The Sovereign System.

The next day, Luke woke up feeling as fresh as a daisy. He had been dreading sleeping in the new quarters after the tension from offending Kayson in the duel, but now that things had been settled, Luke felt much more carefree.

Since the other nobles had purposefully avoided him, it meant he was now roommates with Kayson. Sitting up in bed, Luke glanced across the room, seeing his newfound brother sleeping soundly.

A smile broke out on Luke's face as he noticed the drool dribbling from Kayson's mouth.

'Seems like you're not always handsome.' He chuckled inwardly, wishing he had his phone to capture some photographic evidence. Not to show anyone—just as a reminder that the guy wasn't always perfect.

But as the smile faded, Luke's thoughts began to wander. It had been around a week since he'd taken over the body of Luke Nero and ended up in this world. While he had been adapting, there were still so many unanswered questions.

What was this place? And why was he here?

Letting out a sigh, Luke considered crawling back into bed.

Unfortunately, he was no closer to answering those questions than he was to uncovering the origin of his Sovereign System. He felt like there had to be a connection between his system and the fact he'd transmigrated here.

Though Luke had no concrete evidence, he had none to disprove it either.

'There's too much I don't know…' he mused, staring off into space.

The Sovereign System seemed to be pushing him in a certain direction, which was easy enough to guess. The name and its ability to help him strengthen subordinates pointed clearly to one thing.

To make him a Sovereign.

What was a Sovereign? By definition, someone who possessed supreme power, ruling over others.

If the system's goal was to turn him from a commoner into a Sovereign, then it meant he'd face many hardships ahead. Just the first few quests had dire consequences for failure, something Luke couldn't afford.

'But do I even have a choice?'

The system had already put him in dangerous positions, but it also came with rewards. If he were to lose all the knowledge from his Scholarly Pursuit skill, could he even survive the Academy? Let alone this unforgiving world?

Thinking this way, Luke felt a cold sweat forming on his back. Was his fate simply to be toyed with by the system until either he died or climbed to the status of Sovereign?

Luke shook his head vigorously. 'I can't continue to be passive. If I don't improve myself, my life will be at the mercy of the system's whims.'

Taking a deep breath, Luke stood up from the bed. "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step…" he muttered to himself.

A small smirk tugged at the corner of his lips as he realized what he had said. 'To think I'd be quoting that damn game again… I can't even remember its name.'

Deciding not to dwell on his predicament, Luke resolved to move forward with his life. He needed to improve both physically and mentally so that the system's quests wouldn't pose such a danger to him.

With determination, Luke stretched and walked over to the closet, pleased to see that his belongings had been brought over—likely by the maids.

He picked a tight-fitting robe and quickly changed. Just as he was about to head out, he froze, almost jumping out of his skin.

"Where are you going, brother?" Kayson's voice came, still heavy with sleep.

Luke clutched his heart, trying to calm his rapid heartbeat. "I-I need to exercise," he replied, his tone meek and much softer than he'd intended.

Kayson was silent for a moment, then his face lit up with excitement. "As expected of you, brother. I'll join you."

Luke was about to protest but quickly realized it would be futile. He watched Kayson dash toward his closet, changing at a speed that made Luke feel slow by comparison, then returning to the door.

For a brief moment, Luke thought of how Kayson reminded him of an excited puppy being told it was going for a walk. The absurd thought almost made him laugh out loud, but he managed to maintain his composure.

He was certain Kayson wouldn't appreciate the comparison.

"Alright, I'm ready, brother."

"Then let's go."

An hour later…

'Fuck me… this guy is ridiculous,' Luke cursed inwardly. Even if he wanted to curse aloud, he didn't have the energy—or the breath—to do so at the moment.

Luke collapsed to the floor, gasping for air like someone who had been dragged ashore after almost drowning. With every breath, his lungs burned, making him wish he could rip the damn things out.

As he stared up at the sky painted with orange clouds from the rising sun, he saw Kayson's concerned face hovering above him.

"Are you okay, brother? Do you need to rest for a while?" Kayson asked kindly.

'What the hell do you think?! Luke screamed inwardly. If the fact that he was about to collapse and die wasn't a clear indication, what would be?

Before Luke could even respond, his stomach lurched. He quickly turned over and emptied the contents of his stomach onto the ground. After a night of digestion, there wasn't much left.

"Alright, we don't have much time before the first class begins. I'll carry you back."

Before Luke could protest, he felt himself being lifted effortlessly off the ground and hauled into a fireman's carry. His nausea quickly worsened, forcing him to cover his mouth with both hands to fight back the urge to vomit.

While he couldn't be considered large by any means, Luke reckoned he weighed at least 150 pounds, yet Kayson showed no sign of struggle, handling him as if he was weightless.

The two arrived back at the residence building, and Luke was promptly set down on his backside. He quickly glanced around, ensuring no one had seen him in such a pathetic state, being carried like a child.

Just as he thought he was in the clear, he saw the femme fatale maid who always gave him chills. She shot him a look that was somewhere between a sneer and a grin, causing his ears to burn with embarrassment.

"Let's go get washed up and eat before class. Master Gale won't be pleased if we're late," Kayson said, offering a hand.

Luke grumbled under his breath but took the hand, choosing to ignore the maid as though he hadn't noticed her. He had already decided not to get involved with her—she was clearly unlike the other maids.

About an hour later, Luke and Kayson walked through the estate with the other students. Their destination was a pavilion on the east side, where the 1st year classes would attend their lessons with Master Gale.

Since the duel with Kayson yesterday, the minor noble students had avoided Luke. The guy who had been the first to curse at him was now the quietest of the group, particularly after Kayson declared their brotherhood.

While Luke wasn't the most forgiving person, he didn't consider himself petty—at least, that's what he liked to tell himself. So, he settled for casting the occasional haughty glance toward the guy.

As the pavilion came into view, Luke stopped in his tracks, taking in the sight. Everything in the Military Academy was built in Chinese architectural style, creating a stunning visual impression.

The red wooden columns were adorned with intricate carvings, stretching from the ground to the ceiling, supporting the gracefully curved tiled roof that was as aesthetically pleasing as it was functional.

To the left of the pavilion was a serene pond surrounded by a well-maintained landscaped garden. A marble sculpture of a dragon sat in the center of the pond, its details breathtaking.

"What's wrong, brother?" Kayson asked.

Luke snapped out of his stupor and regained his wits. "I was just taking in the beautiful sight," he replied, feeling a sense of tranquility wash over him.

"We have a similar garden at my father's estate," Kayson said, his tone matter-of-fact. "I guess you wouldn't be used to seeing this kind of thing, since you're just a commoner."

Luke turned his gaze to Kayson's handsome face and narrowed his eyes, as if to gauge his intent. But Kayson's expression was open, and it seemed he had meant no offense by the remark—he was simply stating a fact.

Now that Luke thought about it, the status of an individual was practically ingrained into them from birth. Any other commoner in his shoes would probably agree with Kayson's statement without taking offense.

'When will I escape the stigma of being a commoner? When I become a General? Or will it remain with me for the rest of my life?' Luke mused silently.

He had readily agreed to lose his status as a noble, but it seemed he hadn't fully understood the weight of that choice. From the books he'd read, history was filled with countless fallen nobles who had taken their own lives after losing their title.

Only now did the gravity of the decision sink in.

"Are you nervous?" Kayson asked, his mouth curling into a small grin. There was no ill intent in his voice.

"Nervous?" Luke thought briefly but shook his head. A strange calm washed over him, one he recognized from the duel with Kayson yesterday. It was as if he were merely a spectator, analyzing the battlefield without the pressure of being involved.

[DING]

[Congratulations, user has acquired the skill: Steady Heart]

Luke's eyes widened as the notification appeared before him. A wave of elation surged through him, promptly lifting him from his earlier state.

"Let's go, we don't want to keep Master Gale waiting," Kayson said, snapping Luke back to the present.

"Right."

Luke suppressed the urge to check his new skill right away. Master Gale already seemed to have a problem with him, and it would be foolish to give him any more reason to make his life difficult.

They entered the building through the large wooden double doors. Inside, the pavilion was even more magnificent than the outside. Luke's eyes scanned the detailed paintings adorning the walls and the intricate carvings at every corner with a calm heart.

In the center of the room, they saw Master Gale standing at the head of a large table. Around 20 students were gathered, their eyes focused on the elderly man with the white beard.

As Luke got closer, he could finally make out what the table was.

'A sand table?' he thought inwardly, recognizing the piece of equipment from a mobile game, where he would strategize and implement tactics before a battle.

"Good to see you decided to join us, Mr. Drakon," Master Gale said, his words dripping with venom.

Luke's gaze shifted to the old man, and he instantly felt the urge to lob one of the wooden pieces on the table directly at him. Despite walking in with Kayson, it was Luke who was singled out.

A few snickers came from some unfamiliar students, likely from the previous intake. Surprisingly, the eight students from his own intake remained silent, not daring to laugh or even smile.

"Thank you, Master Gale. I would never miss your teachings," Luke replied, forcing a plain smile onto his face.