After the brief confrontation with his father, Zephyr left the training ground accompanied by the knight in black armor and the wizard.
Adam watched them for a moment before looking away.
He knew them well.
The man in black armor was Lucas, one of his father's closest knights. The wizard in the white robe was Alaric, advisor and support caster for the territory.
Precisely for that reason, he couldn't help but feel a pang of mistrust settle in his chest.
Which one was the traitor? Were both of them? Which nobleman did they work for? Unanswered questions kept popping into his mind.
But... Why did he suspect them? The reason was too apparent: Lucas and Alaric are the people closest to Zephyr. Adam wasn't stupid enough not to keep an eye on them.
I have to keep an eye on his movements; I can't let my father get sick again.
He wants to avoid that fate at all costs because, with his father's death, the territory would be too vulnerable... although it cannot be trusted either, since it won't be long before Zephyr is summoned to the royal capital.
At that time, the territory will be too vulnerable... I need to gather people to defend it in my father's absence.
Adam had thought of some names, but it was currently impossible to recruit them; he needed an army for future wars.
Before all that, he needed something more basic.
Money.
A stable income.
A name popped into his head, bringing a slight smile to his face.
Okay... let's start there.
Pushing his thoughts aside, Adam left the training ground to the congratulations of the knights present.
...
Once in his room, Adam sat down on his bed and opened his status window.
Adam Hall
Novice Knight [EXP: 0/500]
Talent: A
Trait: Fencing (SSS) Hand-to-Hand Combat (D) Tracking (C) Mana Manipulation (C) Magic (SSS)
Strength: 28 +
Stamina: 26 +
Agility: 27 +
Vitality: 30 +
Mana: 16 +
Statistics points: 49
He looked at his accumulated stat points; he hadn't used any of them yet, and now it was time to do so.
But a doubt crept into his mind: should he distribute them evenly or specialize in just one?
"Hmm..."
Adam observes Asterin, who is floating and staring blankly, somewhat surprised, as she is not someone who speaks much, but that is not important.
"Asterin, you did not tell me that once I had access to mana, you would teach me the proper method to manipulate it as you do."
Asterin looks away from the window and gazes at him; her golden eyes sparkle for a brief moment.
"Your mana is insufficient."
"..."
Adam stared at her, then at the stat points. After thinking it over and doing some quick calculations, he decided to spend all his points on mana and started clicking on the "+."
Why did he decide to spend it all on mana? Simple, because it was the hardest of all his stats to increase, since the others could be improved by leveling up, while mana wasn't that easy.
[+49 Mana]
A notification window appeared; the mana stat began to increase, while the stat points were reduced to 0.
After assigning the points, he began to feel a slight itching sensation on his body.
In a second, intense pain began to spread throughout his body. Every fiber, every tendon, every fragment of bone seemed to scream in a symphony of pure agony.
His muscles tensed to the max as mana coursed through his veins. Cold sweat ran down Adam's forehead, who maintained a serious expression despite the pain.
His eyes did not reflect agony; not even a sound came out of his mouth. The veins in his body looked like snakes moving slowly.
Time passed, and the pain gradually subsided until it disappeared completely.
Adam let out a long sigh; he hadn't expected that sudden pain... but he quickly felt the mana running through his channels; it was more than double.
He looked at Asterin and said, "Now will you teach me the method?"
She smiled contentedly.
"Well, you barely meet the requirements."
Adam sighed inwardly; he was finally going to learn that fantastic mana manipulation.
...
After an hour and a half, Adam left the mansion and headed for a workshop located outside the territory, near a town called Calic, which belonged to a neighboring nobleman.
To get there, Adam took a carriage pulled by blue three-horned horses.
While riding the carousel, I didn't expect what Asterin taught him to be so painful; however, upon feeling the mana, all the sacrifice was worth it.
What he had obtained from her was something called Mana Skeleton, according to Asterin's explanation.
Bones become highly sensitive to mana, allowing them to channel and store it within their skeletal structure. Furthermore, this heightened sensitivity enables them to better detect and perceive mana within their own bodies and surroundings, thereby increasing their awareness of magical presences and activities.
Adam leaned against the carriage window frame. As he looked at the high walls surrounding the city, his eyes burned with determination.
I will make our territory the largest and strongest on this continent.
With the help of the system and his knowledge of the future, he was sure he could build a great kingdom!
However...
There is still a long way to go... so first baby steps, I mustn't rush.
A moment later, his carriage finally entered the city.
"We're here, my lord!" The coachman's voice reached his ears.
Adam got out of the carriage and looked at the half-destroyed building. He went inside, and the first thing he noticed was the fragrant aroma of roses, jasmine, and lavender.
This is it! This is the smell he knew!
As soon as he entered the building, a boy of about 10 stared at him, confused, as if he wasn't expecting a visitor.
"You can call your father."
Adam calmly approached the counter.
The boy nodded and ran toward one of the side doors.
A few seconds passed before he returned, this time accompanied by a young man, no older than twenty-five. He was dressed, almost carelessly, and his shoulders seemed weighed down by a weariness that did not correspond to his age.
He had dark circles under his eyes, slightly messy hair, and a dull look... like someone who had been struggling for too long without results.
Adam recognized him instantly.
Not because of his appearance, but because of what he would become.
That man, ignored by everyone, was destined to become one of the wealthiest people on the continent.
The creator of an invention that would change everyday habits without anyone noticing: oil-based lotion... and its oil-free version.
Edrik Vellmor, his golden goose.