Elias will choose to Infiltrate Alfea by using his "Tutor Status" and feigning recovery. This approach is the most strategic, low-risk way to ensure extended, close proximity to Bloom without raising immediate suspicion.
Chapter 3: The Tutor and the Target
Infiltrating Alfea
Elias made his decision. The Direct Approach (Option 3) was too suspicious for a Specialist, and the Red Fountain Status (Option 2) would force him to leave the sanctuary of Alfea. The safest, most logical option was to stay exactly where he was.
He pressed the call button next to his bed. Moments later, a kind, motherly healer fairy arrived.
"I feel much better, thank you," Elias said, mustering a grateful smile. "But given the severity of the injury, and my current—unarmed—status, Headmistress Faragonda said I should remain here for observation and to, perhaps, tutor the new fairies on some basic tactical theory."
The healer fairy tilted her head, looking surprised but accepting. "Tutor? Oh, I suppose your presence here is now a part of the official Specialist-Fairy alliance. Very well, Elias. But you'll need to move to the guest quarters. This bed is for emergencies."
[QUEST PROGRESS: INFILTRATION SUCCESSFUL]
Elias was soon settled in a surprisingly comfortable guest room near the main administrative wing. He had achieved proximity.
The Tutorial and the Temptation
Over the next two days, Elias used his "Tutor Status" to strategically insert himself into Bloom's circle. He was a non-magical, battle-scarred boy who could offer valuable—and utterly unique—advice. He coached Stella on defensive formations, Musa on using sound vibrations for early warning, and Flora on camouflage. He offered genuinely useful, Earth-derived meta-knowledge, framed as "Specialist tactical analysis."
But his focus was always Bloom.
[TIME REMAINING: 5 Days]
He had to touch her. The synchronization skill specifically required skin-to-skin contact with a high-level Flame wielder to work.
He found his chance on the third day. Bloom was struggling to manifest her flame magic consistently. She was frustrated, sitting alone by the shores of the Black Mud Swamp, a designated training area far from prying eyes.
Elias approached slowly. "Hey. Don't let it get to you," he said, sitting on a mossy log beside her.
"Easy for you to say," Bloom sighed, throwing a stone into the murky water. "You charge at trolls with sand. I'm supposed to have this legendary power, and all I can make is a little spark."
"It's about focus, not force," Elias coached, remembering the original plot's advice. "Imagine that power as a physical thing, like a heart beating in your chest. Don't will it out; allow it to flow."
Bloom closed her eyes, trying again. A small, orange spark flared on her palm, then immediately extinguished itself, causing her to cry out in frustration.
"It burns when it goes out!" she complained, rubbing her wrist.
Elias saw his opening. He shifted closer, focusing on the Dragon Flame Synchronization skill. He could feel the latent, immense energy radiating off her, making the hairs on his arm stand up.
"It burns because you're fighting it," Elias said gently. "Let me show you how to ground yourself. This is a basic Specialist trick for absorbing weapon recoil."
He reached out slowly, his fingers hesitating inches from her bare forearm. Bloom looked up, confused, but the distress in her eyes overcame her suspicion.
"Okay. What do I do?" she asked.
"Just relax," Elias instructed, his heart pounding a frantic rhythm that threatened to drown out the System alerts.
He placed his fingertips lightly on her arm, just above her wrist. The moment the skin connected, the gentle, low-level thrum of Bloom's innate magic hit him like a shockwave.
The Siphoning
A terrifying surge of power flooded into Elias. It wasn't the weak, internal tingle of his Mana Control; this was the chaotic, ancient, burning essence of the Dragon Flame. The System reacted violently.
[DRAGON FLAME SYNCHRONIZATION Lvl 1 ACTIVATED!]
[WARNING: EXTREME ENERGY OVERLOAD! SYSTEM CORRUPTION HALTED!]
[DRAINING 0.1% OF TARGET'S LATENT DRAGON FLAME FOR SYSTEM STABILIZATION.]
[...DRAIN COMPLETE. MP MAX INCREASED: 10 \rightarrow 50]
[DRAGON FLAME FRAGMENT ACQUIRED!]
Bloom gasped, snatching her arm back. Her eyes were wide, glowing faintly with a brief flash of orange.
"What was that?!" she exclaimed, looking at the spot where he touched her. "It was like... a cold current. Did you take some of my energy?"
Elias instantly retracted his hand, forcing himself to look calm despite the seismic energy shift occurring inside his body. He felt stronger, his senses sharper, but there was a residual, dangerous warmth spreading from his core.
"It was a stabilizing flux," Elias lied smoothly, falling back on his RPG knowledge. "Specialist tech involves magnetic shielding to disperse unstable energy. I grounded your magical discharge, keeping the energy from snapping back at you. Did you feel the surge subside?"
Bloom focused, testing her arm. The pain was gone. "Yeah. It stopped. Wow, that's amazing! You can do that without magic?"
"Just training," Elias smiled, rising to leave. He had what he needed. "Try to focus on that feeling of being grounded next time. I should probably get back. Classes at Red Fountain start soon."
He left before Bloom could ask any more questions, walking away with a secret piece of the legendary Dragon Flame and a major boost to his System.
The System Evolution
Back in his guest room, Elias collapsed onto the bed, staring at his updated status screen.
[STATUS: ELIAS DE VALERIUS]
* Level: 2
* HP: 95/100
* MP: 50/50
* Skills: Mana Control Lvl 1, Dragon Flame Synchronization Lvl 1
He opened the [SHOP]. With the Dragon Flame fragment acquired, the shop had completely refreshed, trading its cheap tools for powerful, horrifying options.
Skill: [Dragon Fireball Lvl 1]
* A weak, unstable blast of Orange Fire.
* Cost: 50 MP, 1 Dragon Flame Fragment.
Skill: [Dragon Energy Shield Lvl 1]
* A minimal shield derived from the Flame.
* Cost: 25 MP, 1 Dragon Flame Fragment.
Skill: [Metamorphosis: Dragon-Touched]
* Consume 10 Fragments to unlock a permanent, unstable transformation.
* Cost: 10 Dragon Flame Fragments.
Elias shuddered. He was now on a clear path to becoming a wielder of the Dragon Flame, but his path was a dark one: he was forced to siphon it, piece by piece, from the true hero of this universe, Bloom.
[MAIN QUEST: THE DRAGON'S LEGACY UPDATED]
Objective: Acquire 9 more Dragon Flame Fragments via Synchronization to complete system stabilization and unlock the next evolution stage.
Penalty: Failure to stabilize the system will result in catastrophic backlash. GAME OVER.
Time Limit: 6 Days Left.
Elias had to get close to Bloom nine more times in the next six days, without her ever suspecting he was slowly stealing her power. He was now truly trapped: a parasite on the main character's destiny.
He purchased the Dragon Fireball skill immediately. He had to learn how to fight, and fight fast.
"Well," he whispered, watching the faint, hot glow of his now full MP bar. "It looks like Red Fountain just gained a temporary Specialist with fire magic. Let's see how I can use this to get closer to the Winx Club."