Cold As Fate Chapter 3 3.Under The Intense Glare Of The Sun

Before Ronan's eyes, a translucent figure began to take shape. The light condensed, revealing a tall and slender man with silver hair that seemed to reflect sunlight, piercing golden eyes, and a stern expression. He wore a simple cloak, but his presence was imposing, almost suffocating. In his right hand, a long sword gleamed as if made of pure crystal.

Aegis stepped forward gracefully, his movements fluid and his posture impeccable. He raised the sword, pointing it at an imaginary target, and began demonstrating basic movements.

— The essence of the sword is simple: parry, slash, and thrust. These three fundamentals, when executed perfectly, are all you need to win any battle.

He advanced, his sword cutting through the air at precise angles. His feet moved in harmony with his body, creating a seamless flow. Each thrust was as fast as lightning, each slash executed with controlled power.

— Observe the foundation — Aegis said, pausing to show his stance. — The balance lies in your feet. Without a solid base, everything else collapses.

Ronan watched intently, his amber eyes glowing with determination. He tried to mimic the movement, but Aegis shook his head disapprovingly.

— Not so fast. Correct your posture. Straighten your back, flex your knees, keep your weight evenly distributed. Now, try again.

Ronan adjusted his position and executed the movement once more. It was far from perfect, but there was progress. Aegis nodded, though reluctantly.

— Better. But still far from acceptable. We'll keep going until you can perform something decent.

Between the series of movements, Ronan couldn't suppress his curiosity. As he attempted to replicate a lateral slash, he asked:

— Who were you, Aegis? Why is your consciousness here?

Aegis paused, spinning the sword in his hand as if pondering the answer. Finally, he spoke:

— I was the most powerful swordsman of my time. My name echoed across battlefields, and my blade never knew defeat... until I met the master.

Ronan frowned.

— Aldritch? — he ventured.

Aegis nodded, his expression hardening.

— Yes, the King of the Dead. He not only defeated me but imprisoned my soul. My failure was so complete that part of me was sealed in his system, destined to train the one he deemed worthy. And here I am, guiding you.

Ronan processed this information silently. There was much more about Aldritch and the pact he had accepted than he had imagined.

Aegis continued:

— Power is not limited to mana. There's another energy, more primal and less explored: aura. Unlike mana, which manipulates the external world, aura comes from within. It is the result of energy flowing through the body, channeled precisely into every muscle and tendon. Few can master it because it requires absolute control of one's body and mind.

Ronan narrowed his eyes, intrigued.

— And how do I use aura?

For the first time, Aegis smiled slightly.

— First, you learn to move. Then, to fight. Aura will come when you deserve it. Now, continue. Parry, slash, thrust. These three words will be your mantra.

Ronan trained tirelessly for about three hours. During this time, he repeated every movement Aegis taught with fierce determination. His clothes were soaked with sweat, his muscles screamed in exhaustion, but he didn't stop. The sun was already high in the sky, shining intensely and casting a scorching heat over the training fields.

— Good — Aegis said, observing Ronan with a critical yet less severe gaze. — For today, you've shown progress. Not enough, of course, but acceptable for someone at your initial level.

Ronan dropped the wooden sword, panting, and wiped the sweat from his forehead. The system's internal clock indicated it was already noon. He felt his stomach rumble, reminding him he had neglected a proper meal that morning.

— I'll take a break to eat — he said, more to himself than to Aegis.

As he gathered the sword and headed back to the main building, a group of students watched from the elevated seats surrounding the field. Elena von Sieghart was among them, casually chatting with the other heroes. However, her blue eyes occasionally glanced at Ronan.

— He has persistence, that's undeniable — commented Lucinda Dracwell, fiddling with her grimoire while watching the boy on the field.

— Persistence isn't enough in this academy — retorted Raiden Stormrider, crossing his arms. — Without talent, he won't make it past the first semester.

Elena didn't comment but kept watching Ronan with a curious expression. Something about that solitary training caught her attention, though she couldn't quite explain what it was. After a few minutes, she and the group left the stands, heading to the cafeteria.

The cafeteria was a spacious, well-lit area with long lines of students waiting to grab their meals. Ronan arrived a bit later than the others, picked up a tray, and joined the queue. When his turn came, he chose a simple meal: bread, roasted meat, and a glass of juice. He took his tray and began looking for a place to sit.

Before he could take two steps, he felt a sudden impact on his heel. The force of the blow caused him to stumble and drop his tray, spilling food and juice all over the floor. Behind him, Edward Gardner laughed loudly, accompanied by two other students from Class A.

— Oops! My bad, Ronan. Looks like you're as clumsy as they say — mocked Edward, a cruel smile on his face.

Ronan stood still for a moment, his body unmoving. But in his mind, something snapped. The humiliation, the bottled-up anger, the accumulated fatigue—all converged into a single instant. He spun on his heels and lunged at Edward like a predator.

Without a weapon, Ronan resorted to the martial arts he had mastered in his past life. He delivered a quick punch to Edward's abdomen, causing him to double over in pain. Before Edward could recover, Ronan followed up with a sidekick that sent him crashing into a nearby table. Gasps of shock filled the cafeteria.

— Do you think you can humiliate me? — Ronan growled, advancing again. He grabbed Edward by the collar, ready to land another blow. His amber eyes burned with a primal fury.

Before he could cause serious harm, a magical barrier appeared between him and Edward. Three members of the student council arrived, their hands glowing with activated runes.

— That's enough! — one of them declared, a girl with black hair and intense green eyes. — You're about to break academy rules. If you had killed Edward, you'd face execution. And your family would suffer retaliation.

Ronan showed no reaction to the mention of his family but released Edward, who fell to the ground, groaning. He stepped back, taking deep breaths to regain control. The fury in his eyes gradually subsided.

— I will respect the academy's rules — Ronan said coldly. — But remember this: I will crush anyone who tries to humiliate me again.

The student council members maintained their vigilant stance as Edward was escorted to the academy's clinic. There, Arlena Hathren, a renowned healer and head of the medical team, would treat him. Known for her exceptional skills, she ensured even the most severe injuries were effectively healed.

As Edward was taken away, murmurs spread throughout the cafeteria. Some students were shocked; others were visibly impressed. Elena and her group, who had expected to witness yet another humiliation, remained silent. She exchanged glances with Cedric and Camille, both equally surprised.

— He's more than he seems — Elena murmured, watching Ronan leave the cafeteria without looking back.

— Perhaps — Cedric replied, though his tone carried skepticism.

Back on the training field, Ronan still felt the remnants of anger within him. He picked up the wooden sword and tried to resume his exercises, but Aegis appeared before him, as imposing as ever.

— Control yourself, Ronan — Aegis said firmly. — The finest blade demands temperance. A focused swordsman with a clear mind is the one who prevails. The first to lose control in a battle is the first to fall.

Ronan took a deep breath, absorbing Aegis's words. He knew the fragment of consciousness was right. Allowing anger to dominate his mind could compromise his progress and, in the future, his survival.

— I'll understand this better with time — Ronan replied, returning to his practice.

Aegis observed him intently, but there was a hint of what almost resembled pride in his gaze.

Ronan trained until the sun began to set on the horizon. His clothes were drenched in sweat, his muscles burned, but he felt he had made progress. Each movement was smoother, more precise. His focus was sharper, and he could tell that even Aegis recognized his improvement, albeit reluctantly.

With each motion, Ronan's mind became more empty, his gaze sharper and colder. He entered a trance-like state where his movements became smoother and more fluid. As he repeated the patterns Aegis had taught, his speed naturally increased, and his mind remained fixed solely on the memorized movements.

During the training, Ronan began to sense the first signs of something different within him. The aura Aegis had mentioned seemed to stir beneath his skin, though he didn't yet know how to fully control it. It felt like a deep heat growing with each well-executed movement.

Suddenly, a peculiar sound resonated in his mind:

DING!

A translucent message appeared before his eyes, like a system notification:

"Congratulations! You have unlocked a new skill.

Through continuous effort and dedicated practice, you have awakened a new power. Continue your training to enhance this ability."

"You have leveled up. Points earned will be allocated in the point distribution grid located at the bottom."

After reading the messages, Ronan opened his status window and murmured coldly:

— So I can allocate skill points into stats like strength, agility, intelligence, and vitality. Interesting. And now there's this new option: "Aura," abbreviated as "AUR," but magical power is still locked. I'll question the system or Aegis about it later.

========< STATUS WINDOW >========

Name: Ronan Blake

Age: 12

Height: 160 cm

Class: —

Talent: Rank

Elements: —

Skills:

Aura:

Footwork:

Swordsmanship:

Level: 2 {0/1000 EXP}

======< USER STATISTICS >======

VIT: 5

STR: 8

INT: 10

AGI: 9

MGP:

AUR: 1

Destruction Points: 4

Ronan analyzed each statistic and murmured:

— System, explain the user statistics.

A new window appeared with detailed descriptions:

Vitality (VIT): Represents the body's regenerative capacity and physical stamina. The higher the value, the faster the body heals from injuries, improves reflexes, and promotes physical growth. At higher levels, vitality influences physical development, increasing height, enhancing skin and hair quality, and optimizing muscle definition up to a natural limit, such as a maximum height of 2 meters for a human body.

Strength (STR): Measures the user's physical power. Determines the damage dealt by physical attacks, the ability to carry weight, and the intensity of direct strikes. High levels enhance muscle density, making the body more robust and impactful.

Intelligence (INT): Defines the speed of information absorption and spell execution. Higher levels grant improved memory capacity and the ability to learn complex skills. Intelligent users quickly master new techniques and better understand combat patterns.

Agility (AGI): Reflects movement speed, coordination, and flexibility. It enhances evasion and precision in quick attacks. Increases in this statistic make movements more precise and elegant, while also boosting threat perception in combat.

Aura (AUR): An internal energy channeled to enhance physical performance, strengthen attacks, and resist external influences. Aura grows with continuous practice and control, empowering the user's body and skills to surpass normal limits.

Magical Power (MGP): Currently locked. Description unavailable.

Ronan closed the window as he pondered how to distribute his points. As he left the field, he crossed paths with Tomas Greaves, a commoner from Class C. Tomas approached him with a hesitant smile.

— You really put that idiot Edward in his place. He deserved it, — Tomas said.

Ronan gave him a cold look.

— I didn't do it to please anyone. If he or anyone else crosses my path, they'll be crushed.

Tomas swallowed nervously but didn't press the matter. He simply watched as Ronan continued toward the dormitory.

Upon reaching his room, Ronan took a long shower, letting the hot water wash away the day's sweat and grime. When he finished, he donned clean clothes and collapsed onto his bed, exhausted. Before closing his eyes, he decided to allocate his distribution points, updating his status to: