The following day, the pale morning light filtered through the cracks of the wooden guest room window, bringing with it the biting cold that heralded the approach of winter. William was the first to open his eyes. His body felt strangely light, as if a subtle electrical current were coursing through his muscles. Before he could even stretch, the translucent blue screen of the System manifested before his vision, vibrating softly.
[DIMENSIONAL SYSTEM]
User: [William]
Attributes: Strength: 9 | Speed: 11 | Endurance: 9 | Agility: 9 | Intelligence: 7.
Magic Power: [Teleportation] | Quantity: 3.
"Holy crap..." William muttered, sitting up abruptly on the straw bed. He stared at the numbers. His speed and strength were exceptional, but what truly made him bolt out of bed was the term "Teleportation." "Three magic power? I'm a monster!"
Without wasting time, he lunged toward the neighboring bed and shook Arthur by the shoulders.
"Art! Wake up, man! The system updated. We're not just background extras in designer clothes anymore; we've got the 'sauce' now!"
Arthur groaned, his analytical mind taking a few seconds to process the sudden wake-up call. As soon as he sat up, he too was confronted by his personal interface.
[DIMENSIONAL SYSTEM]
User: [Arthur]
Attributes: Strength: 6 | Speed: 7 | Endurance: 10 | Agility: 8 | Intelligence: 14.
Magic Power: [Telekinesis] | Quantity: 1.
Arthur furrowed his brow, adjusting the watch on his wrist out of pure habit. "Telekinesis... but my quantity is only 1. You said 3?"
"Three, partner!" William punched the air, laughing quietly so as not to attract the attention of Carter Lannis, who was likely patrolling the hallway. "The 'protagonist' here started off on the right foot. But look at this—your intelligence is still double mine. The system really knows I prefer to solve things with my fists and you with paper."
Arthur stood up and walked to the farthest corner from the door, gesturing for William to do the same. "We need to test this now, but in silence. If Roland or Carter find out that men can use magic in this world, things could get complicated before our time. In the original work, only women awaken as witches. We are the technical anomaly here."
William nodded, his provocative expression giving way to a rare moment of concentration. He focused on a spot two meters away, near the unlit fireplace. He felt the flow of mana—that energy Roland described as something linked to the universe. With an almost inaudible snap, William's silhouette vanished and instantly reappeared at the target.
"Whoa!" William staggered, feeling a slight dizziness. "It's instant, Art! But it drains a ton of energy. I feel like I just ran a kilometer in a second."
"Short-range teleportation," Arthur analyzed, observing with precision. "Your quantity of 3 must dictate the distance or the frequency. Now, let me try."
Arthur focused on a small pewter mug on the nightstand. He extended his hand—not with physical strength, but trying to project his will through the "Initial Magic Flow" they received after Anna's mission. The mug trembled, resisted for a moment, and then floated a few centimeters into the air before falling with a muffled metallic thud.
"Damn, it's heavy," Arthur murmured, wiping a bead of sweat. "My Level 1 Telekinesis is pretty rudimentary compared to your three charges of teleportation."
They sat on the floor, hidden by the shadows of the beds, and began to whisper about the possibilities.
"How do we increase this magic power?" William asked, scratching his chin. "Is it through system missions or do we have to train like Anna?"
"Probably both," Arthur replied, his LN-reader brain working at full throttle. "Remember that Roland discovered witches evolve through knowledge and study. Anna will evolve into green flames after understanding concepts of chemistry and physics. If our magic follows the same laws of this universe, my high intelligence might be the key to 'evolving' Telekinesis into something like molecular manipulation in the future."
"And my teleportation?" William asked. "If I understand space-time or relativity, can I jump to other cities? Imagine, Art, I could be an express transport system! Or better yet... I could 'visit' the other witches without being noticed."
Arthur shot him a disapproving look. "Focus on the training, Will. Anna's evolution happened because she used magic productively and constantly. The system says magic is a manipulation of natural laws. If you want to increase your power quantity, you might need to exhaust your mana every day, just like the witches do to avoid the 'bite' of awakening."
"Makes sense," William agreed, turning serious now. "And what if we can evolve like an 'Extraordinary' like Tilly or Ashes? They are immune to God's Punishment Stones. If we reach that level, not even the Church will be able to stop us."
"It's an ambitious goal," Arthur said, standing up as he heard footsteps in the hallway. "For now, keep this hidden. In three months, we'll have to face the Demonic Beasts and maybe even the Demons. Our magic is our trump card, but Roland's science is our shield."
William gave a predatory smile, adjusting his shirt. "I can't wait to see their faces when I vanish right in front of them. But for now, let's act normal. The show is just beginning."
Within the confines of the guest room, the air seemed to vibrate with the contained energy of the two young men. William was panting, hands on his knees after his third consecutive jump. Reappearing on the opposite side of the room required a mental coordination he didn't fully possess yet.
"Art, the sensation is bizarre," William whispered, wiping sweat from his forehead. "It's not like running; it's like the world folds and spits me out on the other side. But I feel like if I try to go beyond these walls right now, my head will explode. This 'Quantity 3' must be my limit of jumps before total exhaustion."
Arthur, who was trying to keep a metal spoon floating steadily, frowned. His Telekinesis required absolute concentration.
Arthur smiled slightly as the spoon finally fell onto the table. "And you? Teleportation is a supreme ability. If you can understand vectors and spatial displacement, maybe you'll stop feeling dizzy. But we must be cautious. Men using magic... if the Church finds out, no wall will protect us."
"Relax, Roland is an engineer; he'll see us as a fascinating anomaly, not as demons," William joked, but his expression soon shifted to something more pensive. "But tell me, Art, what about the others? The Witch Cooperation Association has several members. If I can teleport, I could be the first to find them. Imagine, my harem of powerful witches?"
Arthur rolled his eyes. "The focus now is survival, Will. Barov just talked about the Months of Demons. The hybrid beasts are no joke; they can tear holes in the wall. We need our magic to be useful for the First Army. If you can teleport explosives behind enemy lines, we change the game."
The conversation was interrupted by the sound of armored boots in the corridor. Instantly, William sat on the bed and Arthur feigned interest in one of the rudimentary scrolls on the table. The door opened and Carter Lannis entered, his expression as austere as ever.
"Prince Roland requests your presence in the parlor," Carter announced, his eyes scanning the room with suspicion.
As they followed the Chief Knight, William gave Arthur a discreet nudge. "Four days have passed. This is it. Roland decides if we stay or if we go back to the mud."
"He won't send us away," Arthur murmured back. "He needs us to translate the future. And we need him so that our magic has a purpose in this world of blood and snow."
They entered the parlor, where Roland awaited them with an expression that mixed exhaustion and expectation. On the table, the map of Border Town and the North Slope Mine was spread out, marking the beginning of an era that no Graycastle history book had ever dared to predict.