I dressed with deliberate slowness, testing this younger body's responses while my mind raced through combat theories I'd spent decades studying. The formal training attire felt stiff and constraining, nothing like the practical leather and furs I'd grown used to in exile. Every movement reminded me how weak and untrained this vessel was.

My fingers traced the ice-silk embroidery on my collar, feeling the magical resonance in a way I never could before. The principles I'd researched about magical conductivity through fabric suddenly made perfect sense. I could feel how the enchanted threads would amplify and direct ice magic, creating efficient channels for power distribution.

It was something simple I'd never really been able to connect with before.

"Young master?" Sebastian knocked again, his tone carrying that careful mix of deference and urgency that only long-serving Eiskar retainers mastered.

"Enter," I called, watching frost patterns swirl across my reflection. Even that tiny display of magic felt different now - precise, controlled, nothing like my previous life's clumsy attempts.

Sebastian stepped in, his weathered face exactly as I remembered from twenty-one years ago. He carried the traditional pre-training tea service, the familiar scent of hot mint bringing back memories of countless morning humiliations.

"Lord Franz seemed particularly focused this morning," Sebastian said carefully as he poured. Steam rose from the cup, only to crystallize instantly when it met my enhanced magical awareness. "He mentioned something about testing your progress."

I took the cup, noting how my younger hands trembled slightly. Muscle memory would take time to develop, no matter how perfect my theoretical understanding. "Did he specify the nature of this test?"

"No, young master." Sebastian's tone carried a warning. He'd always tried to protect me, in his own subtle way. "Though he did request the training yard be cleared of all observers."

Private sessions with Franz had never ended well for me in my previous life. But now, watching ice crystals dance across the tea's surface in perfect geometric patterns, I felt something unfamiliar - anticipation.

"Thank you, Sebastian." I set down the untouched tea. "Please inform my brother I'll arrive shortly."

"Of course, young master." He hesitated at the door. "Do be careful."

I waited until his footsteps faded before testing my magic again. A thin sheet of ice spread across my palm.

In my previous life, I'd understood the principles but lacked the power. Now I had both.

But this body was still weak, untrained. I could feel my magical channels straining even from this minor display. Using Absolute Zero's full potential would likely kill me instantly. I needed time to develop this vessel properly.

I closed my eyes and focused inward, drawing on memories of status checks from my previous life. The familiar blue interface materialized in my mind's eye:

[Status Window]

Name: Isaac von Eiskar

Age: 16

Class: Ice Mage (Dormant)

Stats:

Strength: 8

Agility: 12

Constitution: 7

Magic Power: 15

Magic Control: 89

Magic Resistance: 11

Special Abilities:

* Absolute Zero (Partially Sealed) - A legendary ice ability that allows complete control over thermal energy. Most is inaccessible due to physical limitations.

* Ice Affinity II - Enhanced connection to ice-based magic

* Theoretical Mastery IV - Deep understanding of magical theory from previous life

* Combat Analysis III - Advanced comprehension of fighting techniques

Skills:

* Basic Ice Magic Lv.2 (14%)

* Magical Theory Lv.6 (78%)

* Sword Arts Lv.1 (3%)

* Physical Enhancement Lv.1 (0%)

The numbers confirmed what I'd felt, this body was pathetically weak. My previous life's physical conditioning was gone, leaving me with base stats barely above a common servant. Only Magic Control showed any promise, likely enhanced by my theoretical knowledge.

Most concerning was the "Dormant" class designation. In my previous life, I'd been classified as a "Failed Ice Mage." This change suggested Absolute Zero's presence had altered my fundamental magical nature, but the ability remained locked away.

I needed to be careful. These stats meant using even basic ice magic would strain my body One wrong move with Absolute Zero would shatter me like glass.

I walked the familiar halls of the Eiskar estate, each step measured and precise. Sebastian's footfalls echoed behind me at the proper servant's distance, close enough to attend, far enough to show respect.

Twenty-one years of exile had dulled these memories. Now they struck me with painful clarity, the way frost traced ancient patterns across marble floors, how temperature dropped near the family's private wings, the slight magical resonance that pressed through the foundation stones.

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A pair of house guards bowed as we passed, their eyes sliding past me with dismissal. In my previous life, such looks had burned. Now they were tactical advantages.

Let them underestimate me.

We went down a staircase then the entrance to the training yard loomed ahead, massive doors carved from ancient stone that resisted even ice.

Sebastian cleared his throat softly. "Young master, perhaps-"

"I'll be fine, Sebastian. I can go today." The words came out harder than intended. I softened my tone. "Wait here."

He bowed, concern evident in the slight tension of his shoulders. "As you wish, young master."

The doors swung open at my approach, releasing a blast of frigid air. The training yard stretched before me, its white stone surface already rimed with fresh frost. Franz waited in the center, tall and proud, exactly as I remembered him from this time.

Twenty-one years ago, I'd walked into this yard scared every day.

Now I entered as something else entirely, though I kept my posture deliberately uncertain, my steps carefully hesitant. No need to show my hand too early.

The doors sealed behind me with a boom.

Franz's ice-blue eyes fixed on me with familiar contempt. "Little brother. Finally decided to grace us with your presence?"

Behind him stood four other young nobles - all third or fourth sons from branch families. I recognized each face, though in my previous life I'd never bothered learning their names. Their presence wasn't coincidence. Franz always chose his audience carefully.

"Good morning, brother." I kept my voice soft, uncertain. Let him see the same weak target he remembered.

"Lord Isaac." The other nobles bowed slightly, exactly the minimum depth required by protocol.

Franz gestured sharply, frost trailing from his fingers. "Since you've finally decided training matters, we'll start with basic forms. Show us your ice manifestation."

The others shifted, anticipating entertainment. They'd seen my previous failures, how even the simplest ice formation had strained me to exhaustion.

I raised my hand, remembering to let it tremble slightly. "Yes, brother."

"Try not to embarrass the family name. Again." Franz's smile didn't reach his eyes. The nobles behind him smirked, already expecting the usual display of weakness.

I focused on maintaining my facade of uncertainty while calculating angles, positions, and the most efficient distribution of power through my magical channels. Twenty-one years of theoretical study merged with my new understanding of ice magic.

This time would be different. But not too different. Not yet.

I needed to carefully balance showing just enough improvement to avoid suspicion while concealing my true capabilities.

One misstep would alert Franz or worse, draw the attention of the Council of Thirteen.

I gathered my magic, careful to let a slight tremor show in my raised hand. The familiar pressure built in my channels as I formed the simplest ice manifestation, a basic crystalline sphere.

In my previous life, even this had left me gasping.

"Pathetic form as always," Franz sneered. "Can't you even maintain proper posture?"

I let my shoulders hunch slightly, playing into his expectations while my mind calculated precise magical flow rates. The sphere took shape, ragged and imperfect, deliberately so. But unlike before, I felt no strain. The power flowed smoothly.

"At least it's solid this time," one of the nobles muttered. "Usually it collapses immediately."

Franz stepped forward, ice crackling beneath his boots. "Perhaps you've finally learned something useful in that library you hide in." His tone sharpened. "Now maintain it while defending yourself."

He struck without warning, sending a barrage of ice shards toward my face. In my previous life, I'd barely managed to dodge such attacks. Now I saw the inefficiencies in his technique, wasted energy in the formation, poor trajectory optimization, excessive power for the intended effect.

I shifted just enough to let the shards pass, maintaining my awkward posture while keeping the sphere intact. The movement looked clumsy, but each step positioned me exactly where I needed to be.

"Always the coward," Franz formed another volley. "Stand and fight properly for once."

The other nobles spread out to watch. They expected the usual entertainment, the family failure stumbling through basic exercises.

I had to be careful. Show enough improvement to avoid punishment, but not enough to draw real attention.

I made a fist, watching frost spread across my knuckles in precise, controlled patterns. Franz's eyes narrowed at the display, it was more control than I'd shown before, but still within acceptable bounds of improvement.

"Finally learning to focus?" He launched another barrage, this time mixing up the speed and angels.

I let one shard graze my shoulder. The cuts were precise but wasteful, using twice the necessary power for each projectile.

His form remained flawless by Eiskar standards, but I saw the inefficiencies now, tiny flaws that decades of had taught me to recognize.

I dodged the next volley. Just enough instability to look natural, not enough to shatter. Franz pressed forward, ice crackling beneath his boots with each step.

"At least you've learned to maintain a basic form," he said, forming a blade of ice in his right hand. "Let's see if you can keep it."

The other nobles shifted positions, spreading out to better observe what they assumed would be my humiliation. None of them noticed how each stumbling step I took created optimal spacing for combat. My apparent retreat positioned me perfectly to control the engagement distance.

Franz raised his blade, frost swirling around him in an impressive but inefficient display. "Prepare yourself, brother."

"Enough!" A voice shouted out, a voice of control and authority.

I spun toward the new voice, keeping my awkward stance even as I analyzed the situation. Lady Brunhilde von Kaltmark stood at the yard's edge, her silver hair bound in traditional northern braids. I'd forgotten she sometimes observed morning training during this period.

"Lady Brunhilde." Franz lowered his ice blade, frost still swirling around him. "We were merely-"

"Testing your brother's progress. Yes, I observed." Her tone could have frozen summer itself. "He's shown sufficient improvement for one session."

I let my manifestation collapse, making sure to slump slightly as if exhausted. In truth, I'd barely tapped my reserves, but appearing weak served my purposes better.

"My lady, I had planned a more thorough evaluation," Franz said, his blade dissolving.

"And I said enough." She swept her gaze across the other nobles, who suddenly found urgent reasons to study the ground. "You're all dismissed. Except you, Isaac. A word."

Franz hesitated for a moment before bowing precisely. "Of course, Lady Brunhilde." He shot me a look that promised future consequences before leading the others away.

I remained in my slightly hunched position, watching frost patterns spread from Lady Brunhilde's feet as she approached. She'd been one of the few who hadn't completely dismissed me in my previous life, though her attention had never felt like mercy.

Lady Brunhilde circled me slowly, her steps leaving perfect ice patterns in their wake. My muscles trembled from maintaining proper form - this young body's weakness was no act.

"Your magical control has improved," she said. "Your ice is doing better. Not perfect, but better than last month's attempts."

I kept my eyes lowered, playing the proper role of a chastised student. "Thank you, Lady Instructor."

"Don't thank me yet." She stopped directly in front of me. "Your magical ability has shown some growth. Even basic ice manipulation strains your body."

She was right. In my previous life, I'd built up years of conditioning before attempting serious magic. This vessel could barely handle sustained exercise.

"Your stance is poor, your movements inefficient." She demonstrated a proper ice mage's ready position. "Magic flows through the body. Weak muscles and poor circulation create blockages. No amount of book reading in that library can overcome physical limitations."

I shifted my weight, feeling every bit of this body's weakness.

The morning's careful movements had left my legs shaking, my breath short. Even maintaining perfect posture took conscious effort.

"The library won't build your strength, Isaac." Her tone held neither mockery nor pity, just cold assessment. "You need proper physical conditioning before attempting anything beyond basic manifestation."

I nodded, already calculating how to build this body's capabilities without drawing attention. "Yes, Lady Instructor."

"Report to the training yard at dawn tomorrow. We'll begin with basic forms." She turned away. "And Isaac? Don't be late."