Night fell over the riverside village, and Jaenor lay on his straw mattress, staring at the wooden beams overhead. His father's snores rumbled from the adjacent room, but sleep eluded Jaenor as his mind raced with plans and possibilities.
I need leverage in this world, he thought. Knowledge, connections, or better yet—power of my own.
As if responding to his desires, a sharp pain suddenly lanced through his head. Jaenor bit back a cry, his vision blurring as blue light seemed to pulse behind his eyelids.
Then, like a whisper in his mind, words appeared:
[System Initializing]
[Host Detected: Jaenor Fallbrook]
[Anomaly Detected: Soul Transference Complete]
[Status: Chosen One Protocol Activated]
Jaenor froze, his breath caught in his throat. "What is this?" he whispered.
[This is the Forbidden Arcanum System. You have been selected as the Chosen One.]
[In a world where men cannot wield mana, you alone have been granted the potential to break this natural law.]
Jaenor's heart raced. This was exactly what he needed—a way to gain power in a world where his gender placed him at a disadvantage.
"How does this work?" he whispered, careful not to wake his father.
[System Functions Unlocked: - Mana Absorption: You can absorb and store mana through intimate contact with female mana wielders] - Spell Mimicry: You can learn and copy spells from those whose mana you've absorbed] - Stealth Casting: Your mana signature is masked, making detection difficult for other mages]
[Warning: Current Mana Capacity: 0/100] [Warning: No Spells Available]
Jaenor's lips curved into a calculating smile. The system's requirements aligned perfectly with his manipulative nature. In his previous life, he'd been skilled at charming people to get what he wanted—women especially. Now that skill would become his path to power.
"And what happens if I'm discovered?" he asked softly.
[Historical Data: Men who manifest mana abilities have been executed by the Council of Magistras for violating natural law. Caution is advised.]
Of course. Power never relinquished its hold willingly. The women who ruled this world would see him as a threat to their dominance—and they'd be right.
"Show me my status," Jaenor commanded, growing more comfortable with the system.
[Name: Jaenor Fallbrook] [Level: 1] [Mana Capacity: 0/100] [Spells Known: None] [Skills: Manipulation (Advanced), Acting (Intermediate), Combat (Basic)]
The system had even quantified his personal traits. Interesting.
[First Quest: Absorb mana from a female wielder] [Reward: +50 Mana Capacity, Basic Spell Unlock]
Jaenor considered his options. The most obvious target was Lira, the magistra's daughter who had apparently caught the original Jaenor's interest. But approaching her directly after the fight with Tarn would be suspicious.
No, he needed someone else. Someone who wouldn't draw attention.
As if providing an answer, his borrowed memories surfaced an image of a young woman named Elara—a friend of Lira's, but not as closely watched. Her magical talent was considered modest at best, which meant fewer eyes would be on her.
"Perfect," Jaenor murmured.
Morning came, and with it, the excitement of Testing Day. The entire village gathered in the central square, where a platform had been erected. Seven magistras sat in ornate chairs, ready to evaluate the young women of the village.
Jaenor stood with his father among the crowd, watching as one by one, girls stepped forward to demonstrate their magical abilities. Some conjured flames or manipulated water. Others showed talents for healing or divination.
His eyes scanned the crowd until he found Elara standing nervously with a group of other candidates. Unlike Lira, who waited confidently at the front, Elara fidgeted with her sleeve, her expression betraying her anxiety.
When Lira's turn came, she stepped forward with graceful confidence. Raising her hands, she summoned a swirling vortex of wind and light that danced around the platform. The spectators gasped in appreciation, and Jaenor saw his opening.
He slipped away from his father's side and circled around to where Elara waited.
"Nervous?" he asked softly, coming to stand beside her.
She jumped slightly, then relaxed when she saw who it was. "Jaenor! What happened to your face?" She noticed the bruise from his fight with Tarn.
"Nothing important," he said dismissively. "You seem worried about your test."
Elara bit her lip. "My magic isn't strong like Lira's. I can barely manage a simple light spell."
"I've seen you practice by the river," Jaenor lied, drawing on fragmented memories from the original Jaenor. "Your magic has a different quality to it. More... subtle. Beautiful in its own way."
A blush crept across her cheeks. "You really think so?"
"I know so," he said with conviction. "The magistras don't always appreciate the quieter forms of magic, but that doesn't make them less special."
Her eyes met his, gratitude shining in them. "Thank you, Jaenor. That's kind of you to say."
[Target Identified: Elara Wistbrook] [Magical Affinity: Minor Light Manipulation, Weak Mana Reserves] [Opportunity Assessment: Favorable]
"Listen," Jaenor said quietly, "after the ceremony, would you like to meet by the old willow tree? I found something there yesterday that I think might help with your light magic."
Curiosity flickered in her eyes. "Really? What is it?"
"It's difficult to explain," he said mysteriously. "I'd rather show you. And perhaps you could show me more of your magic in return."
[Manipulation Check: Successful]
"I... suppose I could," Elara said, just as her name was called for testing.
She stepped forward nervously, attempting to create a sphere of light above her palm. The light flickered weakly, drawing whispers from the crowd and frowns from the magistras. Jaenor caught Lira looking at her friend with sympathy.
When the ceremony concluded, Lira was celebrated for her exceptional talents, while Elara received only a polite acknowledgment of her minimal abilities. Perfect for Jaenor's purposes—she would be seeking validation, comfort.
As the crowd dispersed, Jaenor caught Elara's eye and nodded subtly toward the path leading to the river. She hesitated, then nodded back.
An hour later, they sat beneath the sweeping branches of the willow tree, its tendrils brushing the surface of the slow-moving river.
"So what did you want to show me?" Elara asked, her voice carrying a mixture of hope and skepticism.
Jaenor moved closer. "First, would you show me your light spell again? Without the pressure of all those people watching?"
She seemed relieved at the request. Holding out her palm, she concentrated, and a small orb of golden light appeared, hovering inches above her skin.
"It's beautiful," Jaenor said truthfully, watching the patterns within the orb shift and change. "May I?" He reached out his hand.
"It won't hurt you," she said, "but you won't feel anything either. Men can't sense mana."
Jaenor smiled. "I'd still like to try."
She moved her hand closer to his, the light dancing between them. As his fingers neared the orb, the system activated.
[Mana Absorption Opportunity Detected] [Intimate Contact Required for Absorption]
Jaenor reached past the orb and gently took Elara's free hand in his. The light spell wobbled but didn't dissipate.
"Jaenor," she said, surprised but not pulling away.
"I've always admired your kindness, Elara," he said softly, moving closer. "The way you help the younger children with their first spells, even though the magistras overlook your talents."
Her eyes widened. "You noticed that?"
"I notice everything about you," he lied smoothly, brushing a strand of hair from her face.
The light spell flickered and grew brighter in response to her emotions. Jaenor felt a strange tingling in his fingertips where they touched her skin.
[Minor Mana Transfer Initiated] [Continued Contact Required]
Their conversation continued, Jaenor carefully steering it toward more personal matters, complimenting her, making her laugh, building trust. With each moment, the tingling sensation grew stronger, spreading up his arms and throughout his body.
When he finally kissed her, beneath the sheltering curtain of willow branches, the system flared to life.
[Significant Mana Transfer in Progress] [Current Mana: 15/100]
As their encounter deepened, Jaenor felt power flowing into him—a strange, intoxicating sensation unlike anything he'd experienced before. The more intimate their contact became, the faster his mana reserves filled.
[Mana Capacity: 47/100] [Quest Complete: Absorb mana from a female wielder] [Reward: +50 Maximum Mana Capacity] [New Capacity: 47/150] [Spell Unlocked: Minor Light Manipulation]
Later, as Elara dozed beside him on his cloak spread beneath the willow, Jaenor stared at his palm. Concentrating as he'd seen her do, he willed a light to appear.
A tiny spark flickered above his skin, then grew into a small, unstable orb of light—weaker than Elara's, but unmistakably magic.
Jaenor quickly extinguished it, glancing around to ensure no one had seen. His heart pounded with exhilaration. It had worked.
He was a man who could wield mana in a world where such a thing was forbidden. And this was just the beginning.
[System Notice: Higher-level spells require mana from stronger wielders] [Recommended Target: Lira Valewind - High Mana Capacity, Multiple Spell Affinities]
Jaenor smiled as he looked at the sleeping Elara. She had served her purpose, providing him with his first taste of power. But to truly become a force in this world, he would need more—much more.
And Lira, the magistra's daughter, would be his next target.