The first lessons consist of him trying to make me feel strongly. He insults me, hurts me.

Yes. He actually burns me and cuts me. It is fine though. We got two weapons out of it.

Crucible of Pain - A long sword, with a green egde.

Prides Guardian - A short sword, rather than a dagger.

After losing those feelings, once again by that weird tap on my shoulder, I try to imagine a library of swords. That is what Wert suggested, by my imagination always ended up in the wrong direction. Until he gave me one last hint. " Try to imagine a bookshelf in front of you, a book with the title Crucible of Pain on it"

Following his instructions I did it: my vision went blank for a second – the classroom we were in got replaced by a small room with several bookshelfs in it. Most of them were empty, but two were filled. On the shelfs were words, one of them was titled: "Sins" the other one was " Sentiment". With no idea what it meant, I took the first book out.

It was a book with a golden, bright title, it said Prides Guardian, but after opening the book it was clear that something wasn't right yet. It was empty. I retry my luck with opening the book with the red, smudged title : Crucible of Pain. This one had a few information in it, apparently this sword was the one I hit the other student with.

Apparently I only get them filled when I use the swords, but what information was in there?

Hm, collects all the pain you felt – then releases it on the first target you cut with the edge. Well, this was easy to understand. If someone breaks my leg and I cut him, his leg breaks too. Sounds useful.

But how do we gather information? We can't just hurt innocent people for it... As if he heard me, Wert says something, pulling me out of the library in the process.

W:" It will be prisoners. They would've been executed anyway"

Yeah, okay. What did I expect. The thought of going into another classroom dragging someone out and cutting him crossed my mind. The thought was kind of funny, to be honest.

Without any context just cutting him. Absurd. Wasn't that exactly what my family was able to do?

I'm fine with prisoners, though. My teacher brings them in, helps me draw my sword and I cut the first prisoner. That is the plan. My plan.

What my teacher actually did, was something else. He took of the prisoners handcuffs and made me fight him. 'You have to get your sword without me you know?' he said.

Well, it is more fun that way, I suppose. And more painful.

I dodge the prisoners punches, while jumping around in a circle. Meanwhile I constantly shove my fingernails into my hand. Then I get an idea. This pain isn't enough!

I take the fingernails out of the wound in my hand and relocate them onto my fingertips. I press them in. This had to be eno-

My mind goes completely blank. The only thing I feel is the pain coming from my... Ribcage?

I was too focussed on hurting myself, that I didn't pay attention to the prisoner anymore.

Wait. Wasn't he the best option for pain to begin with?

I was used to pain after the lessons with that sadistic teacher, so I didn't really flinch too much.

I jumped back, concentrated on the pain and gripped to my right. Why did I?... Oh. The sword appeared.

Lets make this beating a reverse sweep, Mister Crucible of Pain.

I dodge the next punch and hit his toe accidentally. My actual target was his thigh. It seems my sword skills have wavered in the time I couldn't train. It wasn't only bad results!

The experiment went even better that way.

The prisoner twitched and as he was very thin, I saw his Ribcage breaking. Completely. He spat blood and fell over.

The teacher heals me and I take a look into the book. 'All pain and injury you receive from an oponnent will get reflected onto him, with the strength scaling with pain you acummulated in the crucible without using it.'

I look at the prisoner and he actually has burn marks on his arms and cuts everywhere. Everthing my teacher did to me was reflected onto that prisoner. With one hit of that glowing green edge.

Wait. It didn't glow after I hit him. Seems to be the indicator of pain stored, or the indicator of my need for the sword. Which is about the same, isn't it?

I compare my conclusions to the ones my teacher gained. He was right. Once again. Can he like... not be that good at everything, please?

A sword appears.

W:" Dagger of Envy... You were jealous of me? No need to. I have no magic at all."

Oh... Thats why he researched all that. Poor Wert. How does he heal me then? Probably a talisman or soemthing.

The dagger disappears.

What would've been its abiltity anyway. No matter what, not like I could use that in a fight anyway.

Wert gets the next prisoner in. I have no idea how to hurt my pride. None. Do I even have pride anymore? In my family? No. Me? Not really. What-

A punch hits me. I gasp and concentrate on the fight again. I dodge and dodge, but he hits me a few more times.

Prisoner:" What was you teacher even doing? He will lose his student!"

Oh. That is something I'm proud of. My progress. I learned more than I ever did in such a short time, don't you dare to belittle that!

Cecil:" Thank you, I guess."

The sword appears - a sword. Wasn't it a dagger last time?

A puch hits me again, but I don't twitch or anything. The prisoner gasps, in contrary.

P:" What are you even made of?! STEEL?!"

Guardian. Guess it protects me, then.

I go up to him, while he runs now. I reach him in the corner and simply take the dull side of the now pretty big sword and squash his head in. I get stronger, too. Less than with Hotblooded Vengeance but still quite a bit. Well, a boy crushing an adults head was pretty special.

We take a stop with the prisoners, because we got what we wanted. We go to see my points next. Apparently Zura, my oponent at the entrance exam was here to measure his,too.

Zura:" YO! Fools Gold! Remember beating me back then? How about a little challenge in points?"

W:" Sure, my student won't lose anyway"

Fine then, why let me answer the question I was asked?! But at least my teacher is confident. I have no idea how my power level would rise by just using my magic, but okay, let me give it a try.

I touch the orb and it shatters. Not even a flash or anything. It just shatters. My ears hurt a little bit, the shattering sound was pretty loud.

W:" See? Above 25 points. That orb can't even measure it anymore."

Wait, so the general absorption actually affects my power level? This is quite awesome!

Z:" Woah... Guess you were talented after all. Reaching points that third years have in half a year. But how would you be weak, after beating the mighty me?!"

He is pretty reasonable, he might be one of the better nobles, he doesn't seem to do anything but to talk smack about lower standings. And he stands up for his own mistakes, even if he did them towards commoners.