Chapter 27 – Improvements (Part 1)
[Gray’s POV]
After that, we continued training as usual.
The moment I formed my Mana Core, I could already feel the difference.
Power flowed through my body like a slow, endless tide.
My muscles felt lighter yet stronger. My senses became sharper. Even my breathing felt smoother, as though every breath naturally drew mana into my body.
It was an incredible feeling.
But I didn’t allow myself to become distracted.
Not because the improvement wasn’t important...
But because training under Mother was far more valuable than simply growing stronger.
In this world, countless people would willingly sacrifice everything they owned for even a single day of guidance from Seraphina Starlight.
Yet here I was...
Receiving her personal instruction whenever she had time.
That alone was an opportunity beyond measure.
So I pushed aside every unnecessary thought and devoted myself completely to my training.
To my control.
To my foundation.
⸻
After some time, curiosity got the better of me.
Status.
The familiar blue screen immediately materialized before my eyes.
⸻
[STATUS WINDOW]
Name: Gray Starlight
Age: 8
Rank: G
Bloodline: Unawakened
Physique: Unawakened
Class: None
Talent: SS+
⸻
[Attributes]
Strength: G
Agility: G
Endurance: G
Mana: F
Mana Capacity: F
Will: G
Charm: S
Intelligence: C+
Luck: ??? (Random)
⸻
[Affinities]
• Ice Affinity
• Darkness Affinity
• Space Affinity
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[Skills]
None
⸻
[Mastery]
Mana Beginner Mastery (21%)
Swordsmanship Beginner Mastery (98%)
⸻
[Bound Weapon]
Name: Eclipse
Rank: ??? (Currently G)
Ability:
Life Steal
⸻
I quietly studied the screen.
The changes were obvious.
The first thing that caught my attention was my Mana and Mana Capacity.
Both had already reached F Rank.
Just a short while ago, they had only been at G Rank.
Simply forming a Mana Core had dramatically increased both the quality and quantity of my mana.
The rest of my physical attributes had also stabilized at G Rank.
It wasn’t an explosive increase in strength.
Instead...
It felt solid.
Stable.
Like a sturdy foundation had finally been laid beneath me.
Then my gaze shifted toward another new entry.
Mana Beginner Mastery.
Just like Swordsmanship Mastery, it had appeared naturally after I formed my Mana Core.
That probably meant mastery wasn’t something granted by the system.
It was something acknowledged after reaching a certain level of understanding.
Which also meant...
The more I practiced controlling mana, the higher this mastery would become.
Finally, my attention settled on my Mana Core itself.
Even without looking at the status screen, I could clearly feel it inside my body.
A silent black sphere rotated deep within my chest, steadily drawing mana toward itself.
It absorbed mana from my surroundings, compressed it, refined it, then circulated it throughout my body without interruption.
It was strangely beautiful.
Almost mesmerizing.
It didn’t simply store mana.
It devoured it.
The image of a miniature black hole suited it perfectly.
A small smile appeared on my face.
This Mana Core...
It suited my Space Affinity far better than an ordinary vortex ever could.
I slowly closed the status screen.
Then I tightened my grip around Eclipse’s hilt.
Training no longer felt like simple practice.
With every passing second...
I could actually feel myself growing stronger.
⸻
Unable to hide my excitement, I looked toward Mother and Amy.
"Mom!"
They both turned toward me.
"My Mana and Mana Capacity both reached F Rank."
I couldn’t stop smiling.
"I also awakened Mana Beginner Mastery."
I glanced at the invisible screen one last time before continuing.
"It’s already at twenty-one percent."
"And my Swordsmanship Mastery reached ninety-eight percent."
"My overall rank has also advanced to G Rank."
The words poured out one after another without pause.
Mother and Amy exchanged surprised glances.
Even Mother, who rarely showed her emotions, looked slightly astonished.
"Already?"
She studied me carefully for several seconds.
"It seems your Mana Core developed even faster than I anticipated."
Although her expression remained calm, I could hear a faint trace of approval in her voice.
Then she asked,
"Do you want to push through the remaining two percent and complete your Beginner Swordsmanship Mastery today?"
I thought about it seriously.
For a brief moment...
The temptation was there.
Only two percent remained.
One more training session would probably be enough.
But eventually, I shook my head.
"No."
Both Mother and Amy blinked.
"I don’t want to rush everything."
I smiled sheepishly.
"If I complete everything immediately, there won’t be anything left to look forward to."
"I’d rather naturally reach one hundred percent during my next training session."
"That way..."
"It’ll feel more satisfying."
Silence lingered for a moment.
Then Mother let out a faint sigh.
"...You’re an unusual child."
Despite her words, I noticed the corner of her lips lift ever so slightly.
She approved.
⸻
After another short period of training, Mother suddenly spoke again.
"Astrid will return tomorrow."
The moment I heard her name, my eyes lit up.
"Really?"
Mother nodded.
"Her mission has concluded."
"From tomorrow onward, she’ll personally oversee most of your combat training."
"I’ve already informed Selena."
"She’ll return to handling her usual responsibilities."
The moment I heard Astrid was coming back...
A wave of excitement surged through me.
Astrid...
She wasn’t simply one of Mother’s subordinates.
Nor was she merely one of the Starlight Family’s strongest knights.
To Amy and me...
She had always been family.
Whenever Mother was buried beneath mountains of work, Astrid was the one who stayed beside us.
She had taught Amy her earliest sword forms.
She had corrected my posture every time I held a wooden sword incorrectly.
She always looked strict.
Always acted serious.
Yet she quietly spoiled both of us in her own way.
If Mother was always there to guide our future...
Then Astrid had been there for countless ordinary days that made up our childhood.
Without realizing it...
A smile spread across my face.
"She’s finally coming home..."
Mother quietly watched my reaction before giving a small nod.
"I expected you’d be happy."
Then her expression became serious once more.
"That’s enough training for today."
"You’ve made remarkable progress."
"But don’t let today’s success make you careless."
She stepped closer before gently placing a hand on my head.
"Power gained too quickly is meaningless if your foundation becomes unstable."
She lightly patted my head.
"Go eat something."
"And get some rest."