Dawn of light - Reincarnated as a villain

Chapter 14: Training

Then, with a soft smile, Drusilla said, "As you are my disciple now, your training will begin tomorrow."

Zephyx froze, a suffocating sense of dread seeping into his chest. There was a touch of tension in her smile, however warm it seemed. Her eyes sparkled with a combination of excitement and mischief that made his spine tingle. Nevertheless, he nodded, attempting to keep his cool.

"Okay," he said, his voice steady, though his stomach twisted in apprehension.

Her smile widened at his acceptance, and she said, "Good. Then let's go."

Zephyx blinked, confused by her sudden declaration. "Go where?" he asked hesitantly.

She threw a quick glance his way, implying the answer was obvious. "To my home, of course. Many will be inclined to ask about you if they see the changes in your looks."

The realization stopped him. She was right. His change wasn't subtle—his white skin, mismatched eyes, and changed aura would definitely attract attention. He hesitated for a second before agreeing. "OK, let's go."

She reached out her hand to him silently. After a moment's hesitation, he took it; her hold, cold as it was, was surprisingly firm and soft around his own. She pulled him towards the window, and before he had time to question why, she jumped out, pulling him with her.

The sensation of freefall hit him like a jolt, but it didn't last long. A pair of majestic black wings sprouted from her back, their leathery surface shimmering faintly in the early dawn light. She flapped them gracefully, lifting them both into the air.

Zephyx stared at her wings in awe, feeling a pang of envy. According to the system, he would eventually be able to manifest wings as well, but first, he needed to master his Vampire transformation. For now, he had no choice but to rely on her.

They soared over the forest, the crisp air rushing past them as they traveled in silence. After a few minutes, they arrived at a clearing. The area was surrounded by dense trees, and at first glance, it seemed empty. But as they approached, a large mansion slowly came into view, as though it were emerging from thin air.

"Is that...?" Zephyx began, but Drusilla interrupted.

"It's hidden behind a barrier to keep it invisible," she explained.

The house itself was majestic but not excessively so. It was tastefully decorated, with gothic arches and high windows, emitting an air of mystery and strength.

Drusilla glided gracefully in front of the mansion, folding her wings as she led him inside. The inside was just as impressive as the outside—rich but practical, with dark wood furniture, ornate chandeliers, and decorative rugs.

She looked at him, her voice relaxed but determined. "Select any room. Sleep well. Tomorrow, the training starts."

Zephyx looked at the windows and saw the early morning light seeping in. Already morning. That meant he could rest for an entire day.

"Alright," he said, his voice heavy with fatigue. He made his way down one of the halls, choosing a room at random.

As soon as he opened the door, he hardly noticed the opulent furnishings—a massive bed, velvet curtains, and a writing desk—before dropping onto the bed. His form sank into the softness, and in moments, fatigue engulfed him, drawing him down into a profound, dreamless slumber.

Zephyx woke up after a full day of sleep to the warm light of morning filtering through the curtains, a sharp contrast to the events of that night. Stretching, he felt a new strength coursing through his body, though the memories of the transformation were still vivid and raw.

After washing up in the adjoining bathroom, he stepped out of the room and headed toward the living area. There, he found Drusilla lounging elegantly on a sofa, a book in her hands. She looked up as he entered, her expression unreadable.

"Oh, you're awake," she said, closing the book with a soft thud. "I thought you'd take longer to recover."

Zephyx frowned slightly. "Why? Did you think the transformation weakened me?"

She smirked. "Not at all. I just didn't expect you to wake up so early, given how taxing it must have been. But perhaps I underestimated your endurance."

Her words felt like both a compliment and a challenge, and he wasn't sure how to respond. Instead, he changed the subject. "So, what's the plan for today?"

Her lips curled into a wider smile, and that same unnerving glint flickered back into her eyes. "Training," she replied curtly, as if stating the word was sufficient explanation.

Zephyx looked at her, unsure of what to say. Then, after a moment, he fisted his hands, bracing himself. "Okay. Let's begin."

Drusilla's grin was almost predatory as she gestured for him to follow her. "Good. Let's see what you can do."

As he followed her out of the mansion and into the open training grounds, a sense of determination settled over him. He had no idea what challenges lay ahead.

As they arrived at the training area, Zephyx paused to survey the surroundings. The grounds were expansive, surrounded by high trees, with clumps of green grass and open earth. There were a few giant boulders and some random dummies lying about, obviously for practice combat.

Drusilla stood in the center, her posture regal but commanding. She gestured for him to approach, and her crimson eyes glinted with a mix of anticipation and authority.

"Before we start physical combat training, we'll focus on your magic," she announced. "There's no point in throwing yourself into battles if you can't even wield your affinities properly."

Zephyx nodded, knowing she was right. His magic control, though decent, had always been a weak point. He had relied on raw power rather than precision, and that needed to be changed if he wanted to survive in this world.

Drusilla raised her hand, summoning a gust of wind that spiraled around her like a protective barrier before dissipating. "Magic is not just about strength; it's about control, efficiency, and adaptability. If you waste energy in battle, you'll die. Understand?"

"Yes," he replied firmly, steeling himself for what was to come.

"Good." She clapped her hands once, and the air around them seemed to hum with energy. "Now, show me what you can do."

Zephyx nodded and extended his hand. Fire emanated from the palm of his hand, shaping itself into a swirling sphere of flame. He concentrated, piling the fires upon each other until they became as solid as he could before shooting them toward one of the wooden targets. The sphere impacted its mark, bursting into flames and light before it reduced the remains to smoldering blackened fragments.

Drusilla nodded approvingly but didn't seem overly impressed. "Your fire magic is powerful, but it's unrefined. What about ice?"

He exhaled slowly, summoning shards of ice around him. They floated in the air like frozen daggers before he sent them hurtling toward another dummy, piercing it cleanly.

She smiled slightly. "Better. Ice requires precision, and you're starting to grasp that. But you're still relying too much on instinct."

After a moment's hesitation, Zephyx chose to show his wind affinity. He took a moment to gather himself before calling up a blast of wind around him, condensing it into a slicing vortex. The wind cut through another dummy, tearing it apart.

Drusilla's eyes went wide, the first time he'd ever seen her look truly surprised. "Wind affinity?" she said, her voice sharp. "You didn't use it in guild training."

He rubbed sheepishly at the back of his neck. "I didn't use it when training in the guild. I wanted to hide it."

Her surprise quickly gave way to a pleased smile. "Three affinities, just like me. Interesting. This makes things even more worthwhile."

Zephyx suppressed a sigh of relief. He had deliberately left out his earth and water affinities, knowing that keeping some cards hidden could be a valuable strategy in the future. For now, he would focus on mastering the affinities that overlapped with hers—ice, fire, and wind.

"Let's begin, then," she said, stepping back and gesturing for him to prepare himself.

For the next few hours, she taught him various methods for unleashing his affinities in a more efficient manner. For ice, she instructed him to focus his energy into needle-like projectiles, building a hail of lethal shards with little strain. For fire, she was careful to impart control, demonstrating to him how to direct the flames into directed bursts instead of out-of-control pyres.

When it was about wind, her lessons were most insightful. She showed him how to control air currents to speed him up, form defensive barriers, and even create cutting gales powerful enough to slice through solid matter. Her command of the element was apparent, and he learned each word avidly, eager to emulate her expertise.

By the time they finished, Zephyx was drenched in sweat, his body aching from the intense focus and effort. But he could feel the difference already—his magic felt sharper, more refined, and less taxing.

Drusilla handed him a flask of water, her expression one of approval. "You've made good progress. Rest for a bit. We'll move on to the next part of your training afterward."

He took the flask gratefully, sitting down on a nearby rock as he caught his breath. The cool water was refreshing, but his mind was racing. If this was just the beginning, he could only imagine what lay ahead.

After some time, he stood once more, feeling slightly recovered but still tense with anticipation. Drusilla was waiting for him, her arms crossed and a faint smirk playing on her lips.

"Ready for the next round?" she asked, her tone almost teasing.

He nodded, steeling himself. "What's next?"

"Let's get you accustomed to the skills of your category," she said matter-of-factly, advancing.

He gulped hard, his instincts screaming at him, that this was not going to be simple. But he suppressed the fear, determination stepping in.

"Let's do it," he said resolutely.