How a Background character handles magic

Aelorin lay sprawled on his bed, staring at the ceiling. His thoughts were swirling with excitement and frustration in equal measure. *Today, I made my greatest discovery yet,* he mused, smiling to himself, though the joy was bittersweet. *Though I got severely grounded for it, it was still worth it.*

He rolled over, glaring at the door where the silhouette of his ever-watchful guard stood. After the stunt he pulled earlier, disappearing in the garden for hours, his mother, Seraphina, had put him under intense surveillance. There wasn't a place he could go without a guard trailing behind, watching his every move. Even in the toilet.

His face flushed with embarrassment as he recalled the earlier incident. A female guard had followed him into the lavatory, and when she saw him… handling his business, she'd burst into laughter. Aelorin clenched his fists, the memory still fresh. He had never felt more humiliated. But he swallowed his anger. *Revenge will have to wait,* he thought, calming himself with a deep breath.

Even now, while he lay on his bed, the guard stationed by the door watched him like an eagle, unblinking, waiting for him to fall asleep. It was unnerving.

"Hey!" Aelorin yelled, his voice sharp enough to jolt the guard from his trance. "How will I know you won't kill me when I'm asleep, huh?"

The guard, taken aback by the accusation, stammered, "W-why would I harm a child of the Moon, my young lord? I am loyal to your family. I would never..."

"Yeah, right," Aelorin interrupted, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Then why do you keep staring at me like that? What, are you interested in boys or something?"

The guard's eyes widened, clearly flustered. "I—what? Interested in—? No, no, young lord, I would never! I—"

"Then stop gawking at me, you weirdo. I ain't gay!" Aelorin snapped, cutting off the guard's panicked reply. He smirked as the guard shifted uncomfortably.

"I don't know what 'gay' or 'mf' means, but if I make you that uncomfortable, I will gladly step outside. I'll check on you every hour to ensure you're still here." The guard bowed stiffly, his face flushed, and quickly made his way to the door, shutting it softly behind him.

Aelorin sat up, a grin creeping across his face. "Finally, some privacy," he muttered under his breath. He waved his hand, and with a familiar flicker, a series of glowing notifications popped up in front of him.

**{Evolution Points: 10/50}**

**{Beast Points: 36/50}**

Aelorin tapped on the Beast Points notification, curious about the new information it held. Immediately, the system responded.

**{Collect enough Beast Points to become a Level 1 Beast Tamer. This will increase your understanding of taming and grant new skills related to it.}**

"Beast Tamer, huh?" Aelorin mused, scratching his chin. *All I did today was touch a few animals in the garden. Maybe this will come in handy later...* He swiped the notification away, pulling up another.

Evolution Points had been harder to come by lately. Unlike before, when he could gain points by doing anything new—like sucking breast milk for the first time or taking his first job class—now, it required something significant, something challenging.

"The longer I'm cooped up in here, the harder it is to make progress," he muttered, irritation creeping into his voice. He dismissed the thought and focused on the last notification.

**{Level 1 Cell}**

Aelorin tilted his head. "This feels like a video game," he murmured. He tapped it, but nothing happened. Frustrated, he concentrated harder, thinking about skill lists and stats. *There has to be something more...*

Suddenly, as if responding to his thoughts, another notification materialized.

**{Level 1 Cell Abilities}**

*Cell Healing:* Absorb cells from anything below the user's level to heal the user.

*Corruption of the Shadow:* Since the user is made of many cells, you can corrupt another by attaching your cells to them. You will be able to monitor the target through the attached cells.

*Cell Morph:* This skill is too difficult to use at your current mental capacity. Please increase intelligence.

Aelorin's eye twitched at the last line. *Ouch. What a slap in the face,* he thought bitterly. "You stupid system!" He swung a fist at the notification, but his hand passed through the glowing text harmlessly.

Frustrated, he collapsed back onto his bed. "I guess I'll just have to manage this restricted life for now," he sighed. At least the second ability, *Corruption of the Shadow*, promised some entertainment. *I'll have to try it out soon...*

He stared at the ceiling, his thoughts drifting. *I can't wait to be old enough to leave this place. My potential is rotting away in here.*

---

Ten years had passed since Aelorin was brought to this world, a world brimming with magic and wonder, yet he hadn't set foot outside his family's mansion. It wasn't that he hadn't earned the right; in fact, he had been given permission to leave long ago. But he refused. He stayed within the estate, even during festivals, choosing instead to celebrate in the garden, much to the confusion of his family.

His parents and siblings worried about his reluctance to venture out, but Aelorin had his reasons. "You don't step into the unknown until you're strong enough to handle it," he often reminded himself. It was a lesson he'd learned from years of gaming, watching movies, and reading stories. In this world, magic was power, and despite the serene appearance of his elven village, Aelorin knew better than to trust in peace. There were always enemies lurking in the shadows—those who might see him, the youngest son of the pound pound Lord, as a target.

*But today will be different,* Aelorin thought, excitement bubbling within him. He had decided that he would finally step outside the mansion's walls. But before that, there was something else to take care of.

In the training yard, Haze, Aelorin's older brother, pointed his wooden sword at him. His expression was serious, but the glint in his eyes showed his amusement. "Come forward, Aelorin. I'll teach you how to properly wield magic with a weapon."

Aelorin sighed as he grabbed his own wooden sword. "I'm not sure I can win against you," he muttered, his voice quivering just enough to fuel Haze's ego.

Haze smirked, striking a proud pose. "It's not about winning, little brother. It's about learning. And with that thick head of yours, you could use a lesson or two."

Aelorin nodded meekly, hiding the grin that threatened to break free. *Oh, this is going to be fun.* Underneath his timid facade, Aelorin was practically vibrating with anticipation. *You think you're going to humiliate me in front of everyone just to impress Elowen, don't you, Haze? Well, let me show you how a 'background character' handles magic.*

He stepped forward, gripping his sword. His mind raced, not with fear, but with strategy. *Let's see who impresses who today.*

***Author's note***

Wanted to post another but... Night time already. Thanks for your support.