"Come on, man, how can this be fair?" Nortis tightly held Jon's hand, his eyes narrowed in a mix of frustration and resignation. The scene, to an outside observer, looked almost like a comedy sketch, and a few students chuckled softly as they passed down the corridor.
Jon's magical notes had already spread through the group of friends like wildfire in dry straw. Serena and Elija, after a few nights of studying, were already able to manipulate beginner elemental magic at level 3. Elara, on the other hand, had advanced even further, reaching intermediate level 2. The feat caused astonishment and envy in Nortis.
This led directly to the current situation. Nortis, always competitive, could no longer stand being left behind. And there he was, practically begging.
"I just want the notes and maybe some fencing lessons too." His tone was almost pleading.
Jon sighed, trying to maintain a neutral expression. '*Creating notes on magic was easy. All I needed was the basic knowledge of chemistry and physics from Earth. But fencing... I only learned that here in Aeloria, the hard way, with sweat and pain.*'
In the last few days, Jon had dedicated himself to completing the daily quests that the system assigned. Some were simple, like running or resistance exercises; others required hunting or weapon training. The accumulation of system points had grown, and he decided to invest in something that could, at least, alleviate the current pressure. He bought a medium-level fencing guide.
At that moment, he held the small manual in his hands. It wasn't like his notes full of scientific diagrams, but clear instructions on stances, basic movements, and combat fundamentals.
"Here it is." Jon handed the guide to Nortis. The young man's gaze shone as if he had received a relic.
"But there's one condition."
Nortis raised his eyebrows, serious. "Anything."
Jon leaned closer, lowering his voice. "Don't show this to anyone. Ever. If you really consider me a friend, keep it a secret."
For a moment, Nortis just stared at him, perhaps pondering the weight of that promise. Then, he nodded firmly. "It's fine. I won't let anyone see it, Jon."
The smile that appeared on his face was genuine. He seemed relieved, as if he had finally found a way to catch up with the others.
"Thanks, Jon. You're the best."
Before Jon could react, Nortis stepped forward, opening his arms for an exaggerated hug. Jon, however, placed his hand on his chest, stopping him before contact.
"You don't have to go that far." He laughed, giving his friend two firm taps on the shoulder. "If you're really excited, go train. You're already late."
A flush spread across Nortis's face, who backed away with a forced cough, trying to hide it. "O-of course\! I'll go train right now."
He ran toward the private practice halls, holding the guide as if it were a treasure. Jon watched him leave, shaking his head with a half-smile. He closed his eyes for a moment, reflecting. He realized more and more that his influence over his colleagues was growing. The magic guide, now the fencing one... the weight of expectations increased every day.
'I need to be careful. If everyone evolves too fast, it might attract unwanted attention. But at the same time... I don't want them to be left behind. The future has no room for the weak.'
After Nortis's clumsy farewell, Jon took the central corridor and headed towards the Alchemy club—the routine had become familiar.
At the beginning of his life in Aeloria, he believed that entering the academy would be an unprecedented leap for his development. And, in fact, in the first few weeks, this prediction had come true. But now, as he walked the path of smooth stones illuminated by blue crystals, a bitter feeling settled in.
'Seraphine's lectures are the only thing worthwhile. The rest... it's like being caught in invisible chains.'
The basic classes in magic, physical combat, and even history of the empire seemed mundane to him. The system already offered him a shortcut that no one else possessed. All he had to do was study an advanced theory or practice seriously, and the knowledge immediately took shape in his body, as if it had always been his. What took others years of practice, Jon could resolve in days.
'In the end, the academy became a cage. But at least I'm safe here.'
Safety, that was the point. The fresh memory of the masked assassin still haunted him in moments of silence. The fight had been intense, real, different from any duel in the arena. And the feeling of mortal danger had awakened an instinct within him that he tried to keep dormant: the cold desire to kill.
After talking to Elara about common sense, his mind gained clarity. If the elite of the assassin's guild was truly not sent, then he was not in immediate danger. The cost of hiring a top-tier hunter was so absurd that no noble family would pay for a simple whim.
Nolan had no commitment to Elara, so he would not have his family's support. Roderic, as arrogant as he was, would not put so much effort into something already resolved.
'So I just need to keep my eyes open. If weak assassins appear, I have no reason to hesitate in sending them to the afterlife.'
A shadow of a smile curved his lips. Since the day he acquired the Assassin skill, Jon noticed the cruel detail: the advance of this passive ability would only come with real blood. It wasn't enough to fight, it wasn't enough to win. It was necessary to kill.
Was it a curse? Perhaps. But it was also an opportunity. He had already proven it by defeating the masked man, and the system would reward him. The bitter taste of the first conscious kill still weighed on him, but the coldness with which he adapted frightened even himself.
*'I am no longer just the boy who played video games and dreamed of adventures. Every life I take here is a sharp blade on my path. And the sharper it is, the harder it will be to stop me.'*
The doors of the Alchemy club appeared before him. The characteristic smell of burnt herbs and crystalline reagents escaped through the cracks, mixed with the metallic sound of cauldrons being stirred.
The cold doorknob turned under his hand, and he entered.
The warmth of the environment enveloped him immediately, along with the curious glances of a few apprentices already working at their stations. In the background, Seraphine was adjusting a matrix over a cauldron that pulsed with bluish light.