41 41 - A Rumor about Jon!
A Rumor about Jon!
Jon was seated in the classroom. Professor Seraphine was passionately discussing the tales and significant events that shaped the world of Aeloria. However, Jon couldn't focus on her words. His eyes were fixed on the status screen that discreetly floated in front of him.
**[MENU]**
---
**Name:** Jon Woodmoon
**Age:** 15
**Level:** 25
**EXP:** 236/50000
**Tils:** 53152
**Academy Points:** 120000
---
**[STATS]**
- **HP (Health Points):** 550
- **MP (Mana Points):** 750
- **Strength:** 45+35
- **Agility:** 50+35
- **Constitution:** 40+35
- **Intelligence:** 35+7
- **Luck:** 20+35
- **Points:** 65
**[EQUIPMENT]**
**[Luminar, the Sword of Serenity: RANK SS]**
**EXP:** 3135/5000
**Level:** 7
**[STATS]**
- **Strength:** +35
- **Agility:** +35
- **Constitution:** +35
- **Intelligence:** +7
- **Luck:** +35
**Description:** At first glance, Luminar appears modest, with a straight and simple blade adorned with silver runes along its length. Its hilt is wrapped in weathered brown leather, and the crescent-shaped guard emits a subtle golden glow.
**History:** Luminar, the Sword of Serenity, once belonged to a chosen one who brought peace to Aeloria, a land of strife. Wielded by a desperate hero, it united nations in lasting peace.
**[ABILITIES]**
- **Active:** None
**[Enchantments]**
**1.** Owner Adaptation: The sword adjusts perfectly to the user.
**2.** Energy Absorption: Absorbs energy from victims to increase bonus attributes with unlimited capacity.
- **Passive:**
- **Elven Race:** Amplifies mana manipulation ability.
- **Human Race:** 50% increase in EXP gain due to inherent adaptability.
- **Intermediate Archer:** Level 7
- **Intermediate Warrior:** Level 5
- **Intermediate Swordsman:** Level 3
- **Beginner Mage:** Level 2
**[MISSIONS]**
- **None**
---
The day before, after the practical magic class, Jon rushed to the academy store. There, he invested 1600 points in a basic magic book. He spent hours in his room, trying to replicate the meditative state he had experienced in the specialized magic room. 'Why can't I recreate that feeling?' he thought, frustrated. Despite his multiple attempts, he made no significant progress. The only thing he achieved was a slight increase in his MP and Intelligence stats by reaching level 2 in magic. Eventually, he gave up.
The next morning, while enjoying his breakfast in the cafeteria, Jon decided to bring up the subject with his friends, who had also attended the practical magic class. "Did any of you make progress in magic practice after yesterday's class?"
They laughed. "Did you really think you'd get the same results outside the magic room?" Elija mocked.
"Obviously not," Elara added. "That room is equipped with magical arrays that attract and concentrate mana. Even there, quick advancements are rare."
As he was lost in thought, Jon was interrupted by Nortis, who approached with a curious look. "Hey man, is it true what they're saying?"
"Rumor?" Jon furrowed his brow, clearly puzzled by what Nortis was hinting at. "Dude, I told you, it's true. I was there!" Elija chimed in, validating the story.
"What are you guys talking about?" Jon was still in the dark about the topic at hand. "Is it true that you reached level two in magic on your first try?" Nortis asked, as if trying to confirm whether Jon was just bluffing. After all, Jon's question in the morning made it seem like he wasn't very experienced with magic.
Jon looked at him for a moment before letting out a resigned sigh. "Yes, it's true. Why would I make up something so mundane? Is this the 'rumor' you're talking about?" Nortis, noticing the gap between Jon's actions and achievements, couldn't hide his irritation. "So you're a sword genius and also a magic prodigy? And you find that 'mundane'? Really?"
Jon had no idea how this sounded to others, but he began to suspect that his racial passive skills might be some sort of "shortcut." He recalled how Gwen had a similar reaction when he learned the Warrior and Swordsman passive skills.
With Gwen in mind, he asked, "Gwen doesn't have an S-level magical affinity, right? She must have progressed quickly too, didn't she?" Elija studied him for a moment, as if assessing whether Jon was just joking. Realizing that wasn't the case, he replied, "I even asked her for some tips after yesterday's practical class. She told me it's normal to take some time. It took her almost a month just to learn the basic magical skill and another month to reach level one."
The three friends continued their conversation, with Jon skillfully probing to understand the common sense of the people in Aeloria. He wanted to avoid future slip-ups that might reveal more than he should, or be overly cautious in situations that didn't require such caution. Meanwhile, in a room reserved for second-year academy students, a group of young people were also engrossed in a discussion.
"Hey, have you guys heard about the rumor concerning the first-year freshman?" one of the students asked. His classmate, seemingly uninterested, responded with a shrug, "If the rumor has reached us second-years, there must be some truth to it."
"Hey, Roderic," one of the classmates interrupted, "you won't believe what I heard. Even though he's labeled as an F-level talent, this Jon guy aced the first-year test. But wait, there's more: he was the only one in the class to get an S grade. And guess what? He ended up taking the spot that should have been your fiancée Gwen's as the class leader."
Roderic, a refined-looking young man with short black hair and an air of superiority, let out a disdainful snort. "He must be just a magic prodigy, nothing more." He had already heard about this half-elf with extraordinary magical talent earlier during breakfast. At that moment, he considered the possibility that it might be Jon, the half-breed he met in Riverwood six years ago. Jon was Gwen's best friend, and there seemed to be a special chemistry between them. However, Roderic had always gotten everything he wanted in life, and in the end, he managed to make Gwen his fiancée.
Initially, he dismissed the idea, thinking this Jon was just a competent aspiring mage. But now, hearing about Jon's remarkable performance in the entrance exam, a new unease settled in his mind. He needed to confirm if it was the same Jon and, if so, ensure that he never got close to Gwen again.
