Dawn of Light - Reincarnated as a villain

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

I froze, a sense of dread creeping into my chest. Despite her soft smile, there was something unsettling about it. Her eyes gleamed with a mix of excitement and mischief that sent a chill down my spine. Still, I nodded in response, trying to maintain my composure.

"Okay," I said, my voice steady but my stomach twisting in apprehension.

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

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

She glanced at me, as if the answer were obvious. "To my house, of course. Many people will question you, if they see the changes in your appearance."

The thought made me pause. She had a point. My transformation wasn't subtle—my pale skin, mismatched eyes, and altered aura would surely draw attention. After a moment of consideration, I nodded. "Alright, let's go."

Without another word, she extended her hand toward me. I hesitated for a moment before taking it, her cold but surprisingly gentle grip firm around mine. She then led me to the window, and before I could question her intentions, she jumped out, pulling me along with her.

The sensation of freefall hit me 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 us both into the air.

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

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

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

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

The mansion itself was impressive but not overly extravagant. It had an elegant design, with gothic arches and tall windows, exuding an air of mystery and power.

Drusilla landed gracefully in front of the mansion, retracting her wings as she led me inside. The interior was just as striking as the exterior—lavish yet practical, with dark wood furniture, intricate chandeliers, and ornate rugs.

She turned to me, her tone casual but firm. "Choose any room. Rest well. Tomorrow, your training begins."

I glanced at the windows and noticed the faint light of dawn creeping in. It was morning already. That means i have full one day for rest.

"Alright," I said, my voice was heavy with fatigue. I made my way down one of the halls, choosing a room at random.

The moment I entered, I barely registered the lavish furnishings—a large bed, velvet drapes, and a writing desk—before collapsing onto the mattress. My body sank into the softness, and within moments, exhaustion claimed me, pulling me into a deep, dreamless sleep.

I woke up after one day of sleep from the warm light of morning filtering through the curtains, a sharp contrast to the events of the previous night. Stretching, I felt a new strength coursing through my body, though the memories of the transformation were still vivid and raw.

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

I 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 I wasn't sure how to respond. Instead, I changed the subject. "So, what's the plan for today?"

Her smile widened, and that same unsettling gleam returned to her eyes. "Training," she said simply, as if the word itself was enough explanation.

I stared at her not knowing how to answer. After a moment I clenched my fists, steeling myself. "Fine. Let's get started."

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

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

When we reached the training ground, I took a moment to take in the surroundings. The area was vast, encircled by tall trees, with patches of soft grass and open soil. A few large boulders and scattered wooden dummies stood around, clearly meant for combat practice.

Drusilla stood in the center, her posture regal but commanding. She gestured for me 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."

I nodded, knowing she was right. My magic control, though decent, had always been a weak point. I had relied on raw power rather than precision, and that needed to change if I 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," I replied firmly, steeling myself for what was to come.

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

I nodded and extended my hand. Fire surged from my palm, forming a swirling orb of flame. I focused, compressing the flames until they were as dense as I could manage before launching them at one of the wooden dummies. The orb struck its target, exploding in a burst of heat and light, leaving behind charred remains.

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

I exhaled slowly, summoning shards of ice around me. They floated in the air like frozen daggers before I 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 pause, I decided to reveal my wind affinity. I hesitated for a moment before summoning a current of wind around me, shaping it into a cutting vortex. The wind slashed through another dummy, shredding it into pieces.

Drusilla's eyes widened slightly, the first sign of genuine surprise I'd seen from her. "Wind affinity?" she asked, her tone sharp. "You didn't use it during the guild training."

I rubbed the back of my neck sheepishly. "I didn't use it much in the guild. I wanted to keep it hidden."

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

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

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

For the next few hours, she guided me through various techniques to harness my affinities more efficiently. For ice, she taught me how to condense energy into razor-sharp projectiles, creating a hailstorm of deadly shards with minimal effort. For fire, she emphasized control, showing me how to channel the flames into precise bursts rather than uncontrollable infernos.

When it came to wind, her teachings were particularly insightful. She demonstrated how to manipulate air currents to increase my speed, create protective barriers, and even generate slicing gales strong enough to cut through solid objects. Her mastery of the element was evident, and I absorbed every word, eager to replicate her skill.

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

Drusilla handed me 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."

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

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

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

I nodded, steeling myself. "What's next?"

"Let's get you used to your skills of your category," she said simply, stepping forward.

I swallowed hard, my instincts screaming that this wasn't going to be easy. But I pushed the fear aside, determination taking its place.

"Let's do it," I said firmly.