Chapter 6 – Silent Mastery
The sun had barely risen over the horizon when Harsh opened his eyes. He could feel the faint pulse of magic all around the estate, threads of energy weaving invisibly through the air. Unlike other children, he could sense it—not fully, but enough to make calculations in his mind. Every morning, every breath, every subtle fluctuation of energy became a lesson, a chance to grow.
He stretched, feeling the familiar hum in his veins. Training today would be more difficult. His system—though secret—had already begun guiding him toward advanced exercises that no ordinary child could attempt.
Focus. Balance. Predict.
Harsh stepped quietly into the courtyard. The air was cool, carrying the faint scent of roses and freshly watered gardens. Rias and Sona were already there. Rias' crimson hair caught the first light of dawn, and Sona's calm presence grounded him.
"Morning, Harsh," Rias said brightly, her excitement clear. "Ready for today's practice?"
"Yeah," he said casually, masking the thrill he felt. Outwardly, he appeared relaxed, but inside, his mind was already running through sequences of movements, energy flows, and attack predictions.
For the morning session, Harsh focused on combining minor elemental manipulation with evasive techniques. Fire and wind sparks danced along his palms, flowing seamlessly as he moved. To anyone watching, it looked like a talented child experimenting with magic—but in reality, he was running simulations, adjusting angles, timings, and energy efficiency to perfection.
Rias attempted a playful assault, sending arcs of energy toward him. Harsh sidestepped, countered lightly, and adjusted his stance before she could strike again. His movements were smooth, almost unnatural for a seven-year-old, yet no one suspected anything unusual.
Sona watched silently. "Your technique is improving. You maintain a level of composure most adults cannot achieve," she observed. Harsh gave a small, polite nod, hiding the fact that it was the system guiding his every reaction, feeding him information faster than any human brain could process.
Predictive combat patterns… 28% efficiency… maintain focus… he noted in his mind.
After the sparring session, Harsh retreated to a quiet corner of the courtyard, meditating. He closed his eyes, letting energy flow through his body. Leaves rustled, shadows shifted, and ambient mana whispered through the garden. Each fluctuation was a puzzle piece, catalogued silently in his mind for future reference.
He opened his eyes to see the sunset painting the sky in reds and golds. Rias leaned on the railing beside him, curious. "Harsh… you're awfully quiet today. Thinking about something?"
"Just observing," he replied lightly. "You can learn a lot by watching the world."
Sona tilted her head. "Observing is important, but don't push yourself too hard."
Harsh smiled faintly. I'm not pushing—just preparing. They'll never see what's coming.
As night fell, Harsh returned to his room. He quietly reviewed his day in his mind, cataloguing every movement, every energy fluctuation, and every subtle reaction from Rias and Sona.
Cheesepiece progress… minor but steady. Predictive combat and elemental control are improving silently. Bonding with key allies… successful.
He flexed his fingers. A tiny spark of energy danced along his fingertips, harmless but precise. To anyone else, it was nothing—but to Harsh, it was proof of progress, a sign that he was moving closer to mastering his secret potential.
No one knows. Not Rias, not Sona, not anyone. And that's exactly how I want it.
With a calm smile, he whispered to himself:
"Tomorrow, I'll go further… and still, no one will suspect a thing."