Chapter 6: Early Training and Subtle Growth
The months following the Grimoire Ceremony passed quietly in Hage Village, but beneath the calm surface, subtle changes were taking root.
Asta trained with relentless intensity, swinging his wooden sword again and again, pushing the limits of a body that had no mana to enhance its strength. Yuno moved with quiet elegance, shaping the wind, feeling the currents, his mana responding like a loyal companion.
And me—
I observed. I studied. I prepared.
Raphael guided me through internal processes, optimizing mana circulation, refining my senses, and monitoring my latent grimoire. I did not flaunt my abilities; instead, I honed them silently, building a foundation no one could detect.
> "Recommendation: focus on gradual skill application and concealment. Passive learning to continue."
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The first use of Skill Creation – Prototype came cautiously. I designed a minor skill, harmless and simple, called Mana Sense (Advanced). It extended the basic ability to perceive mana currents more accurately, without triggering alarms or attracting attention.
With it, I could feel even the faintest stirrings of magic. Not enough to be powerful, but enough to observe patterns and learn. It was the first taste of growth beyond the ordinary, subtle but meaningful.
> "Evaluation: stability confirmed. No detection risk. Utility increased."
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Days in Hage settled into a rhythm. I trained my body alongside Asta, not to surpass him, but to ensure my form could support future magic use. Raphael instructed on movement, timing, and efficiency, turning ordinary actions into calculated exercises.
I observed Yuno as well, noting his tendencies and the way magic responded to him. Raphael suggested adjustments, minor skill tweaks, and careful experimentation. I absorbed information like a sponge, every detail recorded, every lesson stored.
> "Observation: dual extremes present in companions. Analysis of adaptive strategies ongoing."
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Evenings were the quietest. I would sit in the church tower or by the window, studying ancient texts or observing ambient mana flows. Minor skills were practiced in secret, refined with each passing day. Small illusions, low-impact enhancements, subtle reflexive adjustments—nothing that would be noticed by the human eye.
This was my advantage: the world would see me as ordinary, a quiet child among legends, while I quietly prepared.
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Through it all, Raphael reminded me of patience.
> "Strategic patience is paramount. Early exposure carries risk. Observe, adapt, and build unseen advantage."
I smiled faintly. Patience had been my companion from the beginning, and now it was my greatest weapon. Every step I took, every skill I practiced, was calculated. No haste. No display. Just quiet, steady growth.
Hage Village seemed small, insignificant, yet it was perfect. Here, I could prepare without interference. Here, I could observe extremes—Asta's tenacity, Yuno's brilliance—without attracting attention. Here, the foundation of future power was being laid, brick by brick.
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End of Chapter 6