The next morning, William sat cross-legged on his massive bed, the golden sunlight streaming through the curtains. The rays caught his silver bangs, making them shimmer like molten silver, a striking contrast to his youthful, porcelain-like face. His eyes, deep and contemplative, fixated on the translucent red panel hovering before him—his Status Window.
He tilted his head slightly, one finger tapping rhythmically on the bed as he pondered.
STATUS WINDOW!
Name: William dè Medici
Essence: Wind
Level: 1
Race: Human
Age: 2
STATS
HP: 150/150
Essence: 750/750
Strength: 30
Agility: 32
Intelligence: 180
Durability: 30
SKILLS: Available
"Hmmm... Everything seems normal—except for this," William muttered, his gaze locking onto his essence stats. "My essence is five times higher than the average person's. This means I'll be stronger than others at the same level. For now, that's an advantage..."
He paused, furrowing his brows as his voice grew quieter, "...but later, it'll become a curse. I'll have to work five times harder to level up."
With a sigh, he scrolled down the translucent interface, his eyes stopping at the glowing line:
[SKILLS: Available]
"But the thing that puzzles me most," he said, leaning forward slightly, "is how I've unlocked an opportunity this early. As far as I know, it's impossible to unlock one before turning five."
[WELL, IT IS STRANGE—BUT THEN AGAIN, BREAKING THROUGH AT TWO YEARS OLD IS STRANGE TOO.]
The voice of Wiz, his ever-present companion, reverberated in his mind, interrupting his thoughts.
William smirked faintly. "True."
He fell silent for a moment, piecing things together. After a while, he spoke again, his tone calm and calculated. "There's only one logical explanation. When I forcefully introduced essence to my essentric cortex, it must have expanded its capacity. Another possibility is that during my breakthrough, I absorbed more essence than required. Since my cortex was still developing, it stretched to accommodate the surplus."
He paused, glancing at the glowing interface once more. "And with a higher essence capacity, I somehow unlocked an opportunity earlier than expected."
[WELL... IF YOU PUT IT THAT WAY, IT DOES MAKE SENSE. BUT HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT IT? WHAT SKILL WILL YOU LEARN?]
Wiz's voice carried a tinge of enthusiasm.
A confident smile tugged at William's lips. "I know exactly what I'll choose."
Closing his eyes, William stilled his breathing and focused. Within moments, his consciousness was transported to a different realm—a space engulfed in darkness, infinite and silent. His form glowed faintly, a translucent cyan radiance surrounding his ethereal body.
"This must be the Subconscious Plane," William murmured, his voice echoing in the void. "The place where mystics come to learn and comprehend skills. It's like an entirely new world..."
He observed his surroundings, the emptiness pressing down on him like a silent ocean. Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes again, the glow around him intensifying.
"Skills are divided into three categories," William thought, his mind racing through the information stored in his memories. "Green, Purple, and Red." The higher the category, the more powerful—but also the harder to comprehend."
His translucent figure exhaled, the cyan light pulsating around him as he delved into his memories. "Mystics can also create their own skills," he whispered, a note of excitement creeping into his voice. "But it takes an immense amount of time to master them."
Suddenly, a memory resurfaced, sharp and vivid. It was a skill—one William had created in the novel. "Levitation," he whispered.
The skill glimmered in his mind, a purple-rank technique William had designed during his academy days in novel. Back then, he had dismissed it as subpar compared to other purple-rank skills, its effectiveness paling in comparison. Though ideal for lower levels, But purple rank skills are difficult to comprehend at lower levels and its comprehension takes a lot of time. For most, it was little more than a waste of time.
But for me , it is a treasure.
"With my essence capacity far exceeding the norm, and my high comprehension . I can master this skill even at my current level," William said, a grin spreading across his face. "It'll be my first step toward true power."
William closed his eyes, allowing his memories to guide him as he began to recall the skill. Gradually, the details came into focus—a series of precise movements and principles stored deep within his mind. Once the memory fully solidified, a shimmering projection materialized before him.
It was a translucent figure, radiant with cyan energy, demonstrating the very skill he sought to master.
William's brow furrowed in confusion as he observed the projection. "What…?"
[HAHAHAHA! SO THAT'S HOW PEOPLE LEARN SKILLS.]
Wiz's booming laughter echoed in William's mind.
William's gaze remained fixed on the projection as he muttered, "So, when people use a skill book to learn, a projection is created in their subconscious. It visually demonstrates the skill, breaking it down for them. And because this skill already exists in my memories, my mind generated this projection for me."
The projection moved fluidly, performing the skill with precision. William watched intently, narrating every movement from memory. "First, increase the circulation of essence through your essence pathways. This heightens your sensitivity to the essence around you. Next, slowly release your essence into the surrounding environment to establish control over it. Once that's done, choose an object to levitate, and focus on the essence enveloping it to manipulate its motion."
[HMMM… IT DOESN'T LOOK EASY, DOES IT?] Wiz remarked skeptically.
William smiled faintly, his gaze sharpening with determination. Taking a deep breath, he assumed the stance demonstrated by the projection. Suddenly, several stones and arrows materialized in the dark expanse of the subconscious plane, their shapes outlined with a faint cyan glow.
Closing his eyes, William concentrated, mimicking the projection's movements. Slowly, the objects around him began to lift off the ground, hovering steadily in the air.
[HA HA HA! YOU ACTUALLY DID IT ON YOUR FIRST TRY!] Wiz exclaimed, his voice tinged with both amusement and astonishment.
A smirk played on William's lips. "Can I do this too?" he murmured to himself, snapping his fingers. Instantly, the levitating stones and arrows shot forward like bullets, cutting through the darkness with lethal precision.
A crisp chime rang in his ears, and a glowing message appeared before him:
[DING!]
Skill: Levitation
Category: Purple
Mastery: 20%
William raised an eyebrow. "Only 20% mastery? Even after my perfect recreation?" He chuckled, shaking his head. "I can only imagine what I'll be capable of at 100% mastery."
The dark plane faded away as William opened his eyes. He was back in his room, seated on his grand bed. The soft morning sunlight bathed the room in a golden glow, the warmth a stark contrast to the cold emptiness of the subconscious plane.
Suddenly, the door creaked open. A young man entered, his silver hair catching the light, giving him an ethereal appearance. His emerald-green eyes sparkled like precious jewels, reflecting the morning sun.
The man approached with a gentle smile. "Hey, William. Father wants to speak with us. He asked me to bring you to him, but if you don't feel like going, it's alright." His tone was warm, his expression that of a caring older brother.
William giggled softly, sliding off the bed.
[SO, YOU'RE REALLY GOING?] Wiz's voice echoed in his mind.
William smirked. "Let's see what Edgar has to say after my cinematic breakthrough," he quipped, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
The young man, Jack, chuckled as he picked up William and kissed him on the cheek. Carrying him in his arms, he made his way toward Edgar's office.
On their way, they passed through a large hall filled with guests—those who had attended the previous night's event. Conversations filled the air, but William's focus remained sharp, observing everything around him.
Suddenly, Wiz's voice cut through his thoughts.
[HEY, WILLIAM.]
"What is it, Wiz?" William asked, his tone casual.
[YOU KNOW I AM NOT YOUR FRIEND, NOR YOUR ENEMY. WE HAVE AN AGREEMENT: YOU ENTERTAIN ME, AND I HELP YOU ESCAPE YOUR FATE. BUT IF YOU FAIL TO FULFILL YOUR PART OF THE DEAL—IF YOU FAIL TO KEEP ME ENTERTAINED—I WILL KILL YOU MYSELF.]
William smiled gently, as if amused. "I know that, Wiz. Why bring it up now?"
[BECAUSE THE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM… THEY'RE EMANATING A DARK RED AURA. IT'S MAKING ME INSECURE. DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT, QUICKLY.]
William's expression remained calm, his smile never faltering. Activating his Third Eye, he scanned the room. Instantly, the hall was painted in hues of deep red, the auras of those present pulsing with malice and hostility.
A dark, predatory grin crept onto William's face. "Be patient, Wiz. Soon, these people will be no more than corpses."
[HAHAHAHAHA! YOU'RE ONE INTRIGUING MORTAL. AND I LIKE IT.]
Soon, they arrived at Edgar's office. The room exuded an air of authority, with its dark oak furniture and tall shelves lined with ancient tomes. Edgar sat in his high-backed chair, his emerald-green eyes gazing through the large window at the garden beyond. Outside, Amanda sat on a bench amidst a sea of blooming flowers, her serene figure framed by the soft morning light.
Jack stepped forward, his voice respectful yet cheerful. "Father, I've brought William."
Edgar turned to them, his emerald eyes glowing warmly as a gentle smile graced his face. "Come in, boys. Take a seat, Jack," he said softly, gesturing to the chairs before his desk.
Rising from his chair, Edgar moved to stand by the massive window, his imposing figure silhouetted against the sunlight streaming in. The golden rays caught the fine embroidery on his dark robe, making him appear almost regal. He gazed out at Amanda for a moment, his expression softening.
"Jack," he began, his voice calm yet filled with an unspoken depth, "do you know what is most precious to me?"
Jack blinked, caught off guard by the question. "I… I don't know, Father. What is it?"
Edgar's lips curved into a tender smile as his gaze lingered on Amanda outside. "You. Both of you. I value you more than anything in this world."
He turned to face Jack, his intense emerald eyes locking onto his son's. "And when the day comes that you inherit the title of Lord Medici, I want you to remember this: Protect those you hold dear above all else. That is the true duty of a leader."
Jack straightened in his chair, the weight of his father's words settling heavily on his shoulders. "Yes, Father. I will."
Edgar nodded approvingly, then shifted his attention to William. The warmth in his gaze deepened, but his tone took on a note of seriousness. "William has already broken through at such a young age. It's a rare and remarkable feat. Because of this, I can't entrust his education to anyone else. Until he turns five, I want you to teach him the basics yourself."
Jack's brows furrowed slightly in surprise. "You want me to teach William, Father?"
"Yes," Edgar replied with a smile, his tone firm yet encouraging. "You're more than capable, Jack. I trust you."
William, sitting quietly until now, let a small smile curl at the corners of his lips. His sharp mind quickly recognized the potential in this arrangement. "Ha… what a perfect opportunity to strengthen my bond with Jack," he mused internally, the glimmer of a plan forming in his thoughts.
[HAHAHAHAHA! OH, THIS JUST KEEPS GETTING BETTER!] Wiz's laughter echoed in William's mind, brimming with amusement.