Morning sunlight slowly filled the small wooden house.
The pale golden light slipped through the window and spread across the room, illuminating the frost that still lightly covered parts of the bed.
Adrian stood near the window, watching the quiet street outside.
His mind was not focused on the scenery.
Instead, it was focused on the floating blue interface only he could see.
[Resonance Bond System]
Bond Established
Partner: Lyra
Element Acquired: Ice Affinity
Mastery: 1%
Adrian stared at the words silently.
"So this is the power the system gives me."
He slowly raised his hand.
For a moment nothing happened.
Then a faint chill spread across his fingertips.
A thin crystal of ice formed in the air above his palm before quickly melting away.
Adrian lowered his hand.
"Still weak."
That was expected.
The system gave him the element, but not mastery.
He would still have to train.
Which was exactly how Adrian preferred it.
Power that came too easily could not be trusted.
Behind him, the bed shifted slightly.
Adrian turned.
Lyra stirred slowly beneath the blanket.
Her silver-blue hair spread across the pillow like frozen silk.
After a moment, her eyes opened.
The pale blue color of her eyes reminded Adrian of winter skies.
She blinked several times before sitting up slowly.
"…Where am I?"
Her voice was quiet, still slightly weak.
Adrian leaned against the wall.
"My house."
Lyra looked around the small room.
The wooden walls.
The small table.
The single window.
It was clear this place belonged to someone living in the poorer parts of the city.
Then she looked down at her hands.
The frost that had once covered them was gone.
"…It stopped."
Adrian nodded.
"You lost control of your element."
Lyra lowered her gaze slightly.
"I know."
For a moment she said nothing.
Then she spoke again.
"…Did you help me?"
Adrian hesitated for a second.
He couldn't explain the system.
Not yet.
So he simply answered.
"I stabilized your mana."
Lyra looked surprised.
"You can control mana already?"
Adrian shrugged.
"Barely."
Lyra studied him carefully.
In this world, children their age rarely had any mana control.
Most people only began training once they entered the academy.
Which meant Adrian was already unusual.
Lyra slowly swung her legs off the bed and stood up.
Her balance was slightly unstable, but she managed to stay upright.
"…Thank you."
Adrian waved his hand slightly.
"It wasn't a big deal."
Lyra shook her head.
"No."
Her voice was serious.
"You helped me when no one else would have."
Adrian noticed something in her tone.
Gratitude.
But also loneliness.
Which made sense.
Natural awakeners often struggled because their powers appeared far earlier than normal.
Without proper guidance, their abilities could become dangerous.
Lyra looked toward the window.
The academy towers were visible in the distance.
"…You train every morning," she said.
Adrian raised an eyebrow.
"You noticed?"
She nodded.
"I've seen you before."
Adrian blinked.
"You have?"
Lyra looked slightly embarrassed.
"I come to that field sometimes."
"When my power gets unstable."
Adrian crossed his arms.
That explained why she had appeared there.
The open space probably helped her release excess elemental energy.
Lyra looked back at him.
"You train very seriously."
Adrian shrugged again.
"I have a lot to prepare for."
Lyra tilted her head.
"Prepare?"
Adrian quickly changed the subject.
"You should learn to control your mana."
Lyra sighed.
"I've tried."
"Every time my element appears, it gets stronger."
"And I lose control again."
Adrian thought for a moment.
Then he walked toward the center of the room.
"Sit."
Lyra blinked.
"…What?"
"Sit down."
Lyra hesitated, then slowly sat on the floor.
Adrian sat across from her.
"Close your eyes."
Lyra obeyed.
Adrian spoke calmly.
"Focus on your breathing."
"Inhale slowly."
"Then exhale."
Lyra followed his instructions.
At first her breathing was uneven.
But gradually it stabilized.
"Now," Adrian continued, "focus on the cold inside your body."
Lyra frowned slightly.
"I feel it."
"It's like… snow moving through my chest."
Adrian nodded.
"That's your mana."
"Don't push it away."
"Just observe it."
Lyra remained silent.
Seconds passed.
Then something changed.
The air around her began cooling again.
Small frost patterns formed on the wooden floor.
Adrian watched carefully.
"Don't panic," he said calmly.
"Just keep breathing."
Lyra's expression tightened.
"But it's getting stronger."
"That's fine."
Adrian leaned forward slightly.
"You're not fighting it."
"You're guiding it."
Lyra's breathing slowly stabilized again.
The frost stopped spreading.
Then it slowly faded.
Lyra opened her eyes.
"…It worked."
Her voice sounded surprised.
Adrian nodded.
"You just need practice."
Lyra stared at him.
"You talk like a teacher."
Adrian smirked slightly.
"I read a lot."
Lyra laughed quietly.
For the first time since waking up, she seemed relaxed.
Then she stood up.
"I should go."
Adrian nodded.
"Your family will worry."
Lyra hesitated.
Then she shook her head.
"…No one will."
Adrian frowned slightly.
But he didn't ask.
Lyra walked toward the door.
Before leaving, she stopped.
Then she turned around.
"Adrian."
"Yes?"
"…Can I train with you tomorrow?"
Adrian was silent for a moment.
Training with her would likely increase his system synchronization.
And improve his ice mastery.
But more importantly—
Lyra was someone important in the original story.
Having her as an ally early could change everything.
Adrian nodded.
"Sure."
Lyra smiled slightly.
Then she left.
Adrian watched the door close behind her.
The room became quiet again.
Moments later—
The system interface appeared.
Bond Growth Detected
Ice Affinity Mastery Increased
1% → 2%
Adrian smiled faintly.
"So the bond strengthens through interaction."
That was useful information.
He looked toward the distant academy towers again.
The original story hadn't even started yet.
But things were already changing.
And Adrian had the feeling that this new path would lead to something far bigger than the novel had ever described.
(TO BE CONTINUED)
Author's Note
If you enjoyed this chapter, please support the story with Power Stones. Your support helps the novel grow and motivates me to release more chapters.
See you in the next chapter!