Dawn of Light - Reincarnated as a villain

The warm sunlight streamed through the small window of my inn room, stirring me awake. My body ached slightly, a lingering reminder of yesterday's encounter. I rubbed the sleep from my eyes and sat up, letting out a small yawn. The events of the previous day were still fresh in my mind—my first quest, my first kill, and the unsettling pleasure I felt from it.

Shaking off the thoughts, I stood up and stretched. Today, I needed to focus on improving myself. The goblin encounter had made one thing crystal clear: I wasn't strong enough yet. Without proper training, I wouldn't last long in this world, no matter how much potential my system claimed I had.

After putting on the beginner's armor set—a lightweight black outfit with a chestplate and gauntlets—I headed downstairs to the inn's dining area. The familiar hum of conversation greeted me as patrons chatted and laughed over their breakfasts. I took a seat in the corner and ordered my usual meal: bread and stew.

The innkeeper's daughter, the same girl who had welcomed me when I first arrived, brought over my meal with a cheerful smile. I thanked her, savoring the warm, hearty food. It was simple but satisfying, and I needed the energy for the day ahead.

Once I finished eating, I left the inn and made my way to the Adventurer's Guild. The streets were bustling with people going about their daily routines—merchants calling out their wares, children running through the streets, and peoples preparing for their quests.

When I arrived at the guild, the lively atmosphere from yesterday was still present. Adventurers crowded around the quest board, strategizing and arguing over missions. Others were boasting about their accomplishments or discussing loot distribution.

I ignored the quest board this time. Today wasn't about earning money or climbing the ranks. It was about preparing myself for the dangers that lay ahead.

Walking past the reception desk, I headed toward the guild's private training rooms. These rooms were available for adventurers who needed a safe and controlled environment to practice their skills. A stern-looking woman with a no-nonsense demeanor manned the counter. She eyed me briefly as I approached.

"I'd like to book a private training room," I said.

"Five gold coins," she replied curtly.

I handed her the coins without hesitation. The cost wasn't cheap, but it was worth it. Training in a controlled environment was far better than risking my life out in the wild. As I handed over the money, I thought about the coin system in this world. It was the same as most fantasy games or novels: 100 bronze coins equaled 1 silver coin, and 100 silver coins equaled 1 gold coin.

The woman handed me a small iron key and gestured toward the corridor leading to the training rooms. "Room three. Return the key when you're done."

"Thank you," I said, taking the key.

The training room was simple but effective. It was a spacious chamber with stone walls and a reinforced wooden floor. Targets and dummies were set up at various distances, and there were shelves stocked with basic training weapons and supplies.

I locked the door behind me and took a deep breath. This was my space for the day, and I intended to make the most of it.

To start, I did some basic exercises—push-ups, sit-ups, and stretches. Physical conditioning was just as important as magical training, especially for someone who planned to fight on the frontlines. After about thirty minutes, I felt warmed up and ready to focus on my magic.

Standing in the center of the room, I raised my right hand and concentrated. A small flicker of fire appeared in my palm, glowing faintly. I focused harder, shaping it into a small, unstable ball of flame. Sweat trickled down my brow as I held the fireball steady, aiming it at a dummy on the far side of the room.

With a push of will, I infused a burst of wind mana into the fireball, propelling it forward. The ball streaked across the room, hitting the dummy and exploding with a small boom. The force of the impact wasn't impressive, but it was a start.

I nodded to myself, satisfied with the progress.

For the next few hours, I practiced tirelessly with my affinities: fire, ice, wind, earth, and water. Each element had its own unique challenges.

Fire was destructive but volatile, requiring careful control.

Ice came more naturally to me, likely because it was Zephyx's original affinity. Its precision and elegance suited my fighting style.

Wind enhanced my speed and allowed me to manipulate projectiles.

Earth was difficult to master but had incredible defensive potential.

Water was versatile, capable of both offense and support.

I also experimented with fusing elements. Combining fire and wind created a more powerful and directed flame, while mixing water and earth allowed me to manipulate mud. These combinations opened up countless possibilities, and I knew mastering them would give me an edge in combat.

As I trained, my [Prodigy] trait made itself known. Concepts that should have taken weeks to grasp came to me in hours. Techniques that would have stumped a normal person felt natural. It was as though my mind and body were perfectly attuned to magic, absorbing and implementing knowledge at an incredible pace.

I couldn't help but feel grateful for this trait. It was a trait of Zephyx but because of his broken soul this trait was locked, but now unlocked now that his broken soul had been mended.

When I finally stopped, the sun was already setting, casting an orange glow through the small window of the training room. My body was drenched in sweat, and my muscles ached from the relentless practice.

I gathered my belongings and left the room, returning the key to the stern woman at the counter. She gave me a brief nod, her expression unreadable.

As I stepped out of the guild, the cool evening air greeted me. The streets were quieter now, with most people winding down for the day. I made my way back to the inn, my mind buzzing with everything I had learned.

That night, I collapsed onto my bed, too tired to think about anything else. My body felt like it had been through a grinder, but it was a satisfying kind of exhaustion. I closed my eyes, letting the fatigue pull me into a deep, dreamless sleep.

Tomorrow would be another day of challenges, but I was ready for it. For now, I allowed myself to rest, knowing that I was one step closer to becoming stronger.