POV: Liora
Liora stood frozen before Arthur, a silent witness to an impossible phenomenon unfolding before her eyes.
This kid is evolving too fast. Way too fast.
She shook her head slightly, trying to rationalize what she was seeing. It was no longer a matter of debate: it wasn't normal for a child his age to already be absorbing mana into his physical vessels. At this rate, the mana core he eventually formed would be leagues beyond any of his peers.
She furrowed her brows, her mind racing.
Is it a special bloodline? Or perhaps a unique constitution?
But the answer came to her instantly. No. Bloodlines typically manifest only after the creation of the mana core. Mana acts as the key that unlocks the dormant power within the blood. Before that, a bloodline remains silent.
Her eyes narrowed.
This brat... I'm sure of it. He possesses a Special Physique. But what kind, exactly?
She watched him for a few more moments, captivated by the faint vortex of mana swirling around him.
This kid is a monster. A genuine monster.
A slow, predatory smile stretched across her lips.
But oh, how interesting he will be to watch...
Meanwhile, the other children struggled through the breathing exercise. Some tried to maintain the rhythm—inhale, hold, exhale—but failed, losing their count or gasping for air. Others had simply given up, looking around in confusion. A few glared at Arthur with envy, wondering why the instructor was giving him so much attention.
Liora finally straightened up and addressed the group.
"Alright, children," she said, her voice ringing out clearly. "That was quite interesting. Very well done for a first day."
Her gaze lingered on Arthur for a split second.
"It seems the Patriarch made the right choice in bringing you here, Arthur."
The Voice of Envy
Suddenly, a muffled snarl broke the silence.
Liora turned her head and saw a boy at the back of the group. His fists were clenched with trembling force, his face twisted in a mask of anger and frustration.
Well, well...
The boy had snow-white hair—almost silver—and piercing red eyes identical to Arthur's. His features were noble and aristocratic, bearing a striking resemblance to the Head of the Family. But unlike Marquoc's usual controlled mask, this boy's face was a map of cold, seething rage.
Ah. Iode. Marquoc's only legitimate son. And he looks absolutely miserable.
Iode stared at Arthur with a burning intensity.
Why did this bastard succeed? Father hasn't stopped talking about him for months! "Arthur this, Arthur that"... and now, he even masters the breathing exercise on the very first day?!
It was unbearable. Unable to contain himself any longer, he spat out:
"Hey, you! You filthy bastard!"
POV: Arthur
Huh?
I slowly opened my eyes, drifting out of my deep meditative state.
Who was shouting? I turned my head and saw a kid—likely my age—glaring at me with a venomous look. White hair. Red eyes. Noble features.
Ah. Another descendant of the main clan, apparently.
He looked at me as if I had personally insulted his entire ancestors.
What does this one want?
"If you succeeded in that exercise, it was pure luck!" he spat arrogantly. "But I'll get it too! With the clan's resources, anything you can do, I can do better! It's only a matter of time! After all, I'm far above a bastard like you!"
...
I stared at him with an expressionless face.
Seriously?
A part of me—the thirty-three-year-old former Olympic champion—wanted to burst out laughing. This kid... he reminded me of the jealous rivals who used to accuse me of doping back in my previous life.
One part of me wondered if I should:
A) Give him a physical correction to teach him some manners.
B) Verbally dismantle him to put him in his place.
But ultimately...
Sigh. Too much effort.
I sighed internally. Ah, spoiled rich brats. A typical reaction from a child who has been told his whole life that he's special. I simply looked at him for a few seconds—without anger, without contempt, just... with total indifference—then turned away and closed my eyes to resume my meditation.
As if he didn't even exist.
POV: Iode
HE... HE'S IGNORING ME?!
Iode felt the blood boil in his veins.
How dare he?! He was the only son of the Family Head! The direct heir of the Berher Clan! For months, his father had done nothing but praise this bastard. Arthur's intelligence. Arthur's potential. Arthur's genius.
It was humiliating. And now, this same bastard—a child born of a commoner concubine—had succeeded where Iode had failed.
POV: Liora
Liora watched the scene with an amused smile.
Oh, this is getting delicious.
The Head of the Family's son versus the prodigy bastard. She crossed her arms, eager to see how Arthur would handle the heat.
"Alright, that's enough for today!" Liora announced loudly, breaking the tension. She clapped her hands. "Now, follow me for your weapon training. Everyone, up!"
The children scrambled to their feet. Arthur rose calmly, dusted off his tunic, and began to walk away. But Iode wasn't done.
"Hey! Wait!"
Arthur stopped, turned his head slightly, and looked at him with a perfectly neutral expression.
"What do you want? Go play somewhere else. I don't have time for you."
His voice was calm and steady, but laced with a hint of genuine annoyance. Iode's eyes widened in shock.
"How dare you speak to me like that?! I am—"
"I know who you are," Arthur cut him off coldly. Well, not really. But I can guess. "A descendant of the main clan. A legitimate heir. Someone everyone is supposed to respect."
He paused, then added in a glacial tone:
"But honestly? I don't care."
Iode stood frozen, mouth agape. Arthur looked him up and down with thinly veiled disdain before turning to leave.
"Listen well," Arthur said, his voice carrying an authoritative weight that didn't belong to a five-year-old. "We are in a training camp. In this place, there are no family heads, no heirs, and no bastards. There are only recruits."
His red eyes flashed intensely.
"The only thing that matters here is strength. So, if you want my respect... prove you're worthy of it. Now, leave me alone."
With those words, he turned his back and walked away without a second glance.
POV: Arthur - Discovery
As I walked away from the field, a familiar sensation washed over me.
Wait. My System is reacting.
I focused mentally and pulled up my status window.
[STATUS - ARTHUR BERHER]
Age: 5
Title: Child Prodigy, Seventh Son
STATISTICS:
Strength: 12
Agility: 15
Endurance: 20
Intelligence: 30
Mana: 1 (+1) [NEW]
My mana... it increased to 1?!
I stopped in my tracks. I had literally gained my first point of mana... just from a breathing exercise.
I instinctively pressed a hand to my chest. There it was. A tiny, flickering spark of warmth at the center of my torso. It was nearly imperceptible, but it was there.
This is incredible. Children in this world aren't supposed to have mana until their core forms at age ten. But me? I'm five.
A satisfied smile played on my lips. My Absolute Physical Absorption wasn't just strengthening my muscles; it was allowing me to store mana directly. If I keep this up, I could form my core years ahead of schedule.
And when that time comes... I'll crush them all.
POV: Liora - Final Observation
Liora watched Arthur walk away, a smile of absolute ecstasy on her lips.
She had just witnessed something she would never forget. This kid had just put the heir of the Berher family in his place without even raising his voice.
She glanced at Iode, who was still trembling with rage.
And now, he's made an enemy. The worst possible enemy for a bastard.
Her smile widened.
This is going to be very, very interesting.