CHAPTER 53: IS THAT A NEW SKILL??

After everyone finally left me alone, I figured it was time to recheck my grimoire stats.

It had been a while since I last looked at them. And by "them," I mean both of them. And this wasn’t exactly something I wanted to do with half the academy breathing down my neck.

I needed somewhere quiet. Somewhere no one could stick their nose in.

So, me and Nyx made our way back to the dorm. The black furball padded along beside me, tail flicking like he was in on the secret.

When we got there, the place was empty. Completely silent. Not a single soul in sight.

Which made sense. Most students were busy with the big event of the week, the club hunting.

Clubs were a big deal in the whole academy arc of The Ascension of the Arcane King. You had three days to choose one, and if you picked wrong, well, you would regret it until graduation.

I’d already been invited to a bunch of clubs, thanks to being the North Star. Then again, plenty of others didn’t bother, probably because I was a commoner. Their loss.

Nyx hopped onto the armrest of the couch and said, "So, which club are you joining?"

"Still deciding," I said.

"Translation: you have no idea."

"Exactly."

As for me, I already had a shortlist. A few carefully chosen options that would help me cozy up to the main plot... and maybe nudge it off the rails.

But that could wait. Right now, I had more important things to do.

I stepped into my room and shut the door behind me.

With a flick of my hand, I summoned both grimoires. Their covers shimmered into existence, pages fluttering like they’d been waiting for me all this time.

Nyx hopped onto my desk with his eyes glowing faintly. "Finally. Thought you’d forgotten about them."

"Shush, lemme check." I told Nyx as I decided to check the weapon grimoire first.

The golden grimoire flipped its page and there in front of my eyes were my stats.

***

Grimoire Type: Weapon

Element: Divine Light

Origin Card-

Base Form:Enkidu, Chains of the Broken Heaven

Max Ring Potential: 7 Rings

Current Ring: 2nd (Initial)

Mastery: 11.34%

Inherited Skill: Crown of Charon

Ability Card:

→ Card of Heavenly Vow

Ability:

Grants the user the power to forge sacred oaths binding their intent into reality. For every vow declared, an equal and opposite condition must be offered in return. The stricter or riskier the condition, the greater the divine amplification of strength, speed, durability, or supernatural effect granted.

Each vow is written into the soul and enforced by the chains of Enkidu. Breaking a vow results in immediate backlash, ranging from loss of abilities to fatal damage, depending on the vow’s weight.

Examples of Vows:

"I vow not to dodge any attack for 30 seconds." → Gains immense counterforce amplification for thirty seconds.

"I vow to fight alone." → All grimoire effects are multiplied while allies remain uninvolved.

"I vow to die if I fail to protect [X]." → Gains heightened defense while defending the target.

Cooldown Between Each Vow Creation: 1 Week

→ [Empty]

***

When I rechecked my stats, almost everything was the same—except for two things.

First: my weapon mastery had gone from 10.05% to 11.34%. That might not sound like much, but in my world, that was basically like skipping a whole semester of hard work. I was a genius before, but now I was... well, slightly more of a genius.

Second: Enkidu had finally awakened an inherited skill.

Any abilities tied to the spirit cards fell under that category. And honestly, I’d had a hunch this morning. Mostly because my raging emotions had died down way too fast for it to be natural.

One moment I’d been boiling over, ready to start my own civil war... and the next, I was calm, smug, and my usual charming self again.

Which, considering the week I’ve had, was nothing short of miraculous.

The only reason I hadn’t checked it sooner?...Alright, fine. I just forgot.

When you’ve got a hundred things trying to kill you before lunch, forgetting one little life-changing development is normal. Probably.

Still, whatever this new skill was, it had kept my mood in check all day. No breakdowns. No brooding in dark corners. No existential dread. Just me, looking amazing, thinking amazing thoughts, and probably radiating enough charisma to start a cult.

Nyx eyed me from the desk, tail flicking. "You’re smiling like you just stole something."

I smirked. "Not yet. But give me five minutes."

I willed the grimoire to reveal the details of the new skill. The golden pages pulsed once before shifting, letters forming like molten sunlight etching themselves into the parchment.

The words gleamed back at me:

***

[Inherited Skill: Crown of Charon]

A radiant crown of divine influence, woven from Enkidu’s own chains, forms above the user’s head. It purges all negative emotions—fear, doubt, anger, despair—and converts them into overwhelming smugness and unshakable confidence.

While active, the user exudes a presence so audacious and self-assured that it unsettles those nearby, making opponents feel subtly inferior and sense an underlying danger, as if they’re prey being toyed with.

Type: Passive

***

I leaned back, grinning at the page.

"Oh, this is perfect," I murmured. "A permanent upgrade that makes me even more insufferable? Truly, the gods have blessed this world... and me most of all."

Nyx narrowed his glowing eyes. "You mean cursed everyone else for life."

"Semantics," I said, waving a hand. "Besides, if they can’t handle this level of greatness, that’s their problem."

Now it all made sense—why I didn’t completely lose it this morning. Normally, after a mess like that, I’d be chewing on frustration for hours, wearing it like a second skin.

But instead? I’d been strolling around like I owned the place. Which, to be fair, I might as well.

This wasn’t a temporary boost. No, this was constant. Always on. I could still feel it—this warm, steady pulse of confidence in my chest, like I’d swallowed the sun and it decided to make itself at home. Every thought felt lighter. Every step had weight, as if the ground should be thankful I chose to walk on it.

It wasn’t just confidence. It was the kind of smugness that made you smirk before people even spoke, because you already knew you were ten moves ahead.

And I had to admit... it felt good. Too good.

After that I decided to check my summoning grimoire. At this point, this guy was like a second child to me. Always ignored.

But, not anymore. I had an idea of what to do with it. But it required some time.

***

Grimoire Type: Summoning

Element: Shadow/Psychic

Origin Card-

Base Form:Nyxveil, The Veil of Night

Max Ring Potential: 3 Rings

Current Ring: 1st (Initial)

Mastery: 0.33%

Inherited Skill: Shadow Clone, Shadow Walk, Purple Mist

Ability Card:

→ [None]

***

Nyx had grown well. Not lightning fast, but steady enough to make me notice.

He wasn’t leagues ahead of Enkidu, but he was keeping pace, which said a lot. In this world, talent decided how quickly you could climb, and while Nyx didn’t skyrocket, he never stumbled either.

The first ring was always easier than the rest, but still, most summons needed more time than this. He had settled into his strength like it was a comfortable coat he’d worn all his life.

I glanced at him as his head tilted, with his ears twitching.

"What?" he asked.

"You have grown strong, huh, little boy." I gave him a teasing smile.

Nyx’s tail gave a lazy flick, like he was already bored of the conversation.

"I’m serious," I said, shutting my grimoire. "You’ve been progressing fast. Too fast, considering the amount of time you spend chasing skirts."

His ears twitched. "I don’t chase them."

"Oh no, of course not," I said, my tone dripping sarcasm. "You just happen to stroll over whenever a woman laughs. You just happen to ’accidentally’ curl up in their lap like you’ve known them for years. And you just happen to purr so loud the entire block thinks I’m hiding a sawmill in my coat."

"That’s called being friendly."

"That’s called being distracted," I corrected. "Do I need to remind you about the fruit cart?"

Nyx narrowed his eyes. "That was one time."

"One time you nearly walked head-first into it because some merchant’s daughter called you ’adorable.’ And the time before that? You let a noblewoman braid flowers into your fur while I was dealing with an actual job. An actual job, Nyx."

"She had very nimble hands," he said without an ounce of shame.

I just stared at him. "You are impossible."

His tail curled smugly. "You’re just jealous they like me more."

"Jealous?" I let out a sharp laugh. "Nyx, I’m the one cleaning up after you. Every time you wander off, I’m the one dragging you away from a tea party or a group of cooing strangers.

Do you know how many times I’ve heard ’Oh, is this your cat? He’s such a sweetheart’? Too many. And I can’t exactly say, ’No, that’s my summoned shadow beast with the power to walk through walls,’ can I?"

Nyx tilted his head. "You could. It might impress them."

"It might get us both burned at the stake," I shot back. "And stop pretending you don’t know exactly what you’re doing. You pick the ones who’ll feed you, pet you, or tell you how handsome you are. You’re a shameless opportunist."

"I’m efficient," he corrected, all faux dignity.

I rubbed my temples. "You’re a headache with fur."

"And you love me for it."

Unfortunately, he wasn’t entirely wrong.