Leon Gray entered the world crying.
But the soul inside him wasn't newborn.
It carried memories from another life—a life without magic, without monsters, without professions or talents. He didn't remember his death, only that darkness shifted into blinding light… and then he was here, in a world ruled by strength.
Even as an infant, Leon sensed things he couldn't explain—voices, warmth, the steady heartbeat of the woman holding him. He couldn't understand the language at first, but his new mind absorbed everything.
He accepted the new life quietly.
He had no choice.
He would live this life fully, no matter what he had lost before.
Age 3–5: Learning the World
Leon learned two truths early:
Truth 1:
Aldoria Kingdom was peaceful on the surface, but danger lurked everywhere—forests filled with beasts, lurking demons, and scattered dungeons that could erupt at any moment.
Truth 2:
This world ran on a system—
a real, functional Status Panel that every person unlocked at the age of sixteen.
No panel before Awakening.
No levels.
No attributes.
No skills.
Only training and discipline.
So that's what Leon focused on.
Age 6–10: Training From the Ground Up
Most children laughed and played. Leon practiced footwork, balance, and breathing techniques from dawn to dusk.
He didn't have strength.
He didn't have talent.
He didn't have power.
But he had discipline—more than anyone else.
Over the years:
His movements grew precise
His reflexes sharpened
His body toughened
His mind became steady
Instructors at Silverbrook Academy began calling him:
"The Quiet Blade."
He never talked much.
He never complained.
He trained harder than anyone his age.
Not because he wanted to show off—
but because he knew how powerless life could be.
This second life would not be wasted.
Age 11–14: Becoming Someone to Watch
Leon grew tall and lean, his cold personality surprising many. While others struggled with basic weapon forms, he mastered them in weeks. His focus made him stand out.
He still had no Status Panel.
No Strength stat.
No Agility stat.
No Skills.
But his technique alone put him above most students.
That was enough.
The academy instructors began to praise him quietly.
Students whispered about him as if he were an anomaly.
Leon ignored all of it.
Training.
Studying.
Repeating.
Day after day.
Because at age sixteen, Awakening would decide everything.
Profession.
Talents.
Attributes.
Level.
Future.
He only had one chance.
Age 15–16: Approaching Awakening
The Awakening Ceremony was only three days away.
Students in Silverbrook Academy buzzed with excitement and fear. Some hoped for a combat profession. Some prayed they wouldn't awaken with an F-rank.
Leon felt none of their anxiety.
He had trained eleven years for this moment.
He stood alone in the academy courtyard, daggers dancing in the cold morning air. His movements were smooth—cold—precise. Each step flowed into the next, forming an endless rhythm.
A few students watched from a distance.
"Leon is at it again…"
"He's like a machine."
"Does he ever stop?"
"What rank do you think he'll awaken?"
"No idea. He never talks to anyone."
Leon ignored the voices.
His breath came out white in the early morning frost.
Three days left.
Soon he would finally see the Status Panel he had waited an entire life for.
A Voice Approaches
"Leon! There you are!"
Leon stopped mid-step and turned.
A dark-haired boy jogged over—
sharp eyes, confident smirk, wooden sword across his back.
Damian Crest.
Competitive.
Reliable.
Leon's closest friend, even if neither admitted it out loud.
"You're going to break the ground if you keep training like that," Damian said. "Take a break. Awakening's almost here."
Leon wiped sweat from his brow. "Breaks slow progress."
Damian rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah. 'Discipline.' You've said that for ten years."
Despite the tone, Damian's grin was warm.
"You ready for the ceremony?"
Leon nodded. "I've been ready since age five."
Damian laughed. "Of course. You were training before you could even lift a sword properly."
Leon didn't deny it.
Training was his second language.
Damian tossed him a water flask. "Drink. At least pretend you're human."
Leon caught it effortlessly.
Three days left.
Three days until the Status Panel opened.
Three days until his new life truly began.