"The next day, training began. We agreed that my parents would train me alternately—one day with my father, the next with my mother, and so on.
Training with my father went as follows: first, we would go out into the yard, where he would explain the basics of swordsmanship, which I already knew from my previous life. Then, I had to demonstrate what I had learned in a duel against him. If he was satisfied with my performance, we would head to a D-rank dungeon, which I had to clear on my own while he observed from the sidelines. While I didn't learn anything new during these sessions, they helped me train my body and level up, which was exactly what I needed.
Then came my mother's training. This was no problem either, as even though I rarely used magic in my previous life, I had a solid foundation in mana control and magic circle creation. That foundation was enough for me to learn healing magic, as its core principle revolves around using mana to restore damaged tissues, organs, and cleanse poisons. The key is to focus entirely on the task at hand; otherwise, the mana flow will be interrupted, and you'll have to start over. Moreover, this type of magic consumes an absurd amount of mana, so one must be extremely careful not to deplete it all at once. After just five sessions, I had mastered healing magic. I still couldn't regenerate lost organs, but closing a few wounds was no problem.
Next on the list was teleportation magic. Very few people are capable of using it, as if healing magic requires an abnormal amount of mana, then teleportation demands even more—even for just a few kilometers. Fortunately for me, this was no longer an issue since the intelligence stat governs mana capacity. All that was left was to visualize the location I wanted to teleport to, create a magic circle beneath me, and I would successfully move from point A to point B. Two lessons were enough for me to teleport from my room to the kitchen, which was a decent start.
And so, three months passed. During this time, I reached level thirty-three and accumulated a total of 192 stat points. Since magic and intelligence were my priorities, I boosted them to level eighty, distributing the remaining points across my other stats. My body no longer collapsed to the ground after minor physical exertion. Of course, I was still far from the physical form I had in my previous life, but it was a huge improvement compared to when I had first woken up three months ago.
I had also made significant progress in magic. Healing and teleportation magic were now mastered, meaning I had learned everything my parents could teach me. It was time to move forward."
"Enjoy your meal," Emma said, picking up her fork.
"Likewise," the men replied in unison, and the whole family began their breakfast.
"Are you heading to the dungeon again today?" Gabriel asked after a few seconds.
"I have the day off today," Alex said, cutting a piece of meat and putting it into his mouth. "By the way, I heard some interesting news at the Guild yesterday. Did you know that in three days, there will be an entrance exam for the Academy in the Capital?"
"Are you planning to participate?"
"Why not? My level is high enough to qualify, and my skills are decent. I don't think the exam will be a problem."
"Hmmm… Well, I have no objections. What do you think?" Gabriel placed his hand over Emma's.
"I've already taught Alex everything I could. His further growth lies beyond the Academy's walls, so I fully support the idea," Emma said.
"Then it's decided," Gabriel smiled. "The day after tomorrow, we'll send you off to the Capital and cheer for you from home."
"Thank you. I promise to return as a student," Alex said with a smile.
"And here I am again, standing in front of these gates," Alex stood before a massive structure resembling the Colosseum. "Brings back memories of my first exam. I wonder how many familiar faces I'll see here."
Alex stepped through the gates and found himself in a vast arena, already crowded with nearly three hundred aspiring candidates. The area was filled with teenagers of all races—humans, demons, angels, vampires, spirits, elves, and beastfolk.
"Hey, everyone, look!" A girl's voice rang out from the crowd. Everyone turned their heads toward where she was pointing.
"There they are. The Academy's top figures and some of the strongest representatives of their races—the Directors."
From the highest platform, seven figures appeared, making their way to their seats one by one.
"This year, even more people have come to take the exam," said the first to speak—a woman.
"I hope at least a dozen of them turn out to be talented," said the man walking behind her.
"Look at that, even Count Astarion's son is here," another man's voice commented.
"I don't envy anyone who decides to fight him," a woman remarked.
"Don't worry. I have a candidate who can match him," another woman spoke confidently.
"Really? I'd love to see that," said another man.
"Well, this exam is bound to be interesting," the last man added.
The seven of them took their seats and turned to face the crowd. Alex could feel the tension in the air rising. Every gaze was fixed on the Academy's directors, who now stood above the arena like judges, ready to evaluate everyone daring enough to take this test.
"Welcome to this year's entrance exam," the elf began. His voice was loud, sharp, and clear, cutting through the heavy atmosphere of the arena. "You have all gathered here to prove your strength, knowledge, and worth. But remember: this test is not just about physical endurance and magical ability. We will also be assessing your strategic thinking and your will to win."
The crowd fell silent, everyone listening intently to his every word.
"And now, let's move on to the exam itself," the demon director continued. "This will be a series of one-on-one battles. You may choose your opponent, as long as the difference in skill level is no more than two ranks. As my colleague mentioned, your task is to demonstrate not only physical and magical prowess but also mental endurance. When selecting your opponent, consider not only their strengths but also your own weaknesses. Let these duels be a test not just of your skills, but of your strategy and tactics. We will be watching each battle closely, and how you perform will be key to our decision regarding your admission to the Academy."
A nervous murmur rippled through the crowd. Candidates began opening their status panels, searching for a suitable opponent.
"Well then, if everyone understands the rules, I officially declare the start of the exam… now!" As these words left his mouth, the directors took their seats behind them.
"Well, it doesn't really matter to me who I fight," Alex thought. "I'll just wait on the sidelines until someone approaches me. In this crowd, I won't be able to find anyone I know anyway." He stepped back toward the edge of the arena. At that moment, the vampire director was watching him closely.
The duels began. Each match lasted no more than three minutes, which Alex found quite satisfying. Then, at last, someone stepped into the arena—someone Alex hadn't expected to see at all.
"Well then, it's time to determine who here is truly worthy of my attention," the voice was mocking and disdainful, as if speaking was nothing but a tedious chore to him. "Is there anyone here who will accept their defeat at my hands with honor? I can't be bothered to pick an opponent myself, so I'll gladly accept a challenge from anyone."
Whispers spread through the crowd.
"So, any volunteers? Later, you can boast that you lost to none other than Cyril von Montamer. I promise I won't injure you too badly—at least, I'll try not to."
"Who's this clown?" the elf director muttered.
"The youngest son of the Montamer family—local aristocrats," the vampire woman replied. "He possesses water magic, like all the members of his family."
"Hah, the typical aristocrat's personality," the beastman smirked slightly. "Hiding behind his father's name, though judging by the amount of mana I sense in him, he's a complete nobody. Still, that's more than the previous duelists had. Hopefully, Astarion's son will wipe that smug grin off his face."
"I'm giving you one last chance. If no one steps forward, I will choose an opponent myself," the boy wouldn't stop talking, and his voice now carried a hint of irritation.
"I accept the challenge."
Everyone turned toward the voices and raised hands. Both Alex and another young man standing a few meters away had stepped forward at the same time.
"Two volunteers at once. Well then, in that case, I will choose my opponent among you."
"Looks like luck is on my side," the boy thought. "The choice is obvious. I can't defeat the count's son, but this commoner—I'll handle easily."
"Hey, you! Come here," the young man gestured toward Alex. "Today is your lucky day—I choose you as my opponent. You should be honored! Thanks to you, I'll be admitted to the Academy, and maybe you'll have better luck next year."
"You're finished," flashed through Alex's mind as he walked toward the arena, facing Cyril.
"Well then, if everyone is ready," the elf director announced once the boys stood opposite each other, "let the duel begin!"
"Watch and learn, commoner," Cyril declared, summoning his water magic. Spirals of water swirled around him, and a massive watery vortex began forming above him.
Alex remained calm. His gaze didn't change, and he carefully observed Cyril's movements. Standing still, he focused on what was happening, refusing to be provoked.
Cyril, seeing this, only became more enraged.
"Now behold the true power of aristocrats!" Cyril shouted and hurled the vortex straight at Alex.
However, Alex didn't even flinch. As the vortex neared him, he simply raised his sword and, with a single strike, split it into two.
Cyril staggered back a few steps, clearly shocked that his magic hadn't harmed the boy at all.
"What the...? How is this possible? How did you do that?" he asked in confusion, retreating further.
Alex merely sighed and disappeared from Cyril's sight, only to reappear right in front of him a second later. Cyril immediately tried to conjure a water barrier, but Alex struck him squarely in the chest with a single, powerful blow, sending him to his knees.
"Was that acceleration magic?" the angel director asked in surprise.
"No, I didn't sense him using magic at all. The way he sliced through water magic, the way he appeared before Cyril—he did all of it without a single drop of mana," the human director said.
"I dare say he is the candidate for the battle against Adam that you were talking about," the demon director smirked.
"Exactly. This young man is my dear nephew, Alex," the vampire director announced proudly.
"And the winner of this duel is… Alex!" the elf director proclaimed loudly.
The crowd fell silent, watching the match, which had ended much faster than most had expected.
Alex quietly turned and walked away from the arena.
"You think you've won?" Cyril whispered venomously as he got back on his feet. "I—an aristocrat—lost to a commoner? No… No!" He raised his hand toward Alex's back. "This isn't over. I will not lose to a miserable... commoner!"
From the magical ring on Cyril's palm, several water orbs shot out, hurtling toward Alex at high speed.
Alex heard something flying behind him, but before he could even turn around, all the water orbs were instantly sliced in mid-air, and their remnants fell to the ground, causing him no harm.
"What are you doing, pathetic freak?" a voice came from behind Alex. A tall young man with a silver sword in his hand stood in the arena. His gaze was directed at Cyril, filled with contempt and disgust. It was Adam, the son of Count Astorion.
"Adam…" Cyril whispered fearfully, stepping back another step. His confidence instantly disappeared when he saw the representative of the powerful family before him.
"You just tried to attack your opponent when the duel was already over? " Adam asked coldly, raising his sword to Cyril's eye level. "You're not only disgracing yourself, but the entire aristocracy."
Cyril nervously swallowed, trying to justify himself:
"But I… I just…"
"Shut up! "Adam decisively took a step forward, forcing Cyril to retreat even further. "Your behavior is not only disgraceful, but it shows how unworthy you are of being an aristocrat. Let alone entering the Academy."
Cyril stood pale, unable to respond. His arrogance and self-assurance vanished as he felt the weight of Adam's presence.
"An aristocrat is not someone who shows power over the weaker, but someone who takes responsibility for their actions and deeds. You are a pathetic shadow of who you should be. You don't have a drop of nobility, and the concept of honor is foreign to you. If I see you doing something like this again, don't expect mercy."
Alex watched everything that was happening with silent curiosity. He knew that Adam's intervention was not only for his protection, but also a lesson for everyone who thought that belonging to the aristocracy gave them the right to disregard honor.
"Thanks for the help, but I would have handled it myself." Alex calmly said, looking at Adam.
"I don't doubt it." Adam replied with a slight smile, sheathing his sword. "But sometimes, it's necessary to show people like him where they belong."
Cyril silently lowered his head, feeling the stares of everyone around him.
The boys stepped to the edge of the arena. Their gazes met, and at that moment, Alex felt a wave of warmth and joy. He smiled quietly, thinking about how long it had been since he had seen his old friend from his past life.
"Incredible that I ran into you so quickly, Adam. Our paths diverged so long ago, and who would have thought we'd meet here, at this exam? Especially under these circumstances. No matter how much time has passed, you're still covering my back. Sigh… Brings back memories." Alex thought, looking at his friend.
"And by the way, sorry I took away your chance to honestly fight Cyril." Alex spoke first.
Adam just smiled.
"I just wanted to teach him a lesson and make sure he didn't get into the Academy. But you handled that task well on your own, so don't worry."
"Glad to hear it." Alex smiled back.
A bit more time passed, and the elf director's voice echoed over the arena, calling for everyone's attention:
"Participants, the exam has now ended. We will now announce those who have passed and can enter the Academy. Each of you has a number, and when it is called, you must step forward and wait for the decision of the directors. If at least four directors raise their hands, you pass. If fewer, we'll see you at next year's exam."
The crowd fell silent in anticipation, and the first number was called.
"Number 1."
The young man stepped forward, nervously glancing at the directors. A moment of silence passed as all the directors exchanged looks, then only two raised their hands. The rest kept their hands down.
"You do not pass, — the demon calmly announced."
The young man lowered his head sadly and left the arena. The next few participants also failed to get enough votes. Their disappointed faces spoke for themselves.
After another failed participant, the announcement came:
"Number 48."
It was Alex. He stepped forward confidently, looking calmly at the directors. The tension in the air was palpable with every movement.
One by one, all seven directors raised their hands. A surprised whisper ran through the participants.
"He's the first one approved by all the directors," one of the participants quietly commented.
Alex smiled, pleased with the result, and stepped aside.
Next, the announcement was made:
"Number 49."
It was Adam. His calm and confident demeanor contrasted with the tense atmosphere around. He stepped forward, and again all the directors raised their hands, evaluating his abilities after his intervention during the duel with Cyril.
And finally:
"Number 50."
Cyril stepped forward, trying to maintain a proud posture. When he looked at the directors, no hands were raised. Cyril didn't say a word, but before leaving the arena, he gave Alex a malicious glare.
When all the participants were announced, the elf rose from his chair and addressed those who had passed:
"Congratulations, new students of the Academy. Today you've passed your first great trial, but this is only the beginning of your journey. Each of you has shown your strength, endurance, and tactical skill, but the Academy is not just about battles and magic. Here, you will learn not only to defend yourself, but also to protect this world, your loved ones, your honor, and your dignity."
His voice grew stronger, filling the entire arena:
"Remember this day as the start of a great journey. Your will, ability to think strategically, and desire to win will lead you to success. But the path to greatness is always difficult. New trials await you — both in battle and in life. Success will depend on your determination, and every day will be a new opportunity to become better, stronger, and wiser."
The elf paused, looking over the young participants, then continued:
"Within the walls of the Academy, you will meet not only teachers and mentors but also friends and rivals, who will help you and challenge you. You will learn, compete, and reach new heights together. But remember: true strength is not only in the sword or magic. True strength is in unity, in teamwork, and in the wisdom you will gain together."
His final words were solemn and profound:
"May this day be the starting point for your great achievements. Welcome to the Academy!"
The arena erupted in applause, and the participants who passed the trial felt uplifted. With that, the exam ended, leaving everyone on the threshold of a new stage in their lives.
Alex and Adam calmly left the arena, discussing the results. Suddenly, a tall man with piercing eyes and an aristocratic posture appeared before them — Count Astarion, Adam's father. Alex immediately recognized him, as in his past life, they had fought side by side on the battlefield many times. However, now pretending to be a stranger, Alex bowed low.
"Greetings, Count Astarion." Alex said politely, suppressing his true emotions.
"No need for such formalities. I just came to congratulate you on your successful exam. I heard you performed well today, Alex." The count said, assessing the young man with interest.
Alex nodded briefly, holding back a smile.
"It's a pleasure to receive praise from the count himself."
"You should have seen it, father." Adam spoke up. "The way he expertly cut down Cyril's attack and how quickly he had him on his knees... It was something. I barely managed not to laugh."
"Well, if that impressed you so much, it means the spectacle was truly extraordinary. Too bad, though, that only the exam participants are allowed on the arena. What do you say, Cyril?" Astarion turned to the side. "Still not good enough at hiding your mana flow so I wouldn't be able to sense it?"
From the nearby shadows, Cyril emerged, slightly guilty but still maintaining his proud stance.
"Greetings, Count Astarion." Cyril said, bowing politely as if nothing had happened.
"What are you doing here?" Adam asked sternly.
"I apologize for my rudeness." Cyril said, avoiding Adam's gaze. "I just wanted to greet you and... apologize to Alex for the incident in the arena."
Alex remained silent, merely watching Cyril's behavior.
"This won't happen again." Cyril continued, smiling faintly. "By the way, I'd like to invite you, Alex, along with your family, to visit our estate tomorrow. I think after tomorrow's dinner, we can forget all grievances and perhaps even become friends."
"Are you serious right now?" Adam was seething with anger, yet trying to speak calmly. "How foolish do you have to be to think Alex will..."
"I accept your invitation." Alex replied calmly.
Cyril nodded, satisfied.
"Then I'll send my servants for you tomorrow. Can you write me your address?" He took out a piece of parchment and a pencil from his pocket.
Without hesitation, Alex wrote his address on the parchment and handed it to Cyril.
"Wonderful. Then see you tomorrow." Cyril said, bidding everyone a polite farewell and wishing them a pleasant evening. He then disappeared into the crowd.
Adam, looking dissatisfied, turned to Alex.
"Did I hear that right? You agreed to dinner with the one who tried to kill you just a few hours ago?"
"Your hearing's not failing you, Adam." Alex smiled.
"Why the hell did you even agree? That whole family is crazy, with a terrible reputation, and this invitation seems suspicious."
"I know exactly what I'm getting into. I'm aware of their reputation, and I also know that many vampires didn't return after being invited to their estate. Moreover, I know about their extraordinary love for poisons, which Miss Montamer creates. So, everything will be under control."
After Alex's last words, a magical ring appeared beneath Alex, Adam, and Astarion, and they all disappeared from the alley. They were transported to Astarion's study, where they continued the conversation.
"How do you know all this?" The count asked seriously, watching Alex closely.
"I promise I'll answer all your questions, but right now there's no time. I have a plan to put an end to that family once and for all, but I need your help, Count Astarion."
"A plan? And you want me to believe a stranger just like that?"
"I'm afraid you have no other choice. I know that you and a few other counts have been trying to expose the Montamer family for a long time, but you've reached a dead end. While they try to cover up all their crimes, one fact remains unchanged — from time to time, aristocrats disappear after visiting their estate. You've noticed this fact for a long time, but you have nothing else. You don't know how the aristocrats die or where their bodies go. All I can tell you at the moment to earn some of your trust is this — the Montamer family really kills aristocrats, and they do it with poison. Miss Lorina, Cyril's mother, has magic that allows her to create poisons and control them within the victim's body. The main advantage of her poison is that even if the body is found, no one will be able to prove what caused the death. That's why they always get away with it."
"Doesn't seem like he's lying. His heartbeat is normal, and he speaks as if he really knows what he's talking about. So many questions I want to ask you, young man. Well, let's see where this goes." Astarion thought to himself, then said aloud:
"Well then, I'm listening to your plan."
"In Cyril's father's study are all the documents that could expose their crimes. I'll be able to convince the servants, or even Cyril himself, to give me a tour of the estate, during which I'll get access to the right study. After that, everything will be easy — I'll create a magical ring that will teleport you to the location. And while the whole family is at dinner, you'll be able to search the study in peace."
Adam shook his head uncertainly.
"Too risky. And where's the guarantee that everything will go according to plan? They have about ten servants, and you're planning to quietly create a magical circle right in the head of the family's study. How do you imagine that?"
"Just trust me."
"Great argument." Adam sighed heavily. "What do you say?" He looked at his father. "The final word is still yours."
"I agree with this plan." Astarion said after a few seconds of thought. "If there's a chance to make the life of every vampire safer, as a count, I must take it. I hope everything goes according to your plan, Alex, since we don't need any extra problems."
"You don't need to worry." Alex smiled. "And I'd better ask now to avoid problems later. If my family or I are in danger, can I personally end someone from the Montamer family? The documents will be enough to fully confirm their crimes, so their lives will no longer hold any value."
The count looked seriously at Alex, and after a few seconds of silence, he replied:
"If it's necessary — yes."
Alex nodded, satisfied with the answer.
"Then there's just one thing left." The young man said and created a magical ring in the study. "This ring will teleport you to their estate. When it starts glowing, just step into it, and it will transport you immediately."
"Alright." Astarion said. "Good luck tomorrow." He added warmly.
"Be careful." Adam said." As soon as you feel something is going off-plan, teleport home with your family immediately."
"Don't worry." Alex smiled. "Everything will go exactly as planned." And with that, a magical circle appeared beneath him. "Well, thanks for listening, and have a good evening." Alex said, and within a second, he disappeared from Astarion's study.
Alex entered the house, where his parents were already waiting for him. They were sitting at the table, looking a bit worried, but as soon as they saw him, their faces brightened.
"So, what's the news?" Gabriel spoke first.
"Well." Alex smiled "From now on, you have the honor of having a son who is a proud student of the Academy."
"Congratulations." Emma said with a smile, hugging Alex. "You did it."
"I didn't expect any other result." Gabriel said, patting his son on the shoulder. "Now tell us how everything went, in the smallest details."
Alex sat at the table and began telling them about the exam, from the crowd of participants to the encounter with Cyril. His parents listened intently, occasionally nodding or looking surprised.
"And then he tried to attack me from behind." Alex continued. "But Adam intervened and blocked his attack."
Emma furrowed her brow.
"That Cyril... a typical representative of the aristocracy." She said with undisguised disapproval. "They think their status makes them invincible, but when it comes to real skill, they're helpless."
Gabriel nodded in agreement.
"Status without skill is worthless." he said. "And you proved that today. And you even managed to meet the Count's son. Luck is definitely on your side today."
"Speaking of Adam." Alex continued with a slight smile. "I also met his father, Count Astarion."
His parents exchanged surprised looks.
"Count Astarion?" Emma asked in disbelief. "He's an important man in our world. The fact that you got to speak with Adam is already almost a fantasy. Many can only dream of that. And you even met the Count himself. I'm speechless."
"I hope you can become good friends with Adam." Gabriel added. "Friendship with the Count's family could be very beneficial in the future."
Alex nodded, then, pausing for a moment, he continued:
"By the way, Cyril invited me and you to their estate tomorrow. It's a gesture of reconciliation after the incident. I already accepted the invitation."
Emma looked at Alex with a moment of confusion, and Gabriel sighed heavily.
"If you've already accepted, son, there's no turning back." Gabriel said. "Although, honestly, I have no desire to visit their family."
"But since you've made the decision, we'll go." Emma added, slightly concerned.
Alex stood up from the table and smiled at his parents.
"Thank you for understanding. I think it will be an interesting evening. For now, I'm going to rest. Good night." He said, heading to his room.
"Good night, son." His parents replied.
Alex quietly closed the door to his room and finally relaxed after the whole day.
"And what do you think, Sirena? How do you like my success on the first day of venturing into the big world?" Alex asked, lying on his bed.
"Well, you easily passed the entrance exam to the Academy, met Adam and Astarion, and were officially invited to the Montamer estate. I think you've used up your luck for the next few years." Sirena replied.
"Ha-ha-ha… You're right about that. I wasn't even worried about the exam, the victory was a given, but meeting Adam and Cyril, I definitely didn't expect that. I had planned to meet Adam at the Academy and Cyril maybe in two or three years. But I wasn't prepared for this turn of events at all."
"And do you plan to get rid of the Montamer family tomorrow?"
"If there's an opportunity, it would be foolish not to take it. We already gathered all the information they knew in the past, so there's no reason to spare their lives. Plus, just imagine how many aristocrats we'll save if we get rid of them now."
"The main thing is that this doesn't come back to haunt you in the future."
"Relax. I doubt there are aristocrats worse than these. Even if there are, once the history of the Montamer family's crimes comes to light, and the fact that Count Astarion personally dealt with them, no aristocrat will dare engage in anything illegal anymore."
"If you say so, I trust you completely. However, was it really necessary to tell Astarion about your plan right away? Now he'll have a ton of questions for you, and you won't be able to wiggle your way out of them."
"Of course. I thought for a long time about whether I should keep the fact that I'm from the future a secret or tell a few people I can trust completely, whose help will be crucial in maintaining peace. And I decided it would be better to tell a few individuals the truth and work together to try and save this world. After all, Lumenia never said it had to be a secret."
"And who do you plan to tell?"
"Elizabeth, Adam, and Astarion. I won't tell my parents because I want them to live their lives peacefully, without worrying about wars and such. But with these three, I've already gone through a lot during the war, so if they know what's going to happen in advance, it'll be easier for us to come up with a plan to prevent it."
"Understood. Now we just need to figure out how to deal with the Montamers."
"I already have an idea. And it's not a direct attack like last time with Adam. This time, I plan to defeat them using their own method."
"Poison?"
"Exactly. You remember that after our raid on the Montamer estate with Adam, in addition to the documents we needed, we also found Miss Lorina's diary, where her magic was clearly described. I had a couple of free days and decided to study this magic. And now I have the result, Alex created a magical circle on his palm. The only thing is, I haven't had the chance to test it yet. But tomorrow, I'll finally see the result of those days spent working on it."
"But this magic is only suitable for controlling poison in the body."
"That's right. The Montamers always follow the same script—they pour poison into the drink they serve the guest, then use magic to either slow down or speed up the poison's spread in the body. So, all we need to do is make sure the poisoned drink goes to them, not us. The drinks are served by their servants, who already know which drinks are poisoned and which are not. Our first goal is to convince them to side with us."
"Now I understand your plan. And how many antidote doses do we need?"
"Fifteen should be enough. Ten for the servants and five just in case."
"Understood. To make fifteen vials of antidote, we'll need four liters of cave spider blood, two liters of werewolf blood, and ten grams of mirastelli herb."
"We won't have a problem with the herb, I saw it in mom's office. As for the blood, I'll have to go to the shop tomorrow. Aaahh, Alex yawned. Now that we have a clear plan for tomorrow, I can finally relax."
"Replenish your strength, Lord. You'll need it tomorrow."
"You're right. Well, good night, Sirena." Alex closed his eyes and immediately fell asleep.
"Yes, all the ingredients are here." Alex said, laying out the bought blood and a few sprigs of mirastelli herb on the table. "Sirena, find the antidote recipe." Alex continued, opening the main panel in front of him.
"Understood." Sirena replied, and in a second, the main panel with stats changed to the "Recipes" panel. "Recipe found."
"Great." Alex said as the recipe appeared in front of him. "So, cave spider blood." He said, taking a jar of liquid and placing it in the required spot. "Now, werewolf blood, and finally, mirastelli herb."
"Ingredients are in place. Fifteen antidote vials can be created. Confirm creation?" Sirena asked, and a small panel appeared before Alex with two options: "Yes" and "No."
"Confirm." Alex said, pressing the "Yes" button.
"Antidote created." Sirena said a few seconds later. "Transferring them to your inventory."
"Thanks. Well, now everything is ready. Now we just have to hope that everything goes according to plan."
"Yesterday, you had a lot more confidence in your voice. You don't need to worry. In the worst-case scenario, you can just get rid of them right away if something feels off."
"You're right."
"Alex, it seems we've got company." His father's voice echoed from downstairs.
"I'm coming." Alex jumped out of bed and walked toward the door. He took a deep breath before leaving the room.
"Wait for me, Cyril." A sly smile involuntarily crossed Alex's face.