Later that evening, everyone was in the cozy common room. Greem sat near the fire, a book open on his lap, but he wasn't really reading. The words were a blur. Instead, he was mentally reviewing his stat sheet, the interface only he could see glowing behind his eyes.
[Greem Southport - Lv. 7 Beginner Rank Acolyte (36 / 800 EXP)]
It was a constant reminder of who he truly was, hidden beneath the mask of the gentle scholar.
'Training got me 6 points of EXP, definitely worth quite a bit...No wonder most of the soldiers in the Town's watch are Lv. 2 and 3', Greem analysed, rejoicing at the thought that physical training could complement his spiritual meditation in growing stronger.
Unlike Willem who belonged to a clan of vampires secluded in the mountains, or Vanessa who was a lieutenant in the Town's Watch, also a knight on par with Emma, Greem's cover was that of a simple merchant heir. To grow stronger, he had to hide, but this cover in itself was a boon. Life in the Southport manor was excellent. His father granted him freedom due to his young age, and his mother spoiled him.
"Are you sure you can't stay for another drink, Emma?" his dad, Arthur, asked.
Emma stood near the door, fastening her cloak. "I wish I could, Arthur. But the night watch needs its captains. We've had more trouble near the docks lately."
Greem's mom, Elara, shook her head. "It's a shame. You should be here, with us, more often."
"I promise I'll visit soon," Emma said with a warm smile. Then her gaze landed on Greem, and a new quest line seemed to unlock in his mind. "As a matter of fact, I've just promised your youngest son a few swordsmanship lessons in the garden."
The room got quiet for a second.
"Greem? Swordsmanship?" his brother, Kael, burst out laughing. "It's true that he has been practicing a bit these past few months, but to think he would be talented in both the quill and the sword, ahah, that's a sight to behold!"
His sister, Clara, looked up from her scrolls, surprised. "Really? I thought you hated getting your hands dirty, little brother."
"Now, now," their mom fretted. "Be careful, Emma. He's not as sturdy as he looks!"
Emma laughed. "Don't worry, Elara. He's got a natural talent for the forms. He just needs a little guidance."
His dad gave Greem a proud wink. "My son, the scholar-warrior! Learning from a real knight! Wonderful news"
Soon after, Emma left. The family chatter returned to normal, but Greem could feel their glances. He offered them a faint, practiced smile and looked back at his book.
The moment the conversation shifted to him, Greem's internal analysis began. The laughter, the concern, the pride—it was all background noise. His focus was on the opportunity.
A cold, sharp satisfaction cut through him. This was an unexpected boon. As a dark acolyte of the Black Widow Brotherhood, his "loving family" was his most vital cover. This new development fortified that cover perfectly.
My Swordsmanship is only at 16, he thought, critiquing his own stat sheet. Pathetic. A single close-quarters encounter on a mission could be fatal if my magic is depleted.
Vanessa was a capable fighter, but the Brotherhood's first law was secrecy. Training with her openly was out of the question. Emma was probably just as strong as Vanessa, if not stronger. Her leaving figure allowed Greem to analyse her once more.
[Emma Carlister - Lv. 6 Knight]
Unlike Vanessa who was a body refinement acolyte who used magic to tone her body, Emma used breathing technique and exercise to grow stronger. These were two fundamentally different paths.
Emma proposing to guide him? This was a free, high-level training module delivered right to his doorstep. His actions became ways to grind his numbers upwards, a philosophy that allowed him to first become a dark path acolyte, complete yellow-star missions, and now reaching the very limits of the beginner rank acolyte realm. At this rate, he could tell he was only a few missions away from reaching the intermediate rank acolyte realm, and become part of the association's elites.
Before he got his ring, his fate was limited to inheriting the Southport Merchant Guild, and maybe become an influential figure in Lunia. However, the Association provided him with a future far more exciting. His dream...becoming a magus, was possible.
As long as he earned enough EXP, that is.
Emma's kindness was a system to be exploited. Her "guidance" was a resource to be mined.
He looked at his family—Kael, still chuckling; Clara, already back to her scrolls; his parents, so blissfully unaware. They were assets. Part of the setting that kept his true identity hidden. Protecting them was a side effect of protecting his own operation.
The thought of channeling the dark, corrosive energy of his [Shadow Hand] through a perfectly executed knight's thrust was… appealing. He could already imagine the synergy.
He closed his book and stood up. "I'm going to bed," he announced.
"Goodnight, my little warrior!" his dad boomed.
"Don't dream of pointy swords!" Kael called out.
Greem gave a final, neutral smile and headed upstairs. As he walked, his mind was already optimizing his new path. He would play the diligent student, absorb every bit of EXP from Emma's lessons, and convert the knight's honorable art into a deadlier tool for the shadows.