Vale.

The next four days were absolutely terrifying hell that every kid needed to experience.

Almost all of them felt the leader wanted to kill them more than strengthen them.

Alex did not get disturbed by Azeus after that and even Eryndor did not disturb him.

He knew his limits, he didn't try to contact them too, he did not know if he could defeat Azeus in an actual one-on-one battle so he decided to hold back, Eryndor was even out of his league.

"That was a insane training..." Alex patted his back.

Pain.

Endless, relentless pain.

The past four days had truly been hell.

Helgar had beaten them down physically, forcing them to endure bone-crushing strength training. Eryndor, on the other hand, was worse—pushing them to their limits with mana exercises so exhausting that students collapsed from pure exhaustion.

Alex had suffered through every second of it.

Every step. Every bruise. Every moment his muscles screamed for rest—he had kept going.

His fists had been shattered and healed. His body pushed until he vomited.

But—

He never gave up.

He couldn't give up.

And now—

He stood outside Room 456.

The hallway was empty, the torches flickering in the dim light. He could hear his own heartbeat, steady but tense.

He inhaled deeply.

Then, he knocked.

The door creaked open almost instantly.

Vale stood there, arms crossed, her expression unreadable.

"...You actually showed up," she said, a hint of amusement in her voice.

Alex exhaled, stepping inside. "Yeah. Now tell me—"

"Shut up and sit down," Vale interrupted, shutting the door behind him.

Alex blinked. "...Excuse me?"

Vale smirked, reaching into her coat.

"I'm about to change your life, dumbass. Now listen closely."

She pulled out a small, glowing vial—

And tossed it straight at him.

"Whats this?" Alex asked.

"Just getting ready for your training... don't worry I am not poisoning you, if you want i will drink it first." Vale said this.

"I... will trust you." Alex said this.

Pop!

He popped the cap and gulped it down.

"Eh, its like drinking tasteless water." He was surprised.

"Anyway, good job now sit." Vale pointed on the ground.

Alex sat down as Vale instructed, his muscles still aching from the brutal training. His body screamed for rest, but his mind was sharp—focused.

Vale didn't waste time. She reached into her coat and pulled out a worn, leather-bound book. Its dark cover was cracked with age, its edges frayed.

She tossed it onto the table in front of Alex. Thud.

He raised an eyebrow. "...A book?"

Vale rolled her eyes. "Yes, genius. A book. Try not to die from the shock."

Alex scowled but picked it up. The title was barely visible, faded by time, but the weight of it felt important.

"What's in it?" he asked.

"The basics," Vale replied. "Mana theory, spell construction, control techniques. The kind of stuff most nobles are spoon-fed from birth."

Alex clenched his jaw. "So, why are you giving it to me?"

Vale leaned in, resting her elbows on the table. "Because I've been watching you, Alex."

He stiffened.

She smirked. "Not in a weird way. Relax."

Alex exhaled.

Vale tapped the book. "You don't know this yet, but you can use mana. You just don't know how to feel it."

Alex frowned. "I tried during training. Nothing happened."

Vale sighed. "Of course nothing happened. You're approaching it wrong."

She flipped the book open to the first page, revealing ancient diagrams of the human body, its pathways glowing faintly with traces of mana.

"Everyone has mana, but not everyone can use it the same way. Nobles? They have generations of refined bloodlines and training. But commoners?" She looked at him knowingly. "We have to figure it out the hard way."

Alex's fingers tightened around the pages.

Vale pointed to a section of the book. "This is the first step—sensing mana. Before you can manipulate it, you need to feel it."

Alex's eyes scanned the passage. It described different methods of sensing mana—breathing exercises, meditative states, ways to focus one's awareness inward.

He swallowed. "And if I can't feel it?"

Vale smirked. "Then you're useless."

Alex's eye twitched.

She laughed. "Relax. That's not going to happen. I've got a feeling you're different."

Alex looked down at the book again.

He had spent his entire life as nothing. Powerless.

But now…

He had a chance.

He took a deep breath, flipping to the first exercise.

It was time to begin.

"Why are you helping me?" Alex asked, his eyes narrowing slightly. He barely knew this girl—aside from their brief encounter. So why was she handing him this book for free?

Vale smirked, leaning back against the table. "Like I said, I've been watching you, Alex. You… feel different. Like something ancient, something old..." She tilted her head, as if studying him. "Maybe you're the reincarnation of some ancient, super-powerful elder. When you regain your memories, you can owe me a favor, yeah?"

She chuckled at her own joke.

Alex snorted. "Reincarnator? Yeah, right."

"Hey, you never know," Vale said, still grinning.

He shook his head and glanced at the book. "So… do I read it here or—?"

"Nah, take it with you. It's just a beginner's guide, I have plenty of copies." Vale waved her hand dismissively. "Make sure you read it tonight. Tomorrow, when they assign you to a house, maybe you'll awaken as both a mage and a knight." She shrugged. "Who knows?"

Alex clutched the book tighter. "Then… thanks, Vale. I don't know why you're doing this, but I won't forget it."

Vale smirked. "Oh yeah, by the way, that potion's effects last for 24 hours. You should train your mana sensing before then."

Alex gave her a nod before stepping out.

His grip tightened on the book.

This was it. The first step.

Now, it was up to him to seize whatever future lay ahead.

If he couldn't feel mana… well, then he'd just have to find another way.

End Of Chapter.