Elidranthia Shadowstep, Blessed of the [Killing Star That Wanders The Cosmos]

Blessing Tier 1: [The Crimson Larva]

Enlightenment Rate: 62%

Metamorphosis Conditions: [Locked]

Current Perks:

· Fearlessness

· Eyes of Terror Evocation

· Adaptation

Skills:

1. Keen Perception

2. Aerial Grace

3. Visionary Mastery

4. Featherweight Descent

5. Lethal Precision

6. Umbral Concealment

7. Fleet-footed Sprint

The enlightenment rate now held steady at 62%. A quick mental calculation led me to the conclusion that hunting five more of those apes had yielded an average gain of 6% with each encounter. It affirmed the pattern that the more I hunted the same kind of monsters, the less each encounter contributed to my progress.

Despite the diminishing returns, I remained content with the current rate of progress. 38% to go!

Returning to the county, I slipped in like a moving shadow, utilizing both [Twilight Veil] and [Umbral Concealment]. My vigilance was heightened after the recent mishaps with my stealth abilities, but fortunately, my presence went unnoticed once again. It must be the proverbial luck of the rogue.

The journey back took a while, and it was likely well past midnight by now.

I also discovered a neat trick for fast travel.

Although [Fleet Footed Sprint] was less mana-hungry, allowing me to run for over three hours with a full mana tank, physical fatigue kicked in after about five minutes. However, the ingenious use of [Adaptation] immediately dispelled that fatigue.

Moreover, I noticed a peculiar trend – the more I used [Adaptation], the less frequently I had to activate it. Initially [Fleet Footed Sprint] lasted for five minutes, it now lingered for almost ten minutes before fatigue set in, making it nearly twice as efficient.

This got my gears turning.

Was it just my body getting accustomed to the sprint, or was [Adaptation] subtly enhancing the efficiency of my physical abilities?

Or maybe, just maybe, it was the duo of both factors working in tandem.

Yearning for a guide in this novel world, I mused over the possibility of a secret society, longing for insights beyond the lack of advice of my useless system. My knowledge, confined to the initial five volumes, left me in the dark about the nuances of this world. Maybe, somewhere down the line, I'd stumble upon my own kind.

But that was a story for another day. As I meandered through the county, I found myself in the slums. Critiquing the air's pungency would have been hypocritical, considering my current olfactory contribution. My once-awe-inspiring clothes now resembled the aftermath of an avant-garde butchering session. Despite my sentimental attachment, practicality had a stronger pull.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

Spying an overhanging laundry line, I decided to embark on a mission – Operation Wardrobe Liberation. I snagged an unpleasant tunic and oversized pants, reminding myself that in the slums, it's not theft, it's just high-level recycling.

With the swiftness of a seasoned knife juggler, I transformed the pants into a masterpiece of baggy pajamas. Out with the blood-stained relics, in with the new threads. My cloak, the last bastion of my former ensemble, remained draped over my shoulders, bound around my head in a makeshift mask – a sartorial masterpiece, if I may say so.

In the spirit of benevolence, I strung my old clothes on the hanging line, an offering to any ambitious passerby willing to perform a quick wash or dabble in a little patchwork, especially in the tattered shoulder area.

Oh, how my heart ached as I bid adieu to my hidden pocketed haven. Waa! But cruel destiny demanded this sacrifice. With a lingering gaze, teary eyes, and a final Waa! I turned my back on the street.

In a burst of emotion, I activated [Fleet Footed Sprint] and ran! My feeble heart, burdened with the weight of hidden pocketed nostalgia, couldn't endure to see them any longer!

***

Swiftly navigating the county with a keen awareness of its routes, I took advantage of the tame nightlife that overtook the streets after midnight. If anyone eyed me with suspicion, I simply invoked [Fleet Footed Sprint] and left them in my dust. I was a blur, a phantom of the night, too swift for prying eyes.

Reentering the little patch of forest surrounding the county, the looming walls of the manor greeted me in the distance. Employing the trusty method of [Lethal Precision] and exploiting the crevices in the wall, I scaled my way back in. And just like that, I was BACK!

A quick survey revealed an absence of patrols, no forbidden lovemakers, not even a cat with delusions of dominion. Perfect. Opting for a leisurely walk back to my room, I cloaked myself in [Umbral Concealment] to avoid any accidental encounters.

Through the stairs, the empty hallways unfolded before me, and my room glittered like a distant beacon. Finally! But wait, why was the door to my room wide open? It was well past midnight; there should be no soul wandering around at this ungodly hour.

Deploying [Keen Perception], I tuned in to the symphony of low breathing and the unmistakable melody of rummaging – someone was having an unauthorized field day in my quarters. Oh, by the goddess, they picked the wrong time to engage in a bit of breaking and entering.

My mental fatigue, akin to a firework show gone haywire, was setting the stage for a potential knuckle sandwich delivery – with added [Lethal Precision] ofcourse!

Glancing into my room with barely contained annoyance, I was met with a sight that kind of made me unclench my fist.

Lo and behold, a little chubby boy, who should have been snug in his bed at this ungodly hour, was meticulously going through my closet. It was Daniel! That little goober!

Engaging [Umbral Concealment], I entered the room with all the possible stealth. I positioned myself right behind him as he continued his FBI-level search on my closet, licking his lips in anticipation.

"Where did she hide them? I think I saw her bringing some out of here. Maybe she hid them in the clothes!"

HE WAS ON THE HUNT FOR MORE CANDIES! Oh, the audacity of this midnight candy crusader!

As I moved my hands to touch Daniel's shoulder, a crucial detail eluded me in that moment. Each time I subdued [Eyes of Terror Evocation], I essentially dampened its effects. However, the essence lingered, albeit significantly diluted. It was a detail I'd soon be acutely aware of.

When he turned around and unleashed a scream that could rival banshees in their prime, I should have seen it coming. Alas, anticipation fell prey to my oversight, and I found myself hurriedly covering his mouth. Muffled screams replaced the piercing ones, but fear, like a wily adversary, sought alternative avenues of expression.

As I watched pearls of terror drip down his pajamas, a foreboding realization dawned upon me – my cozy encounter with fluffy sheets would have to wait.

Damn it!

***

Morning arrived once again, and though I was physically awake, the allure of my silky sheets persuaded me to linger a while longer. If [Adaptation] lacked its miraculous talent for banishing every trace of body ache, I might have found myself nursing a terrible headache. As a mere pretense, I decided to play the part for some extra lazy time. Yay!

Today, my agenda was simple – do nothing, lounge around, and indulge in copious amounts of Sundrop Sitrus juice. The mere thought of it induced unintentional drooling. I'd have to ask Marie to bring me a supply, a feat she would likely accomplish with her usual efficiency.

Speaking of Marie, I needed to inform her of my triumphant return. Fortunately, my absence went unnoticed, a fact corroborated by Daniel's earlier report.

The dark cloud on my horizon materialized as I remembered that tomorrow marked my grand entrance into the church ceremony for the magical aptitude test.

The realization soured my mood.

Was there truly no artful dodge to sidestep this impending wave of disappointment accompanying my official awakening as a Dark Mage? Ugh.