Alaric's first week at Verdant Dawn Academy was unlike anything he had imagined.
His intelligence and natural charm, hidden behind the facade of an innocent, eager-to-learn eight-year-old, proved to be powerful tools in manipulating those around him.
He knew that he had to maintain a delicate balance: appearing studious and naive to his peers and teachers while subtly working the Harem God System to accumulate experience.
From the very first day, Alaric established a reputation for himself. His classmates were awestruck by his talent in magic, while the professors couldn't help but notice his thirst for knowledge. But Alaric wasn't focused solely on the academics.
His true goal lay in cultivating intimate connections with the beauties around him, slowly gathering experience points that the system tracked diligently. With every touch, word, and lingering glance, he could feel his power growing.
The first morning of his second day, Alaric made sure to maintain a low profile, blending into the background as students filled the classroom.
Natasha, his closest peer, spotted him quickly and waved excitedly. He gave her a small nod, his eyes sweeping over the group of girls that surrounded her.
Natasha had been friendly and open from the start, and her affection for him had only grown. The system had already confirmed her rising interest.
"Alaric, come join us!" Natasha called, beckoning him over.
He approached with a quiet confidence, keeping his demeanor innocent. "Good morning," he greeted them, his voice soft but warm.
The group of girls—Natasha, Lea, Tessa, and Irene—responded with excited smiles. Their eyes sparkled with admiration as they gazed at him, and Alaric could feel the system buzzing in the back of his mind, calculating the subtle changes in their affections.
"You were amazing in class yesterday," Natasha said, her face lighting up. "Everyone's talking about how good you are at magic."
The other girls nodded in agreement, their faces flushed with excitement. They hung on to his every word, eager to spend time with him.
Alaric, despite not being particularly interested in them at the moment, knew that maintaining these connections was important for his future.
The younger girls were enamored by his talent now, but one day, they would mature into beautiful women, and that was when they would be most valuable to him.
He smiled modestly, playing the part of the humble prodigy. "Thank you, but I still have a lot to learn. Maybe we can all practice together later. I'd love to help."
The girls blushed, clearly flattered by his suggestion. Natasha's admiration for him was particularly strong, and Alaric could sense it growing with each passing interaction.
[System Notification: Intimacy score with Natasha increased. Intimacy score with Lea, Tessa, and Irene increased slightly.]
[Experience received: +8]
The notification reassured him that his plan was working. His charm had subtly ensnared the girls, ensuring their crushes on him would continue to grow. While they were too young now to be of much value, Alaric played the long game. In a few years, they would become much more useful for gaining experience.
However, Alaric's true targets weren't the younger girls. His focus shifted toward the older students and professors, especially those with mature bodies and experience.
During class, he kept his eyes on Professor Lilliana Valtor, a strikingly beautiful woman with an air of authority. She exuded power and intelligence, making her a prime target. Though her demeanor was cold, Alaric knew she was beginning to notice him.
After class, as most students packed up to leave, Alaric stayed behind. His innocent expression masked the calculated move, as he approached Professor Valtor with a question.
"Professor, I wanted to ask about the elemental spells you demonstrated today. I understand the theory behind them, but I'm struggling with executing them. Could you help me?"
Valtor raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "You're quite young to be thinking about advanced elemental spells, Alaric. But I suppose it's not surprising, given your talents. What part of the spell is troubling you?"
Alaric gave her a humble smile. "The control aspect, I think. I can manipulate the elements, but I don't have the precision yet."
The professor regarded him for a moment, clearly impressed by his determination. "It's rare for a student your age to even understand the basics of these spells, let alone be able to control them at all. Let's go over it."
As she explained the intricacies of elemental control, Alaric listened intently. His mind absorbed every word, not just for the sake of mastering the spell, but for the effect it had on the professor herself. His intelligence, combined with his boyish charm, was enough to impress even someone as seasoned as Valtor.
[System Notification: Intimacy score with Professor Valtor increased slightly.]
[Experience received: +15]
The more he interacted with her, the more he noticed the small glances she gave him, a subtle curiosity in her eyes. It was working.
The system continued to provide feedback on her reactions, and though the experience gains weren't massive, they were steady enough to build on.
Outside of class, Alaric's reputation among the students continued to grow.
His abilities in magic, particularly in the fundamentals, surpassed what many students much older than him had managed to learn after years of study. It didn't take long for the older students to notice.
At the training grounds, where students practiced their spells, Alaric often found himself the center of attention.
One afternoon, a group of senior girls watched as Alaric practiced his basic elemental spells.
Mariel, a senior with long auburn hair and a stunning figure, approached him after watching his performance.
Though she had spent nearly eight years mastering her magic, she couldn't help but be impressed by how far Alaric had come in only one week.
"You're amazing," Mariel said, her voice filled with genuine admiration. "I've never seen anyone your age grasp the fundamentals of elemental magic like that."
Alaric smiled modestly, hiding his satisfaction. "I still have a long way to go. You're far more advanced than I am."
She laughed softly. "Maybe for now. But at the rate you're going, I wouldn't be surprised if you surpassed me in a few years."
Her words were laced with more than just flattery—there was a hint of awe in her tone. Alaric knew he was making an impression.
Mariel, like the other seniors, had worked tirelessly for years to reach their current level of skill.
For them to see an eight-year-old boy on the verge of mastering the basics in such a short time was both shocking and humbling.
[System Notification: Intimacy score with Mariel increased significantly.]
[Experience received: +32]
As the days went by, more senior students, particularly the girls, began to take notice of him. They watched as he practiced, marveling at how quickly he absorbed the lessons and applied them in practical settings.
Although Alaric couldn't yet perform the high-level spells they had spent years perfecting, they could see that he had an unparalleled grasp of the core principles.
"He's going to surpass us all at this rate," one senior girl whispered to her friend, both of them watching Alaric from a distance. "I bet in three years, he'll be better than any of us after eight years here."
The more Alaric practiced, the more he confirmed their suspicions. His mastery of the basics gave him a solid foundation, and his natural talent was undeniable.
Though he couldn't yet match the seniors in complexity, he understood magic on a level far beyond his age.
It wasn't just his power that drew attention, though—it was the way he carried himself.
Despite his youth, there was a confidence in his movements, a sharp intelligence in his eyes, that set him apart.
As the days turned into a week, Alaric's reputation continued to grow.
Not only was he excelling in his magical studies, but he was also slowly but surely weaving a web of connections with the academy's most beautiful students and professors.
Cedric and Natasha, his closest friends, were oblivious to the deeper game he was playing.
Cedric admired Alaric's talent, while Natasha continued to develop a deep crush on him.
During one training session at the practice grounds near the dorm, Cedric watched in awe as Alaric executed a complex series of elemental spells with precision. "You're amazing, Alaric," Cedric said, shaking his head. "It's like magic just comes naturally to you."
Alaric shrugged, trying to appear humble. "I just pay attention in class and practice a lot."
Natasha, who had been watching from the sidelines, chimed in. "No one else can do what you're doing. You're already better than some of the seniors."
Alaric smiled at her, his gaze softening just enough to make her blush. "Thanks, Natasha. Maybe we can practice together sometime."
Her face flushed a deep red, and she nodded eagerly. "I'd love that."
[System Notification: Intimacy score with Natasha increased.]
[Experience received: +6]
While the younger girls like Natasha remained infatuated with him, it was the older students who provided the most valuable experience.
Throughout the week, Alaric employed his Wink of Flirtation ability whenever the opportunity arose.
Whether it was with Mariel, another senior student, or even one of the more attractive professors, his charm worked its magic.
The system continued to inform him of the growing attraction these women felt toward him, and the experience points flowed in steadily.
By the end of the week, Alaric's progress was astounding. He had established himself as not only the most talented student in his class but also one of the most promising in the academy's recent history.
The senior students, who had initially been skeptical of him, now regarded him with a mixture of respect and awe.
Some were even envious, realizing that all their hard work over the past eight years could be surpassed by this prodigious boy in just a few short years.
And Alaric knew it too. His mastery of the basics, combined with his ability to charm those around him, placed him on a fast track to greatness. The system's notifications became a constant, reminding him of the experience he gained from every interaction.
[Experience received: +28 from Mariel.]
[Experience received: +34 from Professor Valtor.]
At the end of the week, Alaric checked his progress. He was now just 400 points shy of reaching Level 10.
Once he did, he would unlock a new ability—something that excited him more than anything.
Though he didn't yet know what that ability would be, he knew it would be another step toward his ultimate goal: absolute power.
"I'm almost there," Alaric muttered to himself, a small smile playing on his lips. "Just a little more."
The first week at Verdant Dawn Academy had proven to be more successful than he could have hoped.