The gold began to drain from the toys.
It reacted perfectly with the Catalyst, binding to the formation with visible threads of blue-black light.
I sat cross-legged and closed my eyes.
Mana Breathing.
I pulled the swirling mana into me, guiding it down through my chest.
My Mana Core beneath the heart pulsed.
’Time to create a Mana Star.’
I used a unique Mana Star Creation technique.
This one was called, [Mana Constellation Creation Technique].
Unlike the standard Mana Star Creation technique, I was using a refined method that would be created years from now.
It would be an innovation by the future genius of the Space Element Mage Path.
Each star formed this way could hold nearly double the mana compared to the traditional method.
More importantly, the stability of the stars made them ideal for Space-type Spells.
I gritted my teeth and focused.
Sweat rolled down my temples.
The first star was formed.
A dense silver dot that floated in the center of my Mana Core.
When it was done, I collapsed backward, panting. The system’s notification appeared before my eyes.
Class Mage
Grade: 0-Star → 1-Star
+3 Intelligence, +3 Spirit
I blinked, letting the numbers settle in.
Then came the next one.
Shadow Summon: Level 4 → Level 5
I let out a dry laugh and opened the status screen again.
Name: @!$!@#$@
Rank 0
...
Species: Human [Rank 1]
...
Stats:
Strength: 3
Dexterity: 5 → 8
Endurance: 1
Intelligence: 104 → 109
Spirit: 7 → 10
...
Classes:
Shadow (Click to check class details)
Alchemist (Click to check class details)
Mage (Click to check class details)
...
Class: Alchemist
Rank 0
Grade: Apprentice Alchemist → Journeyman Alchemist
Perks: Improved Ingredient Comprehension, Steady Hand (New)
...
Class: Mage
Rank 0
Grade: 0-Star → 1-Star
Alignment: Space Element
Innate Spells: Magic Bullet, Telekinesis (New)
...
I scrolled through the screen twice before closing it.
For the first time in months, my status page was something to be proud of.
My stats were quite high for my age, and the foundation I had built was solid.
I had power now.
Power that came from effort, planning, and the right use of my knowledge from the previous timeline.
I turned toward Seris.
She had curled up on the wooden floor, one hand loosely clutching the edge of her dress.
Despite the glowing lights from alchemy, the swirling mana, and even my short chanting earlier, she hadn’t woken up.
’She’s really out. She must’ve been was exhausted due to the birthday party.’
A small part of me had been wary of her waking up, but my worries had been unfounded in the end.
’I should place her on the bed.’
I raised my hand, gathered mana, and chanted a Spell.
A Magic Circle appeared in the air. It disappeared within seconds.
"—Portal."
A swirling oval appeared beside her, and another portal appeared on the bed. From the portal next to her, I could see the top of bed.
I raised my other hand, and chanted another Spell.
Again, the magic circle appeared and disappeared within a few seconds.
"—Telekinesis," my chant completed.
A faint violet glow surrounded Seris’ body.
She floated off the ground.
I guided her through the portal.
Her body drifted into one and came out of the other smoothly, on top of the bed.
I laid her gently on the mattress.
The portals faded away with a soft ripple in the air.
A faint smile tugged at my lips.
’At 1-star, I can only create one set of portals...’ I thought to myself, moving over to the empty side of the bed. ’But it’s enough for now.’
I could open portals to any location within my line of sight, and places I had previously visited, and knew coordinates of.
The longer the distance, the more mana it consumed.
It wasn’t exactly efficient, at only 1-star Mage grade, but it was a huge leap from my previous limitations.
In battle, it could mean the difference between life and death.
’I want to create a Spatial Inventory, but let’s do it tomorrow.’
’I should train tonight instead of sleeping. That’s more important.’
Sleep tempted me, but now that I had access to the Space Element, I couldn’t waste time.
Portal spells were tricky.
If I wanted to use them in actual combat, I had to master them to the point where I didn’t need to chant and the magic circles didn’t appear at spell activation.
Those two things would slow me down, and alert the enemy of my incoming attacks.
In a real fight, it would be enough to get me killed.
I began the training. I alternated between [Shadow Summon], [Magic Bullet], and the new Portal spell, weaving them together, pushing for fluidity and speed.
The room quickly became a testing ground.
Shadows flickered. Sparks of mana flew. And the soft glow of portals opened and closed again and again.
Hours passed without me realizing it.
Sweat dripped down my back. My mana reserves had been depleted and restored through repeated breaks.
At some point, I reached a point where chanting was no longer necessary for portals and magic bullets.
This was thanks to my high Intelligence, and the Mana Constellation Creation Technique that allowed me to control Space elementals betters, thus master Space-Element Spells faster.
Though the magic circles still appeared briefly before activation.
I was just about to continue when I felt it.
A subtle shift in the air.
A movement—barely audible—whispered through the room like the flutter of cloth.
I panicked for a second, then quickly shut my eyes and collapsed back onto the bed. I adjusted my breathing, as if I were asleep.
The hadn’t come from the hallway like I had thought at first.
I listened closely and found its source.
The window.
The sound had come from the balcony window.
A slight shift occurred in the airflow. It was a sign that the window and been opened, which let the night air flow into the room.
There were still no footsteps.
My body grew tense.
’There is an intruder.’
Whoever it was, they were experienced.
Either an assassin or someone just as dangerous. Normal people didn’t move without making a sound.