The morning meeting with Seraphina had been... educational.
Zephyr flexed his fingers, still feeling the phantom sensation of her delicate hand in his as she'd pressed a small velvet box into his palm—another "gift" he couldn't refuse without seeming suspicious. The silver pendant inside had been enchanted with some sort of tracking magic, he was certain, though he'd had to accept it with the same weak smile the original Zephyr would have worn.
"You seem different today, my dear," she had said, those crimson eyes studying his face with unnerving intensity. "Stronger somehow."
He'd managed to deflect with complaints about nightmares and poor sleep, but her scrutiny had made one thing crystal clear: he needed to be more careful. And more importantly, he needed to be stronger.
Now, standing in the abandoned courtyard behind his small manor—a "generous" gift from his family after they'd disowned him—Zephyr pulled up his status screen.
[PLAYER STATUS]
[Name: Zephyr Ashcroft]
[Level: 1]
[EXP: 100/200]
[Mana: 847/847]
[Aura: Novice Tier 1]
[Skills Available: 3 + 1 Basic Skill Point]
[Techniques: 2]
The academy entrance exams were only a week away. In the original story, Zephyr had barely scraped by, admitted only because of his family name and betrothal to Seraphina. His pathetic performance had made him a laughingstock among the noble students and easy prey for the protagonist's inevitable rise.
But this time would be different.
"Alright, let's see what we're working with," Zephyr muttered, focusing on the Skills section.
[AVAILABLE SKILLS]
[Basic Mana Manipulation - Novice]
[Sword Arts Foundation - Novice]
[Combat Awareness - Novice]
[??? - Locked]
[AVAILABLE TECHNIQUES]
[Aura Burst - Tier 1]
[Mana Bolt - Basic]
His eyes lingered on the locked skill. Intriguing, but probably not something he could unlock at his current level. He allocated his basic skill point to Mana Manipulation, watching as the description expanded.
[Basic Mana Manipulation - Apprentice]
[Allows for more precise control of mana flow. Increases spell efficiency by 15%. Unlocks intermediate spell formations.]
The moment he confirmed the selection, knowledge flooded his mind. Not the gradual learning of study, but instant, perfect understanding. He could feel the mana pathways in his body more clearly now, sense the flow and ebb of magical energy like a second heartbeat.
"Incredible," he breathed, then raised his hand toward a training dummy at the far end of the courtyard.
[Mana Bolt]
The sphere of compressed mana that erupted from his palm was nearly twice the size of what the original Zephyr could have managed. It struck the dummy dead center, scorching the reinforced wood and leaving a crater the size of his fist.
A slow grin spread across his face. This was what power felt like.
[EXP Gained: 10]
[Skill Progress: Mana Manipulation - Apprentice (1/100)]
For the next two hours, Zephyr threw himself into training with an enthusiasm the original character had never possessed. Mana bolts flew across the courtyard in increasingly complex patterns. He practiced channeling his aura, feeling the energy flow through his limbs and enhance his physical capabilities.
[Aura Burst]
The technique sent him rocketing forward faster than his eyes could track, his fist connecting with another training dummy hard enough to crack the reinforced wood core. The feedback through his arm was intoxicating, raw power without the pretense of nobility or justice.
[EXP Gained: 15]
[New Skill Available: Enhanced Physical Conditioning]
He was just about to continue when the sound of approaching footsteps made him freeze. His enhanced senses—another benefit of the Player System, apparently—picked up multiple heartbeats. Three people, moving with the measured steps of trained guards.
Shit. He'd been too enthusiastic, made too much noise.
Zephyr quickly dismissed his status screen and grabbed a book from the stone bench where he'd left it—a basic primer on mana theory that would explain his presence in the courtyard. When the first guard rounded the corner, he was sitting quietly, looking every inch the weak, studious young master trying to improve his pathetic magical abilities.
"Young Master Zephyr," the lead guard said with barely concealed disdain. "We heard sounds of combat training. I trust you aren't overexerting yourself?"
The mockery in the man's voice was clear. In the original timeline, Zephyr's training sessions had been pitiful affairs—weak spells that barely singed the grass, aura bursts that propelled him maybe a few feet.
"Just practicing for the academy exams," Zephyr replied, keeping his voice meek and apologetic. "I know I'm not very good, but I thought I should at least try to improve."
The guards exchanged glances, one of them snickering. "Right. Well, try not to hurt yourself. Lady Seraphina would be... displeased if anything happened to you before the engagement ceremony."
They left without bothering to inspect the damaged training dummies, their contempt too complete for them to imagine he could have caused such destruction.
The moment they were gone, Zephyr's expression shifted back to that predatory grin. Let them underestimate him. Let them all think he was still the same pathetic weakling they'd always known.
He'd use every advantage he had, his meta-knowledge, the Player System, and their own arrogance to become something far more dangerous than any of them could imagine.
One week. That's all he had to prepare.
[Daily Training Complete]
[EXP Gained: 25]
[Total EXP: 150/200]
[New Quest Available: Academy Preparation]
[Objective: Intensive training for 7 days before entrance exams]
[Reward: ???]
Zephyr accepted the quest without hesitation. Seven days to show the world that Zephyr Ashcroft was far from the failure they believed him to be.
It was going to be fun.