Like every day, Leo woke up, got ready, and headed to work. Over the past two weeks, he had grown noticeably stronger; his body had filled out, and the training no longer felt as grueling as before. He had also finished the elven language book the night before and was eager to start his next set of studies. As thoughts of his next book swirled in his mind, he slipped into his exercise clothes and made his way to Faleria.

“Morning, coach,” Leo greeted, his voice carrying a note of readiness for the day’s regimen.

“Good morning, you don't have any exercise today,” Faleria announced, a rare gentleness in her tone.

Leo’s expression shifted to one of confusion. “May I ask why?”

“Today is for rest. Starting tomorrow, we’re going to shake things up with your routine,” Faleria explained.

A crease formed on Leo’s forehead as he processed this information, but he managed a small smile. “Should I be preparing for something specific?”

“Indeed. Begin your day with stretches and a half-hour run. After that, come here, and we’ll proceed with the next phase,” Faleria instructed, outlining the new plan.

“Understood. I’ll see you tomorrow then,” Leo said with a nod, acknowledging the change before turning to leave.

Before Faleria could say anything else, Leo turned around and walked away. Faleria simply nodded and resumed her concentration practice.

Leo went to the library; Samuel wasn't there, so he continued cleaning from where he left off the day before. He checked the title of every book he cleaned. There were a few intriguing titles, such as Land of Shadow, Mastery of Elements, Alchemist, Bestiary, and The Nine Gods, but Leo's favorite was Vampires. Leo knew vampires were immortal from his previous life.

'I need to find every way to extend my life and pick the best one, but I'm not sure if vampires are immortal here as well.'

Leo was afraid that there might be magic, like an alarm, that would expose him, so he decided not to read any of these books until he was certain.

Samuel arrived at one thirty o'clock. Leo was sitting there doing nothing.

“Leo! I didn’t expect to see you here,” Samuel exclaimed, a hint of surprise in his voice.

“Well, I’ve actually been here since morning,” Leo replied with a casual shrug.

Samuel’s brow furrowed in confusion. “But why? Shouldn’t you be training or something?”

Leo chuckled lightly. “Coach gave me the day off, and I’ve already finished cleaning. Found myself with time to spare.”

Samuel’s eyes narrowed in thought. “You could’ve spent that time reading your books.”

There was a brief pause before Samuel’s expression shifted, his realization clear. He let out a resigned sigh.

“You’ve read through them all already, haven’t you?” he asked, already knowing the answer.

“Yes,” Leo confirmed with a nod.

“The only books left are on the languages of various races,” Samuel said, turning to glance at the remaining volumes on his desk.

Leo’s interest was piqued. “How many languages are there”

“There are the languages of the Orcs and Dwarves, plus the ancient tongues of all four major races,” Samuel listed, his fingers tracing the spines of the books as he spoke.

He took a brief pause before continuing.

"There are also other languages like the Demos language, dark language, and death language that you cannot learn right now."

He then brought eleven books with him.

"These are all the books you can read before taking the exam and becoming a real paladin."

Leo went through them one by one, reading the titles; as Samuel had mentioned, these books were about languages.

"Since you said that you cleaned everywhere, you can read these books for the rest of your time today."

Leo took up his books and walked over to one of the tables. At four o'clock, Leo got ready to go home. He didn't bring all the books with him; he picked one and stored the others in his closet. He was thinking about some words in dwarf's language on the way home.

"Maybe if I use this language to talk to Ms. Fodoln, it would be more respectful."

Suddenly the hair on the back of his neck stood up. He had the same sensation as before, so he knew someone was following him. He tired to act normal. He was aware that if the person discovered where he lived, he and his family would be in danger, so he decided to take another root and return to the Paladin Association. He has also checked all of the alleys here in the last few weeks and knows his way around.

When he reached the next alley he turn around and went inside the alley, he knew that he have to choose an alley that is crowded to be more safe. After a few more alleys, he found himself in front of the Paladin Association. He did not enter through the back door, but rather through the main door. Heaved a sigh of relief as he stepped inside. Lara was cleaning his desk when he came in.

"What are you doing here, Leo? Why are you coming from the main..."

"Ms. Lara is captain still here?" Leo was gasping for air.

As Edmond stepped out of his office, his gaze immediately fell on Leo.

“Leo, what is it?” he inquired.

“Captain, I have reason to believe I was being followed,” Leo reported, a trace of concern in his voice.

“Did you went home?” Edmond asked, his expression turning serious.

“No, I came straight here,” Leo responded.

“And what makes you think you were followed?”

“It was the same sensation I had last time, when we discovered the assassin trailing me,” Leo explained, recalling the chilling memory.

Edmond’s eyes narrowed as he processed the information. Without a word, he turned to Lara.

“Lara, fetch Liamond, Wina, and Peter immediately,” he commanded.

Lara nodded briskly and hurried off to the main hall. Moments later, she returned with the trio in tow.

“What seems to be the problem, Captain?” Liamond asked with his usual cheerful grin.

“Liamond, who’s on watch today?” Edmond questioned, his tone leaving no room for levity.

The smile faded from Liamond’s face as he sensed the gravity of the situation. “Frank is,” he replied soberly.

“Take him and sweep the area. Now,” Edmond ordered firmly.

With a solemn nod, Liamond departed on his task. Edmond then turned his attention to Peter.

"Peter give a sword cane to Leo, and also do the protection protocol on him with Wina."

He then turned to face Leo.

"You made a wise decision coming back; go with Peter and don't worry."

Peter took Leo’s hand and brought him to the great hall.

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

"Wina, I leave the rest to you; I'm going to take some stuff."

Wina nodded and turned to face Leo. She closed her eyes and placed her hand on Leo's head.

"What is this?" Leo inquired casually.

"Stop moving; this is a spell, I'm looking for any mark they may have left on you."

"How does it work?"

"Pretty simple, the mark is like a thread that is connected to your mana, so if I surround you with my mana, there would be some reaction on my mana."

She opened her eyes after a few moments.

"I can't feel anything, but just to be sure, I am going to put my mark on you, Which let me know where you are and if you are in danger."

As she rested her hand upon Leo's chest, a radiant blue light emanated from her touch, causing warmth to spread through him. Just as Leo was about to ask, Peter returned, clutching a cane and two gleaming gems

"Faleria’s already taught you how to fight, right?" Peter asked.

"A little, yeah," Leo replied.

Peter handed him a cane. “This is both a cane and a sword.”

Leo took it, inspecting the craftsmanship before attempting to draw the blade.

“It’s locked,” Peter explained. “I’ve synced it with your mana.”

Understanding dawned on Leo, and he channeled his mana into the cane. After a second, the magical lock clicked open, and Leo drew the lightweight, sharp blade. Peter held the gems up in front of Leo, their surfaces catching the light as he displayed them.

"Here, take these as well," Peter said, handing Leo a few small stones.

Leo sheathed the sword and accepted the gems. "What are these?"

"The blue one is a courage stone. Try activating it."

Leo focused on the stone, and as it glowed faintly, a warm sensation spread through his body. His mind felt sharper, more focused.

"It can help you sharpen your mind and make wise choices in stressful situations, It can also prevent simple charm spells from working. You can keep it running for 10 days."

Leo turned off the stone and placed it in his pocket. He then turned to look at the other stone.

"What about this one?"

"The red one is a shield spell; when activated, it can shield you from any normal magical or physical abilities with a rank lower than c; if it has a rank higher than c, it can block it to some extent, depending on the ability. It's quite potent, but you can only use it five times, so be cautious."

Leo slipped the red stone into his other pocket.

“Thank you, Mr. Peter. Ms. Ewer,” he said respectfully.

When Leo, Wina, and Peter returned to the hall, they found Edmond standing with Albert.

“Leo, Albert will follow you from a distance to make sure everything is alright,” Edmond informed him.

“Thank you,” Leo replied.

“Now go home and don’t worry.”

Leo pressed his fist to his chest in salute. “Yes, sir.”

He said that, then exited through the back door and began walking home. After a few steps, he got the same feeling as before: he was being followed. He reached into his pocket and activated the blue stone and was enveloped in a warm feeling.

'Don't worry, I've got the stones now, and Albert is following me, so I'm safe.'

After a few minutes of walking, the feeling was finally gone, but he didn’t feel easy until he was home. He went into his room and looked out the window, but there was no one suspicious there. He sat on his bed, took the blue stone, and poured some of his mana into it. The stone was turned off. That night, without being able to read his book, he fell asleep before even eating dinner.

Leo awoke earlier the next morning, finished his stretching, and went outside for a half-hour run. His mother was still sleeping when he returned. He showered and went into his room. he had only one gold coin and fifteen silver coins left after paying Rosie's school tuition and buying necessities for the past two weeks. He changed his clothes and entered the kitchen. His mother was awake.

"Good morning, Mom."

"Good morning, sweetie."

Leo placed his last gold coin on the table.

"Mom, use this for any necessities."

"We still have some left from last time," she said, glancing at the coin.

"Add it to that. I’ll get paid next week. I’m only getting half this week, so after rent, things will be a bit tight this month."

His mother smiled as she turned around.

"Have you forgotten how we used to live? With this money, we can easily get everything we need. take a seat; your breakfast is ready."

Leo settled into a seat with a smile, completing his breakfast before heading to work. After changing into his workout attire, he made his way to Faleria. She was in the middle of her routine focus, as she always was.

“Good morning, Coach,” Leo greeted quietly, but she didn’t respond, too immersed in concentration.

Normally, Leo would prepare for the upcoming exercises by fetching necessary items from a nearby closet, but today’s session was different, so he opted to sit quietly in a corner and wait for further instructions.

Finally, Faleria opened her eyes and acknowledged him with a nod. “Good morning, Leo. Today, you will perform the movement from yesterday as well as four new ones. You’ll also be wearing these.”

Faleria gave Leo a bracelet set.

"What are these?"

"Put them on and insert your mana into them."

When Leo put the bracelets on his arms and inserted his mana, he noticed that his body felt much heavier.

"This… "

"This is a weight bracelet; when you activate it, your weight increases, You currently have two ten-pound on, which means you are twenty pounds heavier."

The corners of her mouth twitched.

"You are going to do everything with these on."

Leo's forehead glistened with sweat, though he wasn’t sure if it was from the weight of the exercise or the intensity of Faleria's gaze. After she demonstrated the four new movements, he began his routine.

With each repetition, his breath grew heavier, and his muscles burned in protest. Now and then, he paused to catch his breath before forcing himself to continue. After three grueling hours, Leo finally collapsed to the ground, utterly spent and unable to move.

“You can turn your bracelets off” Faleria said that and continued her concentration exercise.

Leo infused his mana into the bracelets, and his weight instantly lightened. After waiting for ten minutes, he headed to the storage room, took a shower, and changed into his regular clothes. When he stepped out, Peter was standing there, watching him.

"So, Faleria beat the crap out of you, huh?" Peter smirked.

"Yeah, but I need it," Leo responded.

"And why’s that?" Peter asked, crossing his arms.

"In two months, there’s an exam, and as you know, my physical stats are really low."

Peter’s expression tightened, his forehead creased as though he was grappling with something unsaid.

"Well, I hate to be the one to say it, but..." He hesitated, visibly uncomfortable.

"But what?" Leo pressed.

"There’s a high chance you won’t reach the required level in two months, even with Faleria's training," Peter admitted reluctantly.

"But I only need twenty-five points!" Leo protested.

"That’s more than you think," Peter warned.

Leo frowned, frustration settling in.

"Don’t be discouraged. There's still a slim chance you’ll make it, and remember, you can always take the exam in another three months," Peter said, trying to soften the blow.

Leo stared at the ground, his fists clenching. "Thanks for telling me, Mr. Peter."

"Of course," Peter replied.

Leo headed into the kitchen and began preparing his lunch when he felt a hand on his shoulder.

"Hey, what’s with the long face?"

Turning around, Leo saw Liamond.

"It’s nothing, just tired. Coach changed my workout today."

"Ah, well, that explains it," Liamond said, pouring himself some tea. "But keep it up; it’s all for your own good."

He flashed a smile before walking away.

‘I know, but it’s still not enough,’ Leo thought, finishing his lunch before heading to the library.

…

Edmond stood by the window of his office, gazing out thoughtfully, when a knock interrupted his thoughts. He moved to his desk and sat down.

"Come in," he called.

Albert entered, stepping forward with a respectful nod. "Captain, you wanted to see me?"

"Yes, Albert, have a seat," Edmond gestured to the chair across from him.

As Albert sat down, Edmond’s expression grew serious. "Did you notice anything suspicious yesterday?"

"Nothing, sir," Albert replied calmly. "Maybe he was just anxious. After all, he's only fourteen, and he's already dealing with memories that could easily become traumatic."

"Perhaps..." Edmond mused, leaning back slightly. "But we can’t take any chances. We have to remain vigilant. Keep a close eye on him."

"Understood, sir," Albert said firmly.

…

As the clock struck four in the afternoon, Leo gathered his belongings and slipped out the back door, following his usual routine. His familiar walk home was abruptly interrupted when he noticed a man ahead with an unsettlingly wide, sinister grin. A chill crept down Leo’s spine. Discreetly, he activated the blue gem hidden in his pocket, though he couldn’t be sure if Albert was still shadowing him.

The streets were dotted with passersby, but the man's intentions became unmistakable as he charged straight for Leo. Spinning on his heel, Leo’s escape was cut off by another figure blocking his path. With no other choice, he darted into a nearby alley, breaking into a full sprint.

…

Albert noticed Leo running and placed two fingers on his temple.

"Wina, Leo's running. Call everyone. I’m going to trail him," he said, using telepathy to communicate.

“What’s he running from? He just activated the stone, and he’s terrified.”

“I don’t know. I can’t see anything.”

Wina’s pupils dilated.

"Albert, stay alert. This might be an illusion spell," she warned, her voice laced with urgency as she reached out to Edmond.

“Captain, we have a code red situation with Leo,” she relayed with haste.

Upon receiving the message, Edmond rose swiftly from his seat.

“Alert the team and prepare to move out immediately,” he commanded, his voice resonating with the gravity of the situation.

Edmond reached into his closet and took out a pair of golden gloves, putting them on. He also grabbed his heavy sword and rushed out; everyone was already there.

"Let's go"

…

Leo’s feet pounded the pavement as he sprinted through the alleyways, not daring to glance back. At a three-way junction, he veered right, only to be met with the same unnerving smile of a man blocking his path. With no time to lose, he pivoted left and continued his escape. Yet, at every subsequent intersection, the pattern repeated: one alley was always occupied by a man.

A realization struck him mid-stride. ‘Why is he just walking? And how is he everywhere?’

His thoughts raced as adrenaline surged through his veins.

‘Could he be herding me somewhere?’ Leo pondered, suspicion mounting with each turn.

Leo took his red crystal and took out his sword. He reached the end of the alley and found himself in the middle of a small square surrounded by old buildings. From behind a shadow in the corner, a green ball shot towards him. Leo turned on the red stone and a shield appeared around him. The green ball exploded when it struck the shield. A cloud of dust lifted off the ground. In the middle of the dust, Leo saw a figure approaching. With his sword drawn, he struck at the figure, but it vanished. A shadowy hand emerged from the dust and grabbed Leo by the neck. His body grew heavy and tired.

'My body is heavy; it's a spell."

As the dust settled, Leo could finally see where the shadowy hand had come from—a figure standing in a patch of darkness five meters away. A deep voice echoed from the shadows as a man in a black robe stepped forward, his face breaking into a twisted smile, eyes gleaming with unsettling joy.

"Greetings, Mister Mantine."