Skill Quests:
[Breath Control Lv.1]
— Helps the user deal with mental pressure and increases stamina recovery outside of a battle.
— Meditation for 10 minutes without any disturbance and clear mind must be achieved to obtain this skill.
— Skill Progression: 2/10
[Defensive Stance Lv.1]
— Increases the user's endurance towards hostile and fatal blows, also increases the resilience of the user's body.
— Take multiple hits from any source without passing out.
— Skill Progression: 348/500
[Flashstep Lv.1]
— Move extremely fast towards a short distance leaving an after image.
— Dodge lethal attacks or projectiles.
— Skill Progression: 1/20
[Precise Control Lv.1]
— The user's attacks becomes more fast and precise regardless of the weapon.
— Perform 10 consecutive attacks with your weapon of choice. (3 seconds interval)
— Skill Progression: 0/10
[Last Stand Lv.1]
— User will not pass out immediately after receiving a lethal blow regardless of the damage unless it's incapacitating. (5 seconds.)
— Stand your ground against all odds.
— Skill Progression: ???
[System will provide more Skills Quests as the user Levels up.]
"All of these are just plainly insane!" I couldn't help but be excited on what's infront of me.
These skills are somewhat basic but they're nothing to scoff at especially when this brat's body is set back by the curses.
They'll definitely help in mediating other problems and could make up for most of what he's lacking.
But the fact that there's some of this that have progressed already made me think that Elric did actually tried to improve his situation but gave up halfway?
And that amount of hits he has taken, maybe this kid did something really worse but nobody deserves that kind of beating from just peeking alone—
What could've he done to deserve it even?
Well whatever, with enough enough time, I could gain all these skills except...
"[Last Stand], eh? Do I really have to put this already pathetic body as risk just to gain that?" it's sure is nice but maybe when I build up this body's resilience enough and when I can persist.
All these things in my arsenal and my grasp, this would be no breeze but atleast it wouldn't be that hellish.
I have alot of questions still but save them for later since I have to be early by tomorrow to acquire some of these.
Looking at the calendar near the mattress on top of the drawer, I almost forgot to assess one thing before I sleep.
I forgot this guy goes to school. Well, that isn't quite ideal.
This thing is imbued with magic, not that much but it's quite functional at telling you what time and date it already is including the academy's schedule.
I've never seen things like this in the Empire before nor this Kingdom? Did they really develop things just in the span of months during the war?
[Sunday, 7:49 PM]
And it seems that I have to attend school tomorrow.
So I couldn't even train and recover? Now being a dropout like that brat said sounded a whole lot better.
"Well, it shouldn't be that much of a pain attending the academy full of immature kids who threatens others out of pure spite and hatred." I said.
I mean what's the worst that could ever go wrong? As far as I can remember, I'm one of the strongest knights back in the day.
I might not have any strengths in this body right now but I sure as hell still have my mind, just sprinkle them some inspirational words and—
Wallah! Instant respect.
Is what my out of touch self thought when the future is far more worde than expected, it felt like I almost forgot that Elric is considered a dropout in this academy and a renowned pervert.
...
"Hey isn't that Eisenwald?"
Just keep walking.
"I thought he stopped going?"
Don't let the rumors get into you.
"I heard his grades plummeted so hard."
You're a knight and few words of brats wouldn't disturb you at all.
"The professors haven't dropped him?"
Your intention here is to fix this kid's reputation and not to cause ruckus.
"That pervert shouldn't be even allowed to step foot here!"
Remember, you're way older than they are and you're like a grandpa compared to them.
"Especially after his exhibitionist act yesterday..."
Unfortunately that one got into me real good, piercing through my heart as I tried to bury that memory of yesterday in the thoughts of improvement and progress but that wasn't Elric's actions!
That was mine!
My pride as a knight was dealt a lethal damage due to my carelessness and impulsive nature!
I couldn't control it!
I wanted to scream out of embarrassment as this very moment but I just simply closed my eyes and smirked as a stride in these glaringly golden and smoothened halls towards the classroom which is...
I don't know. I simply just skimmed through his notes, asked some nearby people how to even get here, some are just outright shocked that I didn't know since I looked like I attended there before.
Looking from left to right, my march was put to a halt as I bumped on the back of a tall man, stumbling back on the ground.
"... Good lord, brats these days don't even know how to stand out of the way." I groaned patting dusting off my thighs before looking on whoever I bumped onto.
Oh come on.
"Who are you calling brat!?"
It's the brat from yesterday! Who was it again!?
Elina... Elizabeth... Oh right! That brat named Elias!
And now he's towering over me.
"Y-you! Elric von Eisenwald! You really had the balls of steel to still come here!?" Elias groaned glaring towards me, that hate oozing from him is making my already bad day even bad, like come on, wasn't nearly killing me yesterday enough for him?
"Do you need another beating to come back to your senses!?" He got me by the collar again.
This time, I don't intend to use the same technique I used against him after knowing that this body's state, I might endanger it further.
"I'm perfectly in the right sense of mind, so do you mind letting me go?" I replied with a clear frown, I don't intend to let this kid waste my time again
"Heh? You even learned to talk back you f**king pervert!" He said as he attempted to cave my face with his left fist this time, I braced myself from the impact but it didn't come.
"He's not worth it, Elias." A voice of another brat appeared, this time it isn't his sister but a man with dazzling golden hair, crimson eyes and an aura fitting that of a royalty.
And I couldn't be any more correct with my guess this time as both Elias and I instinctively knelt down.
"R-Rein— I mean... Greetings, your highness!" Elias greeted, not out of fear but respect.
"Feel free to simply call me Reinhardt. I'm not here as an authority but a humble fellow student like you, so stand up — it's kinda embarrassing... haha." He added as Elias bowed his head and apologized for displaying such barbaric behavior in front of his highness.
I didn't even dare to stand up as well, fearing I might get a punishment, "... You as well Elric. You may stand up now." he tried masking it with reassurance that I wouldn't get any repercussions but I can feel the hint of indifference towards me, a bit of disgust in his tone as well.
But I stood up before bowing like Elias, "Your highness... I, uhm..." before I could even finish my sentence, he raised his hand.
"Please do not make repeat myself, Elric. I am simply to be called Reinhardt." He replied with so much hidden sting that it could almost pierce my heart. Looking behind him was three students... one was the green-haired girl from yesterday who still looked disappointed at me. The other seems like the highness's twin sister, but with a ponyfail and lastly, a guy with a messy white hair and blue eyes, looking so distracted.
"Do you intend to stop even lower or are you still enjoying the view, Mr. Elric?" Reinhardt called out to me as snapped back to reality, this time, he isn't even masking his disgust towards me.
Elias is looking visibly frustrated with me, mumbling something about acting like this even in front of his highness.
"Couldn't you even have the decency to focus on our conversation?" Reinhardt added, clenching his fists.
More whispers and crowds began to form around us, this is getting extremely worse because of this unfortunate encounter alone—
Who else is gonna believe me when I say that I'm not even the kid they're talking about?
"Forgi—" I tried to speak up but he stopped me once more.
"Don't. Just go already, before I might do something unbefitting of a student of Iaross." He added.
"But Rein!" Elias tried to counter but Reinhardt simply shook his head.
It's impossible for me to fix this irreparable situation already so I have no choice but to take that offer, looking at the side, I bowed before walking to the side but not before catching alot of glares.
My first day as Elric in this academy isn't looking so promising, not that it did in the first day but it just kept getting worse and worse.
I don't remember where Elric's class is but it subconsciously walked towards it.
What was waiting for me there was even more whispers and glares, no wonder this kid stopped coming to this school.
With no inviting seats, I simply went to the farthest back seat in the shadows trying not to catch any attention but even then I still feel the occasional glances and quiet insults thrown at me.
"Elric, just what the hell did you even do for something like this to happen." I figured that it had to be really bad because simply peeking couldn't get you this much backlash.
Whispering to myself, "Did you harass somebody? Did you murder anyone? Did you sell yourself to the pits of crows!?" I tried accessing any memories of Elric by simply thinking hard.
But it doesn't feel like it works like that.
But for now, I'll have to endure this kind of treatment for a week.
Cleaning his reputation sounds like a daunting and impossible task right now.
Looking around, there seemed to be multiple students wearing the Empire's uniform and the enemy Kingdom's uniform, did they perhaps merged or arrived at a peace treaty somehow? Hopefully some of the future lectures will fill me in because I don't have enough time to find it out.
Burying my face on the desk, I hoped that this reincarnation thing didn't even happen in the first place.
...
"Calm down, you're one of the strongest knights. Keep yourself together, something like this is just similar to the battlefield, if not less." I reassured and kept reminding myself that I'm not THAT Elric or whatever version these people had in their minds.
This was a huge head scratcher while other students conversed before hearing footsteps coming as each one stopped whatever they're doing and sat still.
A woman with long black hair and sharp red eyes, an aura different from Reinhardt, if his was glowing then this one's just pure darkness. A black coat with cigarette in her mouth, she walked towards the podium before clapping her hands checking if she has all of our attention.
She looks like she's in her 30s? or early 40s?
The students seemed confused about her appearance and whispers questioning where is the class's homeroom teacher.
Our temporarily scattered attention immediately went back towards her as flickering embers on her left hand's index finger as soon it bursted into a burning flame, similar to that of a candle fire.
Her finger glided in the air leaving a trail of lasting flames enough to spell her name.
My eyes were wide open as I read that name.
It couldn't be...
"I was called in to substitute for your Mana Subject Professor, so let me introduce myself.
My name is Sophia von Eisenwald III.
I hope we all get along."