The Cold Heir

Ved repeated the process, over and over, each attempt lasting a fraction of a second longer than the last. He experimented with different applications, slowing the movements of the golems, quickening his own reflexes, and even trying to distort the space around him to create a bubble of altered time.

The progress was slow, but it was progress nonetheless. With each attempt, his control improved, and the strain lessened. And the ripples in the air became more evident, the effects more pronounced.

Finally, after what felt like hours, Ved collapsed onto the floor, his chest heaving. His body ached, his mana reserves nearly depleted, but the faint smile on his face remained.

Ved closed his eyes, taking a moment to rest, knowing he'd soon have to head back to his room. His thoughts then drifted to the Academy. He only has one month before it start, if the Flack estate's training room was his current battleground, the Academy would be an all-out war

For the next month, Ved's training regimen was straightforward. He would put himself against incredibly powerful golems, pushing his limits to the brink. This would be followed by sessions where he'd work on harnessing both his newfound time affinity and ice. He'd spend time refining his skills with both his new time magic and his well-practiced ice abilities.

. The days at the Flack estate blurred together into an endless cycle of cold indifference and relentless training. The mansion, despite its grandeur, seemed more desolate with each passing day. Ved had been back for nearly a month, but it felt as if he had never really come back at all.

His family members were like ghosts in the mansion's corridors passing by without a word, their presence fleeting and distant. 

His father buried himself in the affairs of the estate, his focus fixed on ledgers and letters with the cold-hearted dedication of someone more interested in fortune and influence than in his own flesh and blood. 

His mother spent her days locked away in her private quarters, emerging only for meals or brief walks in the gardens. And his twin sister, cold and calculating as ever, made no effort to approach him.

Ved didn't mind. If anything, he preferred it this way. Their absence allowed him to focus on what truly mattered—his training.

The training room had become his refuge. Day in and day out, Ved pushed his body and mind to their breaking points, sharpening both his Ice and Time affinities. His control over Ice grew more precise, refining techniques he'd spent years developing into something almost instinctual, until they flowed effortlessly.

But Time magic… Time magic was a beast unlike anything he'd ever encountered.

Each session with the System felt like unraveling a tightly coiled thread, one strand at a time. His skill effects might sound simple but slowing down objects or speeding up his own movements required immense focus and precision. It was draining, both mentally and physically, yet Ved thrived on the challenge. Yet Ved thrived on the challenge. The rarity of the affinity only fueled his determination to master it.

By the end of the month, he'd made significant progress. His control over Temporal Flick had improved dramatically, allowing him to manipulate time for longer periods and with greater accuracy. He'd even begun experimenting with combining his Ice and Time magic, freezing objects in both time and temperature to create devastating effects.

Yet, there was always more to explore, more to master and he only had a month of time.

On the night before they left for the Academy, that Ved found himself sitting alone in his room, the faint glow of a mana crystal casting a soft light over the space. His sword rested against the wall, its icy aura faint but ever-present.

He looked at the System's status screen, his icy blue eyes carefully reading over the details.

========================================

Status Screen:

Name: Ved Flack

Race: Human

Gender: Male

Age: 16

Talent: Legendary

Affinities: Ice (Advanced), Time (Beginner+)

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Core Attributes:

Strength: 85

Agility: 80

Endurance: 65

Intelligence: 91

Mana: 90

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Skills:

Frost Surge: Unleash a wave of freezing energy to immobilize and damage foes.

Temporal Flick New*: Momentarily distort the flow of time, increasing personal speed or slowing an enemy for a short duration.

[System Feature:]

Soul Domination – Control and assimilate fragments of defeated souls to enhance your own power.

========================================

His lips curved into a faint smile. He'd grown a lot since coming back. Absorbing Nagi's soul had changed him, making him stronger in body and mind.

The next morning, a knock at the door broke his train of thought. Ved glanced up, his expression sharpening. "Enter."

The door swung open, and there stood Ralf, his trusted butler. Despite his calm demeanor, Ralf's eyes showed a trace of worry.

"Young Master Ved," Ralf said, bowing slightly. "Your father has requested your presence in the main hall. It seems the preparations for your departure to the Academy have been finalized."

Ved stood up, nodding. "I'll be right there."

Ved nodded, rising to his feet. "I'll be there shortly."

Ralf hesitated for a moment before speaking again. "If I may, sir… I trust you are prepared for what lies ahead?"

Ved's smirk returned, cold and confident. "More than prepared, Ralf."

The butler bowed once more before retreating, leaving Ved by himself once more.

The Flack family came together in the main hall to send off Ved and his sister. The room was chilly, filled with tension and hidden feelings.

Their father was at the room's center, his large presence highlighted by the grand staircase behind him. His sharp eyes looked over his kids, his face showing nothing.

"You both leave for the Academy today," their father began, his voice devoid of warmth. "Your performance there will reflect directly on the Flack name. I expect nothing less than excellence."