I gasped for air, trying to calm my racing thoughts. I had finally escaped from the dark association's grasp. The years of brutal training and constant fear were behind me—at least for now. I couldn't help but feel a surge of relief. But my mind kept racing, filled with dread at the thought of being caught again.
"System 64, where is the safest place I can stay?" I asked, my voice shaking slightly.
"The academy is currently the safest place for you. It is heavily guarded and home to the Archmage, making it a fortress against any threats from the dark association," the system responded in its usual sarcastic tone.
Memories of how I ended up in this magical world and how I became an assassin flooded my mind as I finally felt the warm embrace of the dawn sunlight. I survived all the hellish training and near-death experiences to come out alive. For reasons even my system did not know why I have come into this world, I transmigrated into the body of an 8-year-old orphan boy. Soon after, the dark association kidnapped a lot of children to train them into deadly assassins. By the worst luck, I was one of the kids taken. Our lives had no meaning inside the association—we were treated like livestock solely for exploitation.
Luckily, I discovered that I had a system. Without it, I would have died long ago. The system granted me abilities to survive even though the body I transmigrated into was blind. It provided me with skills that helped me reach this point in life, as I trained and honed my abilities. I planned my escape several times, but it was not feasible because of the cursed spell tracker they engraved within our hearts like a parasite. I saw the spell's capability to kill other assassins instantly. Using the system to gather information, I looked for ways to dispel it.
One time, I came across an ancient labyrinth where I was supposed to retrieve an ancient artifact. With the system's help, I decrypted a book containing different ancient magic spells—ten in total. One of them could counter dark magic. Since then, I learned and practiced until I could use those ancient spells perfectly. I waited for the right moment to execute my escape plan, and finally, the time was ripe.
I had been assigned a deadly mission to eliminate a prince in a neighboring kingdom. The prince, who was the same age as me—16 years old—was my target. Observing him for a month, I noted that he stayed in his room after celebratory occasions in the palace. The palace was heavily guarded, equipped with anti-stealth measures, and protected by a swordmaster and a powerful mage.
Executing the assassination was nearly impossible. My plan? A decoy. During my training, I learned an ancient spell that allowed me to take over another person's body, changing their appearance to match mine. I took over the body of a new prisoner sent to the palace's hidden chamber for insulting a royal. The spell not only transferred my consciousness but also allowed me to use my skills and experience.
On the night of the prince's celebration, I made my move. Breaking free of the chains imbued with magic to prevent escape was easy with my knowledge of their workings. I knew the palace's layout intimately, which allowed me to navigate to the prince's chamber unnoticed.
Inside the prince's room, I woke him, ensuring he could alert the guards. Within a minute, the swordmaster arrived. In his presence, I stood no chance. I was apprehended quickly. Before being sealed away, I used a forbidden spell from the dark association to ensure the body I had taken over would die, eliminating any trace of my presence. Simultaneously, I erased the spell the association had placed to kill any assassin who failed their mission. The association would believe I was dead once the spell ceased to exist.
The risk was high, but it was successful. I was able to free myself from the claws of those devil worshippers. For the first time, my heart felt freed from the chains that had weighed it down for all those years. The relief I felt was an experience I had missed so much in my life; I felt like a bird soaring into the sky without worries. This time, I did not need to be on guard all the time because inside the association was very suffocating. Deep down your spine, you could feel the terror from those egomaniac, powerful worshippers of dark magic.
Before I entered the kingdom of Aurelia Empire, I made sure to change my appearance and scent to ensure the association would not be able to track me down.
"Give me your token!" the guard commanded, inspecting every person entering the gate. I handed over the token used as a pass.
He looked at it closely. "You may enter!" he said after personally checking that the token was real and not flawed.
"Thank goodness," I murmured to myself. I had created that token using the necessary materials and magic. I erased any trace of magic to make sure it looked authentic. From the gist of it, the guard hadn't sensed any anomaly with the token.
"Hey System 64, find me a good tavern in the area?" I asked the system as usual. Since I became aware of the system's existence, I used it as my eyes. It has a function that can search the surroundings, becoming my personal Google map in this world. It can even calculate the distance and visualize it in my head, making travel incredibly easy and hassle-free.
"Calculating distance. There is one inn 500 meters across from us. Turn right after the third building and then left," the system answered in detail.
"Hey System, did the wind turn in another direction?" I asked in my mind. Most of the time, the system answered in a sarcastic tone whenever I asked it something, which made me doubt if it was really just a system. But whenever I asked, its reply was always the same: "I am System 64, designed to help my host." Nothing more, nothing less.
System 64 had been my constant companion since I transmigrated into this world. It possessed two main authorities: the Installation Authority and the Information Collection, Analysis, and Visualization Authority. These capabilities had saved my life more times than I could count.
With the Installation Authority, System 64 could grant me new abilities and skills directly to my body. Of these, one was the most vital: the Radar Sense. That ability increased what I had and amplified it as much as was possible within its limits to turn my other senses—hearing, touch, and smell—into a sort of mental mapping of space that allowed me to navigate this place despite the absence of eyes. The second highly useful one is Enhanced Reflexes, which amplified my reaction time and reflexive physical capabilities.
The Information Collection, Analysis, and Visualization Authority was equally important. It enabled the system to collect information from the environment, analyze it, and then present it to me in a useful format. This function made System 64 my personal map and advisor. It could scan the environment, calculate distances, and visualize them in my mind, making travel and navigation very easy. The Status Window Visualization showed my current status, my abilities, and even potential upgrades. The Enemy Analysis provided strategic insight about opponents that gave me a tactical edge during combat scenarios.
Through System 64, I was able to survive the hellish training as well as all the near-death experiences. It was not just a tool, but my lifeline in this dangerous world.
"Where are you going, young man?" I heard a voice I didn't recognize; it wasn't a welcoming sound. A group of four men blocked the alley. I sensed they could at least utilize the way of the sword. They were like a pack of hyenas targeting easy prey, smirking and laughing all the way to their ears.
"Wanna hang out with us?" one of them asked again, trying to wrap his arm around my neck as they circled around me.
The way they moved, it was clear they planned to extort me. More than anything, I hated when someone blocked my way. My instinct was to kill them instantly, but I couldn't start killing when I planned to lay low for the meantime.
"System 64, would you mind putting 5 gold in my pocket?" I asked the system a favor, knowing those vigilant thieves would frisk my pockets afterward. I also sensed another person watching us from the roof above, so I couldn't make a move that would draw more interest.
"Sure, and uhmm, can you tell me where the nearest inn is around here?" I replied to the man, acting compliant as they dragged me deeper into the dark alley. The stinky man didn't let go of his arm around me, murmuring nonsense from his foul mouth. They were happy, thinking I was a pushover and an easy target.
As we reached the corner, they began to execute their motive. "How many gold coins do you have?" one of them questioned, licking his lips as I felt a knife pointing at my face.
"Uhmm, what are you doing? Please, show kindness to me. I don't have gold coins on me," I said, looking terrified to show them I couldn't resist their coercion.
"Don't make this longer, blind man. Just hand over everything you have. Do you think a bumpkin like you can enter this flourishing kingdom looking for an inn without money? Don't make me stupid, blind man," he answered, emphasizing my blindness. He thought that, based on my smell, I had at least some gold coins in my pocket. My act was effective. Technically, I was blind initially, but I had acted all along as if I could see normally to fool the association. They might have killed me on the spot if they knew I could see.
Suddenly, he patted both my pockets, and just as I intended, he felt the pouch with gold coins. "You tried to deceive me, but you were careless," he said happily. The thieves couldn't hide their excitement and were even happier when they found out the pouch contained 5 gold coins.
Please, that is all the money I have," I pleaded to sound as desperate as I could. "I need to pay for my room at the inn. And without it, I have no place to go."
The leader sneered. "Not our problem, blind man. You're lucky we're letting you walk away with your life.
"But… but you don't understand," I stammered, trying to think of a way to stall them. "If you take my money, I won't survive the night out here. The streets are dangerous, and I have no other means of protecting myself."
Another thief laughed. "Oh, we understand perfectly. And we don't care."
I clutched the empty pouch tightly, pretending it still held the coins. "Please, I'll do anything. Just let me keep my money," I begged, hoping to buy some time.
The leader stepped closer, his knife glinting in the dim light. "Anything, you say? How about you hand over everything you have right now, or we'll see how much more we can take from you."
I took a deep breath, considering my options. I couldn't reveal my real abilities, but I needed to get out of this situation without drawing too much attention. "Alright, you win," I said, trying to sound firm. "Just… don't hurt me, please." The thieves exchanged smug glances, thinking they had the upper hand. Little did they know that I already knew the unknown figure, who was sitting on the rooftop above us, was a righteous person. He was not like any ordinary fellow.
He suddenly leaped down between me and the thieves. "Leave him alone!" he ordered, his voice firm and strong. "I am an aspiring student of the Magic Academy, serving justice in this kingdom. Surrender now and return what you stole."
The thieves looked at each other and did not seem impressed. "Look at this kid," one of them sneered. "Thinks he's a hero. Let's teach him a lesson."
They surrounded the young man, their weapons drawn. Undeterred, he raised his hand and cast a spell. "Ice Shot!" he cried, sending shards of ice hurtling toward the thieves. But they were skilled swordsmen and easily dodged the attack. The ice shattered harmlessly against the walls of the alley.
Unfazed, the young man kept casting his spells. However, he was well overmatched by the thieves. Experience was too much for him. He eventually drained all of his mana as he kept trying and became defenseless. The thieves soon caught up with him and began beating him; bruises began to appear on his body.
Watching the scene develop, I was disappointed. I had expected that the unknown man would be powerful enough to face the situation; however, he was only a juvenile boy. Now that things had come to this, I needed to change my plan. I would no longer use my magical skills but would rely on my combat training instead.
While the robbers were making merry by flogging the boy, I got ready. Targeting their vulnerable areas with great precision, with the help of radar sense which would always locate the robbers, I punched one's solar plexus, kicked the other's knee, and chopped the third on his throat. They fell to the ground like stones, without knowing what hit them.
I have just turned round in time, and I have seen him moving towards me to kill me. It was, however, too late. I delivered a good, sharp punch at his jaw; down he went.
I acted breathless, still. I stood up to him. "Are you okay?" I asked the young man as I reached for him to raise him up.
He looked at me with wide eyes as if he were surprised by my skills. "Yeah, thanks," he muttered, wincing as he got up. "I thought I could handle them, but. Wow, you took them down so easily. How did you do that?"
I nodded. "Next time, be more careful. Not everyone who claims to uphold justice is as weak as you think."
He chuckled weakly, rubbing his bruises. "I'll keep that in mind. But seriously, who are you? How did you take them down while being blind? Are you some kind of warrior?"
I could see the curiosity burning in his eyes. "I'm just someone trying to get by," I replied, trying to keep my tone nonchalant.
"But you must have had some serious training. I've never seen anyone move like that, especially someone who can't see," he pressed, not seeming to mind the pain.
"I've had my fair share of challenges," I admitted, hoping he wouldn't pry further. "Let's just say I've learned to rely on my other senses."
"That's amazing! Do you think you can teach me? I'm not blind or anything, but I could stand to learn a few of those things," he said, beaming with eagerness as the questions piled on.
"Maybe one day," I said, half-smiling as I watched the excitement build.
"For now, though, work on healing yourself and your spells. Losing all your mana at once isn't the best move in a battle."
He laughed, despite his bruises. "Yeah, I learned that the hard way. But seriously, thanks. I don't know what I would have done without you. I thought I could handle them "
"Seriously, be safe and think rational next time," I said, giving him a nod before turning away. Walking down the road I couldn't help but feel lighter knowing that in that world there is someone willing to stand up for justice, but he has got a lot of learning to do.
"Wait!" he called after me. "My name is Leo, by the way. I'm training to become a student at the Magic Academy. I want to uphold justice and protect the weak." Saying his cliché motto without a hint of embarrassment to his face.
I turned back to face him, observing the determination in his eyes. "Nice to meet you, Leo. I'm Zarek, but I'm just passing through."
Leo's eyes lit up with enthusiasm. "What brings you to the empire? Are you planning to enter the Magic Academy too?"
I paused, considering his question. It might be a good idea to stick with Leo to learn more about the academy. "Actually, I also plan to enter the academy to learn more about magic," I said, trying to sound convincing.
"That's great!" Leo exclaimed. "You should definitely join. It's the safest place in the empire, and the training is top-notch. We could even train together!"
I smiled at his eagerness. "Thanks for the offer, Leo. I'll think about it." Turning him down a little to make it look like I am uninterested.
After that, I take back my gold coins from those unconscious thieves, ad left them as it is.
As we walked, I asked the system for more information about Leo. "System 64, can you show me the information about this kid?" I thought.
The system responded, showing a window status with Leo's face ID, basic information, and his skills talent diagram:
Name: Leo Age: 16
Status: Aspiring Magic Academy Student
Skills:
Ice Shot: Basic ice magic attack
Mana Control: Beginner level
Swordsmanship: Intermediate level
Talents:Intermediate mana potential
Strong sense of justice
"The detailed information confirmed what I had sensed about Leo. He was determined, bright, and had a lot of potential. Maybe sticking with him wouldn't be such a bad idea after all." The system added strongly agree that it will be best choice for him.
"What is there to think about, its fate that led us together. Let's enter the academy together also I feel a bond with you. There is nothing to lose with this idea." He said persistently and giving reasons to persuade me. Now that he made the offer himself, "Yeah, but, if its fine with you then let's go together." I answered agreeing to his request.
We found the inn I'm looking for, Leo, this guy had good tenacity, I asked if he wanted to go find a healing potion, but he refused and he insist that the pain will be his motivation to grow more stronger, and he said "My family blood line is quite unique, our healing factor is faster than average so its fine, the bruises will fade after a day." Hearing that means he comes from not ordinary family bloodline.
"What is there to think about? It's fate that led us together. Let's enter the academy together. I feel a bond with you. There's nothing to lose with this idea," Leo said persistently, giving reasons to persuade me.
Now that he made the offer himself, I nodded. "Yeah, but if it's fine with you, then let's go together."
We found the inn I was looking for. Leo, this guy had good tenacity. I asked if he wanted to go find a healing potion, but he refused. He insisted that the pain would be his motivation to grow stronger. "My family bloodline is quite unique. Our healing factor is faster than average, so it's fine. The bruises will fade after a day." Hearing that, I realized he came from no ordinary family.
As we settled in, I couldn't help but ask about his background. "Your family must be something else, Leo," I remarked casually.
He grinned, looking proud. "Yeah, the Lumen family is known for our regenerative abilities. It's what makes us great healers and fighters. My father is a renowned healer, and my mother was a fierce warrior. I guess I got the best of both worlds.
I raised an eyebrow. "Impressive indeed. It explains why you wanted to be at the Magic Academy."
Leo nodded enthusiastically. "Exactly! I want to be able to uphold my family's legacy, do something greater. Upholding justice and defending the weak means more for me-it's a form of honoring them.
His passion was contagious, and I found myself warming up to the idea of having him as a friend. "Well, I'm looking forward to seeing what you can do at the academy," I said with a smile. But I can feel from his tone there is more than to it why he wanted to attend the academy. I think there is more to his story, as I can sense some sadness to his dedication.
Leo chuckled. "You and me both. So, tell me, what's your story? How did you end up here?
I hesitated for a moment, then decided to share a carefully crafted version of my past. "I'm an orphan. I've been traveling and learning whatever I can to survive. Magic is something I've always been interested in, so I thought the academy would be a good place to start."
Leo's eyes grew bright with excitement suddenly. "Orphan with an amazing talent? You've really got a lot to say about yourself. And I'm quite eager to find out more, actually."
I smiled, having appreciated his eagerness. "Perhaps someday, Leo. For now, let us just get into the academy first. The way Leo's mood suddenly become high and low; he is forcing himself to make himself interesting in the eye of others.
Before the sun set, Leo went out to take care of some business. I could no longer sense his presence in the next room beside mine. The warmth of the bed was unfamiliar to me; it was entirely different from what I was used to—hard and cold surfaces. Without realizing it, I fell asleep for the first time in a long while, sleeping soundly like a kid without worries.
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Name: Zarek
Age: 16
Height: 167 cm
Hair Color: White
Eye Color: [Secret]
Status: ---
Background: Formerly a normal human from Earth, mysteriously transmigrated into the body of an 8-year-old blind orphan. Survived brutal training by a dark association.
Skills:
Radar Sense: Enhances senses to create a mental map of surroundings.
Enhanced Reflexes: Improves reaction time and physical reflexes.
Sensory Combat: Combines radar sense and reflexes for precise and powerful attacks.
Talents:
High adaptability
Strategic thinking
Determination
System: A distinct and powerful system aiding in skill acquisition and enhancement. Other skills hidden.
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