Jax used to hate this.

Traveling in a carriage. Surrounded by cold, silent figures. The awkward tension. The forced proximity.

But right now?

He was enjoying every bit of it.

A book rested in his hands. "Fundamentals of Mana: A Beginner's Guide." The silence around him was perfect. No distractions. No complaints. Just him and the pages.

He needed to learn this.

His system had revealed a new affinity he could acquire. The cost? 569 DP points more that makes 1000 DP.

His current balance was 431.

After everything he had farmed from the champions to his night with Adelina. Still not enough.

He had thought thoroughly about how to get stronger.

And with the new affinity he had seen, he was getting ready to how to master it through the knowledge.

Understanding the mechanics. Exploiting the loopholes.

A wave of nostalgia hit him.

Back on Earth, he used to do this with every game. Study every mechanic. Memorize every stat. Understand every system.

Then dominate.

He smiled internally.

'Welcome back, Jaxon.'

His study was interrupted by a voice.

"Professor?"

Seraphina.

Jax now knew who she was. The sister of Draven. And the polar opposite of that arrogant dragon-blood bastard.

Where Draven was loud and aggressive, she was calm and measured.

And gorgeous too.

'If she wasn't related to that horned idiot, I might have considered—'

He cut the thought.

Looked around the carriage.

It was spacious. Luxurious. The kind provided only for royalty or those close to it.

His students were scattered across the plush seats.

Aeliana von Crestia sat with perfect posture. One leg crossed over the other. Her hands adjusting arm-length royal gloves with practiced elegance.

Jax now knew exactly who she was.

Princess of the Elven Kingdom of Faeloria.

And this assignment? It was in her own kingdom. Her territory. Which explained the arrangement; fancy carriage.

She looked... regal. Composed. Untouchable.

'Fuckable.'

That was his honest thought.

The way that dress hugged her figure. The way those gloves accentuated her slender fingers. The way her silver-blonde hair caught the light.

'Jax. You're loyal now. Remember Adelina. Remember things are different.'

But another part of his brain argued back.

'It's for the mission. Devotion points. Getting stronger. Totally justified.'

He shook his head slightly.

'Focus.'

In another corner sat Astrid. Face pressed against the window like a child seeing the world for the first time.

Her eyes tracked something outside with intense focus.

Cherry blossom trees.

She was practically drooling over them.

'Is she... horny for trees? What the hell is wrong with this girl?'

Then there was Victor Osmond.

Arms crossed. Face sour. Muttering curses under his breath about "incompetent management" and "cruel fate."

Still traumatized from some unknown incident, apparently.

And finally, Seraphina. Standing before him. Waiting for his response.

Jax's eyes returned to his book.

"Go on."

His voice was bored. Disinterested.

"You haven't provided us with the details of the mission, Professor."

He yawned.

"I don't have them either."

Seraphina's face stiffened.

"But... didn't the Headmistress say to collect them from The Index Hall?"

Jax looked up.

"She did?"

Seraphina's expression went from stiff to horrified.

'He didn't even know. He literally forgot to collect the mission briefing.'

Before she could respond, another voice cut through the carriage.

"Who made this imbecile a professor?"

Aeliana had risen from her seat. Her elven features twisted with barely contained fury.

"He isn't serious about this at all."

She pointed dramatically at the pile beside Jax.

Four bags. Stuffed to the brim.

"Look at his luggage! He's treating this as a vacation!"

She laughed. Cold. Mocking.

"And look at the book in his hand."

Her eyes narrowed.

"'Fundamentals of Mana.' That's taught to eight-year-old children. When their cores first awaken."

She crossed her arms.

"I don't understand how he crawled his way up to this position. He's either trolling us..."

Her voice dropped.

"Or he's secretly one of those otherworldly demons everyone's been talking about."

She stepped closer.

"Here to kill us. Or kidnap us. The royals. The foundations of this world. For his evil schemes."

Her chin lifted.

"I'm telling my father everything about you. And I will have you rusticated before this mission ends."

Silence.

Everyone watched Jax.

He hadn't moved. Hadn't reacted. Just kept staring at his book.

Then.

Movement.

Not just movement.

He vanished.

Teleported with speed that defied comprehension. One moment seated. The next—

Aeliana's senses screamed.

She was an elf. Her perception was leagues above humans. She could track fast movements. See things others couldn't.

She saw him move.

But seeing and reacting were different things.

By the time her body registered the threat, it was already over.

CLINK.

Something hit the floor.

The carriage went silent.

Jax stood inches from Aeliana. A small curved dagger in his hand. The blade gleamed under the filtered sunlight.

On the floor lay half of her earring.

The other half still dangled from her pointed ear. Cut clean through the middle.

Jax had stolen this dagger from a smith. Nothing magical about it. Nothing special.

He took it because he had seen something in his system shop. A modification. An enhancement in his weaponry. Something he would unlock after acquiring his new affinity.

This blade was just the training dagger.

Everyone in the carriage stood frozen.

Victor's face had gone white.

Seraphina's hand covered her mouth.

Astrid?

Astrid was smiling.

'Finally. Someone else gets the treatment. I'm not alone anymore.'

She had learned her lesson with Jax long ago. Never bring up royal status. Never insult him when his mood was off.

Do either, and you're done.

Aeliana didn't know this yet.

But she was learning.

The air in the carriage changed.

Through the windows, something began drifting inside. Tiny particles. Spores. Pollen.

Floating gently. Almost beautifully.

Astrid's eyes widened.

She threw herself sideways. Dodging.

Victor wasn't as quick.

"AGH!"

Several spores touched his exposed skin. Wherever they landed, the flesh burned. Red marks appeared instantly. He hissed in pain, slapping at his arms.

It was just instinct. Aeliana hadn't even consciously activated her magic yet.

Just a taste of what she could do.

Her eyes blazed with fury.

"What the hell have you done?"

Her voice was ice.

"Don't you understand? You're doomed now. You're crossing into my kingdom. My territory."

A smile spread across her face. Cold. Predatory.

"I could kill you right here. Right now. And no one would question it."

She tilted her head.

"But let's wait. Let my little lamb feel the fear first. Let it sink in. Let you understand exactly how badly you've—"

Jax moved again.

Closed the distance in a heartbeat.

His finger came up.

And flicked her pointed ear.

The ear wobbled. Shook. Like a leaf in the wind.

A sound escaped her throat. Something between a gasp and a squeak.

"I am your superior for now."

Jax's voice was calm. Flat. Terrifying.

"I have permission to do whatever the hell I want. And you will follow my commands."

He leaned closer.

"Fail to do so, and you'll be expelled from the academy."

His eyes met hers.

"Of course, you can try to rusticate me first. Go ahead. Tell daddy. Write your letters. Send your complaints."

His finger traced the edge of her ear. Slowly.

"But remember this."

His voice dropped to a whisper.

"Piss me off again, and I won't miss the elegant ear next time."

Aeliana opened her mouth.

No words came out.

Everything she had built. Her ego. Her arrogance. Her confidence. Her certainty that status would protect her.

Shattered.

Replaced by something new.

Something she had never felt before.

Fear.

Astrid watched from her corner. Still smiling.

'Threatening him with status pisses him off more.'

She made a mental note.

'Noted.'

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