Daniel picked up the thick book and stored it in his ring. Shadewood placed a robe and a school uniform on the table as he put the book away. “Here, these are your new school clothes.”

Daniel picked them up and began inspecting them. The school uniform was a classic dark blue with a white shirt. On the breast of the jacket was a medal engraved with the initials V.S. Noticing Daniel staring at the medal, Shadewood said, “That’s to indicate that you’re my student representative. The robe has a similar one.”

“The robe, Daniel, is not just a piece of clothing. It’s a garment with unique functions,” Shadewood elaborated, showcasing the garment. “Some features are standard for all students, while others are exclusive to representatives like you. For instance, you can alter the colour and even remove the academy logo when in public, allowing you to blend in. Moreover, this robe offers exceptional magical defence, capable of withstanding higher tier two spells. I wouldn’t recommend relying on it since it will fail after multiple impacts.”

Daniel’s eyes widened with appreciation as he inspected the robe more closely. “This is incredible,” he murmured.

Shadewood’s voice carried a note of pride as he continued, “Indeed, Daniel. As my representative, you’ll receive resources and privileges for free, while normal students would have to pay for them. But remember, do not abuse them.”

Daniel nodded and put the clothing into his bag. “Uh, sir, I also levelled up and have some free attribute points. Would you mind taking a look and offering advice on where I should allocate them?”

Shadewood raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “Of course, Daniel. Remove the bracelet so I can fully inspect your status.”

Daniel quickly removed the bracelet and let Shadewood inspect his status screen.

Name: Daniel von Mios

Level: 5

Class: [Elemental Mage] Level 5

Attributes:

Strength: 29

Dexterity: 32

Intelligence: 45

Constitution: 22

Charisma: 17

Mana: 30

Free Attribute Points: 12

Shadewood took a moment to study Daniel’s attributes. “Your Intelligence and Mana are quite impressive for your level, especially since you had almost no mana before you awakened. Therefore, I wouldn’t recommend increasing these just yet. Your Constitution, however, is quite low in comparison. I would suggest increasing it by three points. This will improve your overall health, and you won’t tire as fast. Enhancing Dexterity could improve your agility and spellcasting speed, but I recommend focusing on Constitution and keeping a few free points when needed.”

Daniel nodded, absorbing the advice. “That makes sense. Thank you, Professor.” He still felt awkward addressing his mentor and Professor by his first name.

“Of course, Daniel. It’s important to have a well-rounded foundation. You’ll face many challenges in the future, and being able to endure them physically and mentally is just as crucial as having a strong magical aptitude.” Shadewood said with a smile, “Let’s move to your skills. You’ve levelled them quite a bit. And even received a rare insight skill!”

Skills:

[Abyssal Bolt] Level 5

[Basic Woodworking] Level 8

[Eldritch Knowledge] Level 6

[Eye of Minor Insight] Level 3

[Fire Bolt] Level 9

[Reading Comprehension] Level 10

[Sword Handeling] Level 4

[Wood Carving] Level 9

[Writing] Level 8

Traits:

[Low-Light Adaptation] Level 3

[Nimble Fingers] Level 5

[Lesser Calm Mind] Level 8

“Let’s start with your combat skills. Your [Abyssal Bolt] and [Fire Bolt] have improved significantly, which is excellent. You could use the basis of Fire Bolt to cast a different spell, such as Flame Lance. Do you know how to do that?”

Daniel shook his head.

“It’s fairly simple in theory. You take the first few lines of the Fire Bolt chant and continue with different ones. This is also mentioned in the first chapter I translated for you earlier. However, I’d like you to focus on precision and control, not just power. It’s not just about casting a strong spell, but the right one at the right moment.”

Daniel listened intently, absorbing the information. “I understand. I’ll practice casting different spells.”

Shadewood nodded approvingly. “Remember, Daniel, magic is not just about brute strength. The subtle application of power often has a greater impact. I would recommend that you master fire spells to a degree before trying to focus on other elements.”

Daniel nodded, absorbing the advice.

“Your [Eye of Minor Insight] is particularly intriguing,” Shadewood continued. “This skill can give you an edge in various situations, from identifying weaknesses in opponents to understanding simple magical constructs at a glance. It’s a rare and valuable ability. When you manage to max it out and evolve it, you can potentially even inspect the status screens of other people, granted that they don’t wear an item like that bracelet I gave you.”

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

Shadewood shifted his attention to Daniel’s non-combat skills. “Your proficiency in [Basic Woodworking], [Wood Carving], and [Writing] is quite impressive, which is commendable. These skills are an excellent foundation for crafting magical items and applying runes in the future.”

Next, he examined Daniel’s traits. “[Low-Light Adaptation] and [Nimble Fingers] are both highly practical. Your [Lesser Calm Mind], in particular, is noteworthy. Coincidentally, I possessed the same traits when I was your age. A calm mind proved invaluable during challenging tests and my first dungeon exploration. While my classmates were visibly nervous, I maintained composure. It’s a valuable trait to possess.”

Shadewood paused, then looked Daniel in the eye. “Remember, Daniel, your skills and traits are tools. How you use them will determine your success. Keep training diligently, and don’t neglect any aspect of your abilities. Balance is key.”

Daniel felt a surge of gratitude as he listened to his mentor’s words, “Thank you for your feedback, sir.”

Shadewood smiled warmly. “Now, let’s get you settled in your new room and lab. Have you gathered all your belongings?”

He shook his head. “I have packed everything into boxes, but they’re still on my bed back in my dorm.”

Shadewood flicked his fingers, deactivating the runes that still ran across the room. “Ah, don’t worry, I’ll get that arranged. Vallery, can you come in for a moment?” he called out loudly, the door slowly opening to reveal Shadewood’s assistant. “Could you please arrange for someone to pick up Daniel’s belongings from his old dorm and move them to his new one? His belongings should be in boxes on his bed.”

The woman nodded. “Yes, sir, it will be arranged.”

Shadewood acknowledged her response with a nod. “Thank you, Vallery.” He then turned back to Daniel as the assistant left the room and closed the door behind her. “So, about your lab. It’s located on the last underground floor of the Howling Tree building on the east side of the campus. Fortunately, it’s still conveniently close to your new dorm.”

Daniel nodded appreciatively. “That’s great to hear. Thanks for organising that, Professor... I mean, Virgil.”

Shadewood smiled warmly. “You’re welcome, Daniel. And remember, if you need any assistance settling in or with your studies, don’t hesitate to ask.”

“I’ll take my leave now and settle into my new room,” Daniel said, rising from his seat.

But before he could exit, Shadewood interjected with a reminder. “I forgot to tell you something, Daniel. In six weeks, you’ll have to leave the academy and attend a rune convention on my behalf. I’ll fill you in on the details when the time comes.”

….

He had finally finished unpacking and putting his things away when he heard a knock at the door. “Who could it be? Shadewood told me as a representative, I wouldn’t have to share my room,” he wondered as he walked towards the door and opened it.

When he opened the door and made eye contact with the boy on the other side, the boy dropped his bag in surprise. “No way!” It was Alex, standing there with a wide grin. “So that’s what the woman meant when she said they had arranged a special room for me!”

Daniel’s face lit up with joy. “Alex!” he exclaimed, pulling his friend into a hug.

Alex hugged him back, laughing. “I can’t believe it! When I was moving in, the lady who oversees the dorms mentioned they had a special room arranged for me at the request of someone important. I had no idea it would be with you!”

Daniel chuckled. “It seems that Shadewood arranged this for us. I’ll have to thank him later.”

After moving Alex’s stuff from the hallway into the room, they sat on the couch. “Wow, this room is at least four times the size of our old one,” Alex said, looking around in awe.

Daniel grinned. “Yeah, it’s pretty incredible. And check this out,” he said, leading Alex to the adjoining bathroom. “The bathroom is huge. Look at this heated bath; it’s almost like a small pool.”

“That’s not all,” Daniel continued, guiding Alex through the room. “We have so much more space here. There’s a study area, a small gym, and with all these empty bookshelves, we practically have a small library if we— I mean, if I—” he poked Alex in his side with his elbow. "Fill them up with books"

“Yeah, I wouldn’t use the bookshelves much,” Alex grinned.

Daniel laughed and opened the door to a terrace outside. “And come see this. We even have our own terrace. Imagine sitting out here on a nice afternoon, reading or just hanging out.”

Alex stepped onto the terrace, taking in the view. “This is amazing, Daniel. I can’t believe we get to live here.”

Daniel smiled, feeling a sense of gratitude. “We’re really lucky. Shadewood must have pulled many strings to get us this place.”

Alex nodded. “Yeah, I’ll have to personally thank him for some time for allowing me to stay here instead of in the smelly barracks. But for now, let’s get you settled in.”

After helping his friend unpack and get everything in order, Daniel checked the time. “I’m going to visit my private lab for a moment,” he said. “I want to get a feel for the space and maybe start organising it. I’ll be back around dinner time.”

Alex smiled. “Sounds good. I’ll finish setting up here and maybe explore the campus a bit. See you at dinner.”

….

Daniel stopped in front of the door with his name on it. He grabbed the key out of his pocket and unlocked the door. When he stepped into the room, he noticed how spacious it was. The lab had a high ceiling and plenty of room to move around.

To his right was a large wooden desk with a comfortable-looking chair and a lamp on it. Next to the desk, several empty bookshelves lined the wall, ready to be filled with reference materials and notes. In the centre of the room stood a massive stone table, sturdy and perfect for experiments and projects.

A slightly ajar door at the back of the lab revealed a glimpse of a bathroom inside. It seemed well-equipped, with a toilet, sink, mirror, and shower.

Daniel took a deep breath, feeling a mix of excitement and responsibility. From now on, this was his space, and he intended to make the most of it.

As Daniel approached the desk, he noticed a letter lying on its surface. Curiosity piqued, he sat down and picked it up, unfolding the paper to read its contents:

“The room is made out of titan stone, which can withstand up to fourth-tier spells. On the wall next to the entrance, there are two buttons. The left one activates protective runes, which will lock the doors, and the right one activates a clear air rune. - Shadewood”

Daniel put the letter down on the desk and stood up to activate the protective runes at the door before sitting down again.

“Let’s see what I’ll get this time from the system,” he murmured.

Name: Daniel von Mios

Rank: Squire

Credits: 103

Actions:

[Daily Reward]

[Upgrade System]

[Quests]

[Store]

[Sign In]

He took a glance at his points with a satisfied smile. After grinding through a few quests for the past week and consistently doing the daily sign-ins, he had finally accumulated over a hundred points.

After doing his daily sign-in for today, he had accumulated 108 points. “Let’s see if it gives me something better the more points I use,” he murmured.

He selected “sign in”, and a new screen he hadn’t seen before popped up.

[Select the amount you wish to use]

[50]

[100]

[108]

After a brief consideration, he decided to spend all his points.

[Calculating reward]

[Congratulations! You have received a summon: Imp]