The two weeks since Dumbledore's personal invitation to Hogwarts had been agonizingly slow. Ian had initially planned to visit the Leaky Cauldron in advance, but a chilling encounter with a mysterious cloaked figure had quickly squashed that idea, confining him to the orphanage. The mere thought of the potential darkness lurking within the magical world sent shivers down his spine. He possessed the soul of an adult, but the body of a university student… hardly a match for such unknown dangers. Discretion was the better part of valor.
[Successfully read Roman. Language proficiency +1]
[Successfully read Roman. Language proficiency +1]
[Successfully read Roman. Language proficiency +1]
…
At his desk, Ian pored over his books, brows furrowed in concentration. He meticulously copied words into his notebook, murmuring them aloud. Self-study demanded ironclad discipline, a truth unchanged even with the aid of his status screen. Each increment in proficiency represented genuine learning, a small epiphany. But these epiphanies were born from dedicated effort. Leveling up, of course, brought a different kind of enlightenment, a surge of comprehensive understanding.
Lost in his studies, a sharp rapping at the door broke his concentration. "Come in," he called, turning towards the entrance.
The door creaked open, revealing Katherine, her eyes sparkling. "Ian, do you want a chicken leg? The cook said there are extras tonight!" She held out a drumstick like a precious offering. A white, short-haired cat darted past her feet, leaping onto the desk and crouching.
Katherine gasped, then, recognizing the feline, exclaimed, "Jilly! You pest!"
Ian swatted the cat's rump playfully and scooped her up. "There, Katherine, I've told her off."
Katherine pouted, still slightly annoyed at the cat.
Ian offered a reassuring smile. "Jilly didn't mean it, Katherine. Relax."
"Alright, Ian," she conceded. Children's tempers, like summer storms, came and went quickly. Her curiosity finally bubbled over. "Ian, when can we go to the magic school?"
Ian smiled at the little girl. No one could resist the allure of magic. Still, he reminded her, "Katherine, remember our secret."
Katherine immediately clapped a hand over her mouth. "Ian, I…"
"It's alright to tell me," Ian chuckled. "But as for attending magic school, you might have to wait a few years, given your age."
"Mm-hmm! I'll eat lots and grow up fast! Ian, let's go play with Noah and the others!"
Her eager eyes were hard to refuse. Ian glanced back at his language textbook. He had planned to grind his language skill to level 5 and unlock its extraordinary trait, but Katherine's interruption had broken his flow. Forcing himself to continue would be inefficient. He checked his status screen.
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Name: Ian Prince
Class: Bloodline Sorcerer
Magic: Level 4
Skills: Language Proficiency (Level 4): 500/800
Biological Anatomy (Level 5): 64/1600
Free Combat (Level 3): 85/400
Psychology (Level 6): 42/3200
[Psychology Extraordinary Trait: Mind Perception]
[Biological Anatomy Extraordinary Trait: Butcher's Instinct]
His language proficiency had soared to level 4 thanks to his recent intensive study, just 300 points shy of level 5. His other skills had stagnated due to his lack of fortune-telling and anatomical studies. Time, after all, was a finite resource.
"Let's go," Ian said, setting the cat down. Jilly darted out of the room, and Ian followed Katherine outside.
In the courtyard, children were playing football. Their faces lit up at the sight of Ian, who often filled a quasi-parental role in their lives – less strict, but equally caring.
"Hey, Ian! Join our team!"
"No way! Ian finally came out to play; he should be on our team so we can win!"
Their playful squabble brought a smile to Ian's face. "Alright, alright. I'll be the goalkeeper!"
With his departure for Hogwarts just days away, a bittersweet feeling settled over him. He felt a pang of longing for the orphanage, its people, and its familiar routines.
…
Night fell, the sky a canvas of scattered stars. Ian, freshly showered and tucked into bed, couldn't shake off the persistent yearning for his future.
"When will I finally be able to practice magic…?"
Sleep soon claimed him, pulling him into a deep, dreamless slumber.
He awoke to a sky as clear and vibrant as a freshly polished sapphire, dotted with fluffy white clouds resembling spun sugar. Sunlight streamed through the gaps, casting dappled patterns on the ground like playful sprites.
The Misty Realm. He was back.
Ian stretched, taking a deep breath of the tranquil air. Below the picturesque sky, a fairytale forest unfurled, its lush trees whispering ancient secrets in the breeze. Small animals scurried through the undergrowth, butterflies and bees danced among the flowers. A winding cobblestone path led into the heart of the forest, towards a darkness that clung to the horizon.
This time, Ariana was nowhere to be seen. Ian was accustomed to her absence; the flow of time in the two worlds was vastly different. Seven minutes in the real world could translate to half a day in the Misty Realm. Their previous encounter had been a fortunate coincidence.
Ian strolled across the grass towards the path. Strange creatures peeked out from the bushes, their curiosity piqued before vanishing back into the foliage. He followed the winding path, sunlight filtering through the leaves.
After an indeterminate time, he arrived at a small, secluded valley town. Despite its size, it boasted a surprising array of amenities: an old post office, a pub with a gently swaying sign, and a church with a spire reaching towards the heavens. Yet, an eerie stillness hung over the seemingly peaceful town. Every shop was closed, the streets deserted. It resembled a ghost town from a horror film, only lacking the ominous atmosphere.
"A town of the dead…" The scene reminded Ian of Ariana's words – that people had once lived here, but had gradually departed. Perhaps these souls had simply forgotten their lingering attachments within the Misty Realm, or perhaps they had fulfilled them, moving on to new, mysterious adventures.
"The absence of life is palpable." Ian quickly traversed the empty streets, arriving at Ariana's cottage.
"Huh? Where is she?"
The cottage door was shut tight. Ian peered through the window. Silence. Just like the shops, there was no sign of life within.
He found this strange. In all the years he'd been visiting the Misty Realm, Ariana had never strayed far from the town. This was the first time he couldn't find her. He had hoped to ask her about the mark she had given him. Could her disappearance be related to the gift she had bestowed? Worry gnawed at him.
Suddenly, a voice sliced through the silence behind him, elegant yet cold, a voice that commanded attention.
"Oh, heartbroken little boy, are you waiting for that poor little girl?"
Startled, Ian spun around.
A woman stood before him, her eyes like deep black jewels, slightly tilted at the corners, framed by thick, fan-like lashes. She was elegant, breathtakingly beautiful… a young woman? She wore a long, black robe trimmed with gold thread, her bearing regal and aloof. Her opulent appearance clashed starkly with the simple surroundings.
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