The faint grey light of morning slipped through the curtains of Dorm Room 393, brushing the stone walls in a cold glow.
Ace woke early, the room quiet as always. Theron's bed sat untouched — the roommate still more mystery than prth.
A short, focused training session followed — cycling Arcane Power, fragmenting his hand at the molecular level, reassembling it smoothly. Faster every time. Closer to mastery.
A quick breakfast in the refectory came next — bread, eggs, stew, the usual bland disappointment. Four more silver crowns gone.
Today's schedule was light — Element Fusion Theory and Alchemy — both lectures passing without issue. His Intelligence (S) made absorbing complex formulas and theory easy, even as noble glares flickered across the room like unwanted sparks.
After class, he grabbed a quick lunch, chewing mechanically as he counted coins left in his pouch.
"Man, I'm kind of broke now," he muttered under his breath. "Still gotta finish that katana too… Monster hunting takes time, and I don't have much to spare before the tournament. Guess I'll have to do some quick errands today."
With that though he headed directly to the Lower District. The bustling streets were a stark contrast to the Academy's serene courtyards, filled with merchants hawking wares and townsfolk going about their daily lives. He spent the early afternoon taking on various odd jobs: helping a grumpy grocer unload crates, mending a leaky roof for a weary tailor, and even assisting a street performer with a rather ambitious magic trick that required precise elemental control. The work was mundane, but the coin was real. By the time he was done, he had earned a respectable 64 silver crowns.
Not much — but enough to finish what mattered.
The sky burned with streaks of orange and purple as Ace arrived at the familiar blacksmith's workshop, the hiss of hot metal and clang of hammers filling the air.
He handed over 20 silver crowns, renting the private forge space again.
The room was warm, the tools prepared, his materials neatly arranged beside the half-complete blade.
"Alright," Ace muttered, rolling his sleeves, eyes steady. "Let's finish this."
The next few hours blurred into a rhythm — hammer striking steel, molten metal folding, elemental energy guided carefully into the core of the blade.
His Fire and Air affinities danced along the edges of the Celestial Adamant and Arcane-Infused Steel, the alloys reshaping under precise strikes.
Sweat plastered his shirt to his skin, muscles burned, but his focus never faltered.
The final strike echoed through the forge as Ace stepped back, exhaling deeply.
The katana lay cooling on the anvil — sleek, balanced, the faintest shimmer of arcane energy pulsing beneath the polished metal.
B+ grade — solid. Dangerous. His work, his defiance, shaped into steel.
Ace picked it up, testing the weight — it balanced naturally in his hand, light as thought, sharp as ambition.
"Finally… after hours of work," Ace whispered, admiring the blade. "It's complete. Maybe not perfect… but still made by me."
Curiosity sparked. He couldn't resist.
"Let's see if I can infuse lightning or fire into this yet."
He channeled his Fire affinity through the blade — a flicker of crimson rippled along the edge, warmth blooming in his hand.
But it sputtered, unstable, dying out after barely a second.
A faint frown touched his lips. He tried Lightning — the same result. A fleeting crackle, then silence.
"Yeah… as expected," Ace muttered, sheathing the blade. "It's very unstable. Gotta work on it more tomorrow."
The Academy grounds grew quiet as night deepened, stars scattered across the inky sky.
Back in his dorm, Ace's body ached, exhaustion weighing on him, but he wasn't done yet.
A major test loomed, and wasted potential wasn't an option.
Textbooks opened — Element Fusion, Advanced Alchemy, pages of complex diagrams and theoretical formulas — absorbed in moments by his sharp memory and analytical mind.
No tutors. No noble privileges. Just effort and understanding.
An hour passed, the material memorized, locked in.
"Alright… that's enough for today," he muttered, stifling a yawn. "I'm very tired."
He stumbled into bed, muscles aching, mind buzzing faintly with unfinished plans.
Sleep claimed him fast, dreams tangled with visions of gleaming steel and the battles ahead.
Ace Dragnell - Current Status
* Name: Ace Dragnell
* Noble Status: Low-Tier Noble
* Age: 16 (First Year Student)
* Strength: C
* Agility: C
* Endurance: B
* Intelligence: S
* Willpower: A
* Charisma: D
* Arcane Power: C+
* Abilities:
* Unique Ability: Molecular Disassembly & Regeneration (Rudimentary Control - Increased Mastery)
* Description: The innate power to disassemble one's body to a molecular or even atomic level and reassemble it at will. Can regenerate from a single cell or atom. Can reassemble specific body parts, which will possess the same inherent power as the main body. Ace can now successfully detach and reassemble his hand and foot with increased speed, control, and reduced mental strain. Further refinement is needed for full limb or body control.
* Elemental Affinities: Fire, Air, Lightning
* Skills:
* Basic Self-Defense (C)
* Survival (Wilderness - from his manor's remote location) (D)
* Weapon Forging (B-) (Has successfully forged a custom katana)
* Knife Mastery (Beginner - infused with Fire/Lightning affinity as a conduit)
* Katana Mastery (Beginner - newly acquired custom blade, needs further infusion training)
* Gear:
* Custom Katana (B+ Grade - newly forged, ready for elemental infusion training)
* Reputation: Increasingly recognized for sharp wit, defiance of high nobles, and extraordinary academic and legal talent; rivalry with Elara Flavosky deepens; has publicly humiliated Theo Harnest. Whispers of his unusual abilities and intelligence are spreading rapidly.
* Silver Crowns: 224 (184 + 64 from errands - 4 for lunch - 20 for forge rental)
* Dorm Room: 393