he could see.