The library held a different kind of quiet in the hours after morning training. Most nobles considered study beneath them once they'd manifested strong magic, leaving the vast collection mostly empty except for servants maintaining the archives and the occasional researcher from allied families.

Perfect.

My muscles still ached as I settled at my usual desk in the corner, surrounded by basic texts on ice manipulation. Magnus watched from his position near the entrance, his ancient eyes missing nothing. In my previous life, I'd never understood the game we'd played - him offering subtle hints, me too frustrated to see them.

"The treatise on basic ice formation again, young master?" he asked as I selected several volumes.

"And perhaps," I added carefully, "something on magical resonance? For... supplementary study."

His eyebrows rose slightly. Yesterday's conversation about Frost Nova hadn't been forgotten. "Third shelf, eastern section. The blue binding might interest you."

The book he indicated was thin, practically hidden between larger volumes. 'Elementary Principles of Ice Resonance' - a title so basic most would ignore it. But I remembered references to this text in my decades of study. The author had been one of the founder's direct disciples.

I added it to my pile and returned to my corner. The position was strategic - I could observe the entire main floor while appearing absorbed in my studies. More importantly, I could see who entered the restricted sections above and below.

First, the obvious study. I opened the basic treatise, making careful notes about ice formation. Anyone watching would see the family failure desperately researching fundamentals. Let them think what they would.

But beneath that text lay the resonance book. And within its seemingly simple passages...

"Breath joins with ice," I read silently, "as water joins with winter."

Simple breathing instructions, most would think. But combined with what I knew of the founder's techniques, I recognized it for what it was - a purification method. One that would help prepare the body for handling greater powers.

I glanced around carefully, then settled into a student's meditation pose. Common enough sight in the library. None would notice if my breathing followed specific patterns.

The technique was subtle. Draw in breath infused with natural ice energy, let it circulate through specific channels, use it to gradually refine both body and magical core. In my past life, I'd theorized about similar methods. Now, with both power and knowledge, I could actually implement them.

[Status Update Detected]

Analyzing changes from morning training and initial refinement...

Physical Condition: Micro-tears in muscle fiber detected. Recovery rate increased by 3% due to proper cultivation breathing.

Current Energy Paths: Slight widening in major channels. Eastern meridian showing 2% increase in flow capacity.

Magical Core: Frost resonance improving. Current stability at 12% above baseline.

I kept my expression neutral despite the satisfaction I felt at the update. This young body could be refined far more efficiently than my previous one, especially with proper techniques applied from the start.

Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

More nobles began filtering into the library as the morning progressed. Most headed upstairs to the restricted sections, seeking advanced combat techniques for the ceremony. Few spared a glance for the failure surrounded by basic texts.

Perfect.

I turned a page in the resonance book, finding exactly what I'd hoped - a detailed explanation of ice energy circulation disguised as a beginner's practice method. In my past life, I'd only seen references to these techniques. The actual methods were far more elegant than I'd imagined.

[Status Update - Cultivation Progress]

Basic Ice Resonance Method Initiated

Physical Endurance: +0.5%

Energy Circulation: +1%

Magical Control: +0.8%

Core Stability: +1.2%

Warning: Current physical vessel requires additional strengthening before advanced techniques can be safely attempted.

The warning was expected. This body needed time to adapt, to be rebuilt from the foundation up. Rushing would only create problems later.

I continued the subtle breathing exercises while appearing to study the basic texts. Each breath brought in trace amounts of ice energy, each circulation refined it slightly. Minimal progress, but progress nonetheless.

"Cousin Isaac seems quite devoted to his studies," a voice carried from nearby stacks. "Poor fool actually thinks he can change his fate through books."

I recognized the speaker, another branch family member, here to prepare for the ceremony. Let them mock. Every whispered insult was another brick in my cover.

The morning progressed. I filled pages with notes - some genuinely useful, others deliberate misdirection in case anyone checked my work. All while maintaining the subtle circulation technique.

[Status Update - Morning Progress Summary]

Physical Development:

Muscle Density: +0.3%

Tendon Flexibility: +0.4%

Recovery Rate: +0.7%

Energy System:

Channel Capacity: +0.8%

Circulation Efficiency: +1.1%

Core Refinement: +0.9%

Magical Metrics:

Control Precision: +0.6%

Power Management: +0.7%

Resonance Stability: +1.3%

Overall Status: Foundation Building Phase 1 Initiated

Caution: Maintain current pace. Accelerated development could draw unwanted attention.

The improvements were minimal, but they were real. More importantly, they were the kind of improvements that wouldn't show in obvious ways. Let everyone focus on flashy displays of power. I would build from the ground up, every small gain compounding over time.

Magnus passed by my desk, seemingly checking the condition of nearby shelves. His eyes flickered to the resonance book, then to my careful notes.

"The simplest foundations," he murmured, quietly enough that only I could hear, "often hide the deepest truths."

I gave a slight nod, maintaining my appearance of frustrated study. In my past life, I'd dismissed such comments as useless platitudes. Now I recognized them as careful guidance, offered to those who knew how to listen.

The library gradually emptied as lunch approached. Soon I would need to make an appearance in the dining hall, to maintain appearances and gather more intelligence about the upcoming ceremony.

But first...

[Final Morning Status Update]

Basic Ice Resonance Method - Initial Phase Complete

Foundation Stability: 13% above starting baseline

Energy Circulation: Basic Patterns Established

Physical Vessel: Preliminary Strengthening Initiated

Recommendation: Maintain current development rate. Higher progression risks detection.

I gathered my notes and books, marking my place in the resonance text with a thin strip of paper. Tomorrow I would continue the cultivation method, building on today's foundation. Each small improvement would compound, each subtle refinement would prepare this young body for what was to come.

Twenty-eight days remained.

Twenty-eight days to rebuild myself from the inside out, to lay the groundwork for power that would shake the foundations of House Eiskar.

Let them watch me study basic texts. Let them mock my apparent desperation.

They would learn soon enough.