After carefully reviewing the job abilities the System had unlocked for him, Kieran found himself sitting in a comfortable chair by the large window, overlooking the sprawling campus of the academy. The golden rays of the sun had slowly shifted, indicating that time had passed since the last time he had taken a breath.
A thought crossed his mind—one that he had been putting off, fearing that it might cloud his excitement.
Power and Responsibility
Kieran had always been cautious. Even with his System at his disposal, he understood that wielding this much power wasn't just about rushing forward. It was about patience and strategy. He needed to think carefully about how he would utilize each ability, each tool, in such a way that would allow him to remain hidden while slowly pushing his goals forward.
The weight of the power he had just unlocked hit him fully for the first time. The potential for destruction was immense, but there was also a great potential for manipulation, subtlety, and even construction. The Shadow Broker role, for example, was a perfect choice for a leader who needed to influence large groups of people without ever making himself known. He could push nobles, commoners, and even mages into positions of power and make them dance to his tune—without them even realizing it.
But it wasn't enough to simply have power. He needed to use it wisely. The more power one had, the more likely someone would take notice. The System had promised him that he would remain hidden—but at what cost? Every action he took would ripple through the world, and he had to calculate every move.
The Need for Patience
Kieran closed his eyes, recalling what he had seen during the past few hours. Mana Craftsman, for instance, wasn't just about forging magical weapons and artifacts. It was about creating legacies. The items he crafted would be more than mere tools; they would be symbols of his control. He could create legendary weapons and artifacts for those he wanted to bind to him. A simple item infused with mana could turn the tide of a battle. With his newfound Elemental Binding ability, he could create weapons that didn't just hold power but were power. A blade that could summon lightning, a staff that could control fire—he could shape the very magic of the world with his own hands.
But there was more. The Mana Infusion ability meant that he could take anything—anything at all—and give it the ability to hold magical energy. Could a simple coin become a magical talisman? A simple book could hold the most ancient spells and forbidden knowledge. His imagination was the only limit.
The Arcane Investigator's Potential
Then there was the Arcane Investigator job, which unlocked the Magical Analysis and Rune Translation abilities. Those two alone were enough to give him the key to unlocking countless ancient secrets. The academy, the nobles, and even other factions within the kingdom—everyone had secrets. With Mana Sensitivity, he could even detect magical anomalies, which meant that even the most powerful mages couldn't hide their true strength from him. There were secrets in every corner of this world, and Kieran was determined to find them.
The Arcane Exorcism ability was also worth noting. Although it didn't sound impressive at first, Kieran knew that dark magic was something that could easily tip the balance of power. Curses, evil spirits, demonic entities—they were all part of this world, and dealing with them would be crucial in the future. His ability to banish them would give him an advantage in combat and in political maneuvering.
Silent Assassin: Stealth as a Weapon
Kieran's fingers brushed against his own skin as he thought about his Silent Assassin job. Shadowmeld would allow him to melt into the surroundings like a specter, invisible even to the sharpest eyes. The ability to strike instantly, bypassing armor and defenses, would make him an unseen terror to those who opposed him. But the true beauty of this job wasn't just in combat—it was in quiet control. With Silent Takedown, he could eliminate anyone who stood in his way, without leaving a trace. There were no witnesses, no fingerprints—just the outcome. The rest of the world would never even know he had moved.
Even the Poison Mastery skill had its uses. With the right poisons, he could influence the world not through force, but through subtlety. His targets wouldn't even know they were being poisoned until it was too late. A whispered word could decide the fate of an entire nation.
A Thoughtful Decision
Kieran's mind was racing with all the possibilities. The power that the System had granted him was immense, and he now had the means to accomplish his ultimate goal—to remain in the shadows, pulling the strings while building his underground organization. It was exactly as he had planned. He wouldn't rush into action. Instead, he would take his time, carefully selecting his recruits, building alliances, and controlling events from afar.
He thought back to the forgotten ones—the cursed, the abandoned, those who had been thrown away by society. They would be the ones to form his organization, an alliance of powerful, overlooked individuals who would never attract attention. He could give them the power they needed to change the world—but they would always remain hidden in the background, just as he would.
Plans Within Plans
Kieran finally leaned back in his chair and exhaled slowly. The excitement of his newfound abilities hadn't worn off, but now there was a sense of calm. It was time to plan. The first step was to explore his new abilities and see how they would interact with the world around him.
He didn't need to rush. He knew that the Magic Academy exam was drawing near, and that would be an excellent opportunity to test his abilities on a larger scale. But before he dove into that, he needed to be ready—fully prepared.
The Shadow Broker job would serve him well for this, providing him with a way to gather information on the world around him. The Mana Craftsman job would give him the means to craft powerful tools, and the Arcane Investigator job would help him uncover the ancient secrets that would make him untouchable. And, of course, the Silent Assassin job would ensure that anyone who stood in his way would be removed without a trace.
The First Steps
Kieran's eyes glinted with determination. He wasn't going to let this opportunity slip away. The world was vast—and it was ripe for change.
The next steps were simple, yet crucial: He would begin by gathering information, using the Shadow Broker abilities to probe the undercurrents of power in the kingdom. He would look for those who had been forgotten by society—the orphans, the outcasts, and the cursed ones who had potential but lacked the means to cultivate it.
In time, he would build his underground organization, but for now, he had to remain patient. His plans were unfolding, one step at a time. And as he looked out over the academy grounds once more, he felt the weight of his future solidifying in his mind.