[Please choose one skill!]
A burst of agility that enhances movement for a short duration.
• Increases speed and reaction time by 20% for 3 seconds.
• Useful for dodging, repositioning, or quick escapes.
• Cooldown: 10 seconds.
A subtle persuasion ability that makes the user's words more convincing.
• Minor lies or suggestions become slightly more believable.
• Works best on distracted or emotionally unstable individuals.
• Ineffective on highly alert or strong-willed targets.
• Cooldown: 30 seconds.
Allows the user to take a near-silent step while briefly reducing their presence.
• Moves 3 meters instantly and muffles sound.
• Slightly lowers visibility for 1 second, making it harder to track them.
• Cannot pass through solid objects or be used mid-air.
• Cooldown: 15 seconds.
Places a temporary mark on a surface, allowing the user to sense its location and return within a short time.
• Marks a spot within 20 meters.
• Can return to the mark within 10 seconds by instant teleportation.
• Mark disappears if the user moves too far or the time limit expires.
• Cooldown: 20 seconds.
'Hmm, none of these are too overpowered, but they're decent. Fleetfoot isn't really necessary—I can already enhance my speed with wind magic. If I combined them, sure, I'd be faster, but it's not a priority right now.'
Merlin rubbed his chin, deep in thought.
'Silver Whisper… nah, I don't need speaking skill yet.'
His gaze landed on the last skill.
[Courier's Mark selected!]
Merlin exhaled through his nose, a small smirk forming as he lay back in bed. The exhaustion finally hit him, and within moments, he drifted off to sleep.
The next morning, Merlin woke up early—but not early enough to catch Victoria.
'Guess she really leaves fast…'
He stretched, then gathered his things before slipping into his academy uniform, finally dry after yesterday's mess.
'Hopefully today's a bit more exciting.'
Stepping out of his apartment, he made his way toward the elevator. Just as he reached for the button, a woman arrived first and stepped inside.
'Damn it, I don't feel like waiting.'
"Hold the door, please!"
Before the elevator closed, the woman placed her hand between the doors, stopping them just in time. Merlin slid inside, exhaling.
As he looked up, he paused.
Long brown hair flowed behind her—though there was no wind to explain why. And those blue eyes… deep and shimmering, like an endless ocean.
'Liliana Astralis… She lives here?'
Merlin didn't dwell on it. He simply smiled and pressed the button.
"You're welcome," Liliana replied after a short delay, as if just realizing what had happened.
Silence settled over the elevator.
Liliana didn't know him. They had no reason to talk. Nothing in common. Just a painfully quiet ride.
When they finally reached the ground floor, they both stepped out—only to immediately start looking for a taxi.
'Come on… work with me here.'
Merlin tried… and tried… and kept trying. No luck.
Liliana wasn't having much success either.
But just as he was about to give up, a taxi stopped right in front of him.
Eyes practically glistening, Merlin opened the door and climbed in, about to close it—until he saw Liliana approaching.
"Sorry, mind if I ride with you? You're headed to the academy, right?"
Her gaze flicked to his uniform, then back to his face.
'No, I was actually planning to go on vacation.'
Merlin smiled and pushed the door open wider. Liliana slid inside, nodding.
"To Star Power Academy, please," he told the driver, who simply nodded in response.
For the entire ride, Liliana stayed silent. Merlin wasn't much of a talker either. And so, both of them stared out their respective windows, watching the city pass by.
When they arrived, the driver turned slightly. Before Liliana could pull out her wallet, Merlin had already paid.
"Don't worry about it, keep the change."
The driver smiled and nodded.
"Y-You didn't have to. I don't like owing people."
Liliana frowned as they walked past the academy gates.
"Then just don't think of it as a debt."
Merlin shrugged and continued walking toward their lecture hall.
They entered at the same time.
And just like that, every head in the room turned toward them.
Merlin sighed. Liliana took her seat, and he started making his way toward his own.
And sitting next to his seat, tapping at the air like he was playing an invisible piano… was Nathan.
Merlin pinched the bridge of his nose.
'Please don't say anything.'
Nathan noticed him, grinning as he stopped his little performance.
Merlin's sharp glare shut him up real fast.
Nathan chuckled, closing his eyes as if he had no idea what Merlin was upset about.
A moment later, Adrian arrived.
"What's up, Adrian," Nathan greeted loudly.
Merlin? He dropped his head onto his desk.
Adrian and Nathan both raised an eyebrow.
Merlin finally responded in a monotone, his voice practically dripping with exhaustion that didn't even hit him yet.
'This is going to be a long day.'
Right then, their instructor, Vivienne, walked in. The class fell silent.
"Alright, today you'll be receiving your academy rankings. But before that…"
She clapped her hands.
A set of sleek, futuristic-looking phones materialized in front of every student.
"These are your academy-issued devices. You'll be using them to check your ranking, spend your academy points, and select your classes."
More murmurs. Merlin glanced at the phone on his desk.
"Each student must enroll in at least six classes," Vivienne continued. Her gaze swept across the room—then landed directly on Merlin.
Her smile was just a little too smug.
Merlin sighed and powered on his device, scrolling through the interface.
The first thing that caught his eye was the ranking board.
[First Year, Rank 1: Merlin]
And just below his name…
[Rank 2: Nathaniel Varen]
He glanced at Nathan.
Nathan was grinning happily about his own ranking.
Merlin shook his head, chuckling softly before turning back to his screen.
He scrolled through the class options, wasting no time in making his selections.
1. Fundamentals of Sword Combat
2. Tactical Blade Application
3. Weapon Adaptability & Hybrid Combat
4. Mana Control & Efficiency
5. Applied Combat Magic
6. Runes & Arcane Theory
With a satisfied nod, Merlin locked in his choices.
"Once you've chosen your classes, check your phone for your next session and head there."
Vivienne's voice echoed through the classroom.
At her words, Merlin pulled out his phone and scrolled through his schedule.
'Fundamentals of Sword Combat – Training Facility Three'
A small smirk tugged at his lips. Finally, a chance to properly learn how to wield a sword. Without hesitation, he was the first to stand and head toward the door.
"That guy's ranked first, right?"
"Merlin Everhart? I've never heard of him before, where is he from?"
Whispers trailed behind him, but he paid them no mind. Instead, his gaze flickered toward Vivienne, who wore a faint, knowing smile. She gave him a subtle nod, and he returned the gesture before stepping out of the room.
"Training Facility Three… shouldn't be too hard to find."
Stepping outside, his eyes immediately locked onto a massive set of training halls, each numbered in bold. It didn't take long to spot the one marked "3."
"So this is it. If I remember right, Nathan should be here too… But who's the instructor again?"
With a quiet sigh, he pushed open the doors and stepped inside.
The facility was empty.
A lone figure sat cross-legged in the center of the hall, his broad frame unmoving, as if carved from stone. A thick beard covered his face, his long messy black hair covering his entire forehead. His presence alone radiating a quiet yet suffocating pressure.
Just as the thought crossed his mind—
A deep, resonant voice filled the room, making Merlin's lips tremble.
The man hadn't moved. His eyes remained closed. Yet, the weight of his words felt heavier than the air itself. It felt suffocating.
Merlin's brows furrowed. And then it finally clicked.
The name sent a jolt through his mind.
One of the strongest swordsmen in the novel. Nathan's personal instructor. A man who had fought battles that reshaped history itself. The man who fought until the very end of the world without ever giving up. He was one of Merlin's favorite side characters.
'Wait… he's the instructor for this class? I completely forgot.'
Exhaling, Merlin walked forward before settling onto the ground at a reasonable distance. His gaze remained fixed on the man, watching.
Merlin leaned back slightly, arms crossed as he waited and tried to sit in the same position as the man in front of him.
'This should be interesting. I wonder how many people will actually come.'