Robb wanted to ask more questions, but seeing the other's grim expression, he chose to suppress his curiosity for the moment.
He knew very well that in this eerie and terrifying dark world, knowing too much was often not a good thing.
Even after saying goodbye to Andrey and returning to his dormitory, Robb couldn't calm down. The bizarre scenes kept flashing through his mind, making him feel waves of nausea.
"Where on earth did Locke get that kind of forbidden drug from?"
He muttered under his breath and then opened his system panel to check his current status:
[Robb Reyne]
[Age: 15]
[Current Combat Class: Knight Squire (1-Star)]
[Current Life Class: Alchemy Apprentice (1-Star)]
[Attributes: Constitution 1.4 / Spirit 1.6 / Mana 0.4]
[Skills:
– Basic Alchemy (Proficient)
– Basic Meditation (Beginner)
– Mucus Splash (Beginner)
– Alchemy Brewing (Beginner)
– Herb Identification (Beginner)
– Basic Swordsmanship (Beginner)
– Breathing Body Training (Beginner)]
[Special Talents: Dual Soul, Solar Blessing]
[Power Level: Knight Squire]
"At least I've got my cheat system. No need to take those shady paths."
Looking at the steadily improving stats, Robb felt somewhat comforted.
Moreover, judging by the current speed of meditation improvement, there was a chance he could advance this very month. If that happened, many problems would solve themselves.
Just then, a muffled thump came from Darren's room next door, breaking Robb's train of thought.
"Damn sonic spell! Why did it fail again..." came the angry curse through the wall.
Robb shook his head with a bitter smile. His neighbor's persistence was indeed admirable.
Despite failing every day, he had never thought about taking shortcuts. But at this rate, it was doubtful he would pass the apprentice exam.
Not that Robb had time to worry about someone else's troubles anyway...
As night fell, the Black Mist Forest sank into silence.
But in certain hidden corners, illicit trades were still taking place.
"Did you hear? Another servant died at Tower No. 3."
"Sigh... That Marcus guy has been experimenting with some kind of curse sorcery lately. His methods are brutal."
"Tsk tsk, but being his servant at least means staying alive. Sure, every night is hell, but that's better than ending up as a test subject or monster chow."
Scattered whispers came from the end of the corridor, where a few extravagantly dressed female servants had gathered, adorned in flamboyant attire.
There was a trace of arrogance on their faces. After all, in this world ruled by the strong, clinging to power was a kind of currency.
Robb stood behind his door, and thanks to his enhanced senses from body training, he could clearly hear their whispering through the wood.
Though most of it was idle gossip, occasionally he picked up useful information.
"That idiot Locke actually went to a black market dealer for banned potions."
"Not our problem, though. Those guys only target apprentice candidates close to their deadline. It's just one last big score before they're dead anyway."
"Black market dealers..." Robb silently noted the term. Having one more channel was never a bad thing.
The footsteps slowly faded, and the hallway fell silent once again.
But in a place out of Robb's sight, those seemingly casual gossips among the servants took a sudden turn—after leaving the dormitory area, they respectfully gathered before a man in gray robes.
…
The next morning, as dawn was barely breaking, Robb found himself unable to sleep any longer. Realizing he still had plenty of time before his shift at the apothecary stall in the apprentice market, he got out of bed.
Since there was time, he sat down at his desk and opened the "Solar Swordcraft" notes that Andrey had given him.
This swordsmanship was designed to work in tandem with the "Solar Breathing Technique," emphasizing rhythmic movement guided by breath, making each sword strike burn like the sun.
In a way, the academy was rather generous to the apprentice candidates. While the single dorm rooms didn't come with much furniture, they were spacious enough for him to practice sword forms without issue.
"Let's start with the basic stance." Robb picked up a wooden sword and stepped into the center of the room.
[Basic Swordsmanship Training Initiated]
[Please use Solar Breathing Technique to guide your movements]
After two rounds of body refinement, he already had a solid grasp of the rhythm behind the Solar Breathing Technique.
This rhythm didn't just guide his spirit—it infused each movement with power.
Taking a deep breath, he began performing the basic strikes outlined in the manual.
He was clumsy at first, but as his breathing gradually synced with his movements, his strikes became more fluid.
Each swing of the sword matched his breath—inhale to gather strength, hold to focus, exhale to strike.
The wooden blade sliced through the air, creating faint whooshing sounds.
[Basic Swordsmanship EXP +1]
[Basic Swordsmanship EXP +1]
[Basic Swordsmanship EXP +1]
…
"Progress at the beginner level really is fast."
Robb looked at his stats with a faint smile.
The synergy between this sword technique and the Solar Breathing Technique made training feel natural, almost effortless. Combined with the [Knight Squire] class's boost to sword skill improvement…
Each correctly-timed strike helped him deepen his understanding of the technique.
It was as if his muscles were memorizing a unique rhythm, making each movement more powerful.
"This gives me a new idea," Robb mused. "Breathing-guided swordplay... this could really work in real combat."
He continued practicing his basic strikes, the sword's path growing smoother and more refined.
Guided by the proper breathing pattern, even the simplest actions carried a unique rhythm and strength.
Just as he was getting into the flow, a sudden, urgent knock came at the door.
"It's me." Andrey's deep voice came through.
Robb set the training sword aside, wiped off his sweat with a towel, and went to open the door.
As he opened it, he saw the thirteenth prince's face full of anxiety.
"There's something I have to tell you," Andrey said, closing the door behind him and lowering his voice:
"I just found out that the reason Locke took that risk... was because of some news he received."