Morning light entered Arin's room through the cracked window.
He opened his eyes slowly and sat up.
His body still felt weak, but his mind was sharper than before.
Three names echoed in his thoughts.
Rynor.
Jaren.
Lyra.
His first companions.
His first foundation.
He stood up and washed quickly, then headed toward the western training ground.
Unlike before, he was no longer alone.
Rynor and Jaren were already waiting.
Lyra arrived shortly after, holding her staff tightly.
All three bowed.
"Good morning, Your Highness."
Arin raised his hand.
"No need for that when we're training. Call me Arin here."
They exchanged glances, surprised.
Then nodded.
"Yes… Arin."
They began with basic exercises.
Running.
Stretching.
Balance training.
Breathing control.
Arin remembered techniques from his previous life and combined them with this world's cultivation methods.
He corrected their postures.
Adjusted their stances.
Explained their mistakes patiently.
Rynor practiced sword swings again and again.
His speed improved little by little.
Jaren lifted heavy stones and trained his core.
His endurance increased steadily.
Lyra sat cross-legged and focused on mana circulation.
Her aura grew more stable with every cycle.
Arin watched everything carefully.
His system worked silently.
Information flowed into his mind.
Small improvements.
Tiny gains.
But they were real.
After two hours, everyone was exhausted.
Sweat soaked their clothes.
Breathing was heavy.
But their eyes were bright.
The system activated.
[SYSTEM PROMPT: Continuous Training Detected]
[SYSTEM PROMPT: Team Growth Efficiency +15%]
[SYSTEM PROMPT: Leadership Bonus Activated]
Warmth spread through Arin's chest.
His thoughts became clearer.
His awareness widened.
[PLAYER PROFILE – ARIN ELDORIA
STR: 5
MAG: 5
SPD: 5
END: 5
INT: 9
CHA: 7
Growth Potential: SSS
System Authority: Level 1]
"So this is how I grow," Arin thought.
"By growing them first."
Rynor wiped his forehead.
"Arin… I've never trained like this before. It feels… different."
Jaren laughed.
"My muscles are burning, but I feel stronger."
Lyra smiled softly.
"My mana is smoother than ever."
Arin nodded.
"This is only the beginning."
They continued training for several days.
No rest.
No excuses.
Early morning.
Late evening.
Rain or shine.
Slowly, changes appeared.
Rynor's sword became sharper.
Jaren's strikes became heavier.
Lyra's spells became more stable.
And Arin's understanding deepened.
One afternoon, while they were resting, footsteps approached.
A young noble in expensive robes appeared.
Behind him were two guards.
"Prince Arin," the noble said arrogantly.
"I heard you're wasting time with lowborns."
Rynor clenched his fist.
Jaren's eyes darkened.
Lyra lowered her head.
Arin stepped forward calmly.
"Is there a problem?"
The noble sneered.
"Just advice. Know your place."
Arin looked at him quietly.
Then activated Observation.
[STR: 22 | MAG: 8 | SPD: 18 | END: 20 | INT: 14 | CHA: 25
Rank: Minor Noble]
"Weak," Arin thought.
He smiled politely.
"Thank you for your concern."
The noble felt uneasy for some reason.
After a pause, he snorted and left.
Rynor whispered, "Why didn't you argue?"
Arin replied softly, "Not worth it. Power speaks louder later."
That night, Arin returned to his room.
He sat by the window and looked at the distant lights of the city.
This kingdom was weak.
This palace was rotten.
This court was dangerous.
But he was building something different.
Something new.
Something unstoppable.
The system responded quietly.
[SYSTEM PROMPT: Long-Term Plan Recognized]
[SYSTEM PROMPT: Foundation Stability +5%]
Arin closed his eyes.
Tomorrow, training would continue.
And soon…
Real challenges would come.