Henry blinked. His eyes revealing a pleasant surprise. Sure his eyes weren't playing tricks on him, right?
"What is even this? Are you kidding me? It hasn't even been a day and I'm already so close to awakening my core! No wait, let me check!"
He focused his thoughts on the Spirit Sleeping that was now visible on the blue screen.
Having lived his past life as an unmarked, one who was neither accepted by the Light side nor the Dark attribute. One who was robbed of both, mana as well as aura, Henry felt a gripping anticipation develop in his heart.
The screen popped up and Henry began to read.
[Spirit Sleeping]
[For every 10,000 Spirit Energy you accumulate actively, you will get 30,000 Spirit Energy in your sleep.]
"Hahaha"
Henry gave an uncontrolled laugh. He was giggling to himself. His joy knew no bounds. He couldn't believe the progress he was making. He was about to awaken his core!
"In just 4 hours, I got so much Spirit Energy. If I work hard enough I should have awakened my core by tomorrow evening."
"I'll have an entire day to saturate my core! That means a headstart from the rest of those bastards!"
"Let's be calm. I need to focus."
Joy lingered in his eyes. Soon replaced by calmness that was foreign to someone his age.
He took a deep breath, and started dressing. He looked into the mirror to look at hinself. The luxurious white shirt suited him quite fine. The intricate embroidery it had only added to his charms.
Contrary to its appearance though, the shirt was quite comfortable. This was why, Henry went straight to the training grounds, for running a few more laps.
Since the time of his waking up, Henry had already started accumulating. He had been making a conscious effort in accumulating every time he got the chance. Coming closer and closer to the one-sixth mark!
Already at the training ground, be did some light stretches, and then ran into a sprint. He completed a lap and changed his pace into that of a jog, completing two more laps.
As a result, his Spirt Energy already crossed the 45,000 mark.
"8,000 more and then I'll sleep. Haha, life is so easy this time around! I can't get too excited though, I haven't even awakened my core yet."
A smile appeared on Henry's face as he strolled away to take a refreshing bath. He placed his clothing on a hanger.
Turning his head, he looked at the tub in which the cold water was already present. Waiting for the boy to drench himself.
Of course, he began Accumulating as well. That was only natural. How could he waste his time doing nothing?
He slowly submerged himself in the bathtub, maintaining both, Accumulation as well as meditation.
He shut his eyes, focusing on the cool water, feeling it from every inch of his body.
Different thoughts began surfacing in his mind.
"I'm so close to filling my spirit energy."
"I'll take my leave from father and mother at dinner and then go straight to accumulating. By tomorrow evening, I will have awakend my core. I swear it upon my name!"
He felt blood rush in his veins, his anger surging up. He was getting restless. Impatient to get back on his enemies.
Calming his mind, he got out of water. Naked still, he took several deep breaths. Not for accumulation though, but instead, to calm his raging and throbbing heart.
He dried himself and dressed decently. Going straight to the dining hall. This would be his last meal with his parents for months to come.
The academy was far and he would spend quite some time there, filling his newly awakened core.
Seeing Henry come, the blonde-haired Helena said, her eyes flashing with longing,
"Ready for tomorrow?"
The boy was pulled to his senses. He replied, "Ready as always, mother!"
He chatted with his family a bit and bade them farewell. They sent his blessings upon him. They would not see him off tomorrow.
Henry was pleased though. This fit him just well. He would leave early, setting off to the place where he would gain strength.
He walked to his room, the luxurious design hidden in the dark lf night. He lay on his bed, taking of his clothes.
Stripping did not bring him any shame. He was doing this for the Spirit Energy after all.
He sat on his bed, legs crossed and hands forming a circle. He began performing the Accumulation which he had been practicing since morning.
He had not forgotten to check his progress though. The lines of text on the blue screen were still fresh in his mind.
[Mark: unmarked]
[Attribute: undefined]
[Spirit Energy: 46,238,/300,000]
[Skills: Spirit Breathing, Spirit Sleeping]
[Quest: Awaken your Spirit Core!]
[Time limit: 2 days]
[Reward: ???]
He focused his mind, his thoughts being washed away. He took in a deep breath, and slowly exhaled it.
Small specks of light started appearing around him. Lighting his dark room. The specks of light floated around him just like dust particles.
The golden hue they carried spread a sense of sacred divinity in the surroundings.
The speed at which Henry began accumulating increased. His breathing became fast and sweat started dripping down his back.
His heart started beating faster, throbbing in his chest like a caged beast. As if following him, the light specks around him started shaking violently.
The spherical particles soon turned into a line-like golden blur. The collided with each other, bouncing off to collide with another.
Buzzing sounds, that lasted no more than a moment, reverberated in the room. Henry, though, did not hear anything.
His was deeply engrossed in his Accumulation of Spirit Energy.
Unbeknownst to him, the golden particles around him exploded into each other, sending subtle ripples into the entire room.
They lost their color and turned pitch black, even darker than the night that enveloped everything.
More specks of golden light started appearing, only to be pulled into the the dark orbs that now surrounded Henry.
The orbs soon disappeared one by one, the light specks following along. The room returned to silence and Henry slowly opened his eyes. What he saw though was something that shocked him, leaving him puzzled and surprised, nonetheless.