"My na is Edric Kane, and I will be your guide."
Edric couldn't help but feel a surge of disdain.
'These filthy elves… I can't believe Leonhardt entrusted with this task.'
"Thank you, Sir Edric. We truly appreciate it," Lindarion spoke from beside his mother, offering a slight bow.
"Please, Your Highness, the honor is mine," Edric replied, his voice steady, though for a brief mont, Lindarion thought he detected a slight wavering. He wondered if he was imagining it.
'I wonder what this place is like. It's been a long ti since I last saw humans.'
"This way, please," Edric instructed, turning and leading them toward the massive gates. It didn't take long for them to pass through the grand entrance and step inside the city walls.
The sight before them was nothing short of breathtaking. The streets buzzed with life—bazaars lining the roads, houses packed tightly together, rchants shouting their deals, and the constant hum of haggling and negotiation.
'…So things never change.'
A small, unconscious smile crept onto Lindarion's lips. The liveliness of the place, the way people carried themselves, reminded him of his past life.
"Do you like it, my son?" his mother's soft voice reached him.
"Yes," he admitted, not bothering to hide his feelings. It felt… familiar, like ho. But the human side of the city left an unsettling impression on him.
As they walked through the streets, hushed whispers and murmurs filled the air.
So of the people glared at them with open disgust, others radiated condescension, while a few gazed with envy.
"Filthy elves, how dare they set foot here?" one voice muttered.
"Disgusting creatures. They don't belong among us," another whispered.
Lindarion's mother kept walking, unfazed. But Lindarion turned his head toward the n who had spoken. His gaze t theirs.
Therion, standing beside them, instinctively moved his hand toward the hilt of his sword. Lindarion glanced up at him.
'It's not worth it.'
Therion hesitated, then released his grip on the hilt and continued walking.
"Damn elves," the whispers continued, trailing behind them like shadows until they finally reached their designated lodging, granted by King Leonhardt for the duration of the ball.
The place seed secluded and isolated from the rest of the city, giving a sense of security. Stepping inside, Lindarion was taken aback. The interior was far grander than the modest exterior had suggested.
'So kind of magic? From the outside, it looked much smaller than this.'
[Not quite, Host. But it is related. This is an advanced Spatial Magic artifact.]
[Mana Perception.]
As Lindarion activated the skill, he felt the mana saturating every corner of the building, woven flawlessly into its structure. After confirming its presence, he deactivated the skill.
'Strange. Using such a powerful artifact for sothing like this seems… wasteful.'
Edric turned toward them with a polite smile.
"I hope you find the accommodations suitable. We look forward to welcoming you at the ball tomorrow."
He bowed, and Lindarion gave a slight nod in return. His mother, however, spoke directly.
"That will do, Edric. Thank you, everything is satisfactory."
She gave a brief nod, signaling for him to leave. Edric took his leave.
"Is everything alright, Mom?"
She seed oddly focused on Edric, but Lindarion wasn't particularly surprised.
"Yes, darling. Don't worry about it. Go ahead and explore the house."
With that, she turned to speak with the guards, their conversation quickly fading from his interest.
'If I'm being honest, I don't care about this whole ball…'
Lindarion quickly found his room and threw himself onto the bed, lost in thought about the world outside.
'This is exhausting…'
An hour must have passed when he heard a knock at his door. He'd been completely absorbed in a novel.
His mother entered, smiling, a book in her hands.
"I didn't forget your birthday, my son. Happy Birthday!"
She handed him the book with a wide grin.
'Oh… right. It's my birthday today… How does soone even forget their birthday?'
Lindarion has forgotten to his birthday being today due to elves only celebrating major birthdays, such as the turning age ceremony, which he was looking forward to.
[A skill book.]
"Thank you, Mother."
Lindarion smiled politely and hugged her.
'What exactly is a skill book? I an, I have a general idea, but how does it work?'
[Skill books contain pre-set abilities ranked from 1 to 7 stars, but they rarely grow stronger.]
[Unlike skill books, system-granted abilities have unlimited growth potential. They evolve with you, Host, and can even surpass the most powerful techniques found in books.]
[Skill books are also incredibly rare, and most techniques can be learned through direct training with a Mana Core, which is why inner techniques are much better. And that's why only a few people still use them. On top of that, mastering a skill from a book takes a long ti.]
'…You don't have to brag so much.'
[I'm simply better, and I know it.]
"What kind of skill is it?"
"Your father got it for you. It's a movent skill."
Lindarion glanced down at the cover, his eyes lighting up.
'Phantom Step… Sounds cool. I like it.'
"Seriously, thank you, Mom."
She simply smiled and ruffled his hair.
"Get so rest. Tomorrow is a big day."
With that, she left the room. Lindarion leaned back on the bed, still holding the book.
'How do I even use this?'
[As I ntioned, most people take a long ti to master a skill from a book.]
'And how long will it take ?'
Lindarion asked with a smirk.
[Just place your hand on it, Host.]
Following the system's instructions, he pressed his hand against the book. Instantly, it began to glow with a dark light, releasing wisps of black smoke before vanishing completely.
[Skill absorbed.]
[New Skill Acquired – Phantom Step (★ ★ ★)]
[Effect: Enhances agility and footwork, allowing short bursts of speed and silent movent.
Growth Potential: Can evolve into advanced mobility techniques like teleportation or afterimages.]
'Now I have three skills and a few techniques. System, is there a way for to differentiate them? Maybe by their rarity or strength?'
[Possible. Skill rarity.]
[Activating Skill Rarity Display.]
[Activation successful.]
[Skill rarity applies only to techniques!]
Got it, I understand everything, don't worry. I'll check them out later—I need so rest for now.
A day passed in the blink of an eye.
As Lindarion prepared for the ball, his mother handed him the outfit he was supposed to wear.
It was a simple black and white suit, embroidered with golden threads. A finely stitched sun emblem rested near his heart, and the clasps were made of solid gold.
He glanced at the mirror and had to admit—it suited him well.
"Not bad…"
He murmured, tilting his head with a smug grin, checking out his reflection from every angle.
The colors highlighted his erald-green eyes and golden-blonde hair. He was quite tall for his age, standing around 145 cm, likely due to his lineage—or maybe just good genetics.
He walked out of his room and out of the house—calm, steady, but with purpose.
Outside, a white-and-gold carriage awaited, standing beside his mother and the elven bodyguards from before.
"Are you ready, Lindarion?" Her voice was warm and confident.
lion wore a gold-and-white gown, embroidered with the sa sun emblem that adorned his outfit.
She must be excited.
"Yes, Mom. We should go now."
'System, I accept the quest.'
A loud chi rang in his head as he stepped into the carriage.
——[Quest Window]——
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