The next morning, I opened my eyes to the soft, sleepy presence beside —Selena, the silver-haired princess, still wrapped in dreams. Her breathing was steady, her face relaxed under the gentle light from the magic lamp. For a mont, she didn’t look like a mysterious elf with a cursed legacy, but just a girl—peaceful and undisturbed.
I had intended to sleep on the living room sofa, but she insisted otherwise. Apparently, in her words, “It’s unthinkable for a kid to sleep on a sofa while an adult takes the bed.” And so, she forced to share the bed. Thankfully, it was spacious enough—clearly built for at least two adults, probably shared by her and her late master in the past.
Still, it ca with... complications.
If I kept sleeping beside her every night like this, I wasn’t sure how long my adult mind—trapped in a kid’s body—could hold out. For now, I could brush it off with a sigh and self-discipline. But a few years down the line?
I sighed before I quietly slipped out of bed, changed out of my pajamas, and checked the window. It was still dark outside.
【It’s 3:10 AM, Master.】
As expected of my talking clock.
I stepped out into the cool dawn air, beginning my usual physical training routine. Back when I was a slave, this sort of regin helped keep my body sharp and my mind grounded. Now, it served as a calming ritual. Since Selena hadn’t given a training plan yet, I just stuck to what I knew.
That, and... I’d decided to share my status with her eventually.
Not all of it—just the raw attributes. I’d keep my cheat skills and hidden talents to myself for now. The world didn’t need to know everything.
Or maybe… my trust issues just hadn't gone away, buried deep in my heart.
Selena may seem kind, but we’d only known each other for a few days. Who knows, after I cured her, she will kill perhaps?
In any case, I can’t judge the true nature of soone in just a few days.
By the ti the sky began to soften with early orange light, the aroma of sothing delicious wafted out from the kitchen. My nose twitched. The sll of herbs and roasted root vegetables—simple, hearty, comforting. I wandered back toward the house and peeked into the kitchen.
Selena stood at the stove, still in her pajamas, an extra pink apron tied over them. She looked surprisingly dostic for soone who had countless magic stones.
“Is there sothing I can help with?” I asked.
“Oh, Freed. Morning.” She turned, smiling. “No, no need. You should go take a bath. Breakfast will be ready when you’re done.”
After a refreshing wash in her magically-heated bathroom—still a marvel to —we sat down and shared a al together. Afterwards, while she bathed, I jogged around the house periter to keep my montum going. By the ti she returned, freshly dressed and hair still damp, it was finally ti to start training.
We stood outside in a small clearing behind the house. The grass was soft beneath our feet, and the early light glead across the canopy overhead.
Selena crossed her arms as she reviewed the status window I had shown her.
“Your stats aren’t balanced, Freed.”
“Well, that can’t be helped,” I replied with a shrug. “I wasn’t allowed to use aura or mana until recently, rember?”
“Still,” she said, tapping her chin, “that ans your body is disproportionately developed while your magic and aura capacities are lagging. So let’s focus there first—training your magic alongside your mana reserves. Show your light and fire magic.”
Nodding, I extended my hand and conjured a five-pointed star with light mana. The star shimred in the air, faintly glowing white. When I released it, it drifted a short distance before fading harmlessly.
“No chanting…? That’s already impressive,” she said, arching an eyebrow.
“Chanting?” I tilted my head. “You an yelling out your magic? Is it necessary?”
“Freed…” She sighed deeply. “Yes. Most people chant to focus their image more clearly. Beginners especially. Even advanced mages chant when casting high-tier magic.”
“I see… I just thought it was sothing kids did to sound cool.”
She gave a look.
“You’ve never been formally taught, have you?”
“Nope.” I shook my head. “I first used magic while practicing alone. Then, that incident happened, so I never had a chance to show it to anyone else.”
Unless you count the bandits I used it on.
“...So you are not just boasting when you call yourself a genius.” She murmured.
Huh…? Is it considered genius to use magic chantlessly?
If what she said was true, then…
【That wasn’t actual magic. What she used was water manipulation. A basic skill that draws on mana directly—it doesn’t require chant formulas.】
【I said you were good at imagining things. What more praise do you need?】
This girl!
Next, I conjured a blade of fire, letting the wind elent remain hidden for now.
*Slash*
It cut through about a fifth of a single tree.
Selena nodded approvingly. “Can you use a fireball or a light blade yet?”
“Nope.”
“Then try learning them.”
I closed my eyes and focused. I imagined not the light but the fire gathering, not into a ball—but a hovering, star-like sphere in my palm. It flared into existence monts later, a small, five-pointed crimson fla that pulsed gently in the air.
“A star again?” Selena giggled. “You really like that shape.”
“Uhh… Well…”
【How childish.】
Selena didn’t tease further, though. Instead, she smiled warmly.
“It’s fine. I think it’s beautiful. Especially your light magic.”
I blinked.
I hadn’t expected praise.
Now I wasn’t sure who the real angel was anymore.
【I felt you just think of sothing rude, Master.】
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