[10] I can Level Up?

"Esteban! if I see you leaning your head towards your desk mate again the next thing you'll see is this thick book flying towards your face!" The instructor's voice boomed inside the silent room.

Esteban who was called, immediately shrunk his neck and bowed down, minding his own papers. If it was a threat made by their terror instructor, then believe that he'd one hundred percent do it without hesitation.

For a few hours, scribbling on paper could be heard along with a constant sigh of frustrations. The instructor's remarks here and there. Until finally the cuckoo clock rang signaling the end of the class.

"Okay time's up for you guys." The old instructor said before moving his palm to which the papers on the student's desk floated in mid-air. And in the middle, a large array of magic circle appeared.

The students groaned as they knew what it was. Normally mages of their instructors age would've devoted themselves into breaking through their nascence limit. However, it must be because their instructor was so focused in the academy that he'd rather develop spells and magic circles that could check a test paper swiftly or detect any plagiarism than work on his thesis.

As the light flashed for a few seconds, a list of names was displayed in the air.

"Now what you see here. They're the only ones who passed my assessment. Ranked from highest to lowest. To those whose names haven't been mentioned, you should try harder next time." The old instructor rubbed his beard as he grasped and organized the answer sheets in his hands.

[Minor Task fulfilled!]

[Rewards have been sent! Please check your pockets for the rewards.]

There was wild discussion and whispering going on as they saw whose name was on the very top. It was none other than Xael, and beside it was a whopping full mark in the assessment.

"The difference between a genius and me"

"Hey, why would you envy him. You're more capable than him."

"Yeah, so what if he's a natural born genius? It's all nothing in the face of a waste. "

Asides from that there were many people chiming in with the rants. However, Xael's mind wasn't on those envious and disdainful voices. His attention was fully caught by the sudden feeling of something appearing on his pockets.

Xael calmly stood up after gathering his things and started walking in the hallway. He simply places his hand in his pocket, and he felt a paper inside of it. Curious he pulled it out and there he saw was a print of 100 R on it.

It was money! It was the reward he received from completing the minor task earlier.

'I can finally eat. I'm this close to passing out since earlier.'

Xael shed bucket of tears in his mind as he changed the direction he was walking in. Originally, he was planning to go back to the dorm to sort things out and to take some rest but since he now has the money he immediately headed towards the cafeteria.

Since it was lunch time already there are a large number of people going in and out of the cafeteria. As Xael walked in, he wasn't oblivious to the familiar stares and whispers that surrounds him. He simply became used to it really quick, even he himself was shocked on how fast he adapted in this different world.

Due to hunger, Xael quickly purchased foods he could afford to fill his stomach. And as expected, things here are expensive. He bought two sandwiches and a bottle of water and how much did it cost him? 79 Rehyas!

"Even here everything's expensive too." Xael couldn't help but mutter as he felt pain in his guts seeing the cashier took his money and giving him his change of 21 Rehyas.

With a paper bag at hand, he walked outside the crowded cafeteria and started finding a bench to eat his lunch. He found one quickly. As he was eating his 'lunch' a group of students passed by. They all seemed to be chatting about someone interesting.

"Have you heard? They said that the annual exchange students would be here."

"Yes, I heard that too. There'll be ten students here representing ten of the major academies."

As they passed by, they couldn't help but notice Xael sitting by the corner. Their chatting turned into a whisper, but Xael could still hear what they were saying to each other. 

"It was dubbed that this year each major Academy has their prodigy each. However, who knew that the so-called prodigy of our academy turned out to be a failure."

"Yeah, Because of him we became a laughingstock to the other schools."

"Just thinking about it irritates. Don't you know I quarreled with Aurelius Academy's students the other day and they were ridiculing me about that matter!"

"Right! The moment news about him were spread they started looking down on us."

"I wish he doesn't exist at all." The student's other friends all agreed in unison as they passed by Xael.

Xael silently took the last bite of his sandwich with his head bowed. He blankly stared at his hand for a while. He wasn't sad or affected by what they were saying about him. What really caught his attention was the panel showing a task message in front of him.

[Child of heaven is detected!]

[New Major Task Issued!]

His fingers pressed towards the mission tab in curiosity. This could be said to be his first Major Task since coming to this world.

[Major Task: Child of Heaven]

[Mission Progress: 0%]

-Task List-

[Meet the Child of Heaven: Incomplete]

[Talk with the Child of Heaven: Incomplete]

[Join the Child of Heaven's team during monster Subjugation: Incomplete]

[Press to access more of the tasks here... (-->)]

'Child of Heaven? What kind of title even is that.' Xael thought to himself as he took a sip on his water. He stood up and was heading towards his next class that would start 30 minutes later. With his hands in his pocket, he couldn't help but think of the task the World's will showed him.

What it issued was very similar to the games he played before, where a Main quest would be completed after finishing all the subtasks issued. Not to mention there was a lot on that list. Heck he even found a note on the bottom of the list that shows the quests will be updated with additional task.

As he entered the room, as usual the students inside all paused and whispers started erupting everywhere again. to which Xael completely ignored. He picked the seat beside the window and sat there. His chin resting on his palm as he stared at the scenery outside. Except for some school buildings, He saw a wall and beyond that wall was an endless forest.

'Now this sight brings back memories. Come to think of it, if it was Xael and my Bad End that I have experienced then could it be someone wanted Xael's life? Also, how far in the future was that Bad End? I guess I have to be cautious of the people around me'

Xael thought to himself before placing his gaze in front of the podium when a tapping of a stick sounded in front. It was a young girl tapping her wand against the podium calling everyone's attention.

"All right. I hope you didn't forget but we all agreed on laboratory work this meeting." The professor cleared her throat and started talking. To which the students groaned.

"It will be a group activity..." The professors gaze landed on Xael. "But you will do the activity individually."

All the students gaze turned towards Xael. Although the Professor didn't mention any names, they all knew who she was referring to. Some snickered at Xael's misfortune. Their subject right now was Application of Mana Circles. Which means the activity they'll be doing today is inscribing mana circles on a paper using essence.

Xael working on it solo and without any team members would mean an automatic failure since he doesn't have any essence at all. The young professor stared at Xael with gloating eyes. Who told him to reject her when she confessed to him. Just because he was a prodigy before doesn't mean he could stomp on her heart. Look who has the last laugh now.

"Okay all of you start!" The young professor said, signaling the start of the activity.

The students scurried to their group leaving Xael alone in the corner. He helplessly sighed before taking out the inscribing materials and placing it all neatly on his desk. He licked his lips and turned towards the book. Flipping its pages until it showed various mana circles. He was reading the details when suddenly a panel popped up in front of him.

[Minor task has been issued!]

[Successfully inscribe Mana Circles.]

[Rewards: 50 VXP, 150 Rehyas, and a Low Level Runestone.]

Xael's lips twitched at the minor task that was issued by the panel. Isn't this being deliberate? How could he inscribe a mana circle successfully when he doesn't even have essence circulating inside of him.

10 minutes have passed, and Xael still couldn't figure out a way of inscribing mana circles. His classmates noticed along with the young professor to which they laughed disdainfully at him. The young professor even marked his record with a failure even though the time wasn't up yet. 

As Xael was left trying to figure things out. He noticed an exclamation mark on the user's panel. Curious he clicked on it and there he saw was the same as what he saw before. However, when he scrolled down, He saw a button with an exclamation mark.

[Level Up Requirements Met!]

[Would you like to raise your level?]

> [Yes] or > [No] 

He licked his lips, his fingers hovering over the buttons before pressing yes after shrugging his shoulders. It's not like he has any other choice. Besides isn't this just like with the games he played before? Leveling up means a good thing in every other game he played.

[Congratulations! Your level has been raised successfully!]

[Please check the User's tab for the updated stats.]

—Basic Information

[Name: Xael Eitan Laurhette ]

[Age: 16]

[Sex: Male]

[Currently attending the Grehan Academy.]

—Personal Stats

[Strength: 19] +1pts.

[Endurance: 34]

[Stamina: 12/50]

[Speed: 16]

[Mental: 80]

[Magic: 0] +10pts.

[Mana: 0/0] +15pts.

—Skills

[None.]

—Level

[Current Level: 1]

[VXP: 0/25]

The people around saw Xael's strange actions. They saw how he stared into the air and waved his hand around, pointing randomly in the air. A few students near him couldn't help but scoot a little further away from him, a bit afraid of his weirdness. 

"Fuck, has he gone mad and turned schizophrenic?" One commented as he felt goosebumps rising in his skin.

Lo and behold, without him knowing, a new title has been added to his name. He wasn't just Xael the former prodigy and talentless waste. He was now a schizophrenic person too. Some stared with sympathy at him, already treating him like someone with a mental illness.

Oblivious to the new title he effortlessly got. Xael's eyes lit up when he saw the updated stats in the User tab. He wasn't hallucinating! He saw a value on his magic and mana stats! He could finally complete the quest. He chuckled lowly in glee before swiping the panel and moving it to the side, so it doesn't obstruct his vision.

The students saw his hands swiping on the air and his low voice chuckling to himself. They couldn't help but be creeped out as they stared at him in their peripheral vision. He must've gone crazy!

"Hey... Do you think he's been bullied to much that he... y'know?" One asked his groupmates.

"I heard that crazy persons are lawless."

"Yeah. You know I heard that back in my village there was once a person who's gone mad. He actually committed murder!"

His groupmates gasped in horror as they as they all leaned in, asking for more details in a low voice. "My mom also saw a mad person before, that crazy person could see things we don't see."

"You mean like... ghosts?"

"Probably, He might be able to even contact- a demon"

"That's scary- eek!" The girl stopped mid-way when she saw Xael staring in her direction. Their eyes met. Xael's sky-blue eyes stared focused on her direction. The girl didn't know why but she felt a sudden coldness on her back. She let out a shriek.

"Ahhh! I felt cold on my back! There's a ghost on my back!" She screamed, earning the attention of her fellow classmates. Even the young professor stood up and went towards her.

Xael stared strangely at the girls before retrieving his gaze. "Hey, originally I was about to ask which mana circles was assigned to be inscribed. But who knew Xael's classmates are a strange bunch. Maybe she couldn't handle the intense pressure of the school."

Xael muttered to himself as he shook his head with sympathy in his eyes. The girl still trembling and even crying in fear as she was being calmed down by her classmates and the young professor. Meanwhile, Xael Just chose a mana circle from the book randomly and grabbed his pen.

Ever since he leveled up, He couldn't explain it in simple terms, but he could feel a very faint energy circulating in his veins. It was just like his blood, it was being circulated all over his body, but it was very hard to detect if he doesn't focus enough.

"It must be what they called essence!" Xael's eyes lit up in joy at the novel experience. He turned towards the page and followed the guide.

Because it was his first time doing it and even the original body doesn't have any experience on using magic. The first mana circle he drew was messy; it was a far cry from what was shown in the book. However, he could feel it! With his palms against the paper with an inscribed mana circle, he could feel the faint magic emanating from it. His eyes then glanced at the panel on his side.

[Mana: 12/15] 

'It seems like inscribing a mana circle of this kind costs 3 mana. It means I could do 4 more before my mana gets depleted.' 

Xael picked up another paper and started inscribing again. Although his hands are still wobbly and his drawings were a bit messy, it gradually gets better each time. On his fourth try, although still not perfect, his drawing could be said to be acceptable. If his mana circle on the first time could be said a chicken drawing with its feet, then his fourth drawing was like a toddler drawing it.

"Now for the last mana circle." He turned the pages and what caught his eyes was a small mana circle, it has a very different design than what he saw earlier. Liking the simplistic design and marking of the mana circle. He immediately got to work. As he was scribing halfway, he could feel the last bit of mana inside him being depleted.

However, he was almost done with the marking! His brows furrowed as beads of cold sweat dripped down from his forehead. There was this sense of fatigue and a vague pain emanating from his heart where the core was situated. Regardless, he still persevered and finished the mana circle. He breathed a sigh of relief and leaned his weakened body against the window.

[Warning!]

[Mana: -10/15] 

Xael stared in confusion at the negative numbers when suddenly. Drip. Drip. Drip. He looked down and gazed at his palm. There he saw droplets of blood. He blankly rubbed his nose and saw the blood smeared on his hands. He was having a nosebleed.