In the few minutes he had, Raelis jumped into the shower and quickly washed up
By now, he had come to terms with the fact that he wasn’t dreaming. But that also meant that at 18 years of age, he had been killed and was now truly back to the time he was 12.
And I also have this strange status interface helping me... Raelis sighed. Since I’ve awakened a bloodline, that means I can finally enter the academy.
It was a weird name the founders of the empire had come up with for the academy, but it made sense in a way.
The academy had been built to forge the elite. Imperials first, everyone else second. It was like a crucible designed to temper their strength, crush their weaknesses, and solidify a hierarchy that would last long after graduation.
Of course, it would not be that easy, since the Imperials family of Varekan only makes up around 5% of the academy’s students.
The rest? Students with bloodlines of their own. Most weren’t as extraordinary as the Varekan line, but they were still far from ordinary.
Nonetheless, just as he was about to fall asleep in his bathtub, a knock resounded on his bathroom door, followed by a voice.
—Young master! I’ve completed your task! Do you want me to do anything else?
Already? She sure works fast, Raelis thought, but didn’t leave the shower.
Instead, he raised his voice.
"Reserve a room for me at the training center, and do it as quickly as you can," Raelis ordered. "Get one of the nicer rooms, and prepare some weights for me."
After a brief moment of silence, her voice echoed through the door again.
—As you wish, young master. I shall call you shortly.
With that, she dashed away toward one of the imperial training centers, leaving Raelis to his thoughts.
He had a few minutes until she came back, so until then, he’d soak in the water, and practice his two abilities.
By the time he stepped out, an hour had already flown by.
Raelis got dressed, fixed his collar, and glanced to the side where two glowing pop-ups floated in the air.
Lesser Ember Manifestation (☆ — Mastery: 1% → 3%)
Lesser Heat Control (☆ — Mastery: 1% → 3%)
It went up slower than last time, but it was just as satisfying to control magic.
Anyways... Raelis stretched his back. She should be back here any minute now—
"Young master!" She swung the door open, and upon noticing that he wasn’t in the shower, she froze.
"I-I apologize. I did it again."
Raelis nodded. "Let’s go."
She straightened her back and, with steady steps, began leading him through the mansion’s broad, high-ceilinged halls.
The training center was on the far end of the palace. It was a very inconvenient place to go to, but that was exactly why he had asked his maid to reserve a spot for him.
I need to stay here for a couple more days. And then... Raelis gulped, clenching his shaking fists. I’ll see my mother again... I hope.
After a few more minutes, he arrived at the training center and swung open its doors. The sight inside was as one would expect: an indoor gym at the center, training rooms at the far end, and a bunch of dummies off to the sides."
Each dummy had a tier, going from a wooden dummy at the lowest tier to an iron one at the highest.
There’s one more, but I’d struggle even with a wooden dummy in my current state, Raelis thought, then turned to Lydia.
"Which room did you reserve?"
His brows twitched. "Number one wasn’t available?"
Lydia’s gaze fell to the ground as she tightened her grip on her dress. "I apologize, young master... It’s already been taken by young miss Elandra."
The one who can’t control her temper. I see... I should get going then, Raelis thought and nodded at Lydia. "You may go now. Prepare a bath for when I come back, and some sweets."
"Yes, young master..." Lydia trailed off, looking him up and down one last time before finally leaving the training center.
He stared at her departing back. From her actions, it’s still hard to tell whether or not she opened the note... but I’m patient.
With that, he walked to his room on the other end of the training center.
It was a simple room locked behind a steel door. Yet as he put his hand on the doorknob, the door to his left abruptly opened.
Elandra slowly walked out of the room, absentmindedly massaging her bleeding knuckles. That was until her gaze landed on Raelis.
The moment it did, a faint smirk formed on her face as she approached.
"Pfft... Why, if it isn’t the one percent?" Elandra commented, holding back a laugh. "Are you going to train? Why not take up the worse rooms? I feel like it would be more fitting."
"Nice to see you too, Elandra," Raelis replied calmly, meeting her crimson eyes. "And yes, I’m here to train. As for my room selection? It’s none of your concern."
"Huh, you’re a lot more talkative than last time," Elandra remarked, putting her hand on his shoulder, and squeezing tight. "Still scrawny though..."
Raelis’s brows twitched in annoyance as he flicked her hand off his shoulder and opened the door to his training room.
Yet just as he was about to enter it, she grabbed him by the collar, and tossed him back.
This musclebrain... Raelis sighed, maneuvered his body in midair, and landed right on his feet.
To his surprise, she followed up with a jab, which he just barely managed to evade by tilting his head.
But that seemed to piss her off even more. A flame began blossoming in her palm, much larger than the ember he was able to form.
Then, with a flick of her wrist, she hurled the flame at Raelis.
The moment she did, a flicker of panic flashed in her eyes, but with no time to dodge, Raelis focused on what was in front of him.
"You’re unbelievable..." he muttered in a low tone, brought his hands forward, and caught the fireball in between his palms.
To no one’s surprise, a loud crisping noise resounded. But Raelis bore through the pain of his hands being burned as he utilized one of his abilities.
He was able to control the temperature of his own embers, and since Elandra’s flame was in such close proximity, he began feeling a connection with it as well.
So, with a pained groan, he began squeezing the fireball in his hands. Bit by bit, he drained its heat until the flame collapsed with a soft pop and vanished into smoke.
"Haa..." Raelis gasped, falling to the ground, and looking at his charred hands.
I-I need to get inside the training room. There should be a healing potion in there... Raelis thought, and glanced toward Elandra.
But to his surprise, she was nowhere to be seen. The training center was once again empty.
She’s gone...? The prideful Elandra Varekan is gone?