Charles followed the system's blue arrow through the Storm Clan's hallways, the lingering smell of food from the dining hall still tormenting him.
His stomach growled, but the thought of training his power kept him moving.
The arrow led him to a back door opening onto a grassy courtyard, then to a path winding into a small grove.
Tall trees with branches blocking patches of sunlight cast a cool shade, and the air smelled of damp earth and leaves.
It was quiet, perfect for practicing unseen.
Or so he thought, until he reached a clearing and spotted Nora.
She was lounging on a thick branch about three meters up, arms behind her head, eyes closed.
Her black tunic with white trim fluttered lightly in the breeze, and her brown hair spilled loose, brushing the bark.
Charles stopped dead, his heart picking up speed.
'Damn it,' he thought, taking a step back. 'I don't want to fight her again.'
He tried to retreat silently, but before he could slip away, Nora's voice rang out, clear as if she were standing right beside him.
"Rian, where're you sneaking off to so fast?"
Charles froze, looking up. Nora hadn't moved, eyes still closed, but a mischievous smile curved her lips.
"How…?" he muttered, then gave a nervous laugh. "Just passing through," he said, scratching the back of his neck. "Didn't want to bother you."
Nora cracked one eye open, peering at him from the branch.
"Passing through? In this forgotten corner of the clan?"
She sat up, swinging her legs over the side.
"Don't tell me you're here to train."
Charles sighed, knowing lying was pointless.
"Yeah, something like that," he admitted, crossing his arms. "I've got a week to prep for a duel. Two arena fights. If I lose, I'm done for."
Nora whistled, impressed.
"Whoa! A whole week to prepare," she said, kicking her legs. "That's a luxury, you know. Usually, you get two days' notice, if you're lucky."
Charles frowned, confused.
"Two days? Seriously?" he asked, leaning against a nearby tree. "So why'd they give me so much time?"
He already knew the answer—Lira's promise—but he had to play dumb.
"Who knows? Maybe someone wants to give you a shot. Or maybe they want you to get cocky and drop your guard."
Nora paused, eyeing Charles curiously.
"Either way, you've got time. Use it."
"That's the plan," Charles said, scanning the clearing.
It was wide, with short grass and scattered trees.
Beyond, he could hear the faint gurgle of a river.
"Is it safe to train here? I don't want anyone seeing me."
Nora pointed toward the sound of water.
"You're fine here. Hardly anyone comes by. Follow that path, and you'll hit a river. Good spot to practice, especially if you need water for your… trick."
Her smile widened, like she was recalling their rainy duel.
Charles gave a tired grin.
"Thanks, Nora. Appreciate it."
Nora leaned back on the branch, closing her eyes again.
"Train with confidence, Rian," she said, her tone relaxed. "And keep it down—I'm trying to nap."
Charles chuckled, starting toward the river.
But something made him pause.
Nora's voice had sounded so clear, despite the distance.
"How do you do that?" he asked, turning back. "Your voice… it's like you're right next to me."
Nora opened one eye again, laughing softly.
"Simple trick," she said, a playful glint in her eyes. "Those of us who control wind can pull it off pretty easily."
Charles let out a laugh, shaking his head.
"That sounds like something I'd say," he said, recalling how he'd brushed her off after their duel. "Paying me back, huh?"
Nora laughed but didn't reply, settling back on the branch and closing her eyes.
Charles smiled, realizing she wasn't going to hassle him.
'Well… one less fight,' he thought, following the path to the river.
The air was crisp, a breeze rustling the leaves, and the sound of water grew louder with each step.
When he arrived, he found a narrow but swift river, its clear water reflecting the sky.
The bank was lined with smooth pebbles, and trees offered some shade.
For a moment, Charles stood still, taking in the scene.
It was nice, far better than the clan's cold hallways or his moldy room.
The water flowed with a steady murmur, and birds chirped in the branches.
"Not bad," Charles muttered, sitting on the grass.
But then it hit him—he had no idea what to do.
'I came to train, but… how?' he thought, frowning.
Lira's warning slammed back into his mind like a punch.
If anyone saw his power and mistook it for magic, he was dead.
"So what do I do…?" he said quietly, staring at the river. "Learn martial arts like some monk? Or figure out how to use my power without it looking like magic?"
With that doubt, Charles decided to try the system.
"Status window," he muttered.
The blue panel appeared, displaying his stats:
Name: Rian Cole
Element: Lightning
Level: 4
Stats
Health: 95/100
Energy: 100%
System Intelligence: 3
Control Level: 1
XP: 378/800
Available Upgrade Points: 1
Charles eyed his last upgrade point, a mix of hope and frustration stirring.
"System, what are the ways I can use my power?" he asked, hoping for something useful.
The panel flickered:
[System level too low to answer that question.]
Charles dragged a hand through his hair, groaning.
"Damn it, you're a pain in the ass!" he said, glaring at the panel.
But then he thought of the Auto-Cleaning skill.
It was weird but helpful.
If the system could do that, maybe another point in intelligence would unlock something better.
Though it stung to burn his last point, he saw no other option.
"Alright, system," Charles said with a sigh. "Put my last point into System Intelligence."
The panel responded:
[Confirm you wish to invest 1 point in System Intelligence?]
"Yeah, do it," Charles said, voice tight.
The update bar appeared instantly, and this time, the percentage climbed fast.
1%, 5%, 10%... within seconds, it hit 20%.
Charles let out a sarcastic chuckle.
"Here's hoping this speed isn't a scam," he muttered, recalling how the last update seemed quick at first but then dragged on.
The bar kept rising, hitting 50% in under two minutes.
Charles was about to relax, thinking this time would be different, when a noise snapped him out of it.
A loud crack, like branches snapping, came from the trees across the river.
Charles whipped around, heart racing, and saw something big moving in the bushes.
It was a bull, massive, with sharp horns and dark brown fur.
Its eyes locked onto him, and a low snort rumbled from its snout.
"What the hell?" Charles muttered, jumping to his feet.
The bull pawed the ground, lowering its head like it was gearing up to charge.
'This is bad,' he thought, stepping back.
The update bar kept climbing, now at 60%, but he didn't have time to check it.
The bull took another step, and Charles felt a knot in his stomach.
"Is it gonna charge me?" he said, voice shaky.
Then, a wild idea hit him.
His energy was at 100%. Maybe he could use his power against the bull. But Lira's warning echoed in his head.
If anyone saw, he was done for.
Charles glanced around—no one was there, just Nora on her tree, probably too far to notice.
'If I'm quick, no one'll know,' he thought, feeling the tingle of electricity in his hands.
"Alright, bull," Charles said with a nervous grin. "Wanna play?"