Extra's Magic

"What's your name?"

Rose's direct question made me flinch. It wasn't unexpected that she wanted to know the name of someone who she suspected might be a stalker, but her straightforwardness caught me off guard.

Limited communication options in the game made it hard to gauge the characters' personalities, but something about Rose's behavior struck me as odd. Why had she chosen to speak where everyone could see and why was she so direct?

"I'm Aiden..."

I said, slightly bowing my head. Rose smiled at me, causing half the males around us to drool, before returning to Tess.

Confusion washed over me as I gazed at Rose's back. Has something caused a shift in the future? Could I have influenced her odd behavior?

I sighed, realizing that no one could provide me with an answer. Frustration took hold, and I clenched the hilt of my katana before slashing at the wooden dummy.

The strike left a shallow cut on the dummy's chest, which would have been fatal for an ordinary person but was too weak for an Awakener like me.

"This lacks power..."

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I knew that the Silent Shadow Style's speed and maneuverability were impressive, but its strength was lacking. After all, it was only a two-star manual. What had I expected?

Feeling my Mana being slowly drained, I continued to practice, repeating similar movements and masking my blade's trajectory. With each slash, I enveloped the blade with shadows, making it appear as though the sword was teleporting.

As the class eventually ended, I looked around and noticed that most of the other students had already left for their dorms. I was alone in the arena with my thoughts and my sword.

"If only they knew..."

I said to myself, raising my sword once more and striking the wooden dummy with shaky hands.

***

Thud...

I collapsed onto my knees, my chest heaving as I struggled to catch my breath. The weight of the katana still trembled in my hands, but despite the sweat that dripped down my forehead and the ache that throbbed in my arms, I couldn't help but feel a sense of elation.

It was proof that I was making progress in mastering the Silent Shadow Style, a feeling that I savored.

The katana's hilt felt more natural in my grip than ever before, as if it had become an extension of my own body. I moved it with newfound ease and grace that I had never thought possible.

I looked up at the sky and realized that the sun had already set, casting long shadows across the arena's grassy ground. The hours had flown by as I lost myself in training, and I couldn't believe how much time had passed.

Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes and allowed myself a moment of tranquility. The cool breeze rustled the leaves of the nearby trees, and the gentle sound of chirping birds provided a soothing background for my thoughts.

"It's beautiful..."

I murmured to myself, feeling a sense of peace and contentment settle over me.

Crossing my legs, I focused my attention on the mana in the surrounding environment. I breathed deeply and allowed the mana to flow into me, invigorating my tired muscles and washing away the pain and fatigue.

But it wasn't enough. I needed to make a breakthrough. I was already more than a whole rank weaker than the protagonists, and I couldn't afford to fall further behind. After taking an entire week to stabilize my last breakthrough, I felt that my foundation was sturdy enough to take the next step forward.

I knew that my newfound strength would draw attention if I didn't find a way to conceal it, but I was confident that I could hide my abilities. Besides, the Academy would be informed of my achievement, but that information was confidential and no other students would be privy to it.

Swish...

The mana around me swirled as I absorbed more and more of it into my body, my skin feeling like a furnace as the strange heat radiated from within me. I ignored the sensation, focusing on drawing in even more mana and becoming a vortex of power.

Soon, my skin was covered with a black mass of impurities that smelled like crap. I knew that this was a side effect of the breakthrough process, as the body expelled imperfections to make room for more power.

As I absorbed the mana, I felt it vibrating within me as if it was responding to my heartbeat. But suddenly, it stopped.

Click...

A dull sound echoed through the area, and I found myself absorbing mana in unnatural amounts to support my now stronger body. I could feel the power surging through me, and I knew that I had finally made a breakthrough to Rank F-.

"Congrats!"

The sound of a voice startled me, and I turned to see Robbin standing before me in his signature black suit. His handsome face wore a pleased expression as he congratulated me.

"Thank you, teacher..."

I said, bowing slightly to show my respect. Even though I tried to keep my face straight, I couldn't help but feel a slight tremor in my hands. I hadn't expected Robbin to appear so suddenly, and his presence made me irritated. It was unsettling to think that he might be watching me at all times, even when I was training alone in the fields.

Now that I thought about it, Robbin had always been like that - a mysterious figure who seemed to be both an assassin and a creepy stalker. But he was also a skilled teacher who pushed his students to become stronger in every way imaginable. He would review their progress in minute detail and push them to their limits, sometimes even resorting to special training which was rather physical violence to toughen them up.

"You seem good enough.... Tomorrow, right after classes, meet me in this exact same place. Don't you dare be late!"

His words trailed off as he suddenly vanished into thin air, leaving me with a sense of confusion and apprehension.

At this moment I knew... I messed up!