The echo of whispered conversations still lingered behind him as Ace stepped out of the lecture hall, the cool evening air brushing his face like a quiet reset.
Leaning casually against the wall, arms crossed, stood Klaus — that same crooked grin plastered across his face like he'd been waiting for the aftermath.
"Why didn't you attend the lecture?" Ace asked, raising a brow as he approached. "It was actually pretty good."
Klaus scoffed, adjusting the worn strap of his satchel. "Good? For you, maybe. Sitting through an hour of pompous noble nonsense while they sneer down their noses at commoners like me? Nah. Waste of time."
There was quiet frustration under his words — not bitterness, just a simple exhaustion with the system.
Ace nodded slightly. "Understandable," he admitted. "But… still, it was worth watching. You missed a show."
Klaus snorted, shoving his hands into his pockets. "Oh, I heard about your mighty deeds, trust me. You really love standing out, don't you? Man, you're gonna stir up real trouble soon… damn."
A faint, dangerous glint crept into Ace's eyes as his lips curled. "What can I say? It's a habit. Somebody's gotta crush those overfed bastards… and I've still got a few stray dogs to deal with."
Klaus chuckled, his grin widening. "Theo, I'm guessing?"
Ace shrugged with faux innocence. "I never name names."
They traded a few more quiet remarks as they walked to the courtyard for lunch — another bland Academy meal of overcooked bread and watery stew. Three more silver crowns gone, but Ace's mind was already elsewhere.
The afternoon passed with two more classes, smooth enough, aside from the occasional noble glare sharp enough to slice marble. No fights. No direct confrontations. Just quiet tension simmering under polished Academy formality.
By sundown, as the stone towers cast long shadows across the courtyard, Ace turned to Klaus. "Hey, serious question — you know any good metal or resource shops nearby? Looking for something… specialized."
Klaus perked up, eyes curious. "Yeah, sure. There's a place down past the Lower District — 'The Gilded Anvil.' Run by this old dwarf, grumpy as hell, but the materials are solid if you know what you're after. Pretty cheap too, for the good stuff."
"Perfect," Ace replied, a quiet plan forming in his mind.
Klaus tilted his head. "What exactly are you trying to make though?"
Ace only smiled. "You'll see."
Klaus groaned, mock-exasperated. "Secretive already? Alright, forge your mysteries. Just… don't blow yourself up, yeah?"
They parted ways soon after, Klaus disappearing toward the dorms, Ace heading deeper into the bustling Lower District, his coat pulled tight against the evening chill.
The streets narrowed, buildings aged, and the air thickened with the scent of smoke and molten metal as Ace reached the Artisan's Quarter. The shop stood wedged between a noisy carpentry and a pungent leatherworks, its faded sign barely visible under layers of soot.
Inside, organized chaos reigned — rows of shimmering alloys, crates of raw minerals, bins of enchanted components stacked like forgotten treasure.
Ace moved methodically, sifting through the options: Arcane-Infused Steel for flexibility, Celestial Adamant for core strength — a naturally attuned alloy perfect for elemental conductivity.
It wasn't just about a weapon.
This was an extension of himself — precision, control, raw defiance shaped into steel.
The shopkeeper, a burly dwarf with soot-stained hands and eyes sharp as cut glass, quoted him a steep price: 300 silver crowns.
Ace's eyes narrowed. Negotiation wasn't new — his father's rare, grueling merchant lessons whispered in the back of his mind.
"You're charging noble prices for imperfect stock," Ace remarked evenly, pointing out micro-flaws, referencing standard market rates he'd memorized.
The dwarf's scowl deepened — but so did his respect. With a grunt, the price dropped to 230 silver crowns.
Ace nodded, paid, and packed the precious materials — his wallet significantly lighter, but his mind already racing ahead.
Further along the street, tucked behind a smithy, Ace rented a private forge room for 20 silver crowns. The space was compact — roaring forge, runed anvil, essential tools — but more than enough.
Unwrapping his materials, Ace's expression sharpened with quiet focus. This wasn't just about molten metal — this was a statement.
Heat roared to life. The Celestial Adamant melted and shaped beneath hammer and flame, layered with Arcane-Infused Steel, every strike guided by his Fire and Air affinities. Enhancing powders from his manor — subtle arcane catalysts — fused into the alloy as he worked.
Hours slipped by, the clang of steel the only sound, sweat beading down his brow as the weapon took shape.
By the time exhaustion set in, the katana was half-complete — its unfinished blade already glowing faintly, a whisper of potential humming beneath its surface.
Ace carefully wrapped the nascent weapon in cloth, pride flickering in his chest.
"Almost there," he muttered, voice low with satisfaction.
Tomorrow, it would be closer to ready.
Dorm Room 393 — Nightfall
The Academy grounds quieted as Ace returned to his dorm, the city's distant hum fading behind the stone walls.
Theron's bed remained untouched — the elusive roommate still absent.
Ace, despite fatigue, couldn't resist one last drill.
Arcane Power thrummed beneath his skin — Fire sparking along his fingertips, Air swirling in faint gusts, Lightning crackling faintly like static.
His hand shimmered, detaching smoothly — molecules fragmenting and reassembling with sharpened control.
A smirk ghosted across his lips as he finally collapsed into bed, muscles aching but satisfaction settling in.
The tournament was coming. His rivals were watching. His blade, nearly ready.
And the system?
He'd disassemble it soon enough — piece by broken piece.
Ace Dragnell — Current Status
• Name: Ace Dragnell
• Noble Status: Low-Tier Noble
• Age: 16 (First Year Student)
Core Stats:
• Strength — C
• Agility — C
• Endurance — B
• Intelligence — S
• Willpower — A
• Charisma — D
• Arcane Power — C+
Abilities:
• Unique Ability: Molecular Disassembly & Regeneration (Rudimentary Control — Increased Mastery)
Can disassemble and reassemble body at the molecular/atomic level.Can regenerate from a single cell.Currently capable of detaching and reassembling his hand and foot with precision, reduced mental strain. Full-body mastery still requires refinement.
Elemental Affinities:
• Fire
• Air
• Lightning
Skills:
• Basic Self-Defense — (C)
• Survival (Wilderness - from isolated manor life) — (D)
• Weapon Forging — (B-) (Custom katana in progress)
• Knife Mastery — (Beginner) (Infused with elemental affinity)
Reputation:
• Rising — sharp wit, defiance of nobles, legal prowess recognized.
• Rivalry with Elara Flavosky — competitive respect deepening.
• Humiliation of Theo Harnest — noble tensions escalating.
Silver Crowns: 184