From that day on, Isaac started training in earnest.
His progress surprised everyone.
As a low-rank species, he was bound to be weaker than the others.
Unless he awakened a high-rank Talent at eighteen, or somehow obtained a Bloodline Evolution Potion, there was no chance for him to surpass the other children of the orphanage in raw strength.
Despite that, Isaac was now second only to Catherine in skill.
He could fight and even defeat children from high-rank species, if he had enough time to prepare.
His change was clear to everyone.
No one felt jealous.
They were happy, but also worried.
"Isaac, is everything okay? You don't even sleep much these days," Jack said one evening.
The tigerfolk boy had always been the loudest of the bunch.
He used to chase Isaac all over the yard whenever Isaac pulled one of his pranks.
But he also cared for him more than anyone would admit.
Seeing Isaac so quiet and distant made him uneasy.
