Just in time the door opened. Keleb entered the room. He wore his usual smile, but I knew better.
"Good morning Eli. Did you sleep well?" He said.
This bastard. He calls himself my friend, but I know very well of his 'master plan'. Although it would be satisfying to deal with him now, I need to test the Karma System.
So I'll sit idle and wait for the timely betrayal of my trust, after all. The day he betrays me is tomorrow.
"Did you already take a bath Eli?" Keleb said, trying to sound as friendly as possible.
Itried to hold back my anger. If I lash out now, all will be for naught. "Not yet. Why do you not go first?"
Keleb simply smiled yet again and went to the bath. Meanwhile I stayed, dropped to my knees and looked under the bed. There is was, my little pouch of coins. Before leaving my village I spent sweat and tears to gather it. And there it was. I dragged it, and looked inside. All the funds were in there. I smiled and put it back.
Waiting for the idiot Keleb to finish I took a quick glance at the system:
[KARMA SYSTEM]
Name: Eli White
Mana Heart: [Iron Core — Grade 4「50%」]
[ATTRIBUTES]
Strength: 14
Agility: 14
Endurance: 13
Perception: 18
[KARMA CAPACITY]
Current Spite: 0 Karma Points
[SHOP– LOCKED]
I rubbed my chin. "Iron Core huh?"
Iron Core. The weakest a person can be. There are seven levels of Core ones Mana Heart go through: Iron, Bronze, Tin, Silver, Gold, Diamond then Obsidian.
Each Core having five grades each. I was at grade four, still pathetically weak compared to my former self, even weaker than the Demon King.
Analysing it, I took notice of the Karma Points. I wasn't that idiotic, so I instantly knew these were some type currency this system uses, obviously in the shop. However, the shop was locked.
"So when does it unlock, and what can I buy?" I murmured. Just then, Keleb slowly walked out of the bath.
"All done. Your turn partner. " He said.
I got up and walked to the bath. In the past, I might have felt comforted by the 'partner ' but not this time Keleb.
...
..
.
Everything was the same. Indeed I had returned to my academy years. I believed it now more than ever.
I sat alone in the corner. The class was silent. Everyone was in a meditative state. All trying to mine the Aura in the air. Which in turn they will use to strengthen their Mana Heart which will supply Mana.
Although mostly everyone was concentrated, there was barely any improvement. All my peers are around the same Core as me. The higher your Grade the more difficult it is to advance. Some were sweating profusely, it was all for naught. It was almost impossible for us, born into poverty to reach higher Cores without the necessary resources.
However, it's not all hopeless, because once every year merchants with powerful advancement pills pass by. And that time of the year was tomorrow. So everyone was on edge.
I looked around the class, a few like me. Had decided to halt the meditation. If you force yourself too much, you could pass out or even cause serious internal injury.
"Sigh. Let it end." I exhaled.
The instructor's voice cut through the room, snapping everyone out of their trance.
"End meditation. It's time for combat training."
Groans followed. Excitement too, from those who still believed effort alone could bridge the gap between them and the privileged.
I stayed seated.
Like always.
The instructor's eyes flicked toward me. He paused, just briefly, then looked away. No reprimand. At this point, my absence from combat training was part of the academy's routine. I wasn't banned. I simply didn't belong there.
Everyone filed out toward the training grounds, their auras stirring, hearts thumping with anticipation or fear. I waited until the room emptied, then stood and gathered my things.
Combat training was about showing off. About crushing someone weaker or surviving someone stronger. I had neither the pills to recover quickly nor the techniques to risk injury. One wrong hit could shatter my Mana Heart progression permanently.
I wasn't stupid. Besides I had revenge methods to think about for the whole kingdom.
I headed for the library.
Lunch came and went quietly. A bowl of thin stew, coarse bread. Around me, students talked about sparring matches, bruises earned, instructors' praise. I listened without joining, chewing slowly, conserving energy. In the following days I'll need it.
Afterward, I returned to the academy's archives.
Rows of shelves stretched endlessly, filled with manuals and incomplete theories. Skill books actually. Many were locked behind contribution points, the academy's special currency, but the lower-tier sections were open.
That's where I lived.
I read about mana circulation patterns, about aura compression, about external reinforcement techniques that didn't rely on brute force. Some skills were simple. Some dangerous. Others theoretical, written by madmen really.
There are many skills some still being discovered. That fact alone kept me sane.
If the world wasn't finished yet, then neither was I.
As evening settled, lanterns lit the halls in soft gold. Students returned from training, exhausted and loud, comparing results. I closed my book with a hard slap. The path to my revenge, the use of my Karma System, my first betrayal it all starts today.
I smirked, albeit a little too evil for my own good.
I walked slowly to the dorms. All I could think about right now was Keleb. I opened the door, there he was completing his daily exercise routine.
I greeted him with a nod. "How was your day?" He replied.
"I was normal as usual. Keleb thank you for being such a good friend." I said.
He paused midway. Then smiled at me. "No problem. I like being your friend. "
As if bastard. I know all your tricks. Unfortunately for you, I'll see to it they end this very month.
"I'll sleep now. I want to catch those merchants early." I said, taking off my shirt approaching the bed.
"Yes, don't that. I'm coming in just a moment. I do not want to miss them either. " Came his reply.
I crouched and took out the pouch of coins, I shook it a little, I caught the glimpse of Keleb eyeing it. Yes, come for it you dog.
"Alright." I patted myself and got into the bed. I already knew how this was going to play out. With that thought, I drifted off to sleep.