The morning mist clung to the marble pillars of the Solheim training yard, veiling the world in pale silver. The chill bit at Leon's skin, but he didn't mind pain had become his closest companion. His breath came out in sharp bursts as the wooden sword sliced through the air again and again.
The impact echoed through the cold air, followed by the voice of the old instructor.
"Again!" barked Sir Geralt, his gravelly tone carrying over the courtyard. "The blade moves with your heart, not your arms. Feel it — don't force it!"
Leon's arms trembled, but his stance held. Sweat rolled down his temples, stinging his eyes. His sword danced, crude yet determined — each swing carving out a piece of the old him.
He wasn't alone.
Behind him floated two orbs, faintly humming one cloaked in dark crimson light, the other in soft azure glow.
The Dark Knight, his presence like a smoldering storm.
The Sorcerer, calm and watchful as flowing water.
"You swing with desperation," the Dark Knight's voice thundered in his mind, sharp and deep. "Strike not for survival, but for domination."
"Mind the rhythm," the Sorcerer countered, his voice calm and serene. "Control without flow is chaos. Breathe, and your magic will align with your body."
Leon exhaled and smiled faintly. "You two sound like arguing parents."
"Parents?" the Dark Knight growled.
"A peculiar analogy," mused the Sorcerer. "But perhaps not inaccurate."
Leon almost laughed, even through the ache. They bickered often, but somehow, their conflicting energies pushed him beyond his limits.
Hours later, the young noble collapsed onto the training ground, chest heaving. His muscles burned like fire, yet deep inside, he could feel it — strength settling into his bones, magic pulsing quietly in his veins.
The two orbs hovered nearby. Their glow flickered softly, like breathing light.
"Hey," Leon said between gasps, "can I… ask something weird?"
"You already do," the Sorcerer replied dryly.
Leon ignored the jab. "Do I really have to keep calling you Dark Knight and Sorcerer? Feels awkward".
The orbs fell silent for a long moment.
Then, the azure orb shimmered.
"If it helps your focus, you may call me Eldrin," he said. "It was the name of a sage who sought wisdom over power."
Leon nodded. "Eldrin. That suits you."
The dark orb pulsed crimson, as if offended by the calm.
"Then call me Kael," the knight's voice rumbled. "After the warrior who led the last charge in the Great Crusade."
Leon chuckled. "Kael and Eldrin, huh? Sounds like a pair from an epic tale."
"Don't make it sentimental," Kael muttered.
"At least he's polite enough to care," Eldrin said.
"I'm polite enough not to burn the boy's patience," Kael countered.
Their argument faded into the wind. Leon smiled quietly, gripping his sword again. For the first time in two lifetimes, he didn't feel alone.
Later that afternoon, sunlight poured through the estate's tall windows, bathing his room in golden warmth. Leon sat cross-legged on his bed, his system screens floating before him — two translucent panels of light, humming with faint energy.
He wiped the sweat from his brow and looked closely. The numbers had changed.
[System: Han Jaeho]
Level: 9
Class: Sorcerer
Strength: 12
Endurance: 10
Agility: 11
Vitality: 10
Intelligence: 18
Mana: 20
Perception: 15
[System: Leon Solheim]
Level: 9
Class: Dark Knight
Strength: 19
Endurance: 18
Agility: 17
Vitality: 19
Intelligence: 12
Mana: 11
Perception: 13
Leon's eyes widened slightly. "They're both leveling equally… but in different directions."
Eldrin's voice was quiet, analytical.
"Dual growth paths fascinating. One of body, one of mind."
Kael's laughter rumbled like thunder.
"Two roads to power, and both belong to you. Make sure you don't trip on either."
Leon grinned. "Not planning to."
The idea of having two systems — two entirely different classes — still felt unreal. But the results were undeniable. His body felt sharper, his thoughts clearer, his movements faster.
This wasn't a game anymore. It was evolution.
That evening, steam filled the marble bath. The warm water lapped at his skin as he sank deeper with a groan of satisfaction. His reflection rippled on the surface — not the frail boy who first woke up in this world, but someone stronger. His arms had definition now; his shoulders were broader.
He ran a hand down his forearm, feeling the firmness of muscle beneath the skin. "Guess Kael's torture paid off."
"You call discipline torture?" Kael grunted.
"He calls anything physical torture," Eldrin said, amused.
Leon smiled faintly. "It's weird, you know. Seeing real change after years of sitting behind a screen."
He leaned his head back, closing his eyes. The steam rose, wrapping him in gentle haze. The ache in his limbs was deep, but it was the kind that told him he was alive.
Then a thought struck him.
"…Wait." He opened his eyes. "Where's Clara?"
His personal maid. The girl who always brought him meals and scolded him gently for skipping them. She hadn't been around for days.
He dried off quickly and stepped into the corridor, finding another maid passing by.
"Excuse me," he asked. "Have you seen Clara recently?"
The young maid bowed. "Ah, Young Master Leon. Lady Clara is on break, as ordered by the steward."
"Break?"
"Yes, milord. She's been serving tirelessly. A few days' rest in the village should do her well."
Leon paused. "I see. That's… good."
When the maid left, he stared out the window, where the moon hung over the estate roofs like a pale lantern. Clara never once mentioned taking time off. She wasn't the type to just disappear.
"You seem unsettled," Eldrin observed softly.
"Just… didn't expect her to leave without a word."
"Maybe she was forced," Kael muttered.
Leon frowned. "Don't start with that. She's probably fine."
But even as he said it, the silence in his chambers felt heavier than before — the kind that whispered something unseen was stirring beneath the calm.
He turned back to the window. The two orbs hovered behind him, their light gently pulsing against the glass.
"Kael. Eldrin."
"Yes?"
"Tomorrow… we train harder."
"Then prepare yourself," Kael said.
"And remember to rest," Eldrin reminded.
Leon smiled faintly. "Yeah. I will."
But as the wind brushed past the curtains, the moonlight wavered — and in that fleeting shimmer, Leon thought he heard something distant. A faint, haunting whisper carried on the night air.
"Breaks… aren't always rest."