SLASH—!
I delivered my very last strike, completing the final repetition of my fencing drill.
The cold blade of the ice rapier cut through the air with a sharp hiss before I finally brought my body to a halt.
The sweat that I had wiped off my forehead after my long run this morning had already returned, coating my skin even heavier than before. My breathing was shallow and rapid, and I could feel the heat radiating from my tired limbs.
’I’m hungry.’
I thought as I slid my hand into the pocket of my jogging pants to retrieve my phone.
I tapped the screen to check the time. It was already well past noon. It was definitely time for lunch, and my body was more than ready to remind me of that fact with another quiet rumble from my stomach.
I turned around on the soft grass of the backyard, planning to head straight inside the house to grab something to eat.
"Huh?"
But when I looked up toward the back door of the house, I noticed that I wasn’t alone. Cindy was standing right there at the entrance, quietly leaning against the frame and observing me.
"Sis told me to get you, it’s time to eat."
She stated. Her expression was completely blank, her face flat and unreadable as she delivered the message.
"Ah, thanks."
I replied.
I offered her a simple, polite nod of my head accompanied by a faint smile. With a quick thought, I released the mana holding my weapon together. The long, elegant ice blade instantly began to dissolve, fracturing into tiny particles before completely dissipating into the warm afternoon air like a harmless mist.
I began walking across the lawn, making my way toward the back door so I could head inside. Then as I drew closer and finally prepared to step past Cindy to enter the hallway—
"You’ve been training consistently."
She suddenly said that.
Her voice caught me completely off guard. My feet came to a sudden halt entirely on instinct, and I turned toward her to look at her properly. I hadn’t expected her to say anything else to me, given how distant she usually acted.
"Well, I need to be strong."
I answered. It was the simple truth, after all.
I honestly expected that to be the end of our brief interaction, and I was just about to take another step forward into the house. But before my foot could even touch the indoor floorboards—
"Want to have a spar sometimes?"
She asked that.
"..."
I stood there completely frozen, utterly taken aback by her unexpected proposal. My eyes widened just a tiny fraction as the weight of her words settled into my brain.
Over the course of the last three days, I had managed to piece together several critical details about the people I was living with.
One of the most important facts I discovered was that Cindy, just like the original Vael, was also a scholar designated for [The Star Academy]. In exactly two months, she would be entering the gates of the academy as a first-year freshman as well!
That single detail meant everything right now. It meant that her combat capabilities and overall strength were already on par with the standard requirements for students admitted into such a prestigious institution. Having a golden opportunity to engage in a controlled spar with someone of that caliber was something I would be incredibly foolish to turn down.
’I can gauge myself against a student of the academy... I’ll know how strong I need to be at least to stay in that place.’
The thought echoed clearly in my mind. A small smile gradually found its way onto my face as I looked back at her.
"Sure, how about same time tomorrow?"
Opening my mouth, I offered the suggestion directly to Cindy.
She didn’t offer a verbal reply to my question. Instead, she simply gave a firm, single nod of her head, indicating her clear agreement to the terms.
Once the matter was settled, the two of us walked side by side down the short hallway toward the dining area, where Ahri was already waiting for our arrival.
Ahri had clearly been busy while I was training in the backyard. She had prepared the entire dining table all by herself, setting down a wide variety of delicious-looking dishes that made my mouth water instantly.
"Come and sit down, you two... Let’s eat."
At Ahri’s invitation; Cindy and I quietly took our respective seats at the rectangular table alongside her.
The three of us briefly muttered our quiet thanks for the meal, and without waiting another second, we finally dug into the food.
*****
After having lunch, I made sure to take care of all the household chores I could find before heading back upstairs.
I washed the plates, wiped down the counters, and made sure the kitchen was spotless. Once that was done, I finally slipped into the bathroom to take a long, hot bath, washing away the layers of sweat and dirt from my morning routine.
When I was finally clean and refreshed, I returned to my bedroom and closed the door behind me.
"Hmm~"
I hummed softly as I threw myself onto the mattress.
In my room, I investigate more about Vael’ character.
I also use my phone and the internet to conduct extensive research and learn more about this world, about [The Star Academy], and the historical records surrounding the Frostguard Family.
Every single piece of useful information was meticulously logged into a dedicated folder inside the notes app on my phone.
Anyway, as it turned out, the Frostguard lineage was a significantly bigger deal in this society than I had originally anticipated.
In the actual game, the family was barely mentioned outside of a brief summary on Vael’s character unlock sheet, which had led me to believe they were just some minor, low-ranking noble house. But the reality of this world was entirely different.
The Frostguard Family was actually one of the 12 Great Families of the entire nation!
I discovered this yesterday.
Oh, and another important detail--the geography of this world was entirely distinct from Earth.
The name of the country I was currently residing in was [Valtheria]. According to the lore of the game, it stood as the most dominant and powerful human kingdom, serving as the central hub for the main plot.
Moving on...
I also use a significant portion of my time to actual academic studying.
I possessed a general idea of the subjects that were taught inside the academy walls based on my playthroughs, but in the game, passing those classes simply required completing a few quick, mindless mini-games.
I knew that that won’t be the case anymore, obviously. If I flunked the written exams, I would be kicked out. That was exactly why I was forcing myself to read through digital textbooks for hours on end, continuing until a dull ache started to form right behind my eyes.
And when I was finally completely done with the mental exhaustion of studying—
I would transition into practicing my mastery over Vael’s abilities.
It might seems like I was completely overloading my daily schedule with an absurd amount of work. However, the process of figuring out how to manifest the ice, adjusting its density, and experimenting with the core mechanics of my innate powers was actually entertaining.
The same with using the Buffs and Debuffs.
It served as a fantastic way to relieve stress. I viewed it as a genuine hobby, a fun distraction after being thoroughly burdened by hours of physical training and intense academic reading. The fact that it’s helpful for me to do this is a huge bonus.
I would consistently repeat these exercises in the center of my room until the sun go down, signaling the arrival of the night.
At night, like clockwork, Ahri’s gentle knock would echo against the door of my room, and she would call out to both me and Cindy, inviting us to come downstairs for dinner.
The two of us would happily comply, leaving our rooms to head down together.
The evening meal was a peaceful affair, unfolding much like breakfast and lunch had. Once the food was entirely cleared away, I would dutifully stand by the sink to wash the dishes, ensuring I don’t become a freeloader, before heading back upstairs to take a second bath for the day.
Afterward, I would spend the remaining hours of the evening simply resting, allowing both my mind and my physical body a chance to breathe and recover from the strain.
I would lounge on the bed, scrolling through random videos on social media, reading web novels, and playing games.
I would continue this relaxing routine until the sheer weight of physical exhaustion finally caught up to me, pulling my eyelids down and guiding me into a deep, dreamless sleep.
... ... ...
... ... ...
... ... ...
*****
The following morning arrived, and I did my daily routine exactly as I always did without a single deviation.
I ate breakfast, completed my shared chores, went out for my running session, and wrapped things up with my fencing drills in the backyard.
Except this time, right before I could officially call it a day and head inside for lunch, there was one final thing on my schedule...
"..."
I was standing in the center of the yard.
"Are you ready?"
Cindy asked.
She stood a few paces away from me, her posture relaxed but alert. In her grip, she held a training weapon that closely resembled a massive, elongated needle. The tool possessed absolutely no cutting edges whatsoever; it was a specialized piece of equipment designed entirely for swift, precise thrusting.
FWIP-
I adjusted my fingers, tightening my grip on the cool hilt of my newly manifested ice rapier. I locked my eyes onto hers, completely focused.
"I am."
I responded.
I gave her a firm, decisive nod, bracing my feet against the dirt.
It was time for my spar with Cindy.