Alan's POV:
It's been a month since I came here. From now on I'm officially Alan Silverheart. Though it might have been cool to most, to me it was just a name change. It was more about what came with that name.
I have never really known what it's like to not have to worry. But now I do. And frankly speaking, it's amazing. I got nothing to worry about, literally. I can just train all day, hang out with Alice and Rachel, eat and sleep.
Though it seems like most of the people in this mansion don't really like me, whether it be servants or direct family. Hell, the person who seems to hate me the most is probably Sylvia. I thought we had worked things out and it also seemed like she was eager to recruit me but when the news about my adoption came, she didn't look all that happy about it.
She has been giving me these death stares whenever we walk past each other and she's also telling bad thing to most of the servants about me. Things like 'he's a psychopath' or 'he killed thousands of people' and also 'he's from the slums'.
Not that any of it was incorrect, but still. The servants don't seem to like me because of the rumors even though I didn't do anything to them. Not that I cared really. I was used to glares of hatred. And she even tried to get Rachel to turn on me. Though it ended up with them getting into a huge fight and not speaking currently, which also caused Sylvia to hate me even more.
Mister Silverheart on the other hand is really a nice guy. He immediately shut down the protest of the higher ups in the family and he even took care of my contract with Heartfelt. Now I just owed her a favor.
But he hadn't really spoken to me much ever since. I came to find out that basically, he had no free time. This was also one of the reasons why he wasn't much in his children's lifes. He just had no time.
Not that I minded. He already gave me all of this and it's not like we really are father and son so no need for much interaction.
Now, this past month, I only trained. I was still not used to not having to do anything so I just spend all my time training. I sleep about 8 hours, which is an insane amount to me compared to my previous 2 hours of sleep, and train for 12 hours. The other 4 hours are used for things like eating, showering and hanging out with my little sisters. Yes, I already saw Rachel like a little sister. I mean, who could blame me, she is just such a cutie like Alice.
Ehem, not in the wrong way of course. I still have my morals and ehh. Just forget what I said, no reason to get to weird speculations right.
Right?
But anyways, I have made quite the progress this month. It would be easier to just show you.
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Name - Alan Silverheart
Age - 16
Class - swordsman (level 2)
Energy- mana
Subclasses:
-Martial artist ( level 6)
-Assasin ( level 2)
...…
Rank: (F-)
Strength: (F-)
Agilty- (F)
Stamina: (F-)
Perception- (F-)
Mana- (F)
Charm- (D)
Intelligence- (D)
Battle intelligence- (A)
...
Combat/magic arts:
- Basic hand to hand combat (unranked)
Mastery (100%)
Description: the very basics of the basics any proper martial artist should have.
-Basic sword arts (unranked)
Mastery (53%)
Description: the very basics of the basics any proper swordsman should have.
...…
Skills:
- Absolute mana control (unranked):
Passive skill.
Description: Grants the user far greater control over mana than normal.
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As you can see, I ranked up. Though I had hoped it would have increased much more. From what I've heard, even the weakest student entering Eternal academy is at the very least F rank. So me just being F- rank is not very good.
But that was not all I achieved. I also increased my swordsmanship by quite a bit. I even got this art called 'Basic sword arts' though I haven't completely mastered it yet. But it seems like leveling up isn't as easy as I thought it would since I'm still just level 2. Which made me wonder how in the hell I got martial artist to level 6. I was told that it was much harder to level subclasses than main classes so how the hell did I manage to do this?
Meh, don't care. It's good that I got it. If I were to compare myself to when I'm using martial arts compared to using a sword, I'd say that the me with martial arts would be able to take out 3 or 4 of me using a sword.
So the difference was still way too large for me to say that I can confidently use the sword. And it would also take me a couple of years before I even get to level 6 on the sword so I should just take my time I guess.
The last thing I made huge progress with is my mana control. I am able to control it freely within my entire body right now and even fortify my body entirely with it. Unfortunately, it seems that mana isn't comparable to aura in physical fortification. Though it still makes me stronger, aura would have a much greater effect. Mana is more to be used outside of the body for things like spells and stuff. But I'm not a great fan of that.
But I also figured something else out. If I control the mana into my eyes, I can see these coloured particles in the air. Like, a lot if them. I came to find out that these are different types of mana. And the one I feel most attracted to are these pitch black particles. I don't know what it is but I just like them the most.
And apparently, ultimate mana control is far greater than I thought. Just like it said, I get better mana control from it. But it seems like it is much, much better than I thought it would be. You see, things like freely controlling the mana throughout your entire body and even controlling the mana particles in the air, isn't something a F- rank should be able to do. Heck, not even an E rank. People tend to be able to use things like mana fortification and controlling the mana particles in the air when they reach D rank.
That just meant one of two things. Either I'm just amazing. I mean, I most likely am. Or ultimate mana control is just a crazy skill. Though for some reason it's unranked. That was also the reason why I thought it sucked. But it's great! Never judge a book by it's cover I guess.
But still, even with all my progress, it wasn't enough to be something outstanding. If I were to fight Sylvia right now I'd still lose.
Why? Wasn't I about to win in our previous clash? Well, it's not that simple.
You see, I used her inexperience to lure her into a trap. But this trap was a one time thing that I couldn't repeat. So now, I basically stand no chance against her. I'd have to at least be F+ rank.
Well, that would be if we were to just fight. I'm pretty sure that I could manage to find a way to kill her if I play dirty.
Another thing that I'm quite happy with was my body. No, don't get any weird thoughts.
After being able to eat properly for a whole month, I naturally gained some weight. Though I still wasn't really muscular, I at least lost those sunken cheecks. I also had much more energy and my skin became a little less pale.
Even my charm went up, which was pretty nice. Who knows, perhaps a psychopath like me can even find love. I never even had the chance to think about things like love. I just had to survive and that was all.
So many opportunities. Perhaps I can really have it all at the academy. Love, friendship, happiness and much more.
I remember staring at the kids that went around shopping or playing around whenever I went to buy some food. I was so jealous of them. But now… Now I can have the same.
I was currently lying down on the ground in the training facility. My breathing was fast and I was covered entirely in sweat.
I was currently just staring at the ceiling, thinking about all the opportunities I have. I had a huge smile on my face as I stuck my hand into the air and made a grabbing motion, as if clutching the opportunities I was thinking about.
"Love, friendship, happiness. Those used to be mere fantasies. But now… now it is all within hands reach. And I will do everything to obtain them. I'm done with despair."
I slowly got up after my words. The academy was about to start and I wasn't satisfied with my progress. Though circumstances have changed, one thing remained the same. Strength is absolute.
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Future Alan's POV (guy from first chapter):
So? How was my story until now? Did you like it? I hope you didn't since nothing good really happened.
What? It doesn't seem like I'm heading towards despair? Of course it doesn't seem like that!
I thought I had it al in my grasp. Friendship, love and happiness. I actually believed that I could have all of those. Well, not anytime soon. Though I'll eventually have it, kinda.
The academy wasn't my chance to have it all like I thought it would be. It was a reality check. I had grown hopeful after my adoption, but it was quickly made clear that I shouldn't have been.
"Daddy, can you tell me a story?"
The voice of a little girl rang out. Seems like our time is up.
I put the same fake, warm smile on my face like always and went to tell her a story about one of my many adventures of the past. The good old days.
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Alan's POV:
~ 1 day later~
It was the day. Today were the admissions for Eternal academy. There were two ways to get into the academy. The first would be through a scholarship. You'd get one by showing the academy that you had great potential and could be of major significance to the human race.
And the second was the one used most. Buying yourself in. And that was also how I got in. After all, they wouldn't accept someone who at 16 was still a mere F- rank.
I was currently in a limousine. Of course, I wasn't alone. I was sitting next to the left window with Alice next to me and Rachel next to her. On the other side of the small space were Sylvia, who looked at me with quite the annoyance, and mister Silverheart who had his eyes closed for some reason.
I had to say, it was pretty uncomfortable for me here. Alice and Rachel were busy chatting while Sylvia kept throwing an annoyed gaze at me.
"Ehm… is there anything wrong?"
I asked her, though hesitating a little. After all, I could understand why she hated me. I mean, in a way, I was the reason for the fight between her and Rachel.
And for her answer she spat out some clearly hated words. "You. You are what's wrong."
Well, that didn't go the way I wanted. I kinda wanted us to have somsthing like a siblings relation like I had with Rachel, and even if that was too much, I'd at least like it if we could become friends.
"What's your problem with me? I mean, I haven't really bothered you ever since we met. Hell, you are the one who tried to kill me."
I didn't really understand her original hatred for me. When it was about recruiting me she didn't seem to mind but the moment I got adopted, the hatred came.
But she just scoffed. "You are a mere mongrell. An abomonation and a monster. You are a devil's spawn that shouldn't have been born. You don't deserve to be on of us Silverhearts. It would already have been a great honor to you to serve us yet you dared to become one of us."
Abomination? Monster? Devil's spawn? I don't know why but those words pissed me off. Even if I had done some bad things in the past, it's not like I ever hurt someone innocent.
"You talk big for a spoiled brat. You act as if you are so much while all your succes comes from your daddy. You should learn how to be humble, on your own you're nothing but a pathetic child who can't even properly fight a person much weaker than her."
My words that were said with clear diminishment seemed to struck a nerve on her as she opened her mouth to retaliate. But before she could even say anything, an authoritative voice cut her off.
"Enough you two. Sylvia, he is your brother from now on. I have seen what you have been doing this past month but I let it slide since you are my real daughter, but from now on I expect you to behave yourself."
But sylvia didn't seem to accept what her father said.
"But father, he~"
But she was cut off yet again as.
"No buts! You will behave, understood?"
His voice contained some anger this time.
Sylvia, with no other choice nodded her head while gritting her teeth.
I thought felt pretty good about this since I had been enduring this unjustly hatred for a while now but it seems he wasn't just repremending her
"And Alan. Though I understand that you weren't at fault, Sylvia is still my daughter. I expect you not to speak like that to her again."
Though it felt unfair, I could understand him. She was his blood related daughter while I was just his newly adopted son.
"Yes sir."
He nodded his head at my confirmation.
"Now be quiet please. I want to rest for a little. We'll be at the academy after half an hour."
And so, the silence returned to the limo.