Cael was heading toward the training room when, suddenly, a voice came from behind.
"My prince~"
Cael turned around and shouted,
"Stop calling me that."
Behind him, the woman who, for some reason, kept calling him prince—Lyria—paused for a moment, then smiled as if she found his reaction amusing.
"My prince is shy," she muttered playfully.
Cael's steps faltered for a second.
His ears turned red.
"…I said stop."
Lyria giggled and followed him anyway.
Cael noticed she was following him, and it quickly became annoying. He turned around and asked,
"Why are you following me?"
Lyria replied casually, "Because you're going to train."
Cael stopped for a moment.
"And?"
"And training alone is boring," she added.
Cael sighed.
"This isn't some picnic," he said. "I'm weak. I'm injured. And I don't have time."
Lyria tilted her head. "Exactly why you shouldn't waste it."
Cael frowned.
This woman… she spoke as if she knew exactly what he was thinking.
He didn't like that.
But he also didn't have the energy to argue.
"Do whatever you want," he muttered. "Just don't get in my way."
Lyria smiled brightly. "Deal."
The first thing Cael did was run.
Not fast.
Not far.
Just… run.
A few minutes later—
He was gasping for breath.
His legs felt heavy, as if they were filled with mud.
His chest burned.
"Ha… ha…"
Cael bent over, hands on his knees.
"…This body is trash. Without using magic, in terms of stamina, it's way too trash…"
Lyria stood nearby, watching quietly.
"You're injured," she said. "And malnourished. And weak."
Cael glanced at her.
"Thanks. I already knew."
He straightened himself and started running again.
A few steps later—
He stumbled.
And fell.
His palms scraped against the ground.
Pain shot through his arms.
He winced and clicked his tongue.
Clenching his teeth, he pushed himself up.
Again.
And again.
By the time the sun climbed higher, Cael had fallen more times than he could count.
No skills.
No buffs.
No system help.
Just pain.
Breathlessness.
Frustration.
And helplessness.
"This won't work," Cael muttered.
Running alone wouldn't make him strong enough.
He needed efficiency.
He needed a plan—something that could help him grow stronger. Right now, he might barely survive the academy attack, but that was it.
This world wouldn't forgive weakness.
Later that day, Cael sat on a stone near the orphanage training yard.
His shirt was soaked with sweat.
His hands trembled slightly.
He stared at the ground and thought.
"Strength training won't help much right now."
"I can use spells, but that's it. I need someone to teach me how to properly use them. Right now, even beginners can probably do better than me…"
As for other stats—
"Agility and perception," he whispered.
"That's all I can rely on."
If he couldn't overpower enemies—
He would avoid their attacks.
If he couldn't win head-on—
He would survive.
Cael closed his eyes.
"Status."
Nothing.
Then—
A faint blue light flickered.
-----------------------
[System]
Status Window Locked.
Upgrade in Progress.
Completion Time: 10 Days
EXP: 0/400
Skill Points: 15
---------------------------
Cael stared at the numbers.
Fifteen skill points.
A lot.
Enough to change things.
But—
He clenched his fist.
"Not yet… not until I see my stats properly."
If he invested blindly, he might regret it.
He didn't even know what his final upgraded status would look like.
"I'll wait," he said quietly.
"Ten days…"
That was the condition.
Endure it.
Then everything would change.
As evening approached, Cael practiced something else.
Awareness.
He closed his eyes and listened.
Footsteps.
Wind.
Breathing.
Even with his eyes shut, he could tell where Lyria was standing.
"You're staring again," he said.
Lyria blinked. "You noticed?"
"Yes."
She smiled faintly. "Your perception is good."
Cael didn't reply.
He already knew.
That was the one stat that wasn't terrible.
And it might save his life.
That night, Cael lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling.
His body hurt everywhere.
But his mind was clear.
"Six days."
Six days—that's all he had before the academy attack.
This time, I'll make sure those attackers pay for what they deserve.
That was all he could do.
No miracles.
No cheats.
Just effort.
Just survival.
Lyria's voice came softly from the darkness.
"You're not scared?"
Cael answered honestly.
"I am."
"But fear won't stop time."
She went quiet for a moment.
"…You're strange," she said.
Cael smirked faintly.
"I get that a lot."
Somewhere far away—
Inside a brightly lit hall—
A group of robed figures stood around a floating crystal.
"The mana pulse vanished," one of them said.
"Reality distortion detected," another added.
A third voice spoke coldly.
"Find the irregularity."
"If a variable exists…"
"…remove it."
Back in the orphanage, Cael slowly closed his eyes.
His muscles screamed.
His bones ached.
But his heart was steady.
For the first time—
He wasn't reacting.
He was preparing.
"Six days," he whispered.
"…That's enough."
The next morning came.
Cael woke up early to train.
It was a race between speed and time. Not a single moment could be wasted.
He started his morning with a jog, occasionally talking with Lyria, who somehow always managed to meet him during his runs.
At lunch, he ate enough to slowly change his body from skinny to slightly toned.
In the afternoon, he closed his eyes and focused on increasing his perception.
At night, he practiced controlling his water and wind affinities.
This became his routine for the next few days—
Until the time to join the academy arrived.
On January 20th, Cael stood in front of a mirror.
"Hm… not as skinny as before," he thought. "Still not fit, but better."
"As for my stats… I'll know once they unlock."
He clenched his fist.
"Hopefully, I survive tomorrow's academy attack."
With that thought, Cael lay down on his bed and closed his eyes.
Meanwhile, somewhere far away—
"HAHA! Tomorrow, our names will go down in history!"
"We'll attack the academy during its entrance ceremony."
"We already have someone infiltrated within their ranks."
Hearing those words, the people gathered began shouting.
"For the Lord!"
"For the Darkness!"
"For Humanity!"