The first rays of dawn filtered through the window, bathing the room in a soft glow. The space was simple, almost austere, with only a few books stacked on a desk and a neatly made bed. The air was calm, but an invisible tension hung in the atmosphere.
On the bed, a boy sat cross-legged, eyes closed, back straight. Beads of sweat slowly slid down his forehead. His muscles were tense, his brows furrowed from the effort. He didn't move, but inside his body, a battle was raging.
Mana flowed around him, slowly, with difficulty. Unlike others, he couldn't simply attract and guide it naturally. He had to fight to force it into his core, bending the energy to his will. It was slow, grueling work.
Minutes passed. His breathing grew heavier, his hands trembled slightly. Then, suddenly, he felt something give way. A familiar warmth spread through his body, a sensation of newfound strength settling inside him.
His eyebrows relaxed. He opened his eyes, panting softly.
A smile formed on his face.
"Hah… hah… finally!"
My gaze locked onto the void. A translucent interface appeared before my eyes.
—————•Status•—————
Name: Noah Arryn
Race: Human
Strength: 88 —> 110
Defense: 65 —> 85
Stamina: 81 —> 100
Agility: 90 —> 115
Charm: 180 —> 183
Intelligence: 141 —> 142
Perception: 320 —> 321
Rank: Novice —> Novice+
Potential: Ethereal
Affinity: Ice | Chaos | Space
Constitution: [Locked]
Bond: -
Skills: -
Arts:
—> Silent Flow - Mid-Level - [31%]:
[Silent Flow is a martial art where movements are as smooth and quick as a flowing stream. It focuses on attacking and defending with flexibility and silence, like a quiet dance.]
Trait:
—> Shiva's Eyes:
[Shiva's Eyes reveal the vital points of adversaries and expose their deepest weaknesses while capturing a multitude of information. This power also allows one to perceive mana in its rawest form, unveiling elements invisible to the ordinary eye, and it can inflict devastating mental attacks. However, the use of this gift must be controlled to some extent. The more it is exploited, the harsher the consequences. Overusing this power is to risk losing oneself little by little.]
—————•Status•—————
I had advanced by a minor rank!
I had been trying to break through for hours, and I had finally succeeded. A wave of relief washed over me, quickly followed by restrained excitement.
The practical exam was approaching. In just a few hours, I would be thrown into a trial lasting three whole days. No rest. No second chances. I had to be ready.
I wiped the sweat from my face and glanced down at my body. My black tank top clung to my skin, and my breathing was still heavy from the strain. Even exhausted, the feeling of newfound strength pulsing inside me made everything else fade away.
Reaching the next rank had taken forever — far more time than it did for others.
Just to give an idea, I was considered a prodigy for awakening at twelve — an incredibly young age, as most awakened around fifteen — but it had taken me three years to go from Novice- to Novice. Then another three years to reach Novice+, the rank I had just attained.
Six years of relentless effort for only two minor ranks.
As for breaking through to Adept-, that was another story. At this rate, it would take me an eternity. And I didn't have that luxury. That's why I needed to fix my core as soon as possible.
I took a deep breath and slowly stood up. My body felt heavy, numb, but I felt good. Much better than before.
I had progressed faster than in the original story. Normally, I shouldn't have reached this rank until after the exam, not before.
"Well... now it'll be easier to reach my goals."
I headed to the shower. The warm water ran over my skin, washing away the sweat, the fatigue, and the last traces of tension. The mirror on the wall silently defogged. Everything was clean and quiet.
I dried off quickly, then put on my uniform. Black, simple, perfectly fitted. The fabric was flexible but sturdy — made to last, made to impose.
I stepped onto the terrace.
I sat down on a chair, lit a cigarette, and took a sip of the steaming coffee just prepared by the built-in dispenser.
I stayed there for a while, motionless, eyes fixed on the harbor in the distance.
That's where all the first-years had been summoned for the practical exam.
A faint laugh escaped me.
Then, suddenly, a quiet but firm knock knock pulled me out of my thoughts.
I straightened slightly, surprised. It was still early.
'Who could that be?'
I checked the security screen built into the door, then opened it.
"Tch. Knew it."
Kaera.
She stood there with her arms crossed, eyes half-squinted from sleep. Her messy silver hair gave her a slightly wild look. In a loose pajama set and flip-flops, she looked more like a tired neighbor than a first-class genius.
"The smoke. Your terrace faces mine, and you smoke like a dragon at dawn," she mumbled.
I raised an eyebrow.
"Oh. Sorry, didn't think it would bother anyone."
She shrugged casually, already calming down.
"It's nothing. I just wanted to complain a bit."
She leaned slightly, peeking behind me into my still-dark room.
Then her gaze shifted to the cigarette in my hand, and a faint smirk appeared on her lips.
"Seriously, you're still smoking that? You'll have to quit one day, you know."
I blew out a puff of smoke, looking bored.
"That's all you came to say?"
She chuckled softly.
Her laughter faded, replaced by a more composed expression. Her usually playful crimson eyes turned sharper, more serious.
"You should've come to the last meeting," she said bluntly.
Her voice had lost its usual carefree tone.
"We talked about the practical exam. You could've gotten some useful insights."
I let out a mocking sigh, barely raising an eyebrow.
"Insights about what, exactly? Even most of the professors still don't know what form it'll take."
"And I'm guessing not even a Silvaris has enough authority to know in advance, right? So… what's the point? Might as well prepare on my own. Saves me from unnecessary chatter."
She stared at me for a second, impassive, then burst out laughing — genuine and unexpected.
"You're unbelievable, really. You're the textbook definition of the unsociable type. The kind who ends up alone in a corner while everyone else moves forward together."
She tilted her head slightly, amused smile on her lips, arms still crossed.
"Even if the meeting didn't really help with the exam, it created connections. And I don't just mean friendships — I mean beneficial ties. And sometimes, that's all it takes to make the difference when you're up against the wall."
I didn't respond right away. I simply looked away, feigning indifference. But deep down, I knew she was partly right.
"Anyway, you want to head to the exam together?" she asked.
"Uh, no, I'm good... actually, why not," I finally replied.
"Cool. See you in a bit!"
I let out a small chuckle as she turned around, heading back to her room.
"And try to get some sleep, Noah. You already look like a zombie."