The morning bell tolled across the sprawling grounds of Aurelia Mage Academy, its deep chime reverberating through the dormitories like the call of judgment.
Su Yuan stirred awake in the shabby cot that barely counted as a bed. The straw stuffing poked through the thin fabric, scratching his skin. His stomach growled in protest, a reminder that this body had gone to bed with only a cup of thin gruel.
He sat up slowly, his hand brushing against the rough wooden wall of the tiny room. Cracks lined the boards, and the faint smell of mildew clung to the air. This was no luxurious dormitory. No, this was the slum reserved for the lowest of the low—the orphans who barely qualified to be apprentice mages.
Memories of this body seeped into his consciousness again. Su Yuan had lived here since he was ten, one of dozens of nameless orphans scooped up from the streets and tested for mana affinity. He'd been lucky—or unlucky—enough to register a faint spark. That had been enough to brand him as an "apprentice."
But in the academy's harsh hierarchy, that title was little more than a joke. Nobles with powerful bloodlines occupied grand halls, with personal tutors and endless resources. Commoners with talent at least received some respect. But orphans with nearly no talent? They were nothing more than fodder.
And this body—this other Su Yuan—had been known as the greatest trash among even that fodder.
He clenched his fists. "Not anymore."
The System's First Gift
As if responding to his determination, a soft chime echoed in his mind.
[System Notification: Daily random resource distribution beginning…][Congratulations! Today's resource: Bread Roll (Common)][Unlimited copies acquired.]
Su Yuan blinked. "...Bread?"
On the small desk beside his bed, a plain brown roll of bread materialized out of thin air, steaming faintly as if freshly baked.
He picked it up cautiously, sniffed it. It smelled… ordinary. Flour, yeast, a hint of salt. He tore a piece off and chewed. It was soft, warm, and tasted far better than the watery gruel he had eaten yesterday.
At first glance, it was laughable. Infinite bread rolls? Hardly the kind of divine treasure one expected from a world-breaking system. But then his stomach growled again, and he realized the truth.
For this weak, starving body, unlimited bread was a miracle.
"Food… endless food."
His lips curled into a smile. He reached for the desk again, and another bread roll appeared instantly. Then another. And another. Soon, the desk was piled high with warm rolls, a miniature mountain of sustenance.
A dozen thoughts raced through his mind. He could eat without ever worrying about hunger again. He could sell them discreetly for coin. He could even feed other orphans who were on the verge of collapse.
It wasn't glorious. It wasn't legendary. But it was the beginning.
He ate three rolls in quick succession, feeling his empty stomach finally quiet. Warmth spread through his chest.
"System," he whispered, "you may look weak at first glance, but you're already changing my fate."
The Academy's Cruel Reality
The bell tolled again. Su Yuan sighed, grabbed one last roll, and tucked it into his sleeve. He stepped outside into the crowded dirt courtyard.
Hundreds of apprentices in ragged robes shuffled toward the main academy building, a sprawling structure of gray stone etched with runes. The contrast was striking. In the distance, the nobles' dormitories gleamed with polished marble and enchanted glass. Their carriages drawn by spirit beasts rolled up smoothly, delivering pampered heirs to their lessons.
The orphans trudged on foot, heads lowered.
Whispers rippled through the crowd as Su Yuan passed.
"There goes the academy's greatest trash.""Still not expelled? Must be because they need someone to scrub floors.""He can't even light a candle with mana. What a joke."
The words stung, but Su Yuan only smiled faintly. The old Su Yuan had shrunk under these insults, but he was different. He carried a secret they couldn't imagine.
Laugh now. Later, you'll choke on your words.
Classroom Humiliation
The apprentices filed into a vast stone hall lined with rune-etched pillars. At the front stood Instructor Kael, a stern man in his forties with sharp eyes and a voice like steel scraping on stone.
"Today we continue with Mana Condensation," Kael barked. "Form your sparks into a stable crystal. Those who fail will repeat this exercise until you succeed—or until you're expelled. The academy does not waste time on trash."
His gaze swept the room, lingering briefly on Su Yuan with thinly veiled disdain.
The students sat at individual stone desks. Each placed a small crystal orb before them, the focus for their exercise.
Su Yuan closed his eyes, recalling how this body had always failed here. The original Su Yuan's mana pool was weak, his control worse. He could never form more than a flicker, always mocked by others.
But this Su Yuan was different.
He inhaled slowly, reaching inward. The ocean of mana stirred within him, infinite and vast. It surged to his command like an eager tide, ready to overflow.
He guided it carefully, forming a spark within the crystal orb. It blazed to life instantly, brighter than any apprentice's. He almost lost control from sheer abundance. Hastily, he suppressed it, dimming the glow until it resembled the effort of a barely-competent apprentice.
The orb pulsed faintly. Stable.
Gasps came from nearby students.
"Wait, did the trash actually succeed?""That's impossible. He's never managed it once!"
Instructor Kael's brows furrowed. He strode over, peering into the orb. The glow was weak but steady. His eyes narrowed.
"Hmm. Improvement." His tone was laced with suspicion rather than praise. "Barely acceptable. Don't grow complacent."
Su Yuan lowered his head. "Yes, Instructor."
But inside, his heart raced with triumph. For the first time, he had not failed. And no one suspected the truth.
The Antagonist
The lesson continued, most students struggling to maintain their sparks. But one voice cut through the murmurs.
"Well, well," drawled a young man with golden hair tied neatly back, his robes embroidered with silver runes. "Looks like the academy's trash has finally managed to light a candle."
It was Victor Armand, heir of a minor noble family. Arrogant, talented, and cruel, he had made sport of mocking Su Yuan for years. His own crystal orb blazed like a miniature sun, proof of his superior bloodline.
The surrounding apprentices laughed, eager to curry favor.
"Careful, Victor," one snickered. "He might burn himself out with that pathetic flicker.""Or trip and fall while carrying bread," another added.
Su Yuan's eyes flickered to Victor. A dozen retorts burned on his tongue, but he swallowed them. Revealing himself now would only bring danger.
He smiled faintly instead. "You're right. I still have a long way to go."
Victor sneered, mistaking humility for weakness. "Remember your place, orphan. Trash should know when to stay silent."
The laughter echoed again.
But in Su Yuan's heart, a seed of resolve had taken root.
One day, Victor. One day you'll kneel before me.
Evening Reflection
The day dragged on, filled with chores and more lessons. By the time the sun dipped below the horizon, Su Yuan returned to his tiny dorm, exhausted but exhilarated.
He sat cross-legged on his bed, the pile of bread rolls beside him. He ate one slowly, savoring the simple taste.
Then he began to experiment.
Flames leapt from his fingertips endlessly, never weakening. Water condensed into droplets again and again without pause. Lightning crackled at his command, stronger than any apprentice should wield.
It was intoxicating. Infinite mana meant he could train without fear of exhaustion. He could cast spells endlessly while others collapsed from overuse. He could achieve in days what might take others years.
And then there was the bread. He chuckled softly, summoning roll after roll until his room was overflowing. It seemed laughable, but to starving orphans, it was salvation. Tomorrow, he would share some discreetly. He could already imagine the joy on their faces.
He looked out the cracked window at the starry night sky.
"This world… it's cruel, merciless. But I have a power no one else has."
His eyes gleamed.
"From now on… my journey begins."