Crimson Veil

She hadn't said anything since Professor Emma left, and for a moment, Lucien hesitated. Should he talk to her again?

Eventually, he leaned in slightly and asked.

"Do you have any interest in heading to the training hall?"

Sistina looked up, a bit surprised.

"I do. I plan to spar later today but… not with you."

Lucien blinked.

"Not with me?"

She nodded, tucking a loose strand of red hair behind her ear.

"The rumors about you aren't exactly encouraging. If I spar with you, it might draw attention. People will talk."

Lucien frowned.

"Talk about what?"

"That a commoner girl is getting close to the prince. It might affect your reputation. Or mine."

Her voice wasn't sharp, but it carried a firm edge.

So that's what it was. Not dislike. Not judgment. Just caution.

He remembered what he overheard on the first day—the gap between nobles and commoners was still very much alive in people's minds. Even if Iris was in love, she still hadn't revealed her boyfriend. And now Sistina was hesitant, despite their earlier interaction.

"I see, makes sense."

He gave her a small nod of understanding and stood.

"I'll be at the training hall, if you change your mind."

He walked off. Sistina looked like she wanted to say something, but she didn't. The words stopped at her lips, and Lucien didn't turn back.

For now, there were more important things to focus on.

The training hall was already bustling when he arrived. Students were scattered everywhere, some sparring, others channeling mana, a few taming beasts. The clang of steel and the shimmer of spells filled the air.

Lucien stepped into the massive space, pausing briefly as he felt the energy of it all. It was alive with potential.

He found an open space near the edge of the arena, pulled his sword out, and took a deep breath.

"Shadow Rush!" 

Mana tried to flow through his body, weaving beneath his skin like threads of heat. For a moment, he disappeared—his figure flickered and phased into the shadows.

Gasps echoed from a few nearby students.

"He's still at it." 

"He's been practicing that same move for days." 

"Why is a swordsman even bothering with shadow-type magic?" 

Lucien ignored the whispers. He reappeared seconds later, off balance. He'd only managed to stay phased for five seconds—his current record. He gritted his teeth. Shadow Rush required ten seconds of sustained execution to be considered stable.

He started again.

"Shadow Rush!"

This time, his body felt lighter, more fluid—but again, it collapsed at the five-second mark. Mana control was the key. He knew that. But controlling it throughout his entire body? That was the challenge.

He tried again.

And again.

And again.

His uniform clung to his sweat-soaked skin. His breath came out in gasps. Yet, he didn't stop. The stares didn't faze him anymore. He had a goal.

And then—

Ding!

A system notification popped up.

New Quest GeneratedObjective: Master Shadow Rush within one month.Reward: [Newbie Scroll: Blood Sword Technique – Final Volume]

 [Crimson Veil]

Lucien's eyes widened. Crimson Veil? That sounded intense.

"System, what is Crimson Veil?"

Crimson Veil is an ancient extension of the Blood Sword Technique. It enhances the user's ocular perception in combat by magnifying reflexes, vision, and mental processing speed by tenfold. As host levels up, the effectiveness increases.

Lucien's brows furrowed.

"So, it's like entering a hyper domain?"

Precisely. It allows the user to predict, observe, and react far beyond natural human limitations. However, it activates only under specific conditions, or when triggered manually.

Lucien nodded slowly.

"What's my current affinity with in shadow rush?"

System: Current Affinity: 20%

Learning Shadow Rush was proving far more difficult than his first technique.

Blood Vein Slash, though brutal, was straightforward. Lucien had mastered it in just under three weeks. Shadow Rush, on the other hand, was elusive. It demanded precision, patience, and a level of mana control that bordered on magical expertise.

Lucien got back to it. Again and again, he flickered in and out of the shadows, trying to stretch those seconds longer, trying to sync his breath with mana.

The day wore on.

Eventually, the sun dipped below the horizon, and the training hall began to empty. Students left in pairs, in groups, laughing and joking. Lucien stood there alone, panting, drenched in sweat, and still stuck at five seconds.

But he wasn't disappointed.

He was determined.

Later that night, Lucien finished his dinner in the main hall and headed to his dorm room. He passed a few other students on the way—some looked at him curiously, others whispered—but he paid them no mind.

In his room, he stood before the mirror, unbuttoning the top of his academy uniform. He looked at himself—his face was slightly paler than usual, dark circles beginning to form under his eyes.

"Crimson Veil, will it change my eye color?"

Yes. During activation, the host's irises will shift to a deep crimson shade. This is temporary and will revert after deactivation.

Lucien exhaled a small breath of relief.

"Good. I don't want to stand out more than I already do."

He took another glance at the mirror, then called it again.

"Status Window."

Name: Lucien GraycliffAge: 17Race: HumanTitle: [Useless Prince]Class: SwordsmanLevel: 11Skills: Blood Vein Slash (Mastered), Shadow Rush (Affinity – 23%)Trait: Phantom EdgeMana: 8/37Stamina: 0/46Status: Alive (Sleepy)

He stared at the screen for a few moments.

Twenty-three percent affinity with Shadow Rush. Still a long way to go.

"Learning it within a month… Tch. This is going to be hell."

He sat on the edge of his bed, pulling off his boots. His muscles ached. His hands were sore. His mana reserves were slowly replenishing.

But despite everything, he felt something—progress.

This wasn't like the palace, where expectations came from whispers behind his back. This was the academy, and here, he was building something from the ground up.

The Blood Sword Technique wasn't just a style—it was becoming part of him. And Crimson Veil? That could be his edge. His defining skill.

He leaned back onto his bed, staring at the ceiling.

"I'll get there. Even if I have to crawl."

His eyes slowly drifted shut, the fatigue catching up to him at last.

And so the day ended. Uneventful to most, but for Lucien Graycliff, it was another step toward the top.