ã€ŠThrone of Godsã€‹


 Prologue

    Jacob slumped in his chair, the rejection letter lying before him like an unwelcome guest. The word ¡®Rejected¡¯ glared back at him in stark red, as if to underscore his string of unsuccessful job applications.

    ¡®Why is it so hard?¡¯ he thought, frustration simmering within. ¡®I¡¯m 29, jobless again. Maybe things would¡¯ve been different if I¡¯d been more focused earlier in life. But no, dwelling on the past won¡¯t change my current predicament. I¡¯ve got an interview result coming up; that¡¯s what I need to focus on.¡¯

    ¡°Jac?¡± His mother¡¯s voice interrupted his brooding.

    ¡°Yeee?¡± he responded, not turning from the window.

    ¡°Is this your interview application for tomorrow? You really should keep better track of your things,¡± she chided gently.

    ¡°Alright, mom,¡± he called back, pushing himself out of the chair with a sigh.

    As he traversed the short hallway of their modest three-bedroom house, he couldn¡¯t help but feel the weight of his situation. ¡®Still living with my parents at 29,¡¯ he mused bitterly.

    In the kitchen, he retrieved the form his mother had mentioned. ¡®Better double-check everything,¡¯ he thought, scanning the document.

    Name: Jacob Brown; Gender: Male; Age: 29.

    Every detail was a stark reminder of where he stood¡ªa man approaching thirty, grappling with the relentless tide of life¡¯s expectations and his own aspirations.

    Jacob lingered in his room, the darkness outside his window a stark contrast to the flicker of hope within him. ¡°Everything¡¯s lined up perfectly. The interview went smoothly, and that job is as good as mine,¡± he reassured himself, though the clock¡¯s hands nearing midnight reminded him of the need for rest.

    The echo of past rejections haunted him, a litany of ¡®what ifs¡¯ and ¡®if onlys¡¯ that threatened to overwhelm. With a sharp slap to his own cheek, he silenced the doubts. ¡°Enough self-pity, Jac. Time to rest up for tomorrow.¡±

    Rising from his chair, he made his way to his bed, the day¡¯s anxieties receding with each step.

    ¡­

    The morning sun heralded a new day, and with it, Jacob¡¯s resolve solidified. Dressed in his finest suit, he partook in a quick breakfast before stepping out into the brisk London air. The train station bustled with the morning rush, a sea of faces, each absorbed in their own routine.

    ''Look, I feel like I''m in a zombie movie. People''s faces are motionless, as if they are all dead. Bodies that only get up, work, and return home every day... hmm... at least they have a job.¡¯

    ¡°The train will arrive in one minute,¡± announced the intercom, its static buzz a familiar prelude to his daily commute.

    Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

    Fifteen minutes by train and a twenty-minute walk later, Jacob arrived at the company¡¯s doors, which slid open with a silent welcome. He navigated to the secretary¡¯s desk, where a blonde woman greeted him with a practiced smile.

    ¡°Good morning, sir. How may I assist you today?¡± she inquired.

    ¡°I¡¯m here for the results of my interview,¡± Jacob replied, handing over his form.

    ¡°Just a moment, please,¡± she said, turning to her computer.

    Minutes ticked by, each one stretching longer than the last until she finally looked up.

    ¡°Mr. Jacob Brown, I¡¯m sorry to inform you that we¡¯ve chosen candidates whose qualifications more closely align with our needs. We wish you the best in your continued job search.¡±

    The words struck Jacob like a physical blow. ¡°What? But¡­ everything seemed perfect,¡± he stammered, disbelief clouding his thoughts.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, sir. I don¡¯t have further details. That¡¯s simply the outcome,¡± she responded with a sympathetic tilt of her head.

    Reeling from the news, Jacob exited the building, his mind a whirlwind of confusion and frustration. Why hadn¡¯t he been chosen? His performance had been flawless, hadn¡¯t it?

    Seeking solace, Jacob made a detour to the supermarket on his way home, grabbing two beers¡ªhis chosen companions for the night, the only ones capable of dulling the sting of his thoughts. He cracked open the first one as he walked, the cold alcohol sliding down his throat, its numbing warmth offering a brief reprieve from the ache of failure.

    By the time he reached his doorstep, dread had settled deep in his gut. How could he face his parents? How would he tell them he couldn¡¯t get the job they¡¯d been so hopeful about? Disappointment loomed like a shadow over him. He took a deep breath, trying to steady himself, but it did little to ease the weight in his chest.

    He opened the door, stepping into the familiar warmth of home, and immediately heard his mother¡¯s footsteps approaching.

    ¡°Jacob, honey, is that you? Did you get the job?¡± Her voice carried a mix of hope and worry, and it made his heart ache even more.

    ¡°Yeah, Mom, it¡¯s me,¡± he answered, his voice heavy with exhaustion and guilt. He hesitated for a moment before the words tumbled out. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mom. I couldn¡¯t get the job.¡±

    There was a pause, just long enough for his heart to race. Then she was there, wrapping him in a hug, her comforting words soft in his ear. ¡°It¡¯s okay, Jacob. Don¡¯t worry. You¡¯ll find something else. I know you will.¡±

    He wanted to believe her, but the turmoil inside him was too loud, drowning out her reassurances. ¡°I¡¯ll keep trying,¡± he promised, but the words felt hollow, the weight of his failure too heavy to shake off.

    He gently pulled away from her embrace, bypassing his mother and heading straight for his room. The comforting hum of home surrounded him, but it did little to calm his stormy mind. As he closed the door behind him, he heard his parents'' voices drifting from the kitchen.

    "He didn¡¯t get the job?" his father asked, concern evident in his tone.

    ¡°No,¡± his mother replied, her voice low with worry. ¡°I¡¯m worried about him.¡±

    "Don''t worry," his father said after a pause. "He''s a man. He''ll overcome it."

    Their words echoed faintly in his mind, but he was too drained to react. He collapsed onto his bed, still in his suit, and opened the second beer. The room was quiet, save for the faint hum of the ceiling fan above. He took a long sip, the alcohol settling in his veins like a familiar friend.

    Staring up at the ceiling, Jacob felt sleep pulling at him, offering a temporary escape from the day''s disappointments. His eyes fluttered shut, and the world around him began to blur.

    ¡®Let¡¯s just sleep for now,¡¯ he told himself, sinking deeper into the mattress. ¡®Tomorrow, I¡¯ll figure out what to do next.¡¯

    With that final, fleeting thought, sleep claimed him, and the burdens of the day faded into the quiet abyss of unconsciousness.

 Chapter 1: A New Beginning

    ¡°Wake Up!¡±

    Jacob jumped up in fear; his body was soaked in sweat, and his head was heavy, a relentless pressure was building behind his eyes until it felt as though his head might split apart at any moment. He couldn''t think straight.

    ''Oh my God, why is my head aching so much?! Is this because of the beer?

    Struggling to rise, Jacob found his body unresponsive to his commands, immobilized by the searing pain throbbing in his head. With even the simplest of thoughts proving difficult amidst the agony, he resigned himself to remaining prone for a while longer. After a time, and with gentle pressure on his temples, he finally succeeded in sitting upright.

    ''My stomach hurt as well!, Is it possible that I got food poisoning? And why is everything so hazy?''

    He rubbed his eyes a few times to get a better view. His breath caught in his throat, a knot of dread tightening in his stomach as he looked around the room. He was alone in a small room. To his left stood an aged wooden door, while nearby rested a weathered drawer containing a book, a mirror, and a flickering candle. Jacob looked at his bed; it was an old bed with dirty sheets, with a small table on the right side of the bed holding a few tablets and a glass of water. A window was located on the table''s top. The moonlight poured through the window, casting a silvery glow across the room.

    ¡®What the hell is going on? Where the hell am I? What exactly is this place?!! Did I get kidnapped?¡¯

    Struggling to rise due to a pounding headache, he opted to rest for a moment. As time passed, the pain gradually subsided, allowing him to stand once more. With cautious steps, he made his way to the window and peered outside.

    "What...is...this...place? It''s not London!"

    The city before him looked like it had been forgotten by time. Its muddy streets were nearly empty, save for a few figures wandering aimlessly, and not a single vehicle was in sight. The wooden houses that lined the roads were ancient, their walls cracked and warped with age, threatening to crumble at the slightest touch. Bronze street lamps flickered weakly against the encroaching dusk, their dim light casting eerie shadows. The strangest part was that there were no visible wires, nothing to power them, yet they glowed all the same.

    Jacob stood in the middle of it all, horror creeping up his spine. He took a few shaky steps backward, his body frozen in shock.

    ¡®Calm down. Calm down,¡¯ he thought, desperately trying to regain control. ''Where am I? What is this place? Did I die in my sleep? Is this some kind of afterlife? Or¡­ was I kidnapped by aliens? Is this some kind of sick joke?''

    Frantic, he spotted the small wooden drawer by the bed and saw the mirror. He lifted it with trembling hands, and the face that stared back at him made his stomach lurch.

    ¡®Haa¡­ who is this kid? Is this really me?¡¯

    The face was young, far younger than his real age, with soft features and wide eyes that bore no resemblance to the man he used to be. His reflection felt like a stranger. Jacob stumbled backward, dropping the mirror onto the bed, his hands shaking uncontrollably as panic surged through him. He sat down heavily on the bed, struggling to catch his breath.

    After what felt like an eternity, he forced himself to breathe slowly, the chaotic whirlwind of thoughts in his mind gradually slowing. His hands still trembled, but the fear was subsiding, replaced by a cold, unsettling clarity.

    ¡®Okay,¡¯ he thought, gathering his composure. ¡®Let¡¯s go over the situation. First and foremost, this isn¡¯t a joke. I¡¯m in a new body, in a city I¡¯ve never seen before, and there¡¯s no way aliens would care about someone like me.¡¯

    He rubbed his temples, trying to make sense of the bizarre reality he¡¯d found himself in. His reflection, the strange city, the ancient, crumbling buildings¡ªit all felt too real to be a dream.

    ¡®So, if this isn¡¯t a joke¡­ what the hell is it?¡¯

    He remembered a couple of animes where the main character was reincarnated.

    ¡®So, either I died and I¡¯m now in hell, or I¡¯ve been reincarnated,¡¯ he muttered, pausing for a moment to examine his body. ¡®Or maybe I¡¯ve been transmigrated.¡¯

    Jacob¡¯s gaze returned to the table, where a tablet lay next to a half-empty glass of water.

    ¡®Could it be suicide that¡¯s causing this gnawing pain in my gut?¡¯ he wondered, a grim possibility that sent a shiver down his spine.

    Restless, he rose and approached the window, seeking solace in the night sky.

    ¡®Is this just a figment of my imagination?¡¯ he questioned, pinching his arm sharply¡ªa jolt of pain confirming his reality.

    ¡®No, this is too vivid for a dream,¡¯ he concluded, scanning the room for a timepiece or a means to ignite the candle, finding neither. He retrieved the old book from the drawer, its cover worn with age. Straining to read in the dimness proved futile, so he moved closer to the window, letting the moon¡¯s silver light aid his endeavor.

    Opening the book, Jacob found the inscription on the first page: "This is the diary of Leo Mantine, born on the 12th of January, 453." A small, wry smile crept across his face.

    ¡®A diary,¡¯ he thought, his pulse quickening. ¡®I¡¯ve got a name¡ªLeo Mantine. Now, if only I knew the current year¡­ I could figure out my age¡ªor rather, his.¡¯

    he paused for a few seconds, staring at the number on the page¡ªYear 453. His mind reeled.

    ¡®Year 453? Could I have traveled back in time?¡¯

    It wasn¡¯t impossible. After all, he had woken up in a body that wasn¡¯t his own, in a world that was far removed from anything he¡¯d ever known. The ancient buildings, the lack of modern technology¡ªit all pointed to something far older.

    Flipping to the next page, he began to read:

    "Page One: Mr. Dyehill has asked us to keep a diary of our daily activities. What¡¯s the point? Doesn¡¯t he know how much a notebook costs?"

    Jacob chuckled softly. ¡®Thank you, Mr. Dyehill; now I can get the information I need.¡¯

    "Page Two: I just came back from school and got into another fight with my mom. I don¡¯t feel like writing anymore."

    Jacob frowned, the mundane nature of Leo¡¯s life pulling him further into this strange reality. But as he continued reading, a sudden wave of nausea hit him hard.

    "Ugh... God, I almost puked," he groaned, clutching his stomach. "Why is my stomach hurting so much?"

    He massaged his abdomen, hoping the discomfort would pass, but it lingered for a few minutes before easing. Once the queasiness subsided, Jacob returned to the diary.

    "Page Three: That bully kids beat me again. I tried to hide it from Mom, but Rosie found out and told her."

    ''Rosie? That sounds like a girl¡¯s name. His sister? Wait... what language am I even reading?¡¯ Jacob paused, realization dawning on him. ¡®This isn¡¯t English, so how can I understand it? Do I have Leo¡¯s memories?¡¯

    His mind raced, but after a few moments of thinking, he came to a decision. ¡®For now, let¡¯s not worry about it,¡¯ he thought, shaking off the unsettling questions.

    Just as he turned to the next page, a knock echoed through the room.

    The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

    Knock, knock, knock.

    "Leo, it¡¯s morning. Wake up!" a voice called from behind the door.

    Jacob froze, his heart skipping a beat as the voice shattered the fragile barrier between his mind and reality.

    Creak. The old door swung open. Jacob (Leo) got goosebumps on his back. A young girl entered. She was about 12 years old and about 150 centimeters tall; her hair was black and messy, and she had a small cute face with big green eyes.

    "Are you sleeping again...? Oh, you''re awake; that''s strange; come down; mom''s making breakfast."

    She then walked out of the room without shutting the door.

    ''That has to be Rosie.''

    He examined the book in his hand.

    ''Right now, I need information to survive.''

    He picked up the mirror again and examined himself. A young boy nearly 160 cm tall with green eyes and black hair His overall appearance was pleasing. His eyes were a little large, and he had an almost small nose and a sharp jawline. There was a dark circle under his left eye.

    "Probably a punch from those bullies."

    He approached the door.

    ¡°At this point, all I can do is survive. Nothing else matters¡ªno past, no former identity, just staying alive. I need to act as Leo Mantine.¡±

    Leo cautiously descended the stairs, the old wood creaking beneath his weight. Each step felt as though it might give way at any moment, reinforcing the sense that this place was as ancient as the strange world he had found himself in. When he reached the bottom, he took in his surroundings: a small hall connected to a modest kitchen.

    The kitchen looked worn, with an old table tucked into one corner, three cabinets¡ªone of which hung slightly askew¡ªand an odd-looking oven that seemed to run on something unfamiliar. The floor was dusty, and everything had a well-used, faded quality, as though the house itself was trying to hold onto its last vestiges of life. The sofa in the hall looked like it had been there for centuries, its fabric threadbare and sagging in places.

    Jacob chuckled to himself, taking it all in. ¡®We appear to be poor. That''s not disappointing at all,¡¯ he thought with a wry smirk. In his original world, poverty would have been an obstacle, but here, in this strange new life, it seemed like just another piece of the mystery to unravel.

    To his left, there was a narrow corridor leading to a small room, its door slightly ajar. He had no idea what lay beyond it.

    ¡®This place¡­ it''s like I¡¯ve stepped into another reality,¡¯ he thought, his smirk fading into a more thoughtful expression. As much as he tried to brush it off, the gravity of his situation was becoming clearer by the second.

    He took a look around the kitchen. A woman was there, making breakfast, and the same small girl who had come into his room was sitting on a chair near the kitchen table.

    ''That woman is most likely my mother; I shouldn''t say too much or they''ll be suspicious.''

    "Good morning"

    His mother turned her head and smiled at him.

    "Good morning, sweetie. You awoke early this morning. Is this a special day?"

    She was around 30 years old, about 165 cm tall, with blond hair and green eyes and lovely facial features. Her hands had rough skin, indicating that she had worked hard.

    ¡®Though what I read wasn''t much, but I think Leo is a bit rude, I should try to be like him.¡¯

    "No, I just didn''t feel like sleeping."

    "Come sit down; your breakfast is ready."

    Leo approached the table and sat in one of the four chairs. He was sitting directly across from his sister. His mother brought him his breakfast while he was staring at her eating hers. He examined his plate, which contained a small amount of cheese, toasted bread, and a small bowl of soup.

    Leo methodically chewed his breakfast, the dull ache in his stomach a lingering reminder of his recent stress. As he finished, he reached for a glass of water, the cool liquid a contrast to the warmth of the morning meal.

    ¡°Thank you,¡± he said, the words slipping out before he could catch them.

    The room went still, the unexpected politeness hanging in the air like a foreign note in a familiar melody. He mentally chastised himself for the slip¡ªLeo¡¯s usual demeanor was far from gracious.

    His mother and sister, visibly startled by the break in character, exchanged glances.

    ¡°¡­eee¡­ You¡¯re very welcome, sweetie,¡± his mother replied, her voice tinged with confusion.

    ¡°I¡¯ll be in my room studying; please don¡¯t interrupt me. And, what year is it now?¡± Leo asked, feigning nonchalance.

    Rosie¡¯s mouth hung open in disbelief. ¡°Study?¡± she echoed, as if the word were alien.

    ¡°It¡¯s 468,¡± his mother answered, still processing the morning¡¯s anomalies.

    ¡°Okay, thank you,¡± he said, a sigh escaping him as he ascended the stairs to the sanctuary of his room, closing the door behind him with a definitive click.

    Downstairs, his mother and sister shared a look of bewilderment.

    ¡°Mom, he¡¯s acting strange today; he never studies, wakes up early, or says thank you,¡± Rosie whispered, her voice a mix of concern and curiosity.

    ¡°Maybe he¡¯s finally maturing?¡± his mother mused, hope coloring her words.

    Behind the closed door of his room, Leo pulled out his diary, the leather-bound book creaking as he opened it. He began to read.

    "Page four: Why do I have to go to school? My father went to school once, but what good did it do? Where is he now? Gone. He ran off without a word, leaving us behind like we never mattered. He didn''t care enough to stay, didn''t think twice about his family. And what do I get? A daily routine of fists and jeers. Every day, I''m just a punching bag for the bullies.

    The entries from pages five to ten were all the same¡ªcomplaints, bitterness, a boy pouring out his frustrations on the paper. It was like his words were his only escape, each line a cry for help no one would ever hear.

    Page eleven: I don¡¯t want to go to school anymore, so why bother writing about it? Every day is the same: someone is beating me, wearing me down. It¡¯s not even worth putting on paper anymore.

    And that was it. No more pages.

    Leo stared at the journal, the blank space beyond page eleven unnerving in its emptiness. ¡®Did this kid... end his life over this? Maybe he didn''t, maybe it''s not that simple. It¡¯s dangerous to jump to conclusions,¡¯ Leo told himself, but the silence of those unwritten pages was loud. What had happened after that last entry?

    ¡®Now it¡¯s 468, and I¡¯m fifteen years old. There¡¯s not enough in this diary to understand what really happened. I need to know more.¡¯

    Leo returned to the drawer and opened the door. It had a bag inside it. He took up the bag and carried it to his bed. There were five books and three notebooks inside the bag. He took the first book from his bag, which was titled math. The book included simple math methods such as addition, subtraction, and multiplication. He put that book down and looked through other books. Literature, community, art, and history. He put them all away, picked up the history, and began reading it.

    "At the dawn of time, Agoph united the human race and established the first kingdom, the Kingdom of Agophia. Agoph was a wise king, and his kingdom grew larger by the day during his reign. In his final year as ruler, Agophia''s population surpassed one million people. Agoph chose his only son, Agoph the second, as his successor before he died. His son, on the other hand, had a drunken and weak personality. During his reign, he established a tax system and began to confiscate large amounts of gold from the common people. There was a social divide between common people and nobles. Agoph the second, however, did not stop there. He began kidnapping young girls for his own pleasure and young boys for his army, as well as torturing protesting families. People''s daily lives were hell; they were constantly afraid, and they had to hide their children from the king."

    "After 30 years of rule like this, the gates of hell have opened. With the opening of the Gate of Hell, magic began to flow in our world."

    ''Magic? Does this world have magic?''

    Leo had a wicked smile on his face.

    ''And gate of hell, it just said that gate of hell was opened with no explanation for what this gate is or why it opened. This is primarily a children''s book.

    Leo, continued reading.

    "With magic in this world, humanity''s next generation began to change. Mages, sorcerers, witches, and necromancers soon appeared. Chaos began to take root in the kingdom; because the ordinary knights were unable to stop the one with magic, the king began to build his own army of mages. Death was everywhere, and it appeared to be the end of the world. Until the God of Light brought light to our world and the first paladin, Elbridge, God''s hand, was born. Elbridge began by uniting common people and teaching them the way of God. The number of Paladins was growing by the day. King Agoph the Second became aware of this and dispatched an army to assassinate Elbridge. A new war had begun, but with the help of God, Elbridge and his army defeated King Agoph. King Agoph fled to the north and died of illness; his son Aganan established a new kingdom, the kingdom of the north; in the east, some mages, sorcerers, and necromancers gathered and established the kingdom of magic; and in the south, Elbridge established the kingdom of light, and thus the three kingdoms were established."

    "Elbridge died of old age in the year 240, and his most loyal subordinate and friend, Arnatt Dawnbringer, becomes the next ruler of the kingdom of light. The kingdom of light grew stronger under Arnatt''s rule. The kingdom of magic was also growing in strength. Mages were inventing new uses for magic. More potent spells were developed. Because Arnatt believed that all magic was evil, he made peace with the kingdom of the north and declared war on the kingdom of magic. The war was great, with a lot of casualties on both sides. Arnatt was killed in a battle with the great archmage Ivira, He was also able to kill Ivira, but he died 10 days later as a result of the scars he received during the fight. The next Ruler, Maverick Nightbreaker, negotiated with the rulers of the Kingdom of Magic, and they made peace under certain conditions. Maverick stated that not all magic is evil, and that only necromancy and dark magic are evil. With this new rule, mages begin to travel to the kingdom of light, and in a few years, the kingdom of light increases its power with the help of mages."

    The rest of the book was just a description of how people lived and how rulers ruled in the kingdom of light.

    ''Well, it isn''t complete; for example, does the entire world consist of only these three kingdoms? If not, what else is there? What exactly is dark magic? Nations always write their own books, so what is the kingdom of light, and who is this god of light? For the time being, it''s better than nothing, and I know a brief history of the world.¡¯

    Leo got out of bed and went to the window; the sun had already come out. He smiled as he looked out the window.

    ¡®I got another chance in my life; I need to explore this world and also find out what happened to me in my previous life.¡¯

    He observed people walking on the street.

    ¡®there is magic in this world, and I will not fail, no matter how difficult it may be.

 Chapter 3: Murderer

    The carriage wheels rumbled beneath them, and as they settled into a steady rhythm, Liamond turned to Leo with an smile. He gestured towards the Paladin who carried a formidable great sword.

    ¡°Leo, allow me to introduce Captain Edmond Goldenshield, our leader, and beside him is Mr. Gery Loup, a fellow Paladin and my trusted colleague.¡±

    Leo¡¯s gaze shifted to the two men, offering a polite nod. ¡°It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you.¡±

    Gery acknowledged him with a curt nod, while Captain Edmond regarded Leo with a straightforward gaze.

    ¡°Likewise. Tell me, when did you last encounter those troublemakers?¡± Edmond¡¯s voice was gruff, his inquiry direct.

    Leo reflected briefly on the man¡¯s forthright demeanor before responding. ¡°It was just yesterday. I can¡¯t be certain of the time¡ªI wasn¡¯t wearing a watch¡ªbut it was around midday.¡±

    ¡°And the outcome? Did you get beaten again?¡±

    This time, Leo¡¯s response came with a hint of pride. ¡°No, this time, I turned the tables on them.¡±

    Liamond couldn¡¯t help but interject with a surprised ¡°Hoo¡­¡±

    Leo proceeded to recount the previous day¡¯s events in detail to Edmond and the other Paladins.

    After listening intently, Edmond asked, ¡°Is that the entirety of the story?¡±

    ¡°Yes, sir,¡± Leo confirmed.

    Edmond¡¯s expression softened slightly. ¡°There¡¯s no need for formalities. Just ¡®Captain Edmond¡¯ will do.¡±

    Edmond hit the carriage''s wall twice. The carriage came to a halt after about 3 minutes. Liamond rose and opened the carriage door. He motioned for Leo to exit. All three Paladins left after Leo. More people were here, both Paladins and non-Paladins. Some were investigating and conversing with one another, while others were simply standing guard. Six bodies were covered in white sheets on the ground.

    Liamond and Gery went to the other side and began conversing with someone dressed in a black coat who appeared to be a detective. Edmond began to make his way to the bodies. He came to a halt after 5 steps and returned his gaze to Leo. Leo realized what Edmond was meant and began following him. They make it to the bodies. Edmond sat near one of the bodies, staring at Leo.

    "We need you to verify their identity."

    Edmond removed the sheet as Leo sat near the body.

    "Ugg.."

    He almost puked. It was the fat boy who acted as the boss of the group. The blood from his nose and mouth had dried up.

    "It''s him; he is the one acting as the boss."

    "OK"

    Edmond rose to his feet and addressed Liamond. When Liamond arrived, he offered Leo a glass of water.

    "Drink it; you will feel better."

    Leo watched, perplexed, as Edmond and Liamond engaged in a hushed conversation beside the carriage. Their words were indistinct, leaving Leo to his own thoughts. He took a sip from his glass of water, and to his surprise, a sense of well-being washed over him. He examined the glass, suspecting the water was more than it seemed. When the two men returned, Edmond addressed him with a grave tone.

    ¡°Leo Mantine, we require your assistance to apprehend a murderer.¡±

    Liamond interjected with concern, ¡°Captain, isn¡¯t this too sudden for him?¡±

    Edmond dismissed the caution with a wave of his hand. ¡°He¡¯s capable.¡±

    Rubbing his temples, Liamond looked on as Leo turned his attention to Edmond.

    ¡°What could I possibly do that the Paladins cannot?¡± Leo asked, skepticism lacing his voice.

    ¡°To clarify your role, I must first detail the events that have transpired,¡± Edmond replied.

    With a nod of agreement, Leo followed them back into the carriage. As Edmond signaled the driver, the carriage lurched into motion. He then faced Leo, his expression somber.

    ¡°The individual responsible for these child murders is a serial killer, and our evidence suggests you¡¯re likely his next victim.¡±

    Leo¡¯s eyes widened in shock. ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°Captain!¡± Liamond exclaimed, equally stunned.

    Edmond held Leo¡¯s gaze, unflinching. ¡°This city has seen his handiwork before.¡±

    ¡°How can you be certain it¡¯s the same perpetrator?¡± Leo pressed.

    ¡°The method of murder is distinctive. The killer extracts a piece of the victim¡¯s body while they¡¯re still alive, yet leaves no physical wounds.¡±

    ¡°How is that possible?¡± Leo¡¯s confusion was evident.

    Liamond took up the explanation. ¡°It¡¯s a sinister form of dark magic wielded by shadowy assassins. They can access your insides as if through a portal, all without breaking the skin.¡±

    ¡°But why would they need to do it while the victim is alive?¡± Leo¡¯s question hung in the air.

    "To get the organ while it is fresh, the more fresh an organ is, the better quality it has for necromancy use, and children''s organs are even healthier, so he can sell them at a higher price."

    Leo was speechless.

    Edmond eventually said.

    "He''s already left his mark on you, We can remove it, but we don''t know if he has other ways of following you around, and we can''t put someone in charge of protecting you and your family forever."

    "Wait a minute, when did he put his mark on me? What exactly do you mean, my family?"

    "When you kicked those boys, a little of your mana stayed with them; he can trace that, and when you said someone was staring at you, it was most likely him, Also, do you believe that when he comes for you, he will simply kill you and leave your family alone?"

    "Mana is the soul''s energy, which you use for spells and skills, It''s similar to stamina," Liamond explained.

    ''I know what mana is,'' Leo thought.

    Edmond¡¯s eyes met Leo¡¯s, a silent question hanging between them.

    ¡°You¡¯re asking me to serve as bait, then?¡± Leo inquired, his voice tinged with a mix of resignation and curiosity.

    With a heavy sigh, Edmond confirmed, ¡°Yes, that¡¯s the situation.¡±

    Liamond interjected hastily, ¡°We¡¯ll be there to guard you at all times. And should you decline, we¡¯ll still endeavor to ensure your safety.¡±

    ¡°But there¡¯s no absolute assurance of my safety in either case, correct?¡± Leo pressed, seeking clarity.

    The somber looks on Edmond and Liamond¡¯s faces spoke volumes before Edmond¡¯s simple ¡°No¡± cemented the reality.

    Leo weighed his options. ¡®This is fraught with peril, yet it presents a rare chance to witness magic firsthand. Regardless of my choice, danger looms¡ªso why not choose the path that offers some advantage and protection for my family?¡¯

    ¡°Ok, I¡¯ll do it,¡± Leo declared, his decision firm.

    Liamond, taken aback, nearly leaped from his seat. ¡°What???¡±

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    A trace of relief flickered across Edmond¡¯s stern visage. ¡°You¡¯re certain?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± Leo affirmed.

    ¡°Very well, it¡¯s settled,¡± Edmond stated.

    As the carriage drew to a stop, Edmond gave Liamond a nod. "explain the plan to him."

    Edmond then exited the carriage and walked away. The carriage began to move again. Liamond finally looked at Leo.

    "You are a brave young man, Leo, We''ll come and get you tonight. Come out of the house at 7 p.m. and into the carriage. Frank will accompany you the entire time. Don''t worry, your family will be sleeping when this happens."

    Liamond took out his pocket watch and handed it to Leo.

    "You can use this to see the exact time; keep it close," he said as he locked his gaze on Leo.

    "Is there something wrong?"

    "You can read a watch, right?"

    Leo snapped .

    "Of course I can!!!"

    "Ok, ok, better safe than sorry."

    Then the carriage stopped. Liamond pushed open the carriage door.

    "Go now and remember, 7 o''clock."

    Leo took off, Liamond shut the door, and the carriage drove away.

    ''Did they contact Mr. Frank already?''

    Leo entered his house and unlocked the door. Before he could say anything, his mother rushed to him and hugged him.

    "what happened? Are you all right? Did they hurt you?"

    "Calm down, Mom, I am ok, They only wanted to ask questions."

    His mother examined every area of his face, giving him another hug once she was certain he was alright.

    "Ok, come to the kitchen; let''s eat lunch."

    Leo looked around.

    ¡°Mom, where is the paladin that stayed here.¡±

    "I don''t know, he was outside, I told him to come inside but he refused, he said that he need to stay on guard." His mother responded without turning around.

    Leo did not continue looking for him; instead, he returned to his room after lunch and took the watch from his pocket to examine it. The gold-colored pocket watch had a mark on the back. The mark resembled a cross but had a wider bottom, similar to a plus sign. There wasn''t anything else interesting about it. He put the watch back in his pocket.

    "Okay, now what should I do until 7? There¡¯s nothing to do here."

    With little else to occupy his time, Leo decided to grab one of the books from his small collection. He flipped through the pages, skimming over subjects he had already mastered. After about two hours, frustration began to creep in¡ªthe material was far too easy, offering no real challenge.

    "Alright, I didn¡¯t get much sleep last night anyway. Might as well take a nap for a few hours."

    He laid down on his bed, letting exhaustion take over, and quickly drifted off to sleep.

    A few hours later, he awoke suddenly, blinking in the dim light of his room. Something felt off, though he couldn''t quite place it. He pulled out his watch and checked the time. It was 6:45.

    Realizing he didn¡¯t have much time left, he hurried out of bed, changed into fresh clothes, and made his way downstairs. The house was unusually quiet, a calmness hanging in the air. He glanced around, noticing his mother resting peacefully on the sofa. So deeply asleep that it almost seemed unnatural.

    "Is this... some kind of spell?" he wondered, the thought lingering as he stared at her unnaturally deep slumber.

    He stepped outside and noticed the carriage. Someone suddenly placed a hand on his shoulder. Leo jumped up and turned around.

    "Don''t be afraid; it''s me."

    "Mr. Rove¡­?!"

    ¡°Call me Frank¡± with an smile he answered.

    Leo wiped the sweat on his forehead with his sleeve. They walked to the carriage after Frank nodded.

    The carriage began to move and then came to a halt after 15 minutes. Leo and Frank took off. Before them loomed an old house constructed from weathered black timber. Leo tilted his head upward, realizing the structure stretched three stories high, its size nearly big.

    As they ascended, a question surfaced in Leo¡¯s thoughts.

    ¡°Mr. Frank, isn¡¯t there a risk the assassin will notice I¡¯m being moved and grow suspicious?¡± he inquired, voicing his concern.

    Frank responded with confidence, ¡°We¡¯ve erected a magical barrier around you. It conceals your mana signature from detection until we choose to remove it.¡±

    Leo pondered the implications, his curiosity piqued. ¡®If they¡¯re capable of shielding me with a barrier, then what¡¯s the purpose of my presence here?¡¯

    Seemingly attuned to Leo¡¯s silent query, Frank elaborated, ¡°The barrier we¡¯ve placed is temporary. We must act swiftly to apprehend the assassin before the magic dissipates.¡±

    Understanding the urgency, Leo simply nodded in agreement.

    Frank led Leo to the house''s second floor, The house was dark and the stairs creaked as they climbed, there were three doors on the second floor. They entered one of them, which was a small room.

    "I will be in the next room hiding; captain and others are also here, so don''t worry, nothing is going to happen to you; just stay here and go sit on the bed."

    "Ok¡­."

    Leo sat down on the bed. Frank exited and shut the door. From what Leo could hear, Frank went to another room, shut the door, and then there was nothing but silence. Leo began to freak out.

    ''What the hell, am I really safe here?!''

    He was trembling as he sat there. He couldn''t even take his watch out to see how much time had passed. After God''s know-how-much time, he suddenly heard a sound other than his own breathing. The room darkened even more. It appeared that darkness was coming from every direction. Suddenly, a figure appeared at the far end of the room, where there was nothing. It was a man dressed in a black rope and wearing a hat that obscured his face. The man got closer and closer to Leo. He removed his hat.

    There was a man with a strange, unsettling face beneath the hood. His skin was marred with scars. But the most prominent scar ran jaggedly from the corner of his left lip, as though his mouth had been torn open at some point and crudely healed. His dark, black eyes glinted with a strange intensity, and his long, crooked nose gave his face an almost predatory look.

    He was smiling¡ªan eerie, unsettling grin that only made him seem more dangerous¡ªas he slowly moved closer. Leo could feel his heart quicken as the man approached, but just as abruptly, the man stopped in his tracks.

    "You?? I''ve already killed you! I extracted your stomach, Why are you still alive?" said the assassin in hushed tones.

    "What?" Leo''s surprise overcame his fear.

    Suddenly, the door opened, and Frank dashed in, his sword already drawn. The assassin quickly turned around. A shadowy hand emerged from his left side and grabbed Frank''s sword-wielding hand. At the same time, he launched an attack with his other hand, which was clutching a dagger. Frank wrist''s armor begins to glow, and he uses it to deflect the assassin''s dagger. The blow was so powerful that the assassin''s dagger flew out of his grasp, and it fell next to Leo. When Frank fisted his hand, it began to glow, He then threw a punch, which landed in the air.

    The assassin vanished in a blur of black smoke, disappearing for a split second before materializing in front of Frank. Without hesitation, he delivered a brutal kick to Frank''s stomach. The force of the blow sent Frank flying across the room, crashing into the wall with a sickening thud.

    Before Frank could even catch his breath, the assassin was already closing in on him. His hand was now engulfed in a shadowy, twisting energy that pulsed with a deadly intent. Leo¡¯s eyes widened in horror as he watched, every fiber of his being certain¡ªthe assassin was preparing to deliver the killing blow.

    ¡­

    Edmond and Liamond were standing outside the house, ready to attack. Liamond took out his book and begins to cast a spell.

    "Wait".

    "Captain?" there was concern in Liamond¡¯s Voice.

    "I want to see what happens."

    "But captain¡­.."

    "Don''t worry, if the situation becomes critical, I will step in."

    With that, Liamond stopped his spell and looked at the room''s window.

    ¡­

    Leo¡¯s gaze fell to the dagger lying near his feet, its blade catching the faint light of the room. A rush of thoughts flooded his mind, each one a pressing weight on his conscience.

    ¡®What¡¯s the right move here? Do I intervene? And where in the world are Liamond and the rest?¡¯ he muttered under his breath, his eyes darting around the room for any sign of others.

    His attention snapped back to the present danger as the assassin, with a cold precision, was moments away from delivering a fatal blow to his target.

    ¡°This isn¡¯t right. I can¡¯t just stand by and let this happen,¡± Leo resolved, feeling a surge of determination that overpowered his fear.

    With a burst of adrenaline, he snatched the dagger from the ground, charged at the assassin, and drove the blade into the assailant¡¯s right thigh.

    The assassin howled in pain, ¡°Aaaa¡­ you bastard!¡±

    In a swift motion fueled by rage, the assassin grabbed Leo by his shirt and hurled him across the room. Leo¡¯s body crashed against the wall with a thud before collapsing onto the bed. Meanwhile, the assassin conjured a shadowy chain that slithered across the floor and bound Frank without a touch, as he slowly advanced towards Leo.

    ¡°If you¡¯re so eager to meet your end, I¡¯ll oblige,¡± the assassin sneered, his presence looming over Leo.

    Panic seized Leo, his breath caught in his throat as death stared him down. But before the final moment could arrive, his surroundings blurred and shifted unexpectedly.

    He was outside, the cool night air a stark contrast to the room¡¯s tension. Liamond stood beside him with an unfazed expression on his face.

    ¡°Mr. Hammart?! What just happened?¡± Leo gasped, bewildered by the sudden change.

    ¡°It¡¯s simple. I swapped your place with Captain Edmond. And please, just Liamond will do,¡± he replied, his tone even.

    Leo¡¯s mind reeled. ¡°But how? And what about Captain Edmond?¡±

    Liamond offered a reassuring smile. ¡°The watch I gave you¡ªit¡¯s enchanted. It¡¯s my way of protecting you when things get dire.¡±

    ¡°And if I had lost it?¡± Leo¡¯s voice was a mix of concern and curiosity.

    ¡°I did advise you to keep it close, didn¡¯t I?¡± Liamond¡¯s eyes twinkled with a hint of mirth.

    Leo¡¯s worry returned. ¡°What about the captain, then?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t fret. Captain Edmond is a B-rank Paladin. An assassin of that level poses no real threat to him.¡±

    ¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­..

    Inside the building, the boy vanished in front of the assassin''s eyes, and a large man wielding a massive sword appeared. The assassin stepped back and looked at the man.

    "Paladins, eyy? So you set a trap for me, but it''s not going to work."

    The shadow on his hand morphed into a dark sword. With a burst of speed, he lunged toward the large Paladin. But before he could close the distance, the Paladin''s sword slashed through the air. The strike was so swift he couldn¡¯t react. Though shielded by a layer of shadow magic meant to repel physical and light-based attacks, the sword cleaved through his defenses and hit his neck. His head separated cleanly, falling as his body slumped to the ground.

    ¡°Don¡¯t waste your time talking in a fight¡±

    ¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­

    Outside, Leo was looking at the window of the house. He couldn¡¯t hear anything. After a while a man came out of the door, it was Edmond.

    ¡°Captain¡±

    "Send a group in to help frank clean up"

    ''Wow, that was quick,'' Leo thought.

    Liamond put his hand on his forehead and closed his eye, He opened his eyes after a few moments. After about 5 minutes of standing there, a group of Paladins and agents arrived, took orders from Edmond, and entered the house. Some of them remain outside and begin patrolling the area, Edmond approached Leo.

    "You are a brave kid, Mantine; thanks to your bravery, we got the assassin."  Edmond stated, a note of respect in his voice.

    "I was just protecting myself and my family."

    "Either way, what you did took guts. It¡¯s not something just anyone could have managed,¡± Edmond replied, his gaze steady on Leo.

    After a moment of silence, he continued, ¡°You¡¯ve got a rare kind of bravery, and that¡¯s something we need. How about joining our team? We could use someone with your spirit.¡±

 Chapter 4: Decision

    ¡°What? You¡¯re saying you want to recruit me?¡±

    ¡°Recruit you?¡± Edmond raised an eyebrow, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. ¡°I¡¯m offering you a chance to join the ranks of the Paladins.¡±

    Leo blinked, his mind racing. The words hung in the air, heavy with implications. His response came out as a hesitant murmur, barely above a whisper.

    ¡°There¡¯s no need to decide this instant. To don the mantle of a Paladin, you¡¯ll have to prove yourself through a trial. But for now, rest. You¡¯ve been through a lot,¡± Edmond advised, his tone gentle yet firm. ¡°If your heart calls you to our cause, meet us at the Paladins Association tomorrow at 9 a.m. Liamond will fill you in on the details.¡±

    With a grateful nod, Leo watched Edmond depart. Moments later, Liamond arrived, and together they stepped into the carriage.

    Liamond¡¯s voice broke the silence. ¡°Have you given any thought to joining our ranks?¡±

    Leo¡¯s reply was noncommittal, his mind still a whirlwind of doubt and possibility.

    ¡°The life of a Paladin is fraught with peril, true, but it¡¯s also filled with adventure and fair compensation,¡± Liamond added, trying to paint a clearer picture of the path ahead.

    Leo hesitated before extending the watch towards Liamond, intending to return it.

    ¡°No, keep it. Consider it a token of gratitude from the church for your service to the nation,¡± Liamond insisted, pushing the watch back into Leo¡¯s hand.

    A puzzled look crossed Leo¡¯s face, prompting Liamond to explain further.

    ¡°I¡¯ve removed all enchantments. The church has no intention of using it to monitor you,¡± he assured.

    Leo¡¯s embarrassment was evident, but Liamond chuckled softly. ¡°There¡¯s no shame in being vigilant. It¡¯s a valuable trait. By the way, are you familiar with the location of the association?¡±

    ¡°No¡± Leo shook his head.

    Liamond took a piece of paper and a pen from his pocket and began sketching a map. After he finished, he began to explain the path he had drawn to Leo.

    "From Ashburn Street, go straight; you will reach the city main square; from there, go right on Bush Street; after about two hundred meters, you will reach a small alley called Light Alley and a large building at the end, The association is located in that structure."

    The carriage eventually came to a halt.

    "I hope to see you tomorrow, Leo."

    Leo nodded and walked away. The carriage then drove away.

    Leo entered his house; it was still dark, and his mother slept on the sofa. Rosie was asleep in her arms. He drew a blanket over them, went into his room and climbed into his bed.

    He undressed and sat down on his bed.

    ''What a day! Let¡¯s go over everything again. To begin with, there are numerous types of magic in this world. Liamond also stated that Edmond is a Paladin rank B, implying that there is a ranking system in place, and the speed which Edmond killed the assassin demonstrates the deference between each rank. Second, how did that assassin know who I was? He claimed to have murdered me and removed my stomach. Wait a second... ¡®

    A knot of anxiety suddenly tightened around his chest as he realized what had really happened.

    ¡¯My stomach was burning when I awoke. Did he truly murder the previous Leo? Maybe whatever brought me here and put me in this body also fixed this body. I need more information and for that I need more power¡¯

    A sudden realization struck Leo, sending a shiver down his spine and causing his hair to stand on end.

    ¡®If he recognized me, that implies he knows where I live. But the observer¡­ it couldn¡¯t have been him; his surprise was genuine. So who has been shadowing me, and what do they want?¡¯

    With his heart racing, Leo forced himself to take slow, deep breaths, attempting to quell the rising tide of panic within him.

    Leo pulled out the watch, its hands pointing to 10:40. The late hour mirrored the lateness of his decision.

    ¡®The offer to join the Paladins is tempting, and such chances are rare. But what if my arrival in this world was orchestrated? If someone has the power to bring me here, they could have arranged this too. Am I reading too much into it? Rejecting the offer might lead to other paths, yet the advantages of acceptance seem to outweigh any negatives. Even if some deity has laid this course before me, they could just as easily set another. But then again, the existence of such beings here is uncertain. With my current abilities, I feel powerless. It¡¯s time to choose.¡¯

    With a sense of resolve, he whispered to himself, ¡°Tomorrow, I¡¯ll head to the Paladin¡¯s Association.¡±

    With that decision made, Leo allowed sleep to claim him, his thoughts settling with the night.

    ¡­

    Leo awoke at six o''clock the next morning. He was concerned about the test, just as he had been with his previous job offers. the toilet was on the first floor; there was no pipeline, so he had to get water from the well outside, which was used by everyone in the neighborhood. There was no line because everyone was still sleeping. He returned home after fetching some water.

    Leo lugged the water jug with a sigh, the weight of it reminding him of a life once lived in comfort. ¡°At least I wasn''t poor in my previous life ¡± he grumbled.

    After splashing his face with water and scrubbing his hands clean, he stepped out to find his mother already awake.

    ¡°Morning, Mom. Did you manage to get some rest?¡± he asked, his voice still thick with sleep.

    ¡°Good morning, dear. What¡¯s got you up and about so early?¡± she replied, her eyes crinkling with concern.

    ¡°I¡¯ve got preparations to make. I¡¯m heading to the Paladins Association today,¡± Leo explained, trying to keep his tone light.

    Lisa¡¯s brow furrowed with worry. ¡°Why? What business do they have with you now?¡±

    A smile broke across Leo¡¯s face. ¡°It¡¯s good news, Mom. They¡¯ve offered me a position. I might just become a paladin.¡±

    Her mother¡¯s mouth opened and closed, words failing her in her astonishment. Leo waited patiently, giving her time to process the revelation.

    ¡°You? A Paladin?¡± she finally managed to utter. ¡°My son, a Paladin?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s the plan,¡± he confirmed with a nod.

    Overcome with emotion, she let out a joyful cry and rushed to embrace him, her sudden movement waking Rosie from her sleep.

    ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± Rosie mumbled, rubbing her eyes.

    ¡°Rosie, your brother is going to be a Paladin¡±

    Rosie¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. ¡°Really?¡±

    Leo couldn¡¯t help but chuckle at their reactions. ¡°Well, there¡¯s still a test I need to pass.¡±

    ¡°I have no doubt you¡¯ll succeed. Let me whip up some breakfast for you,¡± his mother said, already moving towards the kitchen, a tune escaping her lips.

    Leo settled into a chair in the kitchen, catching Rosie¡¯s gaze still fixed on him in awe.

    ¡°Are you really going to be a paladin?¡± she asked, a mix of excitement and curiosity in her voice.

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    ¡°If I pass their test, yes,¡± he replied.

    ¡°Paladins are strong, right?¡±

    ¡°From what I¡¯ve seen, very.¡±

    ¡°And they pay well?¡±

    ¡°I guess I¡¯ll find out.¡±

    Rosie opened her mouth to ask another question, but their mother interjected. ¡°Enough questions for now. He needs to focus on today.¡±

    She placed two plates on the table, each with a perfectly baked egg.

    ¡°Eggs for breakfast?¡± Rosie squealed with delight.

    ¡°You didn¡¯t have to go to all this trouble,¡± Leo said, touched by the gesture.

    ¡°It¡¯s no trouble at all,¡± his mother assured him, her voice warm.

    ¡°And what about you, Mom? Where¡¯s your egg?¡± Rosie asked between bites.

    With a smile, she presented her own plate, joining them in the simple feast.

    Leo began to eat his egg. It was delicious. Her mother used every spice they could get, according to the fragment.

    ''I can no longer fail now.'' Leo was thinking With a smile on his face.

    His mother brought Leo his best cloth after breakfast, and when he was ready, she followed him to the door.

    "Don''t worry about anything; just focus on yourself and do your best, sweetie."

    Leo knew that her mother wanted to tell him not to worry, even if he failed.

    "Ok, mom, I will do my best."

    He then began to walk. After about 5 minutes, he reached the first square, which were connected to Ashburn Street. He checked his watch; it was 8:15 p.m. He followed Liamond''s advice and arrived at the main square after about 25 minutes. He was panting from walking a lot.

    "Wow, Ashburn Street is longer than I thought.¡±

    The Main Square was enormous, and even in his best clothes, it was clear that he was from downtown. The majority of the people here wore long coats and top hats, and some walked with canes. In the center of the square stood a statue of a knight on horseback holding a sword.

    Leo walked straight down Bush Street. The streets were wider here, and there were plenty of carriages. Near each building, there were bronze-colored pipelines. This gave them a lovely appearance. Every 15 meters on each side of the street, there was a tree, making the view even more beautiful.

    Leo arrived at the light alley after about two to three hundred steps. He could see the end of the alley ahead of him. A magnificent structure reminiscent of ancient Rome. A wide portico framed the entryway, with two towering pillars supporting the entablature above. The entrance itself was an impressive ten meters high and five meters wide, with people coming and going beneath the shelter of the portico.

    He entered the association; there were two pillars on the inside; there were doors on both sides of the building that were linked somewhere; the hall was long; and at the end of the hall, there was a statue of a man holding a star in his right hand. A woman sat at the table on the right side, near the entrance. A door stood behind her. Leo went to her.

    "Excuse me, Ms., I am here for a job offer from Mr... Captain Edmond."

    The woman raised her head and turned to face Leo.

    "You have to be Leo Mantine, Please open the door behind me and Go inside."

    She then lowered her head and resumed reading a paper. Leo moved behind her and opened the door. He went inside, and once inside, the door shut behind him. There was nothing but silence here. It was as if this door muffled all outside noises. Leo looked around; a straight, four-meter-wide corridor stretched ahead, so he started down it. At the end of the hall, he reached another entrance. He pushed it open and stepped into a large room.

    A woman sat behind a desk, with a corridor full of doors stretching out to her left and a large window to her right, letting sunlight pour into the room. Between the window and the desk was another entrance. Leo walked up to the table, noting her black hair, dark eyes, bumpy nose, and small lips framed by thin glasses. From the subtle lines on her skin, he guessed she was in her thirties.

    "Excuse me, Ms.¡­"

    "Leo Mantine, born in 453, you¡¯re here for the test, right?" The woman¡¯s voice was calm yet stern, her eyes briefly flicking up from the paperwork on her desk.

    "Yes, ma''am," Leo replied, caught off guard by her directness.

    Without another word, she pulled out a form from a nearby stack and handed it to him. "Here, take this and fill it out over there."

    Leo hesitated as he took the paper from her, glancing at the neatly arranged rows of questions. "Can I ask what this is?" he asked, curiosity mixing with a growing unease.

    "It¡¯s the test, of course," she said matter-of-factly, her tone offering no further explanation.

    ¡°What¡­¡± Leo trailed off as he looked at the form more closely. It was riddled with questions¡ªsome seemingly normal, others bizarre.

    "This is just the first test. We need to confirm that you have basic reading and writing skills. Your score will determine the position we assign you to. After three months of work, you¡¯ll be eligible to take the next test to advance to the level of Paladin."

    "Okay, thank you for the explanation," Leo replied, nodding politely.

    He moved off to the side, found a small sofa in the corner, and sat down with the form. As he skimmed over the first few questions, he raised an eyebrow in disbelief.

    ''Are you serious? This question is simple enough for a child to answer.''

    The test started with basic math, reading comprehension, and writing exercises, with a few general science questions thrown in. The difficulty increased gradually as he worked through the four pages, but none of it posed much of a challenge. Leo breezed through the sections with ease, occasionally glancing around the room.

    Once he had completed the test, he stood up and walked back to the secretary¡¯s desk, handing her the papers. "Here you are, ma''am," he said.

    The secretary looked at him, her expression unreadable, though there was a flicker of surprise in her eyes. It was as if she couldn''t believe how quickly he had finished. She took the papers from him, her fingers lightly brushing over the sheets as she began to examine his answers more closely.

    "Please sit here for a few minutes."

    Leo sat down, took out his watch, and checked the time. It was 9:15 a.m. The secretary was finally finished after about ten minutes.

    "Mr Mantine"

    Leo stood up and walked there.

    "Please get this paper and go to the door on my right."

    Leo took the paper from her and walked to the door. The door unexpectedly opened as he approached.

    "Come in," Edmond called out.

    Leo stepped into the room. It was spacious, with a long wooden table to the left and a towering bookshelf at the far end, crammed with countless books. Sunlight streamed through a large window on the right, casting warm light across the room.

    "Captain Edmond, hello," Leo greeted as he approached.

    "Mantine, I see you decided to come," Edmond said, his voice steady, though his eyes flickered with approval. "And I heard you¡¯ve already taken the test."

    "Yes, sir," Leo replied.

    "Come here, let me take a look." Edmond gestured toward the table in the middle of the room.

    Leo walked over and handed him the completed test papers. Edmond¡¯s brow furrowed slightly as he scanned the pages, his expression growing more focused with each passing moment. Suddenly, his eyebrows shot up, and he let out a short, surprised exclamation. "Highest score?!"

    He turned to face Leo, an impressed yet curious look in his eyes. "Well done, Mantine. Some of these questions were hard to answer. How did you manage it?"

    Leo shrugged modestly. "I like reading," he said simply, as if that explained everything. His casual tone seemed to amuse Edmond, who gave a nod of approval, clearly impressed by both the score and Leo''s unassuming attitude. He then started to write something and eventually handed the paper to Leo.

    "Here, get this and give it to Ms. Lara outside."

    Leo took the paper from Edmond¡¯s hands, a sense of quiet accomplishment settling in. He nodded respectfully and turned to walk toward the door. The room felt lighter now, the tension of the test behind him. His hand grasped the door handle, and just as he was about to step out, Edmond¡¯s voice cut through the silence.

    "Mantine," Edmond called out, his tone carrying a rare warmth. Leo paused, glancing over his shoulder.

    "Welcome to the association."

    "Thank you, sir," Leo said, offering a quick nod before turning and leaving the room.

    After closing the door behind him, he made his way to Ms. Lara.

    "Ms. Lara, Captain Edmond said to give you this," Leo said as he handed her the paper.

    Lara took the form, examining it briefly before stamping it with a practiced motion. She handed it back to him with a curt nod. "The corridor to my left; go straight to the door at the end. Mister Goodwin is waiting for you."

    Leo accepted the paper and turned down the indicated corridor. It was lined with doors on both sides, each one bearing a small brass plaque. As he walked, the first door on his right suddenly swung open. Liamond appeared, looking surprised.

    "Leo?!"

    "Liamond, hello," Leo greeted.

    "Hey, so you decided to come after all! And I can see you¡¯ve already taken the test," Liamond said with a smile.

    "Um, yes," Leo replied, somewhat awkwardly.

    "So? What was the outcome? Did you make it?" Liamond asked eagerly.

    "Yes," Leo nodded, "I¡¯m heading to Mr. Goodwin now."

    "Nice! Well, I won¡¯t hold you up. See you around, Leo."

    "See you," Leo replied, nodding before continuing down the corridor.

    It wasn¡¯t a long walk, and soon he found himself at the last door. He knocked softly, his hand slightly hesitant against the wood.

    "It''s open," came a gruff voice from the other side.

    Leo took a deep breath and pushed the door open, stepping inside to meet Mr. Goodwin. This room felt like a storage room; there were numerous closets with a large old table in the center. A man, likely Mr. Goodwin, stood behind the desk, focused on a device in his hands. His skin was a deep, rich brown, his large nose and full lips giving his face a distinct, commanding presence. He was bald, with sharp brown eyes that seemed to take in everything around him.

    "Hello, Mr. Goodwin? Ms. Lara instructed me to bring this paper here."

    "Hi, please call me Peter," he replied with a friendly smile, looking up from his work.

    ¡°Okay, what about Mr. Peter?¡± Leo asked.

    ¡°That¡¯s good too,¡± Peter chuckled, glancing down at the paper Leo handed him.

    Leo watched as Peter began reading it, his brow furrowing slightly in concentration. The atmosphere in the room felt relaxed, yet Leo could sense the underlying seriousness of the task at hand.

    "Wow, top score, and you''re still so young. Okay Leo, there are a lot of things we need to get done. You will work in the library for the time being; you will also need to read a lot of books if you want to become a paladin; your salary is six gold coins per month for the time being, of which you will take half of it right now because this is your first month; and you will also receive four gold coins for what you did yesterday. I recommend that you spend them on new clothes. A paladin should dress properly because we are the church''s public face."

    ¡°There¡¯s no reason for embarrassment. At fourteen, you¡¯re on the path to becoming a Paladin. That¡¯s an achievement to hold high,¡± Peter encouraged, his voice firm and reassuring.

    Leo¡¯s internal monologue betrayed his newfound self-consciousness. ¡®''I wasn''t embarrassed before, but I am now. And wait, I¡¯m fourteen? I need to keep track of the dates here,¡¯ he pondered, a frown creasing his brow.

    ¡°Thank you, Mr. Peter. I appreciate it,¡± Leo responded.

    Peter¡¯s response came with a supportive clap on the back. ¡°You¡¯re welcome. first you need to take a shower.¡±

 Chapter 5: Paladin Association

    "First, you need to take a shower," Peter said.

    Leo stared at him, unsure how to respond. Peter began to walk towards another door hidden behind the closets.

    "Come with me."

    Leo began to follow. There were a lot of closets in the next room, and there were six doors at the end of the room.

    "Go into one of them and take a shower; all of the things you need are in there, and I also put some new clothes for you in closet number four; put them on when you are done."

    Peter then left. Leo paused for a moment before walking to one of the doors. Inside, there was a soup and a shower with a bronze-like pipeline. There was only a single water faucet. Leo turned the water faucet, and warm water began to flow on him.

    ''He''s certainly honest, and I have no idea how much six gold coins are worth. Aside from that, he stated that I''m going to work in the library; that''s ideal; I should read as much as I can while I''m there."

    When Leo came out from the shower, he saw a clean towel, a normal white shirt, and black pants. He dried himself with the towel and put on the new cloth before going in front of the mirror to examine himself.

    "Not bad; my hair is a little long; maybe I should go to a barber."

    His hair was partially covering his eyes. He reached into his hair, straightening it slightly. He went outside once he was satisfied with his appearance. Peter was standing nearby.

    "You look good."

    "Thank you very much, What''s next, Mr. Peter?"

    "Let me show you around."

    They exited the room and returned to the corridor. Peter began explaining while they were walking.

    ¡°Okay, the first door on the left leads to another entrance for the association. We often use this door because the main entrance gets crowded. Feel free to use it too. When you¡¯re in the light alley, avoid the main door; there¡¯s a small door on the right side that connects to the yard. You can use that when you get your identification card.

    The staff will come through here and change in the room we were just in, and your locker number is four.

    Now, the next door on the right is the library, which we¡¯ll visit shortly. But first, let¡¯s check out the rest of the place. The next door on the left leads to the living room, which also serves as the kitchen.¡±

    They entered after Peter opened the door.

    "O Leo, Peter?!"

    "Hey Li, I''m showing Leo around here."

    The room was divided into two sections: the living room, which had one sofa and three chairs with a table in the middle, and a bedroom. Leo took a look at the table. On the table, there were cards and an ashtray.

    ''It''s really a living room.''

    The second section was the kitchen, which had a few cabinets, a sink, a stove, and a strange-looking device that Liamond was using, which Leo assumed was some kind of coffee maker.

    Liamond poured a cup of coffee and sat on the sofa while they were looking around. He turned to face Leo and Peter.

    "Want to play a hand of cards?"

    "No, we still need some places to be."

    They then returned to the corridor.

    "Ok, that was the living room; next door is the great hall."

    Peter opened the door to the final room, which was ten times the size of Leo''s house. There was a set of furniture next to the left wall; the middle of the hall was almost empty; there was some training equipment, such as a wooden sword and shield; and there was some other stuff about which Leo had no idea. There was a door on the other side of the hall. There were three people in the room. Two men and one woman were there, Leo recognized one of them; it was frank.

    "Let me introduce you, Leo. Mr. Albert Cardaye is our rank E+ warrior slash paladin, Ms. Wina Ewer is our rank E mage, and Mr. Frank Rove is our rank E- paladin, Everyone, this is our new colleague, Leo Mantine."

    Albert, who held the highest rank among them, stepped forward. Leo was unable to even reach his shoulder. He was the same height as Frank.

    "Nice to meet you, Leo." He extended his hand.

    Leo extended his hand to shake.

    "Nice to meet you too."

    "Leo is going to work in the library; he got the highest score," said Peter.

    "Is that true? Then I recommend, you become a mage." Wina, the purple-haired woman with yellow eyes, stated. She had a small nose and pouty lips as well.

    ''She is also not my type, but she is beautiful overall.'' Leo pondered.

    "What exactly do you mean by ''then''? Do you think we Paladins and warriors are stupid?" .

    "Well, it looks like you¡¯re smarter than I thought; you clearly understand what I meant," Wina replied, a hint of amusement in her voice.

    "Hey¡­" Albert started. Frank, watching the commotion unfold, stepped in, trying to mediate the situation. Meanwhile, Leo turned to face Peter, a mix of concern and exasperation on his face.

    "Don''t worry, they''re always like this," Peter said with a resigned smile. "All right, let¡¯s head to the library. See you later, guys."

    As Wina and Albert continued their debate, they turned around only to find that Leo and Peter had already slipped away.

    "Let¡¯s go to the library," Peter suggested, leading the way down the corridor.

    Peter pulled a key from his pocket and unlocked the library door. When they entered, Leo began to look around. This room was as large as the Great Hall. There was a large window on the end of it that let the sun light in, creating a well-lit study area in the center of the room, where the chairs and tables were. There were bookshelves all around the hall, and they were all full of books.

    Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

    ''There are over a thousand books here.''

    A chair and table facing the window were on the other side of the hall. It was the office of the library manager.

    "Okay, this is where you work; there are many things for you to do here, such as cleaning the shelves and reorganizing the books, Tomorrow, Mr. Haider will explain it to you."

    "Mr Haider?"

    "He is your college, Mr. Samuel Haider. Let''s return to the management room for the time being."

    When they returned to the first room, Peter pulled a crystal from one of the closets, its surface gleaming in the light.

    "Let''s test your stats now," he announced, holding it up.

    "What do you mean by stats?" Leo asked, furrowing his brow.

    "For your identification card," Peter explained. "First, I need to get your mana score. After that, you¡¯ll go to Ms. Faleria Rave, who will assess your physical condition. Just so you know, she¡¯s our trainer."

    He placed the crystal carefully on the table. "Okay, now put your hand on this crystal."

    Leo nodded and placed his hand on the cool surface. A moment later, the crystal began to glow, pulsing softly with light.

    "Okay, good," Peter said, watching intently.

    Once Leo removed his hand, Peter picked up the crystal and examined it closely. A number shimmered in a faint color on its surface.

    "Ninety-eight. Not bad at all," he remarked, a note of approval in his voice. Leo felt a rush of pride at the score, wondering what it meant.

    He returned the crystal to the closet and began writing. After a while, he returns his gaze to Leo.

    "Now let me explain to you how ranking systems work."

    Leo concentrated.

    "The ranking system is from G to S, and from G to E; It begins with G and progresses to F, F plus, E minus, E, and E plus."

    He then brought a notebook and a pen, which he gave to Leo.

    "Take note, ok, where was I? Yes, rank G and F are based solely on your mana and physical condition. In rank G, you are a soldier if your mana is between fifty and one hundred and your physical state is between forty and eighty; in rank F, you are a fighter if your mana is between one hundred and one hundred fifty and your physical state is between eighty and one hundred thirty. To advance to rank E, you must first decide whether you want to be a mage, a warrior, an enchanter, an alchemist, or a paladin. you can also choose up to three, which make your work harder.¡±

    "What about after E?"

    "After E, it becomes a little harder; for rank D, the sum of your mana and physical state must be at least five hundred; you also need to have enough base knowledge of everything, expertise in the field you choose in rank E, and also more than two skills or spells."

    "What are skills and spells?"

    "Do not rush; you will learn all of this soon, but we still have more important things to do, Let us now discuss your daily tasks."

    Although Leo was curious a lot, he decided not to ask further questions.

    "Ok¡­"

    "From Saturday to Thursday, you come here six days a week. You''ll be training with Faleria from nine to twelve."

    "Training?" Leo was not surprised.

    "Of course, you should learn how to fight; even if you''re going to be a librarian forever, you should learn the fundamentals of fighting, From twelve to four o''clock, you will be in the library, where Mr. Haider will tell you what to do. You must now see Faleria about your physical state. She''s in the room at the back of the yard."

    Leo went to the door and pushed it open. He turned around before leaving.

    "Mr. Peter, what rank is Liamond?!"

    ¡°He is a rank D Priest¡±

    ¡°D¡­?!¡±

    "Yeah, he is a genius; he is only twenty-four years old and already a rank D."

    "Is it that hard to rank up?"

    "Of course, for example, Albert is E plus, but he is 34."

    He then proudly raised his head.

    "By the way, I am rank E plus too, an enchanter."

    ¡°How old are you?¡±

    ¡°I am 33¡± Peter said proudly.

    ¡®You are only one year younger than Albert.¡® Leo decided not to express what he was thinking aloud.

    ¡°What about Ms. Rave?¡±

    Peter''s expression changed to fear.

    "Faleria?¡­ She is a B-rank Paladin."

    "B?!" Leo said, surprised.

    "Yes¡­"

    He paused for a moment, then whispered, as if he was afraid someone would hear him.

    "No matter what you do, never say anything about her age, And when you''re finished, come back here."

    Leo swallowed hard, pivoting to exit the room before pushing open the door leading to the expansive yard. The sprawling grounds stretched before him, culminating in a sizable structure at the far end. Leo strode along the path, flanked by verdant trees and blooming flowers that formed a picturesque walkway. Reaching the building, he found its entrance¡ªa sliding door¡ªalready ajar. Stepping inside, Leo was greeted by an interior reminiscent of the traditional Japanese training rooms depicted in countless anime. In the center of the room, a woman knelt with her eyes closed in serene meditation.

    ''Is she doing yoga or something?''

    Leo waited on the sidelines. He couldn''t stop himself from staring at Faleria while he waited. She possessed long black hair, a muscular body, a small nose, and stunning lips.

    "You always stare while you are waiting?"

    Leo jumped up.

    "I am sorry."

    Faleria blinked her eyes open. Her eyes were large and black.

    "Don''t worry, all men are the same."

    Leo was embarrassed.

    She rose to her full height, nearly matching Captain Edmond¡¯s imposing stature. Her figure was athletic, with lean muscles visible under her smooth skin. She wore a sleeveless white dress that clung to her form, showcasing her toned arms and shoulders. Leo struggled to keep his eyes from lingering too long.

    Faleria glanced at him with a direct, almost clinical gaze. ¡°Alright, kid, strip down.¡±

    Leo blinked, caught off guard. ¡°Excuse me?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re here for a physical assessment, aren¡¯t you? I need to see what I¡¯m working with. So, clothes off.¡± Her tone was matter-of-fact, leaving no room for argument.

    Reluctantly, Leo tugged his shirt over his head, feeling a wave of self-consciousness. He spotted a hanger on the wall and draped the shirt over it, his movements stiff and awkward.

    ¡°Pants too,¡± she instructed, barely glancing up as she readied some equipment on a nearby table.

    After a hesitant pause, he unbuckled his belt and stepped out of his pants, hanging them beside his shirt. His heart pounded as he stood in his underwear, feeling more exposed than ever.

    ¡°Let¡¯s get started.¡± Faleria moved closer, her eyes methodically scanning him from head to toe. She reached out, her hands lightly probing his arms and shoulders, checking the firmness of his muscles.

    ¡°Hmm. You¡¯re underweight,¡± she murmured, more to herself than to him. ¡°Muscle development is poor.¡± She continued her examination, her brow furrowed in concentration as she traced her hands over his torso and legs.

    Leo¡¯s face burned with embarrassment. ¡®How long is this going to take?¡¯ he wondered, desperately trying to focus on anything other than the situation he was in.

    He remembered Peter¡¯s advice: Don¡¯t mention her age, no matter what. But standing this close, he couldn¡¯t help but think she looked no older than her mid-twenties, her skin smooth and unlined.

    ¡°Okay, kid,¡± she said suddenly, breaking his thoughts, ¡°now hit me.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Leo stared at her, sure he¡¯d misheard.

    "Do you like the word ''what''?; I said, punch me in the stomach, and with all of your power" Faleria said solemnly.

    Leo understands that delaying will be dangerous. He struck her as hard as he could with a pose he learned in his previous life''s self-defense class. Faleria didn''t move an inch, but Leo''s hand began to hurt.

    "Was that all your power?"

    "Yes!?"

    "Despite your good posture, you are truly weak. We have a lot of training ahead of us."

    She then took a piece of paper and began writing.

    "Bring it back to Peter, and don''t forget your cloth."

    Leo went to the hanger and began putting on his clothes. When he was finished, he looked at Faleria and asked, hesitantly.

    ¡°Excuse me, Ms. Rave, can you tell me what my status is?¡± Leo asked cautiously.

    Faleria looked up from her notes. ¡°Has Peter already explained the ranking system to you? Your physical condition score is a fifteen.¡±

    Leo¡¯s stomach sank. Not even a G rank? He clenched his fists, trying to hide his disappointment.

    ¡°Right. Thank you,¡± he muttered, turning to leave.

    ¡°Hey, kid, hold on,¡± Faleria called after him.

    He stopped and glanced back at her, curious and a little wary.

    ¡°Make sure you¡¯re eating properly¡ªmeat, vegetables, the whole deal. Your body needs it. You¡¯ve received half your payment already, haven¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am.¡±

    ¡°Good. Use it wisely. If you don¡¯t start building yourself up, you¡¯re going to break during training.¡±

    Break? Leo¡¯s eyes widened, but he nodded, swallowing his apprehension. ¡°I¡¯ll take care of it,¡± he said, forcing a small smile before heading out.

    When Leo went back to peter, he recounted everything, from the humiliating physical exam to Faleria¡¯s blunt advice. Peter listened carefully, after Leo was done, he start to laugh.

    "Hahahah¡­ , as expected from Faleria, and your score is fifteen; you are weak even for a nearly fifteen-year-old kid.¡±

    Leo scowled.

    "I am sorry, I am sorry, but don''t worry, you still have three months, and your identification card will be ready tomorrow."

    "What''s the next step?"

    Peter took a deep breath and answered when he was calm.

    "Next, you need to go to Elegant."

 Chapter 6: New life

    ¡°What is elegant?¡±

    "It¡¯s a boutique known for its fine attire,¡± Peter explained, handing Leo a neatly folded piece of parchment. ¡°Take this list to the store, present it to the manager, and they¡¯ll provide you with all the garments specified. Additionally, you should look for accommodations on Ashburn Street; it¡¯s lined with houses available for rent.¡±

    Leo weighed the purse in his hand, feeling the heft of the seven gold coins inside. ¡°Is this enough to cover both the clothes and a rental?¡±

    Peter chuckled. ¡°Absolutely. you got the highest score; how do you not know that?¡±

    Leo''s face was expressionless. When Peter received no response, he continued.

    "Your clothes would be near 1 gold and 30 silver; you can get all the food you need with the other 70 silver you have; and you can rent a good house with 3 gold coins for a month, so after all of this, you still have 2 gold coins left, and at the end of the month, you get another 3 gold coins."

    "Where is the clothing store?"

    "It''s in the middle of the bush street; just keep walking, and when you see a big clothing store, that''s elegant."

    Leo paused for a moment before asking. "Mr. Peter, is there anything that I should know about the renting process?"

    Peter¡¯s eyebrow arched, a mix of curiosity and amusement in his gaze.

    ¡°Your caution is commendable. Are you certain you¡¯re only fourteen?¡± he inquired, his tone light yet probing.

    Leo offered a small, knowing smile. ¡°I am the only man in my family.¡±

    Peter gave a nod of understanding. ¡°That explains it,¡± he conceded.

    After a brief moment of contemplation, Peter¡¯s eyes snapped open, locking onto Leo with renewed focus. ¡°There¡¯s no mystery to it. Always be sure to read anything before you sign it. And here, take this,¡± he said, extending a card he had retrieved from a drawer.

    Leo turned the card over in his hands, examining it closely. ¡°What¡¯s this for?¡± he asked, his curiosity piqued.

    ¡°It¡¯s a temporary identification card, proof of your Paladin status. With this, you¡¯ll be treated with the respect due to a member of our order,¡± Peter clarified, ensuring Leo understood the significance of the card.

    ¡°Thank you,¡± Leo said.

    ¡°You¡¯re welcome. Now, off you go. There¡¯s much to be done,¡± Peter encouraged, with a gesture towards the door.

    ¡°Thank you very much, Mr. Peter. I¡¯ll see you tomorrow,¡± Leo replied, his voice carrying a newfound confidence.

    ¡°Until tomorrow, then,¡± Peter nodded.

    Leo turned on his heel and made his way back to the bustling main hall. Approaching Lara¡¯s desk, ¡°Ms. Lara, is the captain in his office??¡±

    Lara looked up from her paperwork, shaking her head. ¡°No, he¡¯s just stepped out.¡±

    ¡°Alright, thank you. Have a good day, Ms. Lara

    ¡°Wishing you the same,¡± she responded, returning to her tasks.

    Leo went back the way he came; the main door of the building was still crowded. People were no longer avoiding him because he was filthy.

    ''Walking was easier when I was still dirty.''

    He walked back to the bush street. When he saw the main square, he turned and began walking in the opposite direction. After a brisk ten-minute walk, he reached the clothing store adorned with a bold ''Elegant'' sign. Stepping through the entrance, he was greeted by the expansive interior, filled with racks of stylish attire. The bustling crowd spoke volumes about the shop''s renowned reputation. As he browsed, a well-dressed man in a sleek black suit approached him with a friendly smile.

    "How can I help you, young man?"

    Leo gave the man a brief glance before pulling out the list that Peter had given him. He looked at the list, then returned his gaze to Leo, surprised.

    "Mr. Mantine, please come with me."

    Leo began to follow the man. They made their way to the back of the store. The man in the suite approached another man and began speaking with him before returning to Leo with the list.

    "Mister Mantine, our tailor will be here to get your size in no time; please feel free to sit over there while you are waiting."

    "Ok, thank you."

    Leo went to where the man had indicated, found a seat, and sat. After about two minutes, a short, fat man appeared, holding a sewing meter. He was sweating, as if he was rushing to get here.

    ¡°Sorry to keep you waiting,¡± the tailor said, glancing up. ¡°Could you come over here and stand on this stool?¡±

    Leo got up and stepped onto the stool. The tailor wasted no time, quickly pulling out a measuring tape and taking precise measurements of Leo¡¯s arms, chest, and legs. The only sound in the room was the soft slide of the tape as he worked. After about ten minutes, the tailor stepped back.

    ¡°We¡¯re done here,¡± he said, addressing a man in the suit standing nearby. The man nodded and approached Leo.

    ¡°Mr. Mantine, please follow me to the waiting room,¡± he said with a firm but polite tone.

    Leo began following him again. They returned to the store, and the man led Leo to a room on the corner with sofas and tables.

    ¡°Your order will be ready soon. In the meantime, can I bring you anything? Perhaps a glass of wine?¡± the man asked, a polite smile on his face.

    Leo¡¯s mouth twitched slightly, but he shook his head. ¡°No, just water, please.¡±

    ¡°As you wish,¡± the man replied, giving a small nod before walking away.

    A couple of minutes later, he returned with a glass of water, setting it carefully on the table. ¡°Here you are, sir.¡±

    ¡°Thank you,¡± Leo said, giving a brief nod in return.

    Leo reached for the glass of water with his right hand and got out his watch with his other hand. It was 2:30 p.m., and his stomach grumbled. He didn''t have anything from this morning.

    ''I''m hungry; perhaps I should go somewhere to eat? No, I still have a lot of work ahead of me.''

    Leo turned to face the man in the suite.

    "Ahem, sir, do you know where I can find an agency for renting a house in Ashburn Street?"

    The man paused for a few seconds before responding.

    "An agency is located in Main Square, between Bush Street and Main Street¡±

    He paused for a few second and then asked with concern.

    ¡°Do you want to rent a house on Ashburn Street, sir?"

    Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

    "Yes, is there a problem?"

    "Well, I heard that there is a mass murderer there who killed a lot of kids recently, but of course, for a Paladin, that may not be a problem." The man answered, his gaze darting.

    Before Leo could respond, another man with a suit entered.

    "Mr. Mantine, Fortunately, the clothe in your size was available and does not require sewing; please come with me to the dressing room."

    Leo stood up and followed the man into a room divided by a thick curtain. On one side, a full-length mirror reflected the faint light in the room. He began dressing in the new clothes laid out for him: a long black open-front coat with two interior pockets on each side, tailored black pants, a crisp white shirt, and sleek black formal shoes that clicked softly against the floor as he moved. A sturdy belt, equipped with small pouches for personal items and a loop for his sword, completed the outfit.

    Once fully dressed, Leo stepped in front of the mirror. He took a moment to take in his reflection.

    ¡®Wow, I look really cool,¡¯ he thought, feeling a surge of confidence at his transformed appearance.

    He didn''t change his clothes and went out in them. He took a look at the man.

    "I leave like this."

    "As you wish, sir, shall we go for payment?" said the man, a big smile on his face.

    Leo nodded and began to follow the man. They approached a desk, where a woman sat.

    "Here you are, Mister Mantine."

    The women gave Leo the bill, which was sixty silver coins for the coat, thirty for the pants, twenty for the shirt, twenty for the shoes, and ten for the belt. he had to pay one gold coin and forty silver coins in total. He didn''t have any silver, so he gave the women two gold coins from his pocket.

    "Thank you, sir."

    With a smile on her face, the woman begins to pick up some silver coins.

    "Here you are, Mr. Mantine."

    Leo took the coins from the women; they were six silver coins, each bearing the number ten.

    "Thank you"

    Leo was escorted to the door by the man in the suite. He went straight to the main square after exiting. He saw a confectionery in the middle of the road and stopped to buy a normal loaf of bread for five bronze silvers.

    ''The bread cost five bronze coins, and she returned nine silver and five bronze coins, so every ten bronze coins is one silver coin, and every hundred silver coins is one gold coin.'' He was thinking while eating his bread.

    He arrived at the agency in the main square after ten minutes, cleaned his hands from the bread crumbs, and went inside.

    There was a desk in front of him in the building. He walked over to it. Behind the desk was a man with his head down on some papers.

    "Excuse me, sir, I am here to rent a house on Ashburn Street."

    The man raised his head and turned to face Leo and smirked,

    "Sir, you need to at least be twenty years old."

    Leo locked his gaze on him for a moment before pulling his identification card from his pocket and handing it to the man. The man turned white when he saw the card. He rose and bowed.

    "I apologize, sir. Please take a seat and relax. I''m going to contact our top agent."

    The man left before Leo could say anything. Leo examined the card in his hand.

    "What kind of card did you give me, Mr. Peter?"

    He was picturing Peter''s face laughing when another man appeared out of nowhere.

    "Mr. Mantine, I heard you were looking for a house to rent on Ashburn Street; you''ve come to the right place, Please, let''s go sit over there," the agent said with a smile.

    Leo nodded and began to follow the man. They took a seat at a table. He extended his hand and shook Leo''s.

    "My name is Golzes Duv, and I''d like to apologize for my colleague''s behavior," the agent said, making a fake sorry face.

    Leo''s face was calm, and he smiled and said, "Don''t worry about it."

    "Ok, if you say so, now can you please explain what kind of house you are looking for?"

    "A normal-sized house with three bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen, and a restroom"

    "Hmm¡­ Let me double-check."

    Golzes began to examine a few papers in his hand before returning his gaze to Leo.

    "We have three; all three have the features you mentioned; the first one is in the middle of Ashburn Street; it''s a little old and doesn''t come with any furniture; the rent for this one is 1 gold and 50 silver; the second one is three houses away from the first one; it''s a lot better than the first one; it''s not old and also comes with full furniture; you can rent this one for 1 gold and 60 silver."

    "You said it''s a lot better. Why is the rent between the two so close?" Leo asked, raising an eyebrow.

    Golzes¡¯s brow furrowed slightly as he considered the question. ¡°Well, it¡¯s tucked away in a narrow alley. That lowers the price a bit.¡±

    Leo nodded thoughtfully. ¡°What about the third one?¡±

    ¡°The third one¡¯s near the main square,¡± Golze explained, his tone shifting. ¡°It¡¯s new, fully furnished, and you can rent it for 2 gold and 50 silver.¡±

    ¡°Can I take a look at that one?¡± Leo asked.

    Golzes¡¯s lips curled into a peculiar smile. ¡°Of course.¡±

    He rose from his seat and gestured toward the door. ¡°Shall we?¡±

    Leo began to follow Golzes. They were on Ashburn Street in less than five minutes. The house was right next to the road. It was a three-story residence. The second floor bell was rung by the agent. After a while, the door was opened by a very short, fat woman. She was up to Leo''s shoulders.

    "Mr. Duv, hello."

    "Good day, Ms. Fodoln; this is Mr. Leo Mantine, a Paladin, Mr. Mantine This is Mis Belgilia Fodoln."

    Belgilia turned to face Leo.

    "A paladin? Aren''t you too young to be a paladin? And it appears that this is your first encounter with a dwarf."

    Leo was staring at her. Sweat begins to drip from Golzes''s brow. "Ms. Fodoln..."

    Leo moved forward and interrupted Golzes. He bowed slightly and placed one hand on his chest.

    "Ms. Fodoln, I apologize for any misbehavior; I assure you that was not my intention, And you are entirely correct; I am far too young to be a Paladin, but God has blessed me with his light."

    Golze''s mouth dropped open.

    Belgilia plastered a smile on her face. "Such a gentleman, as expected from a Paladin."

    Leo smiled as he raised his head. "You flatter me, Ms." .

    "Call me Belgilia; come on, let me show you the building."

    After Belgilia''s statement, she pivoted on her heels and strode away. Golzes grabbed Leo''s shoulder and stopped him from following her. Leo turned around.

    "Is there something wrong, Mr. Duv?"

    "How did you do that? You are the first person who could handle Ms. Fodoln like that," Golzes said quietly.

    "I have experience with women," Leo said with a smile. He then turned around and began walking.

    Golze''s mouth dropped open again, and he stood there for a moment, deep in thought.

    The apartment was on the first floor. While Leo was walking behind Belgilia, she started explaining.

    "There is furniture in the living room; the kitchen is connected to the living hall; as you can see, there are many cabinets, a stove, a sink, and a cooling box."

    Leo had no idea what Belgilia was on about, but he tried not to show it. They entered the rooms one at a time.

    "All the rooms have one bed and a dresser."

    They went into the restroom after they had checked every room.

    ¡°Restroom and bathroom are together and as you can see it is connected to pipeline system so you have water here and also in the kitchen¡¯s sink¡±

    They went back into the living room.

    ¡°The pipeline of each floor is separated so you pay your own bill for water, o before I forget, I also put some dishes in the cabinets.¡±

    Golzes looked at Leo.

    ¡°Well Mr Mantine, what do you think?¡±

    while he already decided, Leo pretended that he was thinking. After a few minutes of looking around he finally answered.

    ¡°I think it¡¯s great, let¡¯s sign the contract.¡±

    Golzes grinned. "You just need to sign here, and we will do all the work for you."

    Leo took the paper from him and began reading. He signed the contract and looked at Belgilia when he was finished.

    "When can I move in, Ms. Fodoln?"

    "You can move in right away."

    She pulled out a key and handed it to Leo. Leo''s lips formed a smile.

    "That''s great; then I go bring my family."

    "Mr Mantine, Can you come to the agency tomorrow to finish the contract?"

    "Sure, I''ll be there at five in the evening."

    Leo then said his goodbyes to both of them and left. He first went to the grocery store and butcher shop to purchase a few items, then returned to his new home to place them.

    ''All right, let''s take a look at this cooling box.''

    He opened the strange cabinet, which Belgilia referred to as a cooling box. It looked like a regular cabinet with a strange blue circle at the bottom. It also had a gem on its left. When Leo touches the gem, the circle inside the box begins to glow and cold air begins to flow out of it. Leo¡¯s eyes sparked with excitement.

    ¡®It¡¯s a magic freezer¡¯

    He went outside after putting his purchases in the box. With a firm push, he closed the door behind him and made his way back to the place he still called home. The familiar streets passed by in a blur, and before he knew it, twenty minutes had elapsed, and he was pushing open the front door.

    ¡°Hi, Mom, I¡¯m back,¡± he announced, his voice echoing slightly in the quiet of the house.

    At the sound of his voice, his mother spun around, her hands full of dishware. The surprise on her face was so profound that a plate slipped from her grasp, shattering on the floor.

    ¡°Leo?! Is that really you?¡± she gasped, her eyes wide with disbelief.

    In his haste to return, Leo had forgotten about the fine new clothes he was wearing.

    ¡°Yes, Mom, it¡¯s me,¡± he reassured her, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

    Despite his cautionary words, ¡°Mom, be careful,¡± she paid him no heed, her feet carrying her forward as if pulled by an invisible string. Words failed her, and instead, tears began to glisten in her eyes, a silent testament to the swell of emotions within her as she drew closer to her son.

    "I''m currently working for the Paladin Association, but it''s not over, I need you to follow me, I want to show you something."

    She responded after she had calmed down a little.

    "Where?"

    "Call Rosie; it''s a surprise."

    His mother went into her room, and after ten minutes, they came out and prepared to leave. Rosie froze when she saw Leo.

    "Leo, is that really you?"

    "Yes, it is me, and I am going to buy you new clothes too."

    "Really?!!" Rosie screamed with excitement.

    "Of course, but first come with me."

    They left the house, Leo leading the way as his mother followed close behind. As they walked down Ashburn Street, Leo noticed the concern etched on her face, her brow furrowed and her movements hesitant. The familiar sights of the neighborhood passed by, but her unease remained.

    Eventually, they arrived at a modest building. Leo reached into his pocket, pulled out a key, and unlocked the door. The hinges creaked slightly as they stepped inside, the air still carrying the scent of fresh wood and paint.

    Standing in the living room, his mother looked around, doubt clouding her expression. Her eyes landed on Leo. ¡°Sweetie, what is this place?¡±

    Leo¡¯s lips curved into a reassuring smile. ¡°This is our new home.¡±

 Chapter 7: Library

    Rosie¡¯s enthusiasm was infectious as she darted from room to room, her laughter echoing through the spacious new house. ¡°There are three rooms! Can I really have one all to myself?¡± she asked, her voice brimming with hope.

    Leo nodded, his heart warmed by her joy. ¡°Of course, you can,¡± he assured her.

    Her eyes alight with possibility, Rosie paused, considering her options. ¡°Which one is mine?¡±

    ¡°Whichever one you like best,¡± Leo replied, gesturing expansively.

    With a squeal of delight, Rosie scampered off to make her choice, her small feet pattering against the wooden floors.

    Turning to his mother, Leo noticed her stillness, a stark contrast to Rosie¡¯s exuberance. ¡°Mom, are you alright?¡± he asked gently.

    His mother¡¯s eyes were filled with a mix of wonder and worry. ¡°Can we really afford this place, Sweetie? It seems so¡­ lavish for us,¡± she said, voicing her concerns.

    Leo took a deep breath before explaining. ¡°Actually, it¡¯s by order of the association,¡± he began. ¡°They insisted that as a Paladin, it¡¯s important for me to reside in a place that reflects the church¡¯s stature.¡±

    The revelation brought tears to his mother¡¯s eyes, though she quickly turned away, attempting to hide her emotions from Leo. When she faced him again, her smile was back in place, albeit tinged with a hint of sadness Leo couldn¡¯t quite understand.

    As he watched his mother begin to explore their new home, Leo couldn¡¯t help but reflect on his past life. ¡®If only I could have brought this much happiness to my parents in my previous world,¡¯ he thought wistfully.

    Eventually, the excitement of the day caught up with them, and they all gathered in the living room, their faces flushed from the flurry of activity and their hearts full of new beginnings.

    ¡­

    "Ok, me and Rosie will go get our stuff; in the mean time, you cook something delicious for us, mom."

    "But I don''t have anything here."

    Leo pointed at the cooling box.

    "That over there is a cooling box; I bought a few things and put them in there; there are also some dishes in the cabinets."

    Lisa rose and walked over to the cooling box. She was surprised when she opened it. She fixed her gaze on Leo.

    "Sweetie, there is a lot of stuff here; did you buy all of it?"

    "Yes, don''t worry; use all of them if you want."

    "OK, then you go; I will make dinner."

    She began searching in cabinets for the tools she required, while Leo and Rosie left.

    Lisa removed the meat and vegetables from the cooling box.

    "Potatoes, tomatoes, and¡­ beef?!"

    She brought the pot and other items, such as a knife and grater, and began to wash them. Her eyes welled up as she was preparing the food.

    "Don''t cry, Lisa; God is finally looking at us; I have to be grateful."

    Lisa rinsed her face, feeling the cool water wash away the fatigue of the day. She set the pot on the stove, its contents ready to simmer, and was about to go to the living room for a well-deserved rest when the doorbell¡¯s chime interrupted her thoughts.

    ¡®Could they be back already?¡¯ she wondered, drying her hands on a towel as she made her way to the door.

    With a gentle push, the door swung open to reveal a dwarf woman. ¡°Can I help you?¡± Lisa inquired, her tone polite yet cautious.

    The woman¡¯s eyes crinkled with warmth. ¡°You must be Leo¡¯s mother? I¡¯m Belgilia Fodoln, your landlord. Didn¡¯t Leo mention me?¡± she asked.

    Lisa offered a slight bow. ¡°A pleasure to meet you, I¡¯m Lisa Mantine. My apologies; it seems Leo was so eager to surprise us that he forgot,¡± she explained with an apologetic smile.

    Belgilia waved off the apology. ¡°No need for that. I just wanted to ensure everything was fine,¡± she said.

    ¡°Everything is more than fine, thank you, Ms. Fodoln,¡± Lisa assured her.

    ¡°Oh, please, just call me Belgilia,¡± the landlord insisted with a friendly nod.

    ¡°Very well, Belgilia,¡± Lisa agreed, her smile growing genuine.

    Belgilia¡¯s next words caught Lisa off guard. ¡°By the way, you¡¯ve done a remarkable job with Leo; he¡¯s quite the gentleman.¡±

    Surprise and pride mingled on Lisa¡¯s face as she processed the compliment. ¡°Thank you,¡± she managed, touched by the praise.

    Their conversation was pleasantly interrupted as Leo and Rosie returned.

    "O Ms. Fodoln!?"

    "Leo, sweetie, why didn''t you tell me about our landlord, Belgilia?"

    Leo¡¯s cheeks flushed with embarrassment as his mother questioned him about Belgilia. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I must have forgotten,¡± he admitted.

    Rosie, ever curious and oblivious to the subtleties of adult conversation, piped up with a question of her own while nibbling on a piece of candy. ¡°Who¡¯s she?¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s our landlord, Ms. Belgilia Fodoln. say hello,¡± Leo instructed gently.

    With an innocent bow, Rosie greeted her. ¡°Hello, Ms. Fodoln.¡±

    Belgilia¡¯s eyes twinkled with amusement at Rosie¡¯s candor. ¡°Hello, dear. Such a charming young lady you are,¡± she complimented.

    ¡°But you¡¯re as tall as me!¡± Rosie blurted out with childlike honesty.

    A gentle pinch from Leo was a reminder of manners. ¡°Ouch!¡± Rosie exclaimed, rubbing her side.

    ¡°Rosie, that¡¯s not polite. Ms. Fodoln is a dwarf,¡± Leo explained, trying to smooth over the faux pas.

    Belgilia¡¯s laughter filled the room, dispelling any awkwardness. ¡°Hahaha¡­ Don¡¯t worry; she¡¯s just a child,¡± she said with a hearty chuckle.

    Handing Rosie a bag to distract her, Leo suggested, ¡°Take this inside for now.¡±

    With a pout but no further protest, Rosie took the bag and disappeared into the house.

    Lisa watched her son with a mixture of pride and bewilderment. ¡®He¡¯s matured so much; when did my little boy become such a responsible young man?¡¯ she mused silently.

    Turning back to Belgilia, Lisa extended an invitation. ¡°Would you care to join us for dinner?¡±

    Belgilia declined politely. ¡°No thank you, I must be going. But remember, don¡¯t hesitate to reach out if you need anything.¡±

    With Belgilia¡¯s departure, Lisa and Leo retreated indoors. Rosie was busy in her room, leaving Lisa to ponder dinner preparations.

    ¡°Is dinner ready yet, Mom? I¡¯m starving,¡± Leo called out.

    ¡°Just fifteen more minutes,¡± Lisa replied before adding, ¡°I¡¯m going to take a quick shower. Rosie, come join me.¡±

    From her room came Rosie¡¯s voice, laden with protest. ¡°But I don¡¯t want to! The water¡¯s always so cold!¡±

    Leo couldn¡¯t help but laugh at his sister¡¯s dramatics. ¡°Our new shower has hot water connected directly to it,¡± he informed her.

    Rosie¡¯s demeanor shifted instantly from sullen to excited at the prospect of warm water. ¡°Really?!¡±

    The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

    ¡°Yes,¡± Leo confirmed with a smile.

    With newfound enthusiasm, Rosie gathered her things and followed Lisa towards the promise of a comforting shower.

    ¡­

    Leo was waiting in the living room, he could hear his mom and Rosie¡¯s laughter and playing.

    ''I wish this world had television; I''m bored.¡¯

    he sniffed the air and detected the smell of freshly cooked food

    ¡®The food smells delicious; perhaps I should open a restaurant for my mother.¡¯

    After ten minutes, they came out. His mother was brushing her hair.

    "I never felt this clean in years; come into the kitchen in five minutes."

    Leo went into the kitchen to assist his mother in setting the table.

    "You don''t have to do this, Sweetie; you''re tired, Go take a break."

    "I am not tired; I am bored," Leo answered as if he really was a kid.

    "All right, the table is set, Go call your sister.¡±

    Leo went to Rosie¡¯s room; she was cleaning her room.

    "Rosie, come, dinner is ready."

    "OK"

    They entered the kitchen and took a seat at the table. Lisa brought a large bowl of beef and vegetables. Leo had never seen this food before in his previous life. When Lisa put their plate full of food in front of them, Rosie looked at her plate and asked in surprise.

    "We have meat?"

    ¡°Yes, my dear, all thanks to your brother¡¯s  hard work,¡± Lisa replied, her voice filled with gratitude.

    ¡°Thank you, Leo,¡± Rosie said earnestly.

    ¡°You¡¯re welcome. Now eat up before it cools,¡± Leo urged with a brotherly nudge.

    The meal was a symphony of flavors, each bite better than the last. It was, without a doubt, one of the finest dishes Leo had ever savored.

    ¡°Mom, this is wonderful. Thank you,¡± he praised sincerely once they finished.

    ¡°You¡¯re welcome, sweetie,¡± Lisa responded with an smile.

    After dinner, Leo stayed behind to help his mother with the dishes. As he prepared for bed, he paused and turned back to Lisa. ¡°Mom, I left two gold coins on the counter. Please use them tomorrow to buy new clothes for Rosie and yourself,¡± he said, his voice firm yet gentle.

    Lisa¡¯s eyes widened at the sight of the coins. ¡°Two gold coins? that''s too much, sweetie,¡± she gasped.

    ¡°Visit a nice store, pick out something beautiful. And if there¡¯s money left over, stock up on food and whatever else we need. You don¡¯t have to overwork yourself anymore,¡± Leo added with care.

    Lisa hesitated, overwhelmed by her son¡¯s gesture. ¡°But¡­ alright, I will,¡± she finally agreed.

    ¡°I¡¯ll be off to work by 8:30 a.m. tomorrow. Goodnight, Mom.¡±

    ¡°Goodnight.¡±

    With that, Leo retreated to his room, leaving Lisa in the quiet kitchen, her gaze lingering on the golden coins.

    ...

    Leo got up at eight o''clock the next morning and went to take a shower. His mother was making breakfast when he came out.

    "Good morning, mom."

    "Good morning, Put on some clothes, and I''ll make you breakfast."

    Dressed in his new attire, Leo felt a renewed sense of purpose as he joined his mother at the breakfast table. A warm, baked egg awaited him, its aroma inviting him to savor the simple yet comforting meal.

    As he ate, a thought crossed his mind. ¡°Mom, does Rosie go to school?¡± he inquired between bites.

    Lisa sighed, a shadow of concern crossing her features. ¡°She was, but we couldn¡¯t afford it this year,¡± she admitted.

    ¡°And the cost?¡± Leo pressed, already calculating in his head.

    ¡°Twenty silver coins each month,¡± Lisa replied, her voice tinged with regret.

    Leo¡¯s resolve hardened. ¡°Then she must continue her education. It¡¯s settled,¡± he declared.

    Lisa¡¯s worry deepened. ¡°Leo, you¡¯re already doing so much,¡± she protested gently.

    ¡°It¡¯s necessary, Mom. Education is important. We¡¯ll make it work,¡± Leo reassured her with a confidence.

    Rising from the table, he donned his coat with a sense of urgency. ¡°I have to leave for work now.,¡± he said.

    ¡°Take care, sweetie. May God watch over you,¡± Lisa called after him as he stepped out into the new day, her heart both heavy and hopeful.

    Leo went straight to work. It was 8:40 a.m., and he had to be at work at 9. Fortunately, his new home was only five minutes away from the association. He was soon at the main entrance to the association. He proceeded in the same manner as the previous time. Lara was seated behind the desk.

    "Mooring Ms. Lara" he said with a smile.

    "Good morning" Lara raised her head briefly before returning to her paper.

    Leo went to the storage room. He went into his closet to put his coat, and when he came out, Peter was there.

    "Good morning, Mr. Peter."

    "O Leo, you are early." Peter expression was warm.

    "My new house is five minutes away from the association."

    "You got a new house; congratulations¡± announced Peter with a hint of cheer in his voice. ¡°And Ms. Rave said that today you don''t need to go to her."

    Leo¡¯s brow furrowed in confusion. ¡°Why¡¯s that?¡± he asked.

    ¡°She believes your body needs time to adjust to the new diet. It¡¯s quite a change, after all,¡± Peter explained.

    Leo, ever eager, protested lightly. ¡°I feel ready to begin training today.¡±

    Peter shook his head, a serious look crossing his face. ¡°Trust me, it¡¯s better to wait. The strain could be too much too soon.¡±

    Leo¡¯s frown deepened, his mind racing for alternatives. ¡°Then what am I to do with my day?¡±

    ¡°Mr. Haider has arrived; let''s go to the library,¡± Peter offered, sensing Leo¡¯s restlessness.

    With a nod of agreement, Leo followed Peter¡¯s lead, their steps echoing through the halls as they made their way to the library.

    "Samuel, this is Leo Mantine, your new colleague who is going to work in the library."

    Samuel was a medium-sized, chubby man with a large nose. He resembled the nobles in the stories. Leo extended his hand to shake Samuel''s.

    "Nice to meet you, Mr. Haider."

    Samuel extended his hand.

    "Nice to meet you,"

    He gave Leo a long look before adding.

    "I have to say, you are quite young."

    Leo grinned, he already looked at a calendar. "I will be fifteen in three mouths." .

    "Fifteen? And you already have a job at Paladin Association? Fascinating"

    When Peter noticed how well they were getting along, he went for the door.

    "Well, I leave Leo in your hands, Samuel, If you need anything, I am in my office."

    Samuel nodded to Peter before returning his gaze to Leo.

    "Peter said you got the highest score in the entry test."

    "Yes, sir, I did."

    Samuel stroked his beard before settling into his chair.

    "Tell me, Leo, do you have any interest in the field of alchemy?"

    "Well, I don''t know enough about alchemy to really answer your question," Leo admitted honestly.

    ¡°Hmm, good point. Alright, I¡¯ll show you the ropes, so pay attention. If you look around, you''ll see many books on the tables. These are either ones other members have been reading or ones brought in from elsewhere. Your first task is to get familiar with each area of the library, like history, magic, and so on. By reading the first page of each book, you¡¯ll be able to identify which section it belongs to and return it to its proper place. Second, you¡¯ll need to clean the tables and a portion of each area each day.¡±

    ¡°How do I choose the area to start in?¡±

    ¡°Don''t worry, I''ll guide you,¡± Samuel replied, rising to his feet with visible effort. Once steady, he led Leo toward the shelves.

    "Third, I need to give you books to study."

    Leo followed as Samuel began by collecting a few from the history section, including an introduction to the three great kingdoms. He moved next to a shelf on the Paladin''s faith, then to one on basic regulations, and finally selected a book from the magic collection.

    "OK, this is your last book for now."

    He took out a book with a blue and brown cover. Leo read the headline.

    ¡®Introduction to the World of Magic¡±

    Leo''s lips formed a smile. he received four books from Samuel.

    "When you don''t have anything to do, you can read them."

    "Can I bring them back with me?"

    "Yeah, sure," Samuel said, waving his hand.

    "What should I do after I read all of them?"

    "That should take you some time, but after that, I''ll give you some more books, And please come to me if you have any questions."

    "OK"

    "And before I forget, if I wasn''t here and a member came to borrow a book, write his name and the book name here, If he wanted a book from the forbidden section, I have to be here"

    "What is the forbidden section" Leo asked curiously.

    "It''s the basement, dangerous books are there, each book there have a ranking and to read them you have to be at the same or higher ranking of that book, there are books there that not even captain are allowed to read."

    He then paused for a second and looked at Leo.

    "You can''t read any of them"

    Leo¡¯s eyebrows rose, ¡®I already know that¡¯.

    He faked a smile, ¡°Noted¡±.

    "OK then get to work, start with cleaning the tables, what ever you need is in the closet near my desk."

    Leo went to the closet to get some rags. He gathers all of the books on the table and returns them to their proper sections before beginning to clean up the tables. He finished by taking his watch from his pocket.

    ''It took an hour and a half, I need to be faster so I can read my books.''

    "Mr Haider, I cleaned the tables"

    Samuel examined the tables.

    ¡°Not bad, that was fast, OK rest for half an hour and start reading your books, and also call me Samuel or teacher, I don¡¯t like my last name¡±

    Leo sat at one of tables. He put his book on the table and looked at the titles one by one

    ¡®well I can read the faith and rule one later let¡¯s start with the history first.¡¯

    In the next twenty minutes, Leo read around 30 pages.

    ¡®Okay, so it¡¯s saying the same thing as my school history book, but with a little more detail. The new thing I learned, in summary, is that the beginning of time isn¡¯t really the beginning. There was also an ancient era with an ancient civilization that was destroyed, but it doesn¡¯t explain why. This map shows a place called the Shadow Lands at the top left of the world. Why is it called the Shadow Lands, and what¡¯s there? Did the ancient civilization live there? And if so, what destroyed them¡ªdemons? It says the Gates of Hell first opened in our time, so what could have destroyed them before? Could it be the same thing that created the Shadow Lands? There are also islands in the ocean, so maybe the Three Kingdoms aren¡¯t the only kingdoms in this world.¡¯

    He checked the time; he still had five minutes.

    ''It also mentions elves, dwarfs, and orcs.''

    A corner of his mouth lifted as he leaned back in his chair.

    ''I would like to meet some elves.''

    He then turned to face Samuel.

    "Mr. Samuel, can I ask you a question?"

    Samuel turned to face him. "Go ahead"

    "What is the average lifespan for a human? And how does it differ from other races?"

    Samuel arched his brow. "I didn''t expect that question"

    He then paused for a few moments to think.

    ¡°It is different, humans normally lives around one hundred years, Orc are the same, dwarfs can live around two hundred years, god knows how long can elves live, the longest I know is around six thousand years. also when someone increase their rank, no matter the race, their lifespan increases, it look like that by increasing you mana, your lifespan also increase, I am not really sure about this though¡±

    Leo blinked ¡°Six thousand years?¡±.

    "Yes, he was an Archmage"

    "Isn''t our era about 500 years old? Was he from the past?"

    "No¡­ How many pages did you read? There is an ancient era, a middle era, and our era, which is the beginning of time. When the world was in chaos around ten thousand years ago, the four races of humans, Orcs, Dwarfs, and Elves were killing each other like animals, and there were also magical beasts and dark creatures."

    "But it said that magic came into our world in our time?!"

    "Well, that''s actually true, because magic was once sealed away in our world, most of it by the elves, and then the seal was broken by opening the gate of hell, Don''t ask further; you are not qualified to learn more about this. If you want to learn more, you must advance in rank."

    "Then why do we call our era the beginning of time?"

    Samuel paused for a moment before responding in a deep voice.

    "Because the god of light showed himself in this era, his arrival created a new beginning."

 Chapter 8: Introduction to the World of magic

    "God of light..."

    Leo didn''t ask any more questions. He leaned back in his chair, looking up at the ceiling.

    ''Was there a battle in these three kingdoms during the Middle Ages? Or is it somewhere else? Perhaps it''s on the other side of the shadow land? And why was Hell''s gate opened?''

    He returned his gaze to the history book.

    ''10,000 years in the middle era and 500 years in the new era... How long did the ancient era last? And did they have any sort of magic? There are so many questions.''

    "That''s enough resting; go and start cleaning the section belonging to literature."

    Leo was brought back to reality by Samuel''s voice. He stood up, grabbed his history book, and walked over to the literature section. He also read a page from his book every ten to fifteen minutes.

    ¡®It also began covering the Middle Ages, just like Mr. Samuel said: there were four kingdoms, each belonging to a different race. Humans and orcs, however, reproduced rapidly, so the elves created magic to seal away the powers of the other races in order to overcome them. But it doesn¡¯t mention where the battle took place or any important figures. I guess I''m not yet high enough in rank to learn those details.¡¯

    After a while, Leo went into the kitchen to get something to eat before returning to continue cleaning the library. Samuel was not present, and no one came the entire time. Leo sat at one of the tables and continued reading his book after cleaning everything in the literature section. He finished the history book at 3:45 p.m.

    ''Hmm, nothing notable; I need a more detailed book; I need to raise my rank quickly.''

    The main entrance door groaned on its hinges, a sound that made Leo look up from his task. He saw Samuel enter, his eyebrows raised in mild surprise at finding Leo there.

    ¡°I see you¡¯re taking a breather; how did the cleaning go?¡± Samuel asked, a hint of curiosity in his tone.

    ¡°I¡¯ve finished cleaning the entire section,¡± Leo replied, a note of pride in his voice.

    "The whole section? That¡¯s quick work; I¡¯m genuinely impressed,¡± Samuel said, his eyes reflecting his approval.

    ¡°I¡¯ve also completed the history book,¡± Leo added, unable to hide a small, satisfied smile.

    ¡°Already? That¡¯s fast. What did you find out?¡± Samuel inquired, leaning forward with interest.

    ¡°That I need to move up in rank to learn more,¡±

    Samuel laughed heartily. ¡°That¡¯s a good one. It shows your drive for knowledge. Read the other books and I¡¯ll provide more. Also, it¡¯s 4 PM; you can head out,¡± he said, checking his watch and nodding for emphasis.

    Samuel glanced at Leo, noticing the curiosity written across his face.

    ¡°If you have a question, feel free to ask,¡± Samuel said calmly, his tone reassuring, letting Leo know it was alright to speak up.

    Leo hesitated for a moment before asking, ¡°Why is there a ranking system for books?¡±

    Samuel smiled knowingly. ¡°Ah, I see. You¡¯ve been drawn to the more advanced books, haven¡¯t you?¡±

    Leo gave a slight, unreadable nod, unsure how to respond.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Samuel continued, his voice comforting. ¡°Curiosity is a good thing¡ªif you¡¯re cautious with it. Knowledge can be powerful, but if you¡¯re not careful, it can corrupt you... destroy your soul.¡± Before Leo could ask more, Samuel added, ¡°You¡¯ll learn about that corruption soon enough. For now, just try to keep your curiosity in check.¡±

    Leo nodded, absorbing the words. He stood up, gathering his books with brisk movements.

    ¡°Thank you. I¡¯ll see you tomorrow, Mr. Samuel,¡± he said, giving a respectful nod before leaving.

    ¡°Until tomorrow,¡± Samuel replied with a warm smile.

    Leo headed toward the storage room, a subtle sense of accomplishment settling over him. The quiet hum of the building seemed to mirror his mood.

    ¡°How was your first day?¡± Peter¡¯s voice echoed from across the room, warm with friendly interest.

    Leo turned, a small smile on his face. ¡°It was great,¡±.

    He went into the back room to get his coat, feeling the fatigue of the day¡¯s work.

    ¡°By the way, your identification card is ready,¡± Peter announced from his desk.

    Leo returned and took his card from Peter, examining it with a sense of new belonging. ¡®Leo Mantine, Member of the Paladins Association,¡¯ it declared, along with his age and other details.

    ¡°You can use the back door now,¡± Peter said, gesturing towards it with a welcoming hand.

    ¡°Thank you, Mr. Peter,¡± Leo said, gratitude evident in his expression.

    After bidding Peter farewell, he took the back exit, finding it an easier way out, just as Peter had suggested. He made his way to the housing agency, and as he stepped inside, he recognized the same man from the previous day.

    "Hello"

    The man rose to his feet, lifting his head with an effort that betrayed the weight of stress etched across his features. Regret flickered in his eyes as he recalled how he¡¯d treated Leo like a child in their last encounter.

    ¡°Mr. Mantine, we¡¯ve been expecting you,¡± he greeted with a formal nod.

    ¡°I¡¯m here to fulfill the terms of my contract,¡± Leo stated, his voice was steady.

    ¡°Yes, of course. Right this way, please,¡± the man said, leading Leo down the corridor with purposeful strides.

    Upon entering a well-lit room, they were immediately approached by a welcoming figure.

    ¡°Mr. Mantine, you¡¯re quite early,¡± the newcomer observed with a hint of surprise.

    ¡°Mr. Duv, my schedule cleared up sooner than expected, so I arrived early. I trust that won¡¯t be a problem," Leo replied, his tone was hopeful yet apologetic.

    ¡°Not at all; it¡¯s actually quite convenient. Please, have a seat¡ªthe paperwork is all prepared for you.¡±

    He gave him the contract. Leo read all of the content, and when he was sure, he signed the contract. He also put two gold coins and fifty silver coins on the paper. Golzes rose to his feet and shook Leo''s hand.

    "Every month you can come here and pay your rent, or if you want, we can send someone to get the rent."

    "No, I come here myself."

    If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    Leo thought that it would be safer for him to come and pay his rent himself. He said his goodbyes to Golzes and went straight home. His mother and sister weren''t around when he arrived. A message had been left in the kitchen.

    ''Sweetie, we''re going to get your sister some clothes and stationery.''

    After putting down the letter, Leo went into his room to change his clothes. He returned to the kitchen, washed his face, drank a glass of water, and returned to his room again.

    ''I can''t wait to get my hands on the magic book.''

    He sat on his bed, holding a book titled Introduction to the World of Magic. Taking a sip of water, he settled in and began to read .

    ''The term magic is a generalization for a wide range of sub-categories, from the most basic, such as lighting a crystal ball, to the most complex; all of them are magic. Pure magic, arcana, necromancy, light, darkness, elemental magic, and void magic are the seven categories of magic. All of these can be subdivided further. Arcana, for example, can be divided into enchanting, alchemy, science, and other categories. But before we get into the specifics, let''s talk about Mana.¡¯

    ¡®Mana is the soul''s power. Every soul has a mana capacity, which can be increased through practice. Mana is the most commonly used resource in magic to create spells and skills. The more mana you have, the more spells you can cast, and the more likely you are to become corrupted.¡¯

    ¡®Corrupted?¡¯ Leo paused, his eyes narrowing. ¡®Is this the same corruption Mr. Samuel mentioned?¡¯ He frowned, pondering the connection. ¡®And it says mana is the most commonly used resource... which means there are other resources too.¡¯

    Leo mulled over the thought for a few moments before shaking it off and continuing to read.

    ¡®When the mana in your body increases, your soul need to control that power, if ones fail to control it, it will damage the soul and corrupt the person. When the capacity of your soul fill, the mana start to flow out of your body. what ever you touch get some of your mana, you can call this, mana fingerprint. Even by mastering to control you mana completely, you can¡¯t stop you mana from flowing out of your body¡¯

    The next twenty page was explaining, that the mana of each person is unique and some example and test results.

    ¡®Almost everyone can feel the presence of mana within their body. Close your eyes and focus. Try to sense a movement¡ªsomething that isn¡¯t part of your physical body but exists inside you. Concentrate on your soul. With this training, you¡¯ll begin to feel your mana.¡¯

    ''Chapter two: further divided magic. All types of magic can be further subdivided. Let us begin with pure magic. Pure magic is when you use your mana without changing it into anything else. For example, in elemental magic, you can change your mana into fire, but in pure magic, mana does not change; it merely alters shape. Pure magic is classified as either support, defense, or attack, but it is most commonly used for support and defense. The most common pure magic spell is light ball, which is a type of support magic.

    The next one is arcana. As previously stated, arcana is classified as enchanting, alchemy, science, divination, illusion, and conjuration. Enchanting is the ability to imbue anything with an effect, such as enchanting a sword with fire magic. Enchanting requires an energy source, which we use in the form of crystals, which we will not discuss here. Alchemy is concerned with liquids and their combination to produce a potion or poison. In science, we create new spells and skills related to magic in general. Divination is the ability to predict the future through astrology or a contract with a god or a demon. Illusion is linked to the brain; you can make someone see something that does not exist by manipulating their mana and brain and finally, through conjuration, one can summon a creature to fight alongside him.

    This book excludes necromancy, darkness, and void magic. Let us now discuss light. Light is more complicated than other types of magic; it all depends on the spells you want to learn. For example, if a person wishes to learn support spells, he is referred to as a priest; if he wishes to learn attack spells, he is referred to as a paladin; and if he wishes to learn defense spells, he is referred to as a guardian.

    Finally, there is elemental magic, which is divided into fire, air, earth, lightning, and water. Each is superior to one and inferior to the other. Furthermore, each of them excels in certain areas, such as fire and lightning, which are effective in attacks.

    To use these spells, you must first master your mana. After that, you''ll be able to transform your mana into whatever you want.

    Other magics in this world, such as blood magic and nature''s magic, do not use mana directly and thus are not included in our classification.¡¯

    The following page provided more information about each magic, mostly elemental magic. Leo finished the book in a few hours. He was sitting on his bed, thinking.

    ''There is no information about the void, darkness, or necromancy, and it only discusses the fundamentals of magic.''

    Leo studied the book and decided to try the mana practice it recommended. He sat up straight and began to concentrate.

    ''Pay attention to your soul, something that is not a part of your body but is present.''

    He sat for fifteen minutes, unable to feel anything.

    ''Am I doing something wrong?''

    He took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and began to concentrate once more. After another ten minutes, he began to feel a movement in his body that resembled a waterfall, flowing from his head to his feet. The sound of the main door interrupted his concentration.

    "Sweetie, we¡¯re home," his mother called out as the front door creaked open.

    Leo muttered to himself, ¡°Hmm... I have to do this while they¡¯re sleeping.¡± He stood up and quietly left his room.

    ¡°Hi, welcome back,¡± he greeted as he stepped into the hallway.

    Before his mother could respond, Rosie darted toward him. ¡°Leo, Leo, Leo! Look what I got!¡± she exclaimed, nearly bouncing with excitement. She was dressed in a new long skirt and blouse, her face beaming.

    ¡°You look beautiful,¡± Leo said, smiling as she grabbed his hand.

    ¡°Come see my stuff!¡± Rosie tugged at him eagerly. ¡°I got two notebooks, two pens, and these little things. And I bought two new sets of clothes for home too!¡±

    Leo chuckled, gently patting her head, before turning to his mother. ¡°What about you, Mom?¡± he asked with a warm smile.

    Lisa smiled.

    ¡°I also got two sets of clothes, one for home and one for outdoor, and some stuff for home, and still 60 silver left,¡± she said the last sentence proudly.

    "Ok, keep them for whatever you need, and if you need more, don''t forget to tell me."

    "Thank you, sweetie; dinner will be ready in 30 minutes."

    "Ok, I''ll be in my room."

    Leo entered his room, took up the book about faith, and began reading. After thirty minutes, he ate his dinner and helped his mom clean the table. He returned to his room and resumed his reading. The majority of the book was about the god of light and his rules. When he finished reading, he took out his watch and checked the time. It was twelve o''clock.

    ''I believe they are now asleep.''

    He sat up straight and resumed his concentration. After ten minutes, he began to feel the same as before.

    ''This has to be mana.''

    He tried to control and move the power in his body, but he failed. He gave up after nineteen to twenty attempts. He was resting on his bed when he suddenly remembered.

    ''There was something about using light ball magic; perhaps I should try that.''

    Leo took up his magic book and began searching for the right page.

    ''Found it; raise one of your hands and imagine a ball inside it; now imagine your mana flowing inside this ball.''

    Leo raised his hand and start to do the thing in the book, he tried forty time with no success. A small ball of light formed inside the palm of his hand in the 41st time. His pupils dilated and his mouth curved into a smile.

    ''I did it!''

    He took a few moments to examine the ball.

    ''Let''s try to see how far I can move it.

    Leo tried to visualize the ball of light moving away from his palm. However, the ball did not move.

    ''Hmm... maybe try making it bigger?''

    He imagined a larger ball and attempted to completely fill it. The ball began to expand and grew to twice its original size in a matter of seconds.

    ''All right, now let''s try to move it.

    He was about to try to move the ball again when his head began to hurt, he lost his concentration, and the ball began to lose its shape. The ball vanished after a few seconds of moving and changing shape.

    ¡®I think I used too much mana... but how is that possible?¡¯ Leo frowned, his head pounding. ¡®The light ball spell is the most basic. Maybe I¡¯m wasting more mana than I realize?¡¯

    Frustrated, he closed his eyes and leaned back on his bed, but the throbbing in his head kept him awake. After a few restless minutes, he sighed and swung his legs over the side of the bed. Standing up, he made his way to the kitchen. He opened the cooling box, grabbed some leftover dinner, and slowly ate, washing it down with a glass of water. As the food settled in his stomach, he started to feel a bit better.

    Returning to his room, Leo lay back down, hoping sleep would finally come.

    ¡®I can¡¯t sleep¡¯, he thought, staring at the ceiling, his mind still buzzing. After ten minutes of tossing and turning, he gave up, got out of bed again, and reached for his latest book.

    ''A book about rules, that can''t be boring,'' he sneered.

    It was a simple book outlining the fundamental rules of the kingdom of light. When he finished reading, he yawned and closed the book.

    ''I believe I am ready to sleep.''

    He crawled into his bed.

    ¡®There is magic in this world, which makes it really exciting. I also have a lot of things I want to learn and know. Humans can live for almost one hundred years, which is more than humans on earth, but that¡¯s not enough. Samuel stated that increasing mana allows one to live longer, but why did the first Paladin die of old age, at the age of two to three hundred years? Perhaps the information in that book is incorrect.''

    He was staring up at the ceiling.

    ''I need to divide my objectives into short and long-term goals. My main goal is the long-term goal, and the short-term goal is what I need to do to get to my long-term goal, and I know what I want for my main goal.

    Leo grinned.

    ''I want to study everything there is to know about this world, and I need to know how I got here; for that, I need a lot of time, and a human''s regular lifespan is not enough, I need to increase my lifespan''

    A light streamed in through his window, lighting up his room.

 Chapter 9: Short Goals

    "It''s already morning?!" Leo muttered, casting a glance out the window. The sunlight was streaming in, warming the room. He stretched, feeling the stiffness in his limbs, then decided to take a quick shower. After changing into fresh clothes, he walked into the kitchen where the familiar smell of breakfast greeted him.

    "Good morning," he said, his voice still a bit groggy.

    ¡°Good morning, sweetie,¡± his mom replied, turning from the stove with a smile. ¡°You look tired. Did you get enough sleep last night?¡±

    Leo sank into a chair. "I was reading a book and... forgot to sleep."

    Just then, Lisa placed a plate with an egg in front of him. "Sweetie, you shouldn''t push yourself like that," she said, her tone was gentle.

    Leo remained calm, quietly picking up his fork and starting on his breakfast. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mom. I don¡¯t want to overdo it. Like I said, I just forgot. Thank you for the food.¡±

    After finishing his meal, he stood up and turned to leave. "I''ll be careful next time," he added with a reassuring smile before heading out.

    ¡­

    Edmond perused Leo¡¯s file with a furrowed brow, the pages filled with notes and observations. Clutching the file, he made his way to the Paladin association¡¯s main hall.

    ¡°Lara, is Peter around?¡± Edmond inquired, scanning the bustling space.

    ¡°Yes, he¡¯s in his office. Shall I call him?¡± Lara offered, ready to dispatch a message.

    ¡°No need, I¡¯ll head over myself,¡± Edmond decided, handing her the file as he strode towards the storage room.

    Upon entering, Edmond found Peter standing at attention, his fist pressed firmly against his chest in a respectful salute.

    ¡°Captain, how may I assist you today?¡± Peter asked, his posture relaxing slightly as he acknowledged Edmond''s presence.

    ¡°At ease,¡± Captain Edmond responded, his voice steady. After a brief pause, he continued, his gaze sharp. ¡°What do you think about Leo?¡±

    Peter hesitated for a moment, his eyes flickering with thought. ¡°Leo?¡± he repeated, as if weighing his words carefully.

    ¡°He¡¯s an exceptionally bright young man,¡± Peter said at last, his tone thoughtful but filled with admiration. ¡°Remarkably efficient in his duties. He¡¯s got a lot of potential.¡±

    ¡°Efficient? In what manner?¡± Edmond probed further.

    ¡°Samuel mentioned that Leo managed to clean an entire library section yesterday. He even verified Leo¡¯s work himself,¡± Peter explained.

    ¡°And the verdict?¡± Edmond pressed on.

    ¡°Samuel was quite impressed with the quality of his work,¡± Peter confirmed with a nod.

    ¡°Hm,¡± Edmond hummed thoughtfully.

    ¡°There¡¯s something else¡­ His demeanor is somewhat atypical,¡± Peter added cautiously.

    ¡°Go on,¡± Edmond encouraged.

    ¡°He carries himself more like an adult than an almost fifteen-year-old,¡± Peter observed thoughtfully. ¡°It¡¯s quite unusual.¡±

    ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve noticed that peculiarity as well,¡± Edmond agreed, a contemplative frown forming as he folded his arms.

    ¡°Maybe growing up in a poor family and being the only man in the house can do that,¡± Peter offered, making an assumption.

    ¡°Maybe,¡± Edmond echoed, though his tone was noncommittal. After a moment, he gave a curt nod. ¡°Anyway, I got what I was looking for.¡±

    Edmond was interrupted by the sound of the door opening. Leo entered, looked at Peter and Edmond confusedly, and then placed his fist on his chest.

    "Captain, Mr. Peter, good morning."

    "Good morning," both Edmond and Peter said simultaneously.

    Edmond looked back at Peter.

    "Thank you, Peter."

    "Of course, captain."

    he turned around and walked away.

    ¡­

    Leo stared at the door, lost in thought.

    ¡°When did you learn to do the fist thing?¡± Peter asked, noticing the gesture from earlier.

    Leo smiled, glancing at Peter. ¡°It was in the book about the rules. I read it last night.¡±

    ¡°You read that whole book in one day?¡± Peter asked, eyebrows raised in surprise.

    ¡°Yeah,¡± Leo replied casually, ¡°it was boring.¡±

    He made no mention of having already read all four of the books he¡¯d been given. Heading into the back room, he hung his coat neatly in the closet.

    ¡°Change into the white clothes in there,¡± Peter called after him.

    Leo paused, eyeing the neatly folded clothes. ¡°What are these for?¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re for your exercise with Faleria,¡± Peter said with a smile.

    He went into the library after changing his clothes and placed his book on the desk. Then he went out into the yard and went straight to Faleria''s location. Faleria was seated in the middle of the room, concentrating, like before. He stepped back and tried not to stare.

    ¡°You¡¯re not staring; it looks like you were listening,¡± Faleria remarked, her eyes narrowing slightly as she observed Leo.

    Leo gave a slight bow. ¡°Good morning, Ms. Rave.¡±

    Faleria stepped closer to the door, glancing outside. The sunlight filtered through her hair, casting a soft glow around her and creating a striking, almost ethereal scene.

    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s a good morning,¡± she said, her voice carrying a sense of authority. ¡°From today on, you¡¯ll call me ¡®coach.¡¯¡±

    She then shifted her gaze back to Leo, her expression firm but not unkind.

    "For the first week, we just focus on building a little muscle in your body, Your body is simply too weak for any exercise, You first start with some stretching; I show you how to do it, then you go run around the yard for half an hour, you rest for ten minutes, and then you run for another half an hour, Now come stand here and look at what I am doing and try to do the same."

    Leo took a step behind Faleria, mirroring her movements as they began their stretches. His muscles tensed as he followed her lead.

    ¡°Try to go lower, like this,¡± Faleria instructed, her tone firm. ¡°Stretch your body as much as you can. You must be able to touch the floor within one week.¡±

    Without warning, she pressed her hand firmly on Leo¡¯s back, pushing him down further. A sharp jolt of pain shot through him, and cold sweat dripped from his forehead.

    ¡®Is she trying to tear my tendons?¡¯ Leo thought, gritting his teeth to keep from crying out.

    Fifteen grueling minutes later, they finished the stretches. Leo''s legs felt like jelly.

    ¡°Enough of that,¡± Faleria said, straightening up. ¡°Now go run. And don¡¯t even think about walking¡ªI¡¯m watching you the entire time.¡±

    Leo stood up; he hadn''t even begun the main part yet, but his entire body ached. He entered the yard and began running. He was out of breath after fifteen minutes and his running speed slowed.

    This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

    "Don''t slow down," Faleria called from a distance.

    Leo¡¯s breathing grew heavier with each step. His legs felt like lead, his chest tight.

    ¡®I can¡¯t run anymore... I¡¯m going to die,¡¯ he thought, his body screaming for rest. He was on the verge of giving up, his mind teetering on the edge of surrender.

    But then, a memory surfaced¡ªhis previous self, weaker and determined to be better.

    ''I don''t want to be a loser any more, especially in this world. If I can''t run for half an hour right now, I won''t be able to reach my goal.''

    He inhaled deeply and increased his running speed.

    Faleria smiled as she sat on the two stairs in front of the entrance.

    "Ho? I wasn''t expecting him to continue."

    She waited another five minutes before rising.

    "All right, that''s enough. Come and rest here."

    Leo came to a halt. He was standing with his back to the wall, trying to catch his breath. He walked to Faleria after one minute.

    "Here, take this," Faleria said, tossing a towel to Leo.

    "And drink only half a glass of water," she added sternly.

    Leo obediently gulped down the water, his body craving more, but he stopped after half a glass as instructed. After a brief ten-minute rest, he was back on his feet, heading for another grueling half-hour run.

    ¡°All right,¡± Faleria said when he returned, drenched in sweat. ¡°Now take a fifteen-minute break and drink a glass of milk from the cooling box inside.¡±

    Exhausted, Leo retrieved the milk, gulped it down, and slumped into a corner, his body screaming for rest. As soon as he closed his eyes, everything went dark.

    ¡°Enough resting, come here!¡± Faleria¡¯s voice snapped him awake.

    Leo jumped to his feet, panic flooding him. Damn, I dozed off.

    He hurried over to Faleria, still groggy but alert now.

    ¡°For the next hour, you¡¯re going to do these three movements,¡± she instructed, her eyes fixed on him with unrelenting focus.

    She took a wooden sword and stood in the center of the room. The movements were slashing swords from top to bottom, top left to bottom down, and top right to bottom left. She pointed the handle of the wooden sword at Leo after demonstrating the movements.

    "One hundred each."

    Leo took the sword from her and began to perform the movements. Faleria was walking around him at the same time, making sure he was doing it correctly. She occasionally showed him his error and the proper way to do it.

    After an hour, Leo was on the third movement. Sweat was pouring from everywhere on his body, and the muscles in his hand were aching.

    "Ninety-eight, ninety-nine, one hundred."

    He sat on the ground, his sword falling from his grasp.

    "Good job; you can rest now, and don''t forget to eat something."

    Leo wiped the sweat from his face and arms with the towel, then carefully returned both the sword and towel to their places, preparing to leave for the day.

    ¡°Leo,¡± Faleria¡¯s voice called out just as he was about to step out.

    He froze, turning to face her, worried she might have another grueling exercise lined up.

    ¡°You need more sleep,¡± she said, her tone unexpectedly gentle.

    Relief washed over him. He nodded, a small smile creeping onto his face. ¡°I¡¯ll get more sleep,¡± he promised.

    Exhaustion weighed heavily on Leo as he retraced his steps to the storage room, each step a testament to the day¡¯s grueling efforts. Upon opening the door, he was greeted by Peter¡¯s knowing gaze.

    ¡°You¡¯ve had your first encounter with the famous Faleria, I see,¡± Peter remarked, his eyes softening with empathy.

    ¡°Yes, I have,¡± Leo confirmed, a weary sigh escaping him.

    He shuffled into the back room, intent on washing away the day¡¯s toil. Frank was there, vigorously drying off with a towel.

    ¡°Good evening, Mr. Rove,¡± Leo greeted with a nod.

    ¡°Hey there, Leo. Drop the formalities; just Frank is fine,¡± he replied with an easy smile.

    Frank then shot Leo a quick, knowing look before speaking again.

    ¡°Faleria gave you a tough time, didn¡¯t she?¡±

    ¡°How does everyone seem to know?¡± Leo asked, a mix of curiosity and exasperation in his voice.

    ¡°We¡¯ve all been through her rigorous training at some point,¡± Frank explained, his smile fading slightly.

    ¡°All of you? How old is she?¡± Leo pressed, his interest piqued.

    Frank¡¯s expression turned grave. ¡°If you¡¯re really curious about her age, you might want to ask her directly. But be warned, that knowledge comes at a price.¡±

    A flicker of apprehension crossed Leo¡¯s face. ¡°Maybe I¡¯m better off not knowing.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s a wise decision,¡± Frank agreed, clapping a reassuring hand on Leo¡¯s shoulder before exiting the room.

    Leo stood for a few moments, staring at the door. He then took his clothes off and went into the shower. After he was done, he went into the kitchen to eat something. Wina was in the kitchen, and Liamond, Gery, and Albert were playing cards.

    Hello, everyone,¡± Leo greeted as he walked into the room.

    ¡°Hi,¡± replied Liamond, Gery, and Albert in unison, barely looking up from what they were doing.

    Wina turned around with a warm smile. ¡°Hello,¡±

    Leo made his way into the kitchen, grabbed an egg from the cooling box, and started frying it. The sound of the sizzling pan filled the room as he focused on his breakfast.

    ¡°Leo, want to play a hand of cards?¡± Albert asked casually, not even turning around from the game he was setting up.

    Leo sat at the table, placing his plate down with the freshly baked egg. ¡°No, I need to be at the library in fifteen minutes,¡± he replied.

    Albert shrugged. ¡°Okay, suit yourself,¡± he said, shuffling the deck.

    After consuming his egg, Leo made his way to the library. The familiar scent of old books greeted him as he entered. Samuel was there, ensconced behind his desk, a cup of tea in one hand and a book in the other.

    ¡°Good morning, Mr. Samuel,¡± Leo greeted, his voice echoing slightly in the quiet room.

    ¡°Ah, Leo, good to see you,¡± Samuel responded without looking up, his attention still partly on the pages before him.

    There was a brief silence as Samuel took a measured sip of his tea before he finally set his book aside and regarded Leo with a curious gaze.

    ¡°You¡¯ve been training with Faleria today, haven¡¯t you?¡± Samuel inquired, an astute observation coloring his tone.

    Leo blinked in surprise. ¡°Yes, but how could you tell?¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s a certain¡­ uniqueness to your gait this morning,¡± Samuel commented with a wry smile as he rose from his seat.

    "There are also two black marks under your eyes, which show that you did not get enough sleep last night."

    "O about that, I have a question, Mr. Samuel."

    Samuel did not expect a question; His eyebrows rose slightly in surprise, "What is it?".

    "Last night I was reading the introduction to the magic book, and then I tried the practice to feel my mana."

    ¡°Let me guess. You didn''t feel it, and you''re wondering what went wrong. You should give it more time."

    "No, actually, I did feel it," he said, before telling the entire story of last night.

    For a few moments, Samuel stood there like a statue. He finally responded after a while.

    "You truly are a genius; it takes at least a week to feel your mana, and you did it in an hour?" Not only that, but you finished your first spell."

    He then exhaled deeply.

    "The reason for your headache and the disappearance of your spell is that you have used up all of your mana, And it''s not because your mana is low; it''s actually quite high, but your control over it is lacking, so you''re wasting a lot of it, with proper control over your mana you can keep your light ball for at least one hour, but Never do that again until you''ve mastered controlling your mana; exceeding your mana capacity is extremely dangerous, and it can even kill you."

    A flicker of worry passed over Leo¡¯s face as he stood rooted to the spot, contemplating Samuel¡¯s words.

    ¡°I¡¯ll remember that,¡± Leo assured him, his voice tinged with resolve.

    He then gestured towards the stack of books on his desk.

    ¡°I¡¯ve managed to read through all of these,¡± he declared.

    Samuel raised an eyebrow in surprise. ¡°You¡¯ve finished them all in just one day?¡±

    ¡°Couldn¡¯t sleep after the headache set in, so I turned to reading. Besides, the books weren¡¯t particularly lengthy,¡± Leo explained, a hint of fatigue creeping into his voice.

    Samuel¡¯s expression shifted to one of concern. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll assign you your next set of readings. Just make sure you continue cleaning the next section without overexerting yourself.¡±

    ¡°Understood,¡± Leo replied with a nod, already moving to begin his cleaning tasks.

    Over the following two weeks, Leo found himself caught in a monotonous routine. Each day, he would rise early, head to work, attend his training session with Faleria, and then proceed to the library for his cleaning duties. In his spare moments, he delved into five additional books, covering topics ranging from mathematics and the city''s history to the nation''s past, the teachings of the god of light, and a comprehensive volume on elvish language.

    ¡­

    A man in a black robe and a large hat, which covered his face, was walking down a dark alley. He looked around from time to time to make sure no one was following him. After a few minutes of walking and passing through several alleys, he came to a halt in front of an old house with a black door. He knocked three times on the door, paused for a few seconds, and then knocked twice more. The door was opened by a large, bald man.

    ¡°Aline, you¡¯re late,¡± the man muttered.

    Aline didn¡¯t bother acknowledging him. Instead, he cut straight to the point. ¡°Where¡¯s the boss?¡±

    He sighed, slightly annoyed but pointed toward the staircase. ¡°In the basement.¡±

    Aline opened another door, leading to a set of long, dark stairs. There was no light, but he had been here before and knew how to get down. He arrived at a door after descending an unknown number of stairs. He paused for a few moments before opening the door. The room was also dark, but not completely dark. There were two torches on the wall, both with blue flames. Every corner of the room was crammed with human body parts. Looking at the bodies and the disgusting smell, Aline felt that he was going to vomit. He went inside after taking a few deep breaths and being careful not to step on anything. A man was standing in front of a table. There was a body on the table, and the man was holding a dagger.

    "Aline, you are late," the man stated flatly without turning around.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, sir, but we have a problem,¡± Aline replied, his voice steady but tense.

    ¡°Problem?¡± The man¡¯s tone sharpened, a hint of anger creeping into his voice as he finally turned to face him.

    ¡°Yes,¡± Aline confirmed, swallowing hard. ¡°Our contract has been killed.¡±

    For a split second, the man did not say anything. He then began stabbing the body in front of him.

    "That useless piece of shit, do you know how close I was to success?" he mumbled, still stabbing the body.

    He turned around, his face covered in scars and his eyes completely black. He was like a moving dead body.

    ¡°Who¡¯s responsible for this?¡± he demanded, his voice rising in a crescendo of fury.

    ¡°Captain Edmond of the Paladin Association,¡± came the timid reply.

    ¡°That insufferable man again?!¡± His face reddened with anger, and his voice boomed through the room.

    Aline stood meekly, head bowed, hands trembling with trepidation at the outburst.

    The man¡¯s lips twisted into a sinister grin, his voice dropping to a menacing whisper.

    ¡°He must be eliminated.¡±

    ¡°But sir, he¡¯s a B-rank Paladin, and he¡¯s not alone; he has an entire army at his disposal. How can we possibly take him down?¡± Aline questioned, his voice laced with doubt.

    A dark chuckle escaped the man¡¯s throat. ¡°Fear not, I have a strategy in mind. Gather everyone¡ªit¡¯s time to set things in motion.¡±

    ¡°Yes, sir,¡± Aline responded with a quick nod before hastily retreating from the room.

    Once alone, the man turned his attention to the lifeless form before him.

    ¡°Captain Edmond, you¡¯ll serve as an excellent specimen for my next experiment,¡± he mused aloud, his laughter echoing ominously in the empty space.

 Chapter 10: next step

    Like every day, Leo woke up, got ready, and headed to work. Over the past two weeks, he had grown noticeably stronger; his body had filled out, and the training no longer felt as grueling as before. He had also finished the elven language book the night before and was eager to start his next set of studies. As thoughts of his next book swirled in his mind, he slipped into his exercise clothes and made his way to Faleria.

    ¡°Morning, coach,¡± Leo greeted, his voice carrying a note of readiness for the day¡¯s regimen.

    ¡°Good morning, you don''t have any exercise today,¡± Faleria announced, a rare gentleness in her tone.

    Leo¡¯s expression shifted to one of confusion. ¡°May I ask why?¡±

    ¡°Today is for rest. Starting tomorrow, we¡¯re going to shake things up with your routine,¡± Faleria explained.

    A crease formed on Leo¡¯s forehead as he processed this information, but he managed a small smile. ¡°Should I be preparing for something specific?¡±

    ¡°Indeed. Begin your day with stretches and a half-hour run. After that, come here, and we¡¯ll proceed with the next phase,¡± Faleria instructed, outlining the new plan.

    ¡°Understood. I¡¯ll see you tomorrow then,¡± Leo said with a nod, acknowledging the change before turning to leave.

    Before Faleria could say anything else, Leo turned around and walked away. Faleria simply nodded and resumed her concentration practice.

    Leo went to the library; Samuel wasn''t there, so he continued cleaning from where he left off the day before. He checked the title of every book he cleaned. There were a few intriguing titles, such as Land of Shadow, Mastery of Elements, Alchemist, Bestiary, and The Nine Gods, but Leo''s favorite was Vampires. Leo knew vampires were immortal from his previous life.

    ''I need to find every way to extend my life and pick the best one, but I''m not sure if vampires are immortal here as well.''

    Leo was afraid that there might be magic, like an alarm, that would expose him, so he decided not to read any of these books until he was certain.

    Samuel arrived at one thirty o''clock. Leo was sitting there doing nothing.

    ¡°Leo! I didn¡¯t expect to see you here,¡± Samuel exclaimed, a hint of surprise in his voice.

    ¡°Well, I¡¯ve actually been here since morning,¡± Leo replied with a casual shrug.

    Samuel¡¯s brow furrowed in confusion. ¡°But why? Shouldn¡¯t you be training or something?¡±

    Leo chuckled lightly. ¡°Coach gave me the day off, and I¡¯ve already finished cleaning. Found myself with time to spare.¡±

    Samuel¡¯s eyes narrowed in thought. ¡°You could¡¯ve spent that time reading your books.¡±

    There was a brief pause before Samuel¡¯s expression shifted, his realization clear. He let out a resigned sigh.

    ¡°You¡¯ve read through them all already, haven¡¯t you?¡± he asked, already knowing the answer.

    ¡°Yes,¡± Leo confirmed with a nod.

    ¡°The only books left are on the languages of various races,¡± Samuel said, turning to glance at the remaining volumes on his desk.

    Leo¡¯s interest was piqued. ¡°How many languages are there¡±

    ¡°There are the languages of the Orcs and Dwarves, plus the ancient tongues of all four major races,¡± Samuel listed, his fingers tracing the spines of the books as he spoke.

    He took a brief pause before continuing.

    "There are also other languages like the Demos language, dark language, and death language that you cannot learn right now."

    He then brought eleven books with him.

    "These are all the books you can read before taking the exam and becoming a real paladin."

    Leo went through them one by one, reading the titles; as Samuel had mentioned, these books were about languages.

    "Since you said that you cleaned everywhere, you can read these books for the rest of your time today."

    Leo took up his books and walked over to one of the tables. At four o''clock, Leo got ready to go home. He didn''t bring all the books with him; he picked one and stored the others in his closet. He was thinking about some words in dwarf''s language on the way home.

    "Maybe if I use this language to talk to Ms. Fodoln, it would be more respectful."

    Suddenly the hair on the back of his neck stood up. He had the same sensation as before, so he knew someone was following him. He tired to act normal. He was aware that if the person discovered where he lived, he and his family would be in danger, so he decided to take another root and return to the Paladin Association. He has also checked all of the alleys here in the last few weeks and knows his way around.

    When he reached the next alley he turn around and went inside the alley, he knew that he have to choose an alley that is crowded to be more safe. After a few more alleys, he found himself in front of the Paladin Association. He did not enter through the back door, but rather through the main door. Heaved a sigh of relief as he stepped inside. Lara was cleaning his desk when he came in.

    "What are you doing here, Leo? Why are you coming from the main..."

    "Ms. Lara is captain still here?" Leo was gasping for air.

    As Edmond stepped out of his office, his gaze immediately fell on Leo.

    ¡°Leo, what is it?¡± he inquired.

    ¡°Captain, I have reason to believe I was being followed,¡± Leo reported, a trace of concern in his voice.

    ¡°Did you went home?¡± Edmond asked, his expression turning serious.

    ¡°No, I came straight here,¡± Leo responded.

    ¡°And what makes you think you were followed?¡±

    ¡°It was the same sensation I had last time, when we discovered the assassin trailing me,¡± Leo explained, recalling the chilling memory.

    Edmond¡¯s eyes narrowed as he processed the information. Without a word, he turned to Lara.

    ¡°Lara, fetch Liamond, Wina, and Peter immediately,¡± he commanded.

    Lara nodded briskly and hurried off to the main hall. Moments later, she returned with the trio in tow.

    ¡°What seems to be the problem, Captain?¡± Liamond asked with his usual cheerful grin.

    ¡°Liamond, who¡¯s on watch today?¡± Edmond questioned, his tone leaving no room for levity.

    The smile faded from Liamond¡¯s face as he sensed the gravity of the situation. ¡°Frank is,¡± he replied soberly.

    ¡°Take him and sweep the area. Now,¡± Edmond ordered firmly.

    With a solemn nod, Liamond departed on his task. Edmond then turned his attention to Peter.

    "Peter give a sword cane to Leo, and also do the protection protocol on him with Wina."

    He then turned to face Leo.

    "You made a wise decision coming back; go with Peter and don''t worry."

    Peter took Leo¡¯s hand and brought him to the great hall.

    This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

    "Wina, I leave the rest to you; I''m going to take some stuff."

    Wina nodded and turned to face Leo. She closed her eyes and placed her hand on Leo''s head.

    "What is this?" Leo inquired casually.

    "Stop moving; this is a spell, I''m looking for any mark they may have left on you."

    "How does it work?"

    "Pretty simple, the mark is like a thread that is connected to your mana, so if I surround you with my mana, there would be some reaction on my mana."

    She opened her eyes after a few moments.

    "I can''t feel anything, but just to be sure, I am going to put my mark on you, Which let me know where you are and if you are in danger."

    As she rested her hand upon Leo''s chest, a radiant blue light emanated from her touch, causing warmth to spread through him. Just as Leo was about to ask, Peter returned, clutching a cane and two gleaming gems

    "Faleria¡¯s already taught you how to fight, right?" Peter asked.

    "A little, yeah," Leo replied.

    Peter handed him a cane. ¡°This is both a cane and a sword.¡±

    Leo took it, inspecting the craftsmanship before attempting to draw the blade.

    ¡°It¡¯s locked,¡± Peter explained. ¡°I¡¯ve synced it with your mana.¡±

    Understanding dawned on Leo, and he channeled his mana into the cane. After a second, the magical lock clicked open, and Leo drew the lightweight, sharp blade. Peter held the gems up in front of Leo, their surfaces catching the light as he displayed them.

    "Here, take these as well," Peter said, handing Leo a few small stones.

    Leo sheathed the sword and accepted the gems. "What are these?"

    "The blue one is a courage stone. Try activating it."

    Leo focused on the stone, and as it glowed faintly, a warm sensation spread through his body. His mind felt sharper, more focused.

    "It can help you sharpen your mind and make wise choices in stressful situations, It can also prevent simple charm spells from working. You can keep it running for 10 days."

    Leo turned off the stone and placed it in his pocket. He then turned to look at the other stone.

    "What about this one?"

    "The red one is a shield spell; when activated, it can shield you from any normal magical or physical abilities with a rank lower than c; if it has a rank higher than c, it can block it to some extent, depending on the ability. It''s quite potent, but you can only use it five times, so be cautious."

    Leo slipped the red stone into his other pocket.

    ¡°Thank you, Mr. Peter. Ms. Ewer,¡± he said respectfully.

    When Leo, Wina, and Peter returned to the hall, they found Edmond standing with Albert.

    ¡°Leo, Albert will follow you from a distance to make sure everything is alright,¡± Edmond informed him.

    ¡°Thank you,¡± Leo replied.

    ¡°Now go home and don¡¯t worry.¡±

    Leo pressed his fist to his chest in salute. ¡°Yes, sir.¡±

    He said that, then exited through the back door and began walking home. After a few steps, he got the same feeling as before: he was being followed. He reached into his pocket and activated the blue stone and was enveloped in a warm feeling.

    ''Don''t worry, I''ve got the stones now, and Albert is following me, so I''m safe.''

    After a few minutes of walking, the feeling was finally gone, but he didn¡¯t feel easy until he was home. He went into his room and looked out the window, but there was no one suspicious there. He sat on his bed, took the blue stone, and poured some of his mana into it. The stone was turned off. That night, without being able to read his book, he fell asleep before even eating dinner.

    Leo awoke earlier the next morning, finished his stretching, and went outside for a half-hour run. His mother was still sleeping when he returned. He showered and went into his room. he had only one gold coin and fifteen silver coins left after paying Rosie''s school tuition and buying necessities for the past two weeks. He changed his clothes and entered the kitchen. His mother was awake.

    "Good morning, Mom."

    "Good morning, sweetie."

    Leo placed his last gold coin on the table.

    "Mom, use this for any necessities."

    "We still have some left from last time," she said, glancing at the coin.

    "Add it to that. I¡¯ll get paid next week. I¡¯m only getting half this week, so after rent, things will be a bit tight this month."

    His mother smiled as she turned around.

    "Have you forgotten how we used to live? With this money, we can easily get everything we need. take a seat; your breakfast is ready."

    Leo settled into a seat with a smile, completing his breakfast before heading to work. After changing into his workout attire, he made his way to Faleria. She was in the middle of her routine focus, as she always was.

    ¡°Good morning, Coach,¡± Leo greeted quietly, but she didn¡¯t respond, too immersed in concentration.

    Normally, Leo would prepare for the upcoming exercises by fetching necessary items from a nearby closet, but today¡¯s session was different, so he opted to sit quietly in a corner and wait for further instructions.

    Finally, Faleria opened her eyes and acknowledged him with a nod. ¡°Good morning, Leo. Today, you will perform the movement from yesterday as well as four new ones. You¡¯ll also be wearing these.¡±

    Faleria gave Leo a bracelet set.

    "What are these?"

    "Put them on and insert your mana into them."

    When Leo put the bracelets on his arms and inserted his mana, he noticed that his body felt much heavier.

    "This¡­ "

    "This is a weight bracelet; when you activate it, your weight increases, You currently have two ten-pound on, which means you are twenty pounds heavier."

    The corners of her mouth twitched.

    "You are going to do everything with these on."

    Leo''s forehead glistened with sweat, though he wasn¡¯t sure if it was from the weight of the exercise or the intensity of Faleria''s gaze. After she demonstrated the four new movements, he began his routine.

    With each repetition, his breath grew heavier, and his muscles burned in protest. Now and then, he paused to catch his breath before forcing himself to continue. After three grueling hours, Leo finally collapsed to the ground, utterly spent and unable to move.

    ¡°You can turn your bracelets off¡± Faleria said that and continued her concentration exercise.

    Leo infused his mana into the bracelets, and his weight instantly lightened. After waiting for ten minutes, he headed to the storage room, took a shower, and changed into his regular clothes. When he stepped out, Peter was standing there, watching him.

    "So, Faleria beat the crap out of you, huh?" Peter smirked.

    "Yeah, but I need it," Leo responded.

    "And why¡¯s that?" Peter asked, crossing his arms.

    "In two months, there¡¯s an exam, and as you know, my physical stats are really low."

    Peter¡¯s expression tightened, his forehead creased as though he was grappling with something unsaid.

    "Well, I hate to be the one to say it, but..." He hesitated, visibly uncomfortable.

    "But what?" Leo pressed.

    "There¡¯s a high chance you won¡¯t reach the required level in two months, even with Faleria''s training," Peter admitted reluctantly.

    "But I only need twenty-five points!" Leo protested.

    "That¡¯s more than you think," Peter warned.

    Leo frowned, frustration settling in.

    "Don¡¯t be discouraged. There''s still a slim chance you¡¯ll make it, and remember, you can always take the exam in another three months," Peter said, trying to soften the blow.

    Leo stared at the ground, his fists clenching. "Thanks for telling me, Mr. Peter."

    "Of course," Peter replied.

    Leo headed into the kitchen and began preparing his lunch when he felt a hand on his shoulder.

    "Hey, what¡¯s with the long face?"

    Turning around, Leo saw Liamond.

    "It¡¯s nothing, just tired. Coach changed my workout today."

    "Ah, well, that explains it," Liamond said, pouring himself some tea. "But keep it up; it¡¯s all for your own good."

    He flashed a smile before walking away.

    ¡®I know, but it¡¯s still not enough,¡¯ Leo thought, finishing his lunch before heading to the library.

    ¡­

    Edmond stood by the window of his office, gazing out thoughtfully, when a knock interrupted his thoughts. He moved to his desk and sat down.

    "Come in," he called.

    Albert entered, stepping forward with a respectful nod. "Captain, you wanted to see me?"

    "Yes, Albert, have a seat," Edmond gestured to the chair across from him.

    As Albert sat down, Edmond¡¯s expression grew serious. "Did you notice anything suspicious yesterday?"

    "Nothing, sir," Albert replied calmly. "Maybe he was just anxious. After all, he''s only fourteen, and he''s already dealing with memories that could easily become traumatic."

    "Perhaps..." Edmond mused, leaning back slightly. "But we can¡¯t take any chances. We have to remain vigilant. Keep a close eye on him."

    "Understood, sir," Albert said firmly.

    ¡­

    As the clock struck four in the afternoon, Leo gathered his belongings and slipped out the back door, following his usual routine. His familiar walk home was abruptly interrupted when he noticed a man ahead with an unsettlingly wide, sinister grin. A chill crept down Leo¡¯s spine. Discreetly, he activated the blue gem hidden in his pocket, though he couldn¡¯t be sure if Albert was still shadowing him.

    The streets were dotted with passersby, but the man''s intentions became unmistakable as he charged straight for Leo. Spinning on his heel, Leo¡¯s escape was cut off by another figure blocking his path. With no other choice, he darted into a nearby alley, breaking into a full sprint.

    ¡­

    Albert noticed Leo running and placed two fingers on his temple.

    "Wina, Leo''s running. Call everyone. I¡¯m going to trail him," he said, using telepathy to communicate.

    ¡°What¡¯s he running from? He just activated the stone, and he¡¯s terrified.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know. I can¡¯t see anything.¡±

    Wina¡¯s pupils dilated.

    "Albert, stay alert. This might be an illusion spell," she warned, her voice laced with urgency as she reached out to Edmond.

    ¡°Captain, we have a code red situation with Leo,¡± she relayed with haste.

    Upon receiving the message, Edmond rose swiftly from his seat.

    ¡°Alert the team and prepare to move out immediately,¡± he commanded, his voice resonating with the gravity of the situation.

    Edmond reached into his closet and took out a pair of golden gloves, putting them on. He also grabbed his heavy sword and rushed out; everyone was already there.

    "Let''s go"

    ¡­

    Leo¡¯s feet pounded the pavement as he sprinted through the alleyways, not daring to glance back. At a three-way junction, he veered right, only to be met with the same unnerving smile of a man blocking his path. With no time to lose, he pivoted left and continued his escape. Yet, at every subsequent intersection, the pattern repeated: one alley was always occupied by a man.

    A realization struck him mid-stride. ¡®Why is he just walking? And how is he everywhere?¡¯

    His thoughts raced as adrenaline surged through his veins.

    ¡®Could he be herding me somewhere?¡¯ Leo pondered, suspicion mounting with each turn.

    Leo took his red crystal and took out his sword. He reached the end of the alley and found himself in the middle of a small square surrounded by old buildings. From behind a shadow in the corner, a green ball shot towards him. Leo turned on the red stone and a shield appeared around him. The green ball exploded when it struck the shield. A cloud of dust lifted off the ground. In the middle of the dust, Leo saw a figure approaching. With his sword drawn, he struck at the figure, but it vanished. A shadowy hand emerged from the dust and grabbed Leo by the neck. His body grew heavy and tired.

    ''My body is heavy; it''s a spell."

    As the dust settled, Leo could finally see where the shadowy hand had come from¡ªa figure standing in a patch of darkness five meters away. A deep voice echoed from the shadows as a man in a black robe stepped forward, his face breaking into a twisted smile, eyes gleaming with unsettling joy.

    "Greetings, Mister Mantine."