My eyes locked onto the new addition on my status window, and for a moment I forgot to breathe.
When I closed the last book, the sky outside had already dimmed into deep indigo. The library glowed in soft amber light, shadows stretching long across endless shelves. Hours—gone in a blink.
Fingers trembling, I summoned the Status Window.
And there it was.
A new line, faint but undeniable, waiting beneath my unique skill:
Status Window
Rank: Alpha – LV 1
Name: William Laurel – Age 16
Titles: [???]
Unique Skill: Perception
Skills: Immersion (new!)
Affinity: Light
MP: 190 / 190
Stats
STR – 6
AGI – 5
STA – 5
CON – 5
MANA – 19
Skill Acquired: [Immersion]
Immersion (Passive): Greatly improves concentration, learning speed, and focus by 100%.
The mind sharpens. Focus deepens. Every thought sinks into memory, every detail threads into clarity.
A shiver traced down my spine.
This wasn't fiction. This wasn't a game. Reality had just shifted beneath my feet.
I hadn't been sure the method would work here—after all, I wasn't in that world anymore. But if skill acquisition functioned the same way, then by focusing completely on a single task for long enough…
I didn't think it would come this quickly. In the game it had taken twelve straight hours.
A smirk tugged at my lips as I confirmed the achievement rewards still applied.
Then—
Grrrrr…
My stomach roared like a beast. Right. I hadn't eaten since morning.
The dining hall was livelier than yesterday, filled with the hum of voices and clatter of trays. More students were arriving—makes sense, classes begin in two days. I wolfed down a simple meal before heading back to my dorm.
My door was already open.
Inside, two strangers glanced my way. For a heartbeat, none of us moved. Then they smiled. My new roommates.
"Hey, you must be William," said the taller one. "I'm Douglas Gale, first year." His tone carried the easy confidence of someone who belonged.
"And I'm Miles Cooper," added the other, flashing a quick wave as he shoved a satchel under his bed.
I nodded, introducing myself. Douglas's belongings were already unpacked; Miles still looked halfway through.
Douglas cocked a brow. "Where've you been all day?"
"The library," I said simply.
He let out a chuckle. "You've got spirit, I'll give you that. But pace yourself. The academy teaches plenty. You'll have time to learn. What you really need to worry about…" His tone shifted, sharpening. "…is surviving the training regimen that starts Monday."
A chill crept down my spine. "What kind of training?"
He grinned, infuriatingly cryptic. "If I told you, it wouldn't change a thing. Just—don't burn yourself out on Day One. That's the trap. Endurance is what counts."
I nodded, as it confirmed what I already knew from the novel I read, where Rowen Attended the Arcadia institute.
Day One of the Academy Regimen.
Three hours of continuous long-distance running.
Three hours of combat drills—hand-to-hand and weapon basics.
Three hours of mana circulation training, designed to trigger Circulation or Control.
Nine hours, straight through. And then they expect you to do it again the next day. Better. Faster. Stronger.
The real goals over the first month?
Maintain speed of 45km/hr for the full marathon.
Unlock Mana Circulation or Mana Control Skills.
Gain at least one combat proficiency.
Defeat a mana doll in under five minutes.
All in one month.
Day One, though, was pure survival.
I swallowed a groan at the thought. For now, though, it was still Saturday.
Douglas stretched his arms, joints popping. "So, William—library all day, huh? You one of those types who plans to ace every test?"
Miles perked up at the mention of the library. "Wait—you were there the whole day? What did you read?" His eyes lit with genuine curiosity, the kind only another bookworm could muster.
I hesitated. "Mostly history… and a bit of skill theory."
Miles nodded eagerly. "Skill theory's good. I've been trying to find records on unique skills—half the texts contradict each other, but I can't stop digging." He gave a sheepish grin. "It's kind of an obsession."
Douglas smirked, shaking his head. "Obsession, he calls it. I call it a survival strategy. Just don't bury yourself so deep in books you forget how to fight, Miles."
Miles rolled his eyes. "Knowledge is half the fight."
"Sure," Douglas said, grinning, "but fists cover the other half."
I chuckled quietly, easing into the banter. "Guess we'll need both halves if we're going to make it through Day One."
Douglas clapped my shoulder. "Now that's the right mindset."
We kept talking cracked a few awkward jokes, pretending none of us were silently dreading what was coming.
Eventually exhaustion claimed me. I sank into bed, the mattress soft and welcoming after a day of revelations, reading, and reality checks.
Come Monday… the real grind would begin.