The world shifted from black to gray, then from gray to gold.
Soul opened his eyes.
The wooden ceiling of his room, the lines in the planks, the small crack above the window… everything was in its place. The familiar weight of the katana leaning against the wall. The silent presence of the scythe.
He sat up and stretched.
His body…
Felt lighter.
When he put his feet on the floor, he realized he no longer staggered from fatigue like on the previous days. The soreness was still there, but less heavy, less sticky.
He passed in front of the mirror. His right eye, violet, calm, deep. His left eye, orange, sharp, still as alive as ever. His violet hair, a bit messy, gave him an appearance that was both strange and familiar.
— Level 2, huh… he murmured.
— Looks like you really can feel it.
He washed his face, brushed his teeth, pulled on his tunic and pants. Then, with an almost ritual care, he fastened Kage no Kizuna to his belt and strapped Shinigami's Embrace onto his back.
The two mythic artifacts vibrated faintly, as if greeting the start of a new day.
A Lighter Path
After a warm, hearty breakfast full of vegetables (his mother was clearly starting to feed him "like an adventurer"), Soul headed toward the academy.
Very quickly, he realized something:
His steps were faster.
Without forcing.
Where, in the previous days, he had almost needed to run not to be late, his legs now seemed to glide naturally over the village's packed-earth paths.
He allowed himself to test it.
He sped up. The scenery moved by a little quicker, the morning breeze brushed his face. And yet, his breathing stayed surprisingly steady.
— So this is… stats, he whispered.
As if in answer to his thought, a violet window briefly popped up in front of him, translucent:
[Reminder – Effect of Statistics]
– AGI affects: speed, evasion, coordination.
– END affects: physical endurance, resistance.
– Recent level-ups have improved these parameters.
The window closed on its own.
Soul smiled.
They're not just numbers. I can actually feel it.
A New Classmate, a New Weapon
In the academy courtyard, the students were already gathering. Ryen was waving his arms like crazy to get his attention. Kael was leaning against a post with his arms crossed, while Mira was already reading a small grimoire, focused despite the noise.
But today, a new silhouette stood out among them.
A boy their age, but with a body… already very defined. Broad shoulders, corded arms, a straight posture. His black hair was cut mid-length, with several silver strands framing his face and falling in front of his eyes. His irises were a deep red, almost glowing, like embers.
On his back, firmly strapped: a halberd. A long shaft, metal reinforcements, a crescent blade ending in a point. Even in training form, the weapon demanded respect.
Bron stood beside him, massive as ever.
— STUDENTS! he bellowed.
— Today, you have a NEW classmate… and a new TEACHER.
He jerked his chin toward the boy.
— This is Èze InFire.
The boy stepped forward, without shyness, but without arrogance either. He scanned the crowd with his eyes. They were full of quiet determination, of contained fire.
— My name is Èze, he said simply.
— Class: Halberdier.
Whispers broke out.
— A halberd…
— That's so cool.
— He already has muscles at our age?!
Soul watched him with interest.
A halberdier… that was rare. A versatile weapon: reach, slash, thrust. Not something easy to master.
Bron then pointed at a man standing at his side.
He was tall, but less massive than Bron. Lean, wiry muscles, straight shoulders. Brown hair tied back in a low ponytail, dark green eyes, a face marked by a few fine scars. He wore a reinforced leather armor built for mobility. On his back, a perfectly balanced halberd.
— And this is Master Hadrian Voss, Bron continued.
— He'll be the main instructor for Halberdiers… for now, "Halberdier" in the singular.
Hadrian gave a slight bow.
— I don't speak much, he said calmly.
— I let the weapon speak for me.
— If you hold a halberd without respect, it will kill you before your enemy does.
Several students swallowed nervously.
Bron folded his arms.
— Good. Now then… DRASIL! THORN! RONDOR! FAYEN!
— Step up. You too, InFire.
Soul exchanged a quick look with his friends, then stepped forward, Èze doing the same.
They found themselves in a small group of five in front of Bron.
Bron jerked his head.
— Introduce yourselves. You'll be crossing paths often.
Soul held out his hand first.
— Soul Drasil. Summoner and Necromancer.
Ryen followed:
— Ryen Thorn. Swordsman!
Mira, a bit shy:
— Mira Fayen. Mage.
Kael, laconic:
— Kael Rondor. Archer.
Èze watched Soul for a moment, then took his hand with an honest smile.
— Èze InFire. Halberdier.
— Nice to meet you.
He seemed… sincere. Not a trace of contempt in his eyes, despite Soul's classes.
That moment was shattered by a nasally voice.
— You should choose your friends more carefully, Zeke sneered as he walked over, surrounded by his gang.
He stopped in front of Èze, arms crossed.
— That one, over there…
He pointed at Soul.
— He's a Summoner and a Necromancer. The two worst classes possible. A future walking corpse.
Garlick snickered. Britney tilted her chin up. Zara said nothing, but her icy gaze slid from Soul to Èze. Luck just huffed, bored.
Zeke clearly expected to see Èze recoil, grimace, or at least drift away.
Instead, the halberdier blinked… then shrugged.
— So what?
Zeke froze for a second.
— What do you mean "so what"?
Èze stared straight into his eyes.
— It wasn't his class that broke your sword in training yesterday.
— It was him.
A faint glint of amusement flashed in Bron's eyes, but he neither confirmed nor denied.
Zeke clenched his jaw.
A few students choked back a laugh.
— I choose my friends based on what I see on the field, Èze continued.
— Not based on what rumors say.
He placed a friendly hand on Soul's shoulder.
— So, Summoner-Necromancer… show me what you've got.
Soul felt something warm spread in his chest.
— I'll do my best.
Zeke, red with anger, retreated into his group.
— We'll see about that in a duel, he spat.
Warm-Up… with Skills
Bron raised his voice.
— GOOD!— Enough talk!
— WARM-UP!
The now-familiar routine:
Running laps, push-ups, squats, stretches, reflex drills.
Soul could clearly feel the difference his level made. His muscles burned, yes, but he was no longer on the verge of collapse. His legs responded better, his arms were steadier. His movements were smoother.
After a long while, Bron raised his hand.
— STOP.
The students straightened up, sweating.
— Starting today, Bron announced, you are allowed to use YOUR SKILLS in duels.— Which means… that your mistakes will hurt even more.
A shiver ran through the courtyard.
Ryen was already whispering:
— Skills, skills… finally!
Kael tightened his grip on his bow. Mira closed her grimoire slightly, excitement shining in her golden eyes.
Bron pointed to the center.
— DRASIL and InFire, you're up first.
Soul vs Èze — Fire and Steel
Soul felt his heart speed up. Èze stepped forward, unslinging his halberd with a smooth motion. The weapon almost seemed to dance between his hands.
Around them, the students moved back, forming a wide circle.
— This'll be our first fight, Èze said with a faint grin.
— Give me everything you've got.
Soul took a wooden sword from the racks. His katana stayed at his side, but for now, duels were still done with training weapons.
Bron raised his arm.
— BEGIN!
Èze advanced, his steps quick but controlled. The halberd drew a wide arc, aiming first to test Soul's guard. Soul stepped back, feeling the air vibrate near his chest as the blade passed.
His reach is enormous…
Èze followed up, alternating thrusts and sweeps. Each movement was clean, precise, as if drilled hundreds of times.
Soul couldn't just charge in like he might against a swordsman: the shaft acted as a barrier, the blade covered a wide area.
He had to rely on his speed. His feet hit the ground lightly, his dodges were lateral, not just backward.
He took advantage of a moment when the halberd was returning to guard to try to close in, but Èze pivoted and used the back of the shaft to slam into his ribs.
— Ngh—
The pain forced him back.
A murmur of admiration ran through the crowd.
He fights like an adult.
And yet, Èze showed no trace of disdain. Every strike felt more like… an invitation to grow than an attempt to crush him.
— You move well, he called out.
— But you still hesitate to step into my range.
Soul grimaced, then clenched his teeth.
I've fought Purple Slimes. Skeletons. I'm not backing down because of a halberd.
Taking advantage of a moment where Èze was setting up a sweep, Soul dove in, slipped into his guard, and struck his side with the wooden sword.
The hit went through. Èze took it, stepping back with a laugh.
— There!
The two boys continued like that, testing their limits. Soul dodged, slipped in and out of range. Èze adjusted his angles, changed the distance, sometimes using the shaft, sometimes the point, sometimes the curved blade.
After several minutes, Bron raised his hand.
— ENOUGH.
— DRAW.
Soul was panting, a smile on his lips. Èze too, breath a little short, eyes shining.
— Nice one, Èze said.
— Didn't think you'd hold out this long at that distance.
— You're not exactly normal either, Soul replied.
They bumped fists.
Ryen vs Kael — Speed vs Rapid Shot
— Next match: Ryen THORN versus Kael RONDOR!
Ryen was already in position, brandishing his wooden sword, determined.
— This time, I'm catching you, Kael!
Kael took his bow, nocked a training arrow.
Bron reminded them:
— Don't forget you can use YOUR SKILLS.
Kael took a deep breath.
A small window, visible only to him, appeared:
[Active Skill: Rapid Shot (LV1)]
Effect: Allows shooting up to 3 arrows in quick succession, with a slight penalty to accuracy.
— Begin! Bron shouted.
Ryen rushed forward, trying to zigzag to avoid the arrows.
Kael drew.
— Rapid Shot.
His hands moved in a blur.
One arrow, two, three, flew off in less than a second. They weren't all aimed at the same spot: legs, torso, shoulder.
Ryen managed to parry the first one with almost miraculous reflexes, but the second stuck to his side, the third to his thigh.
— Argh!
He pushed forward anyway, limping a little, but Kael kept the distance, already reloading.
The second volley, even without Rapid Shot, was enough to stick an arrow to his shoulder.
Bron raised his hand.
— VICTOR: Kael RONDOR.
— Good use of your skill.
Ryen grumbled, but ended up smiling.
— I swear I'll break your arrows someday.
— I'll be waiting for that day, Kael replied.
Soul vs Ryen — Cleave
— Soul DRASIL versus Ryen THORN!
Ryen, still marked by the arrows stuck on him, got back into position, gripping his sword tight.
A small window appeared in front of him:
[Active Skill: Cleave (LV1)]
Effect: A charged attack that increases damage and the chance to disarm the opponent if it hits their weapon or guard.
Bron gave the signal.
This time, Ryen attacked with more calculation. He was looking to land Cleave, not just swing randomly.
Soul knew it: Ryen wasn't the type to repeat the same mistake twice, even if he was still hot-blooded.
The fight was close. Soul dodged, blocked, counter-attacked when he could, but Ryen was waiting for THE right moment.
He feinted a high strike, then dropped his sword down onto Soul's guard.
— Cleave!
The wood vibrated strangely on impact. The force of the blow nearly tore the sword out of Soul's hands. He barely managed to hold on, but stumbled back three steps, fingers numb.
— Are you serious right now?! Soul yelped.
— Learned it yesterday, Ryen answered proudly.
What followed was a fierce struggle. Soul leaned on his speed, using quick footwork, circling around Ryen, forcing him to waste attacks.
In the end, taking advantage of a moment where Ryen was charging up Cleave again, Soul broke the distance and struck his wrist, then his torso.
Bron stepped in.
— VICTOR: Soul DRASIL.
— But that was close.
Ryen dropped to the ground, sitting and laughing.
— I was this close…
— You're progressing too fast, Soul grumbled, amused.
Èze vs Mira — Blinding Light
— Èze InFire versus Mira FAYEN!
Èze stepped into the center, training halberd in hand. Mira stood several meters away, clutching her grimoire.
She had a different skill ready.
A small window appeared in front of her:
[Spell: Flash (LV1)]
Element: Light
Effect: Triggers a burst of intense light in front of the target, reducing their vision for a few seconds.
Bron gave the start.
Èze advanced, carefully measuring the distance. Instead of immediately retreating, Mira raised her hand and murmured a quick incantation.
— Flash!
A burst of light exploded in front of Èze's eyes. He groaned, squeezing them shut for a moment. His halberd faltered, his movement breaking.
Mira took the chance to move to the side and struck his leg with a training staff she had summoned through a reinforcement spell.
Èze lost his balance, dropping to one knee. The staff tip landed on his chest.
Bron raised his hand.
— VICTOR: Mira FAYEN.
Èze rubbed his eyes, laughing.
— All right, mage… noted: never underestimate that book.
— You hit hard, Mira replied, a bit out of breath.
— I didn't have the luxury of letting you get close.
Kael vs Mira — Wind vs Arrows
— Kael RONDOR versus Mira FAYEN!
Kael took his bow again, Mira her grimoire.
This time, Mira had another spell in mind.
[Spell: Gust (LV1)]
Element: Wind
Effect: Creates a burst of wind in front of the caster, able to deflect light projectiles and destabilize an enemy.
Bron gave the signal.
Kael immediately activated Rapid Shot. Three arrows flew in quick succession, aimed at legs, torso, and shoulder.
Mira took a deep breath.
— Gust!
The wind rose in front of her, invisible but powerful. The arrows, instead of flying straight, were pushed aside: two thudded into the ground, the last one clattered harmlessly against a post.
Kael blinked.
— …Okay.
Before he could ready another proper shot, Mira had already moved forward, taking advantage of his surprise. She dropped the wind, closed in, and sent another targeted gust at his legs.
Kael staggered, dropped to one knee, and Mira tapped his shoulder with her staff.
— VICTOR: Mira FAYEN, Bron declared.
Kael smiled despite his loss.
— I hate that spell, he muttered.
— I love it, Mira replied.
Soul vs Mira — Water & Ice
— Soul DRASIL versus Mira FAYEN!
This time, the atmosphere was different. The spectators had already seen Mira overturn fights with her magic. Soul, for his part, had shown clear progress in close combat.
Mira had another combo in mind.
[Spell: Water Bubble (LV1)]
Element: Water
Effect: Creates a watery bubble that can hinder movement or block an attack.
[Spell: Ice Needle (LV1)]
Element: Ice
Effect: Temporarily solidifies water to create a sharp projectile.
Bron gave the signal.
Soul dashed in, relying on his speed, trying to enter the zone where Mira would be least comfortable.
— Water Bubble! she called.
A sphere of water suddenly formed at ground level, wrapping partially around Soul's leg. He felt a drag, his advance slowed.
Mira followed up:
— Ice Needle!
The bubble solidified in spots, forming a spike of ice that aimed for his side. Soul managed to twist enough to only take a glancing hit, but it still knocked him off balance.
He tore himself free, water splashing around him, but Mira had already retreated.
The fight turned into a dance:
Soul shattered water spheres with his sword, Mira turned them into ice, into projectiles, into obstacles.
Several times, Soul was about to reach her. But at the last second, a bubble or shard of ice forced him to change direction.
Finally, after a tight exchange, Mira formed a bubble above him and burst it into icy rain.
Soul, already out of breath, slipped on the wet ground. Mira used the moment to place her staff on his chest.
Bron raised his hand.
— VICTOR: Mira FAYEN.
— That was close.
Still lying on the ground, Soul burst out laughing.
— I'm starting to hate water.
— It likes you a lot, though, Mira replied, amused.
Èze vs Ryen — Unexpected
The duels continued:
Èze vs Ryen: the halberdier alternated long strikes and hooks with the shaft, but Ryen, boosted by his recent progress, managed to slip into his range several times. He landed a well-placed Cleave on the shaft, throwing Èze off balance, who still lacked experience against close, clingy fighters. Ryen won, but barely.
Soul vs Kael: Soul used his higher agility to move faster, zigzagging and closing in before Kael could fully prepare Rapid Shot. He managed to knock him down and won the match.
Mira vs Ryen: Mira cast a Fire Wall—
[Fire Wall – LV1]
Element: Fire
• Creates a low barrier of flames, difficult to cross without psychological damage (and a few burns).
— a low but intense curtain of flames — forcing Ryen to go around. The time it took gave her the opening to tap his back with her staff. Mira won the duel.
Èze vs Kael: this time, Èze had carefully observed Kael's previous matches. He anticipated when Rapid Shot would be used, broke line of sight with diagonal movements, and struck the ground in front of him to throw off his balance. Kael ended up hit in the torso by the shaft of the halberd.
By the end, everyone was dripping with sweat, muscles burning… but smiling. Kyria came to heal them, placing glowing hands on the most battered areas.
The specialized classes were about to begin.
4th Necromancy Class — Beast Bones
Soul headed to Necromancy class with Bron, as agreed.
In the dim room, blue candles still burned. Lady Nyxmar was waiting, arms crossed.
— You're both back again, she said.— I hope he's not becoming dependent on you, Bron.
— I'm here for the weapons, Bron replied.— The dead are your department.
She allowed herself the faintest almost-smile.
— Then let's see if he's understood his lessons.
They went to the cemetery.
Before they even passed through the arch, a violet window appeared in front of Soul's eyes.
[QUEST: First Steps]
Slimes defeated: 7 / 10
Skeletons defeated: 4 / 10
Total XP: 40 / 200
The cemetery was as quiet as ever. The wind slipped between the gravestones, making the flowers shiver. The gray sky added a particular heaviness to the atmosphere.
Nyxmar turned to Soul.
— Today, you won't just fight human skeletons.
— Beasts have bones too.
She placed her hand on a headstone engraved with a feline symbol.
— Here, a former hunting companion.
The ground trembled slightly.
A feline skeleton emerged: long, lithe, arched spine, bony claws, sharp fangs. Its empty sockets turned toward Soul.
First Fight: Feline Skeleton
The feline skeleton did not move in a straight line. It circled, flanked, its motions quick, low, hard to follow.
Soul tightened his grip on the scythe.
Bron stood behind him.
— Beasts fight differently, he said.
— They go for legs, throat, and flanks.
— Don't let it keep circling you.
The feline skeleton leapt.
Soul dodged just in time, feeling the claws brush his tunic.
He tried a circular swing, but the skeleton ducked under it, landing behind him. Soul pivoted, the scythe tracing a second, lower arc.
CRACK.
The blade hit its hind leg, breaking it. The creature stumbled, but still leapt again on three legs.
— Tenacious thing, Soul grunted.
— Finish it, Nyxmar said.
Soul waited for the next jump, dropped his center of gravity, and brought the scythe down on its spine as it passed within reach.
The vertebrae shattered, and the skeleton collapsed.
[Feline Skeleton (LV 3) defeated → +10 XP]
[QUEST: First Steps]
Slimes defeated: 7 / 10
Skeletons defeated: 5 / 10
Total XP: 50 / 200
He caught his breath, sweat beading on his forehead despite the chill.
Second Fight: Canine Skeleton
Nyxmar pointed to another grave, marked with a paw symbol.
— Canine.
— More straightforward than the feline, but more bite.
Soul repeated the ritual.
A dog or wolf skeleton, more slender, emerged from the earth. Its jaw clicked softly, as if eager to bite.
Unlike the feline, it charged in a straight line, head low.
Soul avoided the first rush, but the canine turned around almost immediately, using its speed to snap again and again.
Bron spoke:
— Its trajectory is simple, but fast.
— Don't just back off.
— Cut across its path.
On the next charge, Soul shifted slightly to the side and brought the scythe down diagonally, aiming for the shoulder.
The bones shattered.
The creature rolled to the ground, got up again as best it could on three legs.
Soul didn't give it a third try.
A clean blow to the neck.
[Canine Skeleton (LV 3) defeated → +10 XP]
[QUEST: First Steps]
Slimes defeated: 7 / 10
Skeletons defeated: 6 / 10
Total XP: 60 / 200
He was already breathing better than in previous days. His endurance had improved.
But his instincts screamed something at him.
This isn't over.
Group Fight — Bones & Scythe
He was right.
The earth began to tremble around him.
In front, behind, right, left… silhouettes emerged.
A human skeleton LV3 with a rusty sword.A canine skeleton LV3, jaw grinding.A feline skeleton LV3, spine arched.And a reptile skeleton LV3, long and low, like a crocodile: massive jaws, short legs, long tail.
Soul clenched his scythe, jaw tight.
— Four of them, Bron said.
He took a step forward, ready to intervene, but Nyxmar raised a hand.
— Wait.— If he's to survive in this world, he'll have to learn to face several enemies at once.— This is as good a time as any.
Bron hesitated, then finally stepped back.
— All right.
— Listen up, Soul.
He spoke clearly, without shouting.
— Don't panic.
— Don't let them trap you in a corner.
— Your scythe can hit several enemies in one swing.
— Use your speed to escape tight spots.
— Prioritize the ones that can pin you: the reptile and the human.
Soul took a deep breath.
The four skeletons advanced at the same time, slowly closing the circle.
The reptile clacked its jaws.The canine growled.The feline circled, ready to leap at his back.The human lifted its sword.
Don't panic.
When the human struck first, Soul pivoted, the scythe tracing an arc that struck both the rusty blade and the torso of the approaching reptile.
CRUNCH.
The sword was deflected, the reptile's jaw carved open.
The feline pounced from his right. Soul dropped forward into a roll, the scythe following in a low, half-circle sweep.
The feline's legs met the blade. It collapsed.
[Feline Skeleton (LV 3) defeated → +10 XP]
The canine snapped at his leg. Soul sprang up in a jump, spinning the scythe in his hands, and smashed the animal's skull in a circular strike without fully stopping his movement.
[Canine Skeleton (LV 3) defeated → +10 XP]
The wounded reptile clacked again, trying to grab him. Soul took a step back, then one to the side, using its sluggish movement to bring his blade down on its neck.
[Reptile Skeleton (LV 3) defeated → +10 XP]
Only the human remained.
It raised its sword, hesitating for a split second at the bone carnage.
Soul, panting, sprang forward, striking first its weapon arm, then its torso, then its skull.
The bones shattered in white sparks.
[Skeleton (LV 3) defeated → +10 XP]
A larger window appeared:
[QUEST: First Steps]
Slimes defeated: 7 / 10
Skeletons defeated: 10 / 10
Total XP: 100 / 200
Soul dropped to his knees, breathing hard, the scythe planted in the ground to keep him steady. His heart was pounding, but a quiet laugh escaped him.
— I… did it…
Nyxmar was watching him with a rare expression: a mix of respect and deep interest.
Bron, for his part, was grinning outright.
— Not bad, kid.
— Really not bad.
4th Summoning Class — Finishing the Job
Back at the academy, Soul went to Summoning class. Fenrick was waiting, seated cross-legged as always, but Bron was there too.
— You survived the skeletons, the wolf-man said.
— Good.
The 4th Summoning class was more advanced:
Fenrick had him visualize the mana flow again, now clearer to him. He spoke of contracts with summons, of bonds instead of simple orders.
— When you get your first summoning spell, Fenrick said, it's not a "technique."
— It's an extension of you.
After the theory, the three of them headed into the western forest.
This time, Bron was even more vigilant. Whenever a Purple Slime appeared nearby, he destroyed it in a single strike, refusing to let Soul take another hit of that poison.
Soul, meanwhile, spotted a strange tree, its trunk marked with streaks of gel.
He narrowed his eyes.
— There.
— There's several on that tree.
Bron followed his gaze.
— You want to knock them down?
— Yes.
— All right.
— Go ahead.
Soul took a bit of distance and kicked the trunk as hard as he could.
The tree shook.
Three Orange Slimes dropped down, bouncing on the ground: one LV3, two LV4, judging by their size and the density of their cores.
Fenrick turned to Bron.
— You'll step in if he's overwhelmed?
— No need, Bron replied.
— He survived a group of skeletons.
— He needs to learn to handle multiple targets here too.
Battle: Three Orange Slimes
The three Slimes started bouncing toward him, two slow, one more aggressive in the middle.
Soul tightened his grip on his katana.
Despite the exhaustion from the cemetery, his body still responded.
Priorities.
The central Slime leapt higher. Soul moved in instead of backing away, bringing his katana straight down onto the core.
The creature literally exploded, spraying orange gel everywhere. The two nearby Slimes, caught in the blast, were heavily damaged.
[Orange Slime (LV 3) defeated → +10 XP]
[QUEST: First Steps]
Slimes defeated: 8 / 10
Skeletons defeated: 10 / 10
Total XP: 115 / 200
One of them, injured, tried to retreat, its mass trembling.
The other, despite its damage, charged at him in one last aggressive rush.
Soul turned toward the attacking Slime, stepped to the side, and sliced cleanly through its core in a single motion.
[Orange Slime (LV 4) defeated → +25 XP]
[QUEST: First Steps]
Slimes defeated: 9 / 10
Skeletons defeated: 10 / 10
Total XP: 140 / 200
The third finally turned back, ready to jump in turn.
Soul waited.
When the Slime leapt, he brought the blade down in a perfectly timed strike.
[Orange Slime (LV 4) defeated → +25 XP]
[QUEST: First Steps]
Slimes defeated: 10 / 10
Skeletons defeated: 10 / 10
Total XP: 165 / 200
The quest window updated again.
A new, larger violet window appeared:
CONGRATULATIONS!
[QUEST: First Steps – Completed]
Rewards obtained:
– Scroll containing: Spell: Summon – Slime LV1
– Scroll containing: Spell: Necromancy – Skeleton LV1
– +50 XP
The numbers recalculated:
Total XP: 215 / 200
Another window stacked on top:
[CONGRATULATIONS! Your level has increased.]Level: 2 → 3
Stat | Old | New
PV (HP) | 70 | 80
PM (MP) | 90 | 100
STR | 11 | 12
END | 12 | 13
AGI | 17 | 18
INT | 29 | 31
WIL | 32 | 34
CHA | 16 | 17
INV | 15 | 17
NEC | 15 | 17
XP: 15 / 300
And just below:
[Bonus Stat Points +5 obtained.]
Soul stood there for a moment, silent, watching the windows float before his eyes.
Level 3…And I finally have my first spells.
In the Headmistress' Office
Back at the academy, Bron patted Soul on the shoulder.
— Come with me.
— We're going to see the Headmistress.
Soul froze.
— … I'm… in trouble, aren't I?
Bron didn't really answer.
Which wasn't reassuring.
The Headmistress' office was upstairs, in a slightly separate building. The corridor leading to it was quiet, lined with old paintings of battles, spells, dragons, landscapes of Astryon.
Bron knocked on the door.
— Come in, said a firm female voice.
They entered.
The office was spacious, filled with bookshelves, with rows of grimoires, vials, and maps of the continent. At the center, a large dark-wood desk, covered with parchments and quills.
Behind it stood a woman in her forties, slender, white hair pulled into a high bun, piercing golden eyes. She wore a midnight-blue robe embroidered with elemental symbols: flames, water drops, lightning bolts, leaves.
The air around her seemed to hum faintly.
Madame Irilla Dawnstar.Class: Elemental Sage.Headmistress.
She looked at Soul for a moment, then turned her gaze to Bron.
— Explain to me why you're bringing me a student, Bron.
Bron straightened.
— Madam Headmistress.
— Soul Drasil, here, has been fighting Slimes in the western forest for the last two days…
— And Skeletons in the cemetery.
Irilla stared at him, her expression hardening.
— …Excuse me?
Soul felt a bead of sweat run down his back.
— At his age, Bron continued, he's already survived a Purple Slime, several fights against Skeletons, and a group battle.
Irilla narrowed her eyes, furious.
— You are telling me… that a seven-year-old student…
— Is being left at the mercy of monsters outside the academy grounds?!
Soul practically shrank on the spot.
— I— I'm not exactly—
The door behind them opened abruptly.
Fenrick walked in, followed by Lady Nyxmar.
— We weren't "absent," Fenrick cut in.
— The three of us are supervising him.
Nyxmar nodded.
— Nothing he fought was beyond his capabilities.
— And he has shown remarkable progress.
Irilla turned to them, her gaze still stormy, but less murderous.
— Bron. Fenrick. Nyxmar.
— You do realize that if anything happens to this boy, it comes down on me?
Bron did not look away.
— Yes.
— But something is going to happen to these children sooner or later.
— We prefer it to be under our supervision, in controlled conditions.
A heavy silence fell.
Irilla finally sighed, running a hand over her forehead.
— You three are giving me a headache…
Then she looked at Soul.
— And you.
— Do you know what you're doing?
Soul took a deep breath.
— No.— But… I know what I want.
— I want to become strong enough to survive this world. And… protect those dear to me.
Irilla held his gaze for a long moment.
Then, unexpectedly, a thin smile tugged at her lips.
— You're lucky to have these three watching over you.
— Very well.
She turned to the teachers.
— You have an idea, I assume?
— Otherwise you wouldn't have come here just to give me a migraine.
Bron nodded.
— Yes.
— I suggest moving part of the combat lessons to the western forest and the cemetery.
— Students will work in teams of five, accompanied by one teacher.
— Each team will have to face a set number of monsters in secured, prepared zones.
Fenrick added:
— That will allow students to observe creatures in real conditions.
Nyxmar completed, cold as ever:
— And understand that death and monsters are not just words on a page.
Irilla stayed silent.
Finally, she said:
— Fine.
— I will personally supervise Soul Drasil's team for the first session.
— We begin tomorrow.
She skewered Soul with her gaze again.
— Don't you dare die under my supervision.
— That would be very rude.
Soul blinked.
— … Yes, Madam Headmistress.
The three instructors smiled, each in their own way. Bron, proudly. Fenrick, amused. Nyxmar, very slightly satisfied.
They left the office with a grin.
Soul, meanwhile, still hadn't fully understood how he had gone from the verge of punishment to an "official pedagogical experiment."
Return, Stories & Dinner
On his way home, Soul met up with Ryen, Kael, Mira, and Èze. Each of them had their own story from the day.
Ryen told them how Master Harald had forced him to repeat the same cut a hundred times because his wrist twisted inward just a little.
Kael explained that Halden had made him shoot at moving targets at ridiculous distances while affectionately insulting him.
Mira described a new exercise with Master Aelhynn: creating a tiny flame and keeping it completely stable, without letting it grow or shrink.
Èze talked about Master Hadrian's corrections, how he had made him work transitions between long-range strikes and shaft blows in an almost dance-like rhythm.
Soul, for his part, talked—somewhat—about the cemetery, the forest, the fights, and the Headmistress.
Ryen slapped his back.
— You can't have ONE normal day, can you?
— That seems unlikely now, Soul replied.
Dinner at the Drasils' was, once again, a mix of warmth and contained tension.
Lynea listened to her son's stories with unwavering attention. Aegis nodded, sometimes proud, sometimes worried.
But when he heard that Headmistress Dawnstar herself would be overseeing their next field training, his expression changed.
— If Irilla Dawnstar is involved, he said, it means the academy is taking your case very seriously.
Soul winced.
— Put like that…
Lynea laid a hand on his, her golden eyes glowing with tenderness.
— "Case study" or not. You're still my son.
— So eat, sleep, and don't come back to me in pieces.
— I'll try, he promised.
Status, Points… and First Spells
Later, lying on his bed, Soul opened his status window again.
[STATUS – Soul DRASIL]
Level: 3
XP: 15 / 300
HP: 80 / 80
MP: 100 / 100
STR: 12
END: 13
AGI: 18
INT: 31
WIL: 34
CHA: 17
SUM: 17
NEC: 17
Bonus Stat Points: 5
He stared at the numbers for a while.
The lowest now were: STR, END, CHA.The others were already ahead.
— We'll keep going like yesterday, he murmured.— Balance.
He allocated:
STR +1 → 13
END +1 → 14
CHA +1 → 18
SUM +1 → 18
NEC +1 → 18
[Bonus Stat Points: 0]
A gentle warmth spread through him, without pain or discomfort, as if his body were quietly adjusting to these new values.
Then he opened the tab:
[Inventory]
The two new scrolls glowed faintly, each occupying their own slot.
[Scroll: Summon – Slime LV1]
Description:
Allows you to learn the spell Summon – Slime LV1.
This spell summons a basic (Red) Slime linked to your mana.
[Scroll: Necromancy – Skeleton LV1]
Description:
Allows you to learn the spell Necromancy – Skeleton LV1.
This spell summons a basic Skeleton linked to your will.
A new explanatory window appeared:
[Spell Learning]
To learn a spell from a scroll:
– Select the scroll.
– Choose "Learn."
– The scroll will be consumed.
Soul took a deep breath.
— All right… let's do this.
He touched the first scroll.
Would you like to learn: Summon – Slime LV1?
[YES] / [NO]
He selected [YES].
The scroll burned away in violet light, and a new line appeared in his status, under the "Skills" tab.
[Spell learned: Summon – Slime LV1]
He did the same with the necromancy scroll.
[Spell learned: Necromancy – Skeleton LV1]
He let himself fall back onto his pillow, eyes fixed on the ceiling.
Tomorrow…I'll be able to summon my own creatures. Not just fight them.
A smile stretched across his lips.
The outside world was dangerous, vast, full of monsters, gods, and mysteries…
But for the first time, he didn't feel like someone merely enduring this world.
He was beginning to shape it.
And this was only the beginning.
End of Chapter 5.