With controlled breaths, I withdrew my hand from my chest and cast a basic darkness spell, barely at the lowest level, to rid my body of the perspiration that had drenched it. Despite the intense sweating, I still carried a pleasant scent. It was a peculiar observation. "Lavender, huh? Good to know." Try as I might, I couldn't distract myself any longer. What cursed Inheritance had I been burdened with? Where was I exactly? Why did the towering structure felt so familiar? Why did I feel this inexplicable urge to plunge into the pitch-black chasm? And who was it that that prevented my fall? A torrent of questions inundated my thoughts, causing my head to throb with pain. "Ugh, how troublesome... I'll have to tackle one problem at a time." Groaning I massaged my temples. I knew all too well that simply mulling over them wouldn't magically provide the answers I sought. There had to be other avenues to explore, other sources of information that could shed light on these mysterie
As the first light of day began to filter through the trees, casting a misty haze over the world, the boy found himself waking up to the familiar sound of a lone wolf's howl. "Ughhh! This is driving me mad! I always hear that damned wolf's howl every time I wake up. Someone just shut that mutt up already!" he exclaimed, irritation evident in his voice. "Shit! I didn't even get to sleep because I was nervous, and now I have to put up with a damn whining mutt on top of that?! Ugh..." Letting out a deep breath, he covered his face with a pillow. "...Must be nice to be free..." The days had stretched into weeks, and the weeks into months, and the months into years, all spent inside the confines of his room. He didn't even know the ins and outs of the place he called home. Being trapped in his room for years was taking its toll on his spirit, and the longing for freedom grew stronger with each passing day. But assuming today was the day he finally had the chance to get out of his room a
I stood groggily in front of the mirror, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. My disheveled bed hair was in dire need of taming, and a quick shower seemed like the perfect remedy. Glancing at my reflection, I observed my slender frame and smooth, fair skin, still adorned with the remnants of a peaceful slumber. My body was lean and slender. While my muscles were not yet fully defined, I could sense the budding strength within them. "Not bad," I commented to myself. 'But I definitely need to build some muscle...' It was easier said than done. Gaining muscle overnight was simply impossible. Given my current lifestyle, maintaining a fit physique was challenging. If it weren't for a peculiar aspect of my physique and occasional exercises, I would probably be overweight. Not to mention the amount of food I consumed—it could easily feed a village. I chuckled at the thought. Remembering the numerous times I hesitated to work out while indulging in hearty meals, I made my way to the bath,
NOAH LANCE My office... It always struck me as lavish, with a careful balance of adornment. But in her words, she'd call it "unad" - her slang for a space lacking true grandeur, an unadorned setting. I caught myself getting lost in that train of thought. Focus, Noah, I chided internally. The unexpected news of the day's case weighed heavily on my mind. Leaning slightly forward, I rested my elbow on the sturdy desk, pondering the implications. The spacious office was drenched in warm, natural light, which felt at odds with the seriousness of our discussion. Bookshelves lined the walls, their spines unread but never failing to convey a sense of intellectual wealth. The large desk anchored the room, while the plush chairs we occupied were undeniably comfortable. Despite these, both Roman and I looked utterly exhausted. Our faces etched with worry and concern, the weight of the situation palpable between us. This wasn't the usual atmosphere in my "unad" but still impressive office
As we navigated the seemingly endless corridors leading to the Duke's office, I couldn't help but feel unfamiliarity and confusion wash over me. A part of me wanted to shout, "Finally, I'm out!" but considering the delicate situation I was in, I decided to temper my excitement. Being born into nobility came with its fair share of restrictions, and the notion of truly reveling in my freedom was distant, almost elusive. Having been confined to these walls for so long had taken a toll on my confidence. Never before had I felt the world threatening to swallow me whole with every door that opened, except... well, perhaps a time or two in the past. But those were memories I'd rather not dwell on. And now, here I was, approaching the entrance to the Duke's office. Nana gave me a reassuring nod before knocking on the door. "Come in," came a gentle, yet unmistakably authoritative voice from within, just a few seconds after the knock. "Yes, Your Grace," Nana responded, her tone respectf
The GEM-sensor not only detected the presence of energy fluctuations in individuals, but also provided an estimate of their strength, albeit with a margin of error. It offered a basic measurement to work with. As the boy approached our vicinity, the intensity of the light emitted by the crystal oscillator grew brighter, and as he moved away from me towards the duke, it gradually dimmed. I considered myself fortunate, or rather, I acknowledged that it was thanks to Lord Roman's meticulous adjustments to the sensor arrays. If he had not replicated and improved upon Evandor's innovative design, I wouldn't have been able to capture the boy's energy signature so swiftly, without undoing my stealth measures and risking exposure. Carefully concealing the device back in my storage ring, I shifted my gaze towards the boy, blending in with the others. The boy exchanged greetings with his father, who avoided making eye contact throughout their conversation. What caught my attention, however,
The air around her began to ripple—no, I corrected myself—it was the mana. The mana around her behaved in a way that could only be described as rippling. I could sense it, but it wasn't strong enough for me to be absolutely certain of what was happening. Suddenly, a veil seemed to lift from my eyes, and my senses sharpened. What I was experiencing wasn't a misconception, it was the truth. Apart from the ring on her index finger, I saw no other physical objects in her empty palms. Finding it rather amusing, I gave in to my heightened senses, holding back a chuckle at how I was indulging my curiosity and senses today. I allowed my senses to take over, and the world around me transformed. Seeing the world through my senses felt like finally finding that melody that had always been on the tip of my tongue. It was an entirely new experience. However, for some reason—perhaps because it was my first time surrendering to my senses—I felt incomplete. But apart from that lingering feeling
After the short but amusing introduction with Lady Loza, the atmosphere in the room shifted to one of seriousness. Shortly after, Duke Roman introduced us to the seemingly plain middle-aged woman. However, it turned out that she was no ordinary woman but an esteemed instructor from a prestigious academy—Vagratas Academy. Vagratas Academy, an institution hailed as one of the most exalted sanctuaries for any of the would-be-mages who possessed both the necessary background and talent to enter. While there were other academies scattered throughout the Dominion of Medalia, the gap between those second-rate institutions and Vagratas Academy was insurmountable. That was the kind of titan Vagratas Academy was. Those who qualified to graduate from this academy were guaranteed a prosperous future and life. It was rumored that the top graduates could even become honored guards, instructors, or military leaders for influential families. Some choose to focus on research by joining mage guilds