The following morning, Adrian discovered the first drawback of his new bloodline.
The academy dining hall was crowded.
Hundreds of conversations overlapped.
Normally, the noise would have been irritating but manageable.
Now it was unbearable.
Adrian placed his hands against his temples.
The sound of cutlery, footsteps, and conversations seemed amplified.
He left his breakfast unfinished.
Back in his room, he sat quietly.
"System."
A blue window appeared.
[Bloodline Status]
[Minor Beastkin Bloodline]
[Current Integration: 18%]
[Warning: Incomplete integration may cause sensory overload.]
Adrian frowned. Find the original chapter at g.com.
"How do I increase integration?"
[Repeated exposure and controlled use will improve integration.]
He nodded.
So there was a price.
He couldn't simply collect bloodlines without considering their effects.
Adrian spent the next few days practicing sensory control.
He learned to focus on specific sounds while ignoring others.
The process was uncomfortable, but gradually became easier.
During training, Garrick noticed the improvement.
"Your reactions are better."
"Perhaps I've been practicing."
"Don't become overconfident. Faster reactions won't save you if your swordsmanship is poor."
"I know."
Garrick struck.
The old knight smiled.
"Good. At least you remember."
After training, Adrian returned to his room.
He wrote a new note.
Bloodlines provide advantages, not automatic victory. Compatibility and control matter.
He underlined it twice.
Then he added another name to his list.
Victor Halbrecht.
The young noble possessed a minor fire affinity.
Adrian had seen him demonstrate it during practical classes.
It was not particularly powerful.
But it could be useful.
And Victor had already begun looking for a reason to challenge him.