Kaelen's POV
The dawn light filtered through the tall glass windows of the Caelthorn estate, blinding me awake. My body ached from last night's training, but there was a strange fire in my chest—something the brat whose body I inherited never had.
The system had given me my first reward:
[System Notification]
Beginner's Resolve Quest Completed.
+2 Strength, +2 Endurance.
Skill Gained: [Basic Swordsmanship Lv.1]
A meager start, but for someone who could barely lift a training blade yesterday, this was monumental.
I grinned despite the soreness. "At this rate, I'll at least survive the Academy entrance exam."
My plans were interrupted by the sound of laughter outside. When I peeked from the balcony, I saw him.
Darius Blackthorne.
The boy I wrote into the novel as Kaelen's first rival. The son of a fallen knightly house, forced to serve as a sparring partner for nobles. A hardworking brute with a sharp tongue, already stronger than most at our age.
And today, he was here.
---
Darius's POV
I hated this job. Training spoiled nobles who couldn't tell which side of the sword was sharp. And today, they told me it was that brat Caelthorn again. The one who threw wine at servants and never showed up to practice.
But when I stepped into the courtyard, I blinked.
He was already there. Sweating, panting, swinging a blade over and over again like his life depended on it.
This… wasn't the Kaelen I knew.
I narrowed my eyes. What's your game, Caelthorn?
---
Kaelen's POV
The moment our eyes met, the system pinged.
[System Notification]
Hidden Event Triggered: "First Rivalry"
Objective: Defeat Darius Blackthorne in a spar within 30 days.
Reward: +10 Free Stat Points, Skill Unlock (Rare).
Penalty: Stat Growth Halved for 3 Months.
My blood ran cold. If I lost this… my progress would be crippled.
But as Darius approached, sword in hand, I couldn't help but smirk.
This was the first real test.