Shadow Being System

66  Chapter 66

The morning sun peeked through the window, casting a gentle warmth across William's face as he stirred awake. He blinked, squinting at the soft glow illuminating the room, feeling a strange sense of rejuvenation wash over him. The familiar hum of the system's notification filled the air, signaling his survival for another day. 50 experience points gained, it chimed brightly. He still recalled what the system had mentioned about being a prototype; it left him with lingering questions. "Was there another version of the Shadow System?" "Who else might have it, and were they aware of him?" He shook his head, dismissing the thoughts. "Overthinking will make me go bald," he chuckled to himself, his cheeks lifting slightly as he got out of bed.

Gavin was already awake, scrolling through his phone with a sleepy expression, but Liam remained wrapped in his blanket, snores escaping him in rhythmic bursts. Today was Saturday, which meant no lectures, no responsibilities, just freedom to explore. William stretched his arms over his head, muscles taut as he relished the moment. After a quick freshen-up and donning a clean shirt, he returned to the room just as Liam emerged from his cocoon of blankets, hair a wild mess.

Soon, all three of them were ready, heading down the busy corridors of the dormitory toward the cafeteria. The sounds of students chattering and laughing filled the air, setting a lively mood for the day.

They grabbed their food trays, each piled high with scrambled eggs, toast, and a side of fruit, and spotted Sofia and Eleanor seated by the window. As they approached, both girls looked up, and their eyes immediately landed on William, a silent question flickering in their gaze. William chuckled, knowing exactly what they were curious about.

He set his tray down and leaned in. "It's wind ability," he announced, a hint of pride edging his voice. n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Sofia's face broke into a wide grin. "That's amazing, William! The wind ability is powerful if you master it. Imagine all the things you could do!" She leaned in, her eyes practically sparkling with excitement. "I've read about wind users who can control storms. It's awesome!"

Eleanor chimed in, nodding enthusiastically. "Yeah, that's incredible! The gardener at the palace also has the wind ability too. He uses wind shapes flowers into delicate designs that have nobles begging to hire him."

William's face fell slightly, caught off-guard by the comparison. Did she even realize what that implied? A momentary image of himself, bending wind to shape rose bushes, flashed in his mind. He quickly shook it off, forcing a smile and focusing on his food as everyone else chattered on.

After breakfast, the three boys made their way to the academy's bustling market, eager to explore its variety of treasures and necessities. The path was alive with students and vendors, each stall filled with items as varied as the academy itself. Shiny weapons glistened under the sunlight, while enchanted clothing and mystical trinkets beckoned passersby to stop and marvel.

They wandered past a weapons stall, where swords, staffs, and daggers gleamed, their blades casting tiny rainbows under the light. One sword, in particular, caught William's attention—a slender blade etched with swirling patterns that reminded him of wind. He could almost feel its pull, but he tore his gaze away, making a mental note to save up. A weapon like that seemed perfectly suited for a wind user.

Their main goal was to buy a soul potion. As they neared the potion stall, William's eyes zeroed in on the price tag: $3,000.

"Three thousand dollars?" he murmured, incredulous as he looked at Gavin and Liam.

Gavin shrugged, barely phased. "Soul potions aren't cheap. The ingredients alone are rare, and the brewing process takes weeks."

"Think of it as an investment," Liam added casually, glancing at the other potions on display. "It'll help you regain energy faster and keep up with training without burning out."

Still, the price weighed on William's mind, and he turned to the store owner, an older man with a stern expression. "Is there any discount for middle-tier citizens?" he asked, hoping for a break.

Though it seemed absurd to ask, it was common thing in the world. Higher-tier citizens always enjoyed more incentives and discounts in this world. The store owner paused, sizing William up with a hint of skepticism before finally speaking.

"There's a five percent discount for middle-tier citizens," he answered, his voice flat.

"Alright. And if I buy… say, ten of them?" William pressed on, his tone hopeful.

The store owner raised an eyebrow but replied, "If you buy ten, there's a two percent discount on each potion."

Doing a quick calculation, William thought, Seven percent off each soul potion… ah, I should've focused more on math. Just then, the system voice broke through his thoughts: Each soul potion will cost $2,790. Ten will total $27,900.

"Thanks," William said to the system. Smiling, he told the store owner, "I'll take ten, and I'm a middle-tier citizen."

Gavin's eyes widened. "You're kidding, right?"

Liam was too busy browsing other items to notice.

"Do you have identification?" the store owner asked, his demeanor shifting slightly, a hint of skepticism in his tone.

William transformed his earring into his original phone form and displayed his identification, which confirmed his status as a middle-tier citizen.

The store owner's attitude changed almost instantaneously. "Ah, I see! One moment," he said, warmth flooding back into his voice. He disappeared behind a curtain, returning shortly with a small box cradled in his hands.

William opened the box, revealing glass vials containing a glowing blue liquid that pulsed with energy. He could feel the aura radiating from them, sending a shiver of excitement down his spine. "Perfect," he murmured, counting the vials to ensure they were all there.

After transferring the money, he watched his balance dip from $55,000 to $27,900. He still had some funds left, and the soul potions should last him for a month.

He closed the box and, with a thought, stored it into his system inventory. The box vanished from his hands, prompting a surprised furrow from Gavin, who had been watching closely.

"Some kind of spatial artifact?" Gavin thought, his eyes narrowing slightly. But there was more to his curiosity: how was William a middle-tier citizen, and how did he have that kind of money? Isn't he an orphan. Gavin pondered, And he also has a spatial artifact. There were many ways to earn contribution points and advance in citizenship, and one way was if a soldier died in war, contribution points would be given to their kin. He glanced at William, pity softening his gaze. "What a poor soul," he thought.

As they continued walking, they passed several other shops and stalls. A gaming center caught William's attention, the bright lights and energetic laughter spilling out onto the street. The allure of high-tech entertainment was too tempting to resist, and they stepped inside, captivated by the atmosphere.

Inside, students cheered and laughed, immersed in various games. The main attraction was a line of treadmills along the far wall, each one promising to test speed and agility to exhilarating heights. They were rumored to reach speeds comparable to the legendary Flash.

"Why don't you give it a try, Gavin?" William suggested, an excited grin spreading across his face.

Gavin laughed nervously. "Are you kidding? Those things look intense!"

"Come on, it'll be fun!" Liam encouraged, nudging him forward.

After a few moments of hesitation, Gavin put on the safety helmet—a requirement for not getting injured—and stepped onto one of the treadmills. William watched in awe as Gavin started running. The speed built rapidly, transforming him into a blur, his footsteps pounding like a drumbeat. The exhilaration on his face was unmistakable, and William felt a thrill of excitement just watching.

The onlookers cheered and shouted in encouragement, laughter ringing through the air. Beside William, Liam smirked and muttered, "Show-off."

After a few minutes, Gavin slowed down and came to a stop, panting heavily, his soul essence nearly depleted. The crowd erupted in applause, cheering for his impressive run.

He walked over to Liam and William, a proud grin plastered on his face. "Bet you can't do that, Fire Boy!" he teased, glancing at Liam with a challenging smirk.

"Please," Liam said, rolling his eyes dramatically. " I can do better than that snail race."

The rest of the morning was spent exploring the market, stocking up on snacks, a few fruits like watermelon and strawberry milk, which Gavin insisted were perfect for a 3 a.m. midnight snack.

As they made their way back, arms filled with bags and spirits high, William felt a quiet contentment settle over him. One step closer to his goal, and surrounded by friends, he felt a growing sense of purpose in the academy.