Jeanne

Admiring the girl's beauty.

Mm, the only flaw was...

She had no expression...

Aurelian's mind settled, and memories of the beautiful maid immediately surfaced.

She was Jeanne d'Arc, the personal maid Otto had assigned to him.

However, he hadn't seen anyone during this time, so he still felt like a stranger to the personal maid who existed only in his memories.

Unfortunately, although his former self was at an age when his blood ran hot, he was the sort of repressed boy who only dared to indulge in fantasies. He hadn't even touched the maid's hand.

After Jeanne helped him wash up, Aurelian glanced at her still-expressionless face, then smiled at Old Will with the grace of a gentleman.

"Mr. Will, arrange an empty room for me. I feel like the magic power in my body has regressed lately, so I'm going to practice."

Now that he'd eaten and drunk his fill, it was time to find out whether the writing in the Stone Book was true!

"Of course. I'll arrange it right away."

Old Will nodded, as meticulous as ever.

The empty room held only Aurelian. His personal maid, Jeanne, stood guard just outside the door, in case anyone accidentally disturbed him.

Sitting cross-legged on a large bed, Aurelian did his best to calm himself.

His predecessor's forced breakthrough to Lower Rank Magic had indeed caused him considerable trouble.

Aside from feeling weak, he couldn't use magic power freely.

Otherwise, his whole body would tremble, and he'd feel as though he were about to burst apart.

Relying on instinct, he gathered a ball of purple light in his hand.

"Magic power."

He felt its scorching heat in his palm, along with the powerful force filling it.

Magic power strengthened his physical abilities. He felt at least ten times stronger than an ordinary person, whether in speed or strength.

In his previous world, he'd have been a bona fide little superhero.

But soon, he felt a fierce burning sensation, searing his nerves. The hand releasing the magic power began to tremble.

A bead of sweat slid down Aurelian's cheek. His face had gone deathly pale.

Humanity's practice of magic power in this world was divided into seven ranks: Body Integration, Source Gathering, Lower Rank, Middle Rank, Upper Rank, Saint Rank, and Crown Rank.

Crown Rank was merely a legend. From what Aurelian remembered, no human had ever reached that level.

Saint Rank, however, was a more realistic prospect.

Aurelian's father, King Otto Archimonde of the Star Empire, was a powerful Saint Rank mage.

He controlled the succession to the thrones of several vassal states and ruled an enormous kingdom stretching from the Endless Sea in the west to the Great Desert of Death in the east. He was one of the most supreme rulers in the world.

Even the Sanctuary Church, whose churches and priests were spread across the human nations, had to mind his wishes and dared not offend him lightly.

"So what exactly am I supposed to do?"

Aurelian gritted his teeth and forced the words out.

The Stone Book hadn't explained how to undergo Magic Refinement, and Aurelian had no idea where to begin.

Could this really be some kind of hallucination brought on by being in an unfamiliar place?

The veins in Aurelian's body bulged. If he continued forcing the magic power to circulate, he would soon be on the brink of death.

Suddenly, Aurelian felt a chill run through his body.

The magic power inside him had gone berserk!

The pain all over his body suddenly doubled, as if countless bugs were tearing at every inch of his flesh.

"Holy—! Why did it happen so suddenly?"

Magic Refinement had begun without warning, and before Aurelian could react, the agony had him wishing he were dead.

"It hurts, it hurts, it hurts! Aaaah! Ooooh!"

His voice rose higher and higher, wave after wave, as he collapsed onto the bed and writhed.

Thankfully, the room was well soundproofed. Otherwise, the whole castle would have been thrown into an uproar!

After a bout of ****, the storm finally passed.

Aurelian lay weakly on the bed, drenched in sweat as if he'd just been fished out of hot water.

He could feel the magic power in his body. The sense that it flowed unsteadily had been replaced by an unprecedented feeling of fullness and solidity.

He was now a bona fide extraordinary being of Lower Rank Magic.

"This reassuring sense of fullness puts me at ease."

Magic power, brilliant as a cluster of shining stars, spread from Aurelian's palm.

He jumped off the bed. The deathly pallor of his face quickly gave way to a healthy color, and he seemed to brim with vitality.

"I've finally caught up with William and the others."

Aurelian felt much lighter, though his clothes were soaked with sweat.

The William he'd mentioned was King Otto's eldest son, William Archmond. He also had a younger sister and a younger brother.

Fiona Archmond and Edward Archmond.

The eldest prince, William Archmond, had also reached Lower Rank Magic at sixteen, and two years had passed since then.

William was probably now on the verge of advancing further, attempting to reach Middle Rank Magic.

The second princess, Fiona Archmond, was about the same age as Aurelian.

Aurelian guessed she was also close to breaking through to Lower Rank Magic, and she had an exceptional talent for swordsmanship.

Her swordsmanship pursued the utmost beauty and sharpness.

She'd even declared that anyone who could defeat her in swordsmanship could become her fiancé.

But the countless suitors who had fallen for her beauty had already become souls beneath her blade, striking terror into noblemen everywhere.

As for the young prince Edward, who was younger than Aurelian, his predecessor's memories described him as a very scheming boy.

He also had immense potential. According to the high priest of the temple, he had the potential to reach Crown Rank in theory.

Good grief! How terrifying!

The priests called him the Destined One, the Breaker of the Long Night.

He opened the door and spoke to the maid waiting outside.

"Jeanne, prepare some bathwater for me. I need to take a bath."

"My lord, have you reached Lower Rank Magic?"

Jeanne tilted her head as she asked, seeming a little spacey.

"Huh?"