**Chapter 20: Sparks Of Potential **
After finishing the book, I made my way toward the private training ground. But before I could take a single step past the inner corridor, a firm voice stopped me in my tracks.
Ah, I had almost forgotten. Following our recent reconciliation, Mother had personally assigned a new maid for my daily care. In the past, my reputation preceded me—I had kicked, beaten, and driven away every maid who came near, leaving me without any personal staff for a very long time. I honestly wasn't used to this level of attention anymore. But Mother had been adamant.
“It is for your own good,”
she had told me sternly.
“Which noble have you ever seen doing manual labor or attending to their own personal care? You ought to act like the true heir of this duchy. If you want the strength to rule, you must possess either the aura to command or the power to protect—starting within our own household.”
Standing before me now was Sara. She was older than me, carrying the air of a gentle older sister, with warm brown hair tied neatly and intelligent brown eyes. She was exceptionally skilled at her work, though equally talented at nagging—a younger version of Martha, really.
I let out a soft sigh.
What a hassle...
"Greeting, Young Master," Sara said with a polite bow. "Would you prefer your breakfast served in your room, or will you be joining the dining table today?"
"Neither right now," I replied, shaking my head. "I'm heading straight to the private training ground. If you insist on helping, just bring some light snacks over there later." Without waiting for her response, I turned and headed down the stone hallway.
When I pushed open the grand double doors of the private training ground, my jaw dropped for a brief second.
This place is huge... it's practically the size of a mini cricket stadium!
With an arena this vast, I could finally test my abilities at full capacity without holding back.
Standing in the center of the dusty arena, I began reviewing my status. My elemental affinities were Fire, Lightning, and Space. The Space affinity was currently only half-awakened, unlocked prematurely through my special skill,
Special Sense
.
‘Ada, when will I be able to freely use the Space element?’
I asked mentally.
[Not now, Host. You are currently too weak. You must reach at least Level 10 or slay high-tier monsters to properly utilize Space.]
‘Then what about a sword art, Ada? You know I don’t have time to waste.’
[Host, you must gain battle experience against monsters first. Furthermore, you will need to acquire a Soul Weapon from your household’s treasury. The pressure from this sword art is too great; standard weapons will simply shatter upon casting.]
I rubbed my chin in thought. I’d have to ask Mother about accessing the treasury later.
Just then, the heavy doors creaked open behind me. Sara walked in quietly, carrying a tray filled with freshly prepared snacks and refreshments.
"Thank you, Sara. You can head back now," I said.
"It is quite alright, Young Master," Sara replied smoothly, setting the tray down near the entrance. "I will sit over on that bench in the corner. That way, I won't disturb your training, but I'll be close by if you need anything."
"Well... fine then," I conceded, stepping into the center of the ring.
I opened my spell book, scanning through the dozens of registered spells. In this world, spell access was bound to one's rank. Sitting at E-Rank with two fully unlocked affinities, I could only tap into Tier-1 magic for now. However, limiting myself to just two spells wasn't a drawback—it meant I could master their foundations completely. Thanks to my refined Mana Breathing Technique, my mana reserves replenished faster than average, allowing me to repeatedly cast without worrying about sudden exhaustion.
I flipped to the Fire affinity section first.
[Tier 1 (E-Rank): Fire Bolt]
A low-cost, foundational spell that propels a blunt missile of flame to deal direct surface damage and ignite flammable targets. Unlike explosive spells, it relies on kinetic impact and lingering thermal burn.
Most mages dismissed Fire Bolt as a wasteful spell if their mana pool was low, thinking its lack of explosive area-of-effect made it useless. I couldn't help but chuckle softly to myself.
Fools.
They failed to realize that when cast at full output, a concentrated Fire Bolt’s sheer kinetic force and intense thermal burn made it one of the most lethal precision tools in a one-on-one duel.
Next, I flipped to the Lightning section.
[Tier 1 (E-Rank): Static Jolt]
Delivers a rapid electrical shock, causing sudden muscle spasms or minor thermal burns.
My eyes brightened as I read the description. If I channeled maximum mana capacity into Static Jolt and targeted specific pressure points, I could bypass external defenses and strike directly at an opponent's nervous system. A single, well-placed shock could instantly lock up an enemy's body, paralyzing them or rendering their limbs completely numb mid-combat.
With a clear strategy forming in my head, I raised my hand, feeling the latent mana beneath my skin begin to burn and crackle.