Reborn as a side character with a system

The Flawed Prodigy

Chapter 8–

“First… this is first,” Hilda said, lifting the book slightly. “You will be learning all kinds of magic spells that exist within the capital.”

She walked calmly to the center of the training ground, her steps measured and precise. Raising her staff toward the three circular targets, she gathered mana effortlessly. A chill spread through the air as frost began forming around the tip of her staff.

“Ice Bullets.”

Shards of ice condensed instantly, sharp and glimmering, before shooting forward at high speed. They struck the targets with deadly precision, shattering them into fragments as a cold mist lingered in the air.

“That was a level-one ice magic skill,” she said, turning back toward Nolan. “Simple to execute.”

Nolan stood there, unable to move, his eyes fixed on the destroyed targets.

“The method is simple,” Hilda continued. “Open your mana channels, imagine frost forming—sharp and condensed—and release it.”

She stepped aside slightly and gestured toward the targets. “Now… your turn.”

Nolan walked forward, his steps slow but steady. Stopping in front of the targets, he took a deep breath and raised his hand. Closing his eyes, he focused inward as mana began to stir faintly around his body.

I can feel it… the flow is there…

He concentrated harder.

A frozen land… endless ice… shape it into spikes…

His fingers tightened slightly.

“Now… shoot.”

“Ice Bullets!!!”

He opened his eyes sharply only for nothing to happen. The mana dispersed instantly, leaving nothing behind.

“…Huh.”

His face paled with embarrassment.

“Ice!!”

Nothing.

“Ice!!!”

Still nothing.

Again and again, he tried, his voice rising with frustration but each attempt ended the same way. Empty. Silent. Failed.

“That’s enough!!” Hilda snapped, her voice cutting through his attempts. “Never have I seen someone this flawed.”

Her expression hardened. “Try fire. The same method.”

Nolan clenched his jaw, determination returning to his eyes. “This time… I’ll succeed.”

He turned back toward the targets, focusing again. Mana gathered weakly as he repeated the process, visualizing flames this time burning, sharp, destructive.

Minutes passed.

Nothing happened.

He stood there, motionless, his shoulders slowly dropping as tears formed in his eyes.

“I’ve tried all the elements… and failed,” he muttered bitterly. Damn system… why won’t you let me use magic…?

From the side, Issabella watched with a pale expression. “He’s bad at this…”

“I agree,” Ralph added quietly.

Hilda exhaled sharply. “How can one fail at all magic? You truly are the worst of them all.”

That was enough to snap something in him.

“That’s not it!” Nolan shouted, his face flushing red with anger. “Your teaching is flawed. Give me that book!”

Before she could react, he snatched the book from her hands and flipped it open.

“It says right here—focus your energy, imagine the result, and it happens!” he argued, raising his hand again. “Now for earth… the simplest one.”

He focused again, forcing mana to gather.

“Stone Bullets.”

Nothing.

Not even the slightest reaction.

“…Yeah. I knew it,” he muttered, tossing the book aside carelessly. “This thing’s fake.”

He turned away with a dismissive smile and instantly froze.

The air grew heavy.

Hilda’s mana flooded the area, suffocating everything in its path. Issabella staggered slightly under the pressure, while Ralph remained steady, though tense.

“You do realize…” Hilda’s voice dropped, cold and sharp, “…you just threw my book on the ground.”

She stepped forward.

Nolan instinctively stepped back, forcing a nervous smile. “Now now… let’s calm down… we can talk like civilized people…”

“Oh?” she replied, her staff glowing faintly. “Is that how civilized people behave?”

“I—I’ll pick it up! Just calm down!”

He quickly reached toward where the book had landed but before his hand could touch it, the book disintegrated, breaking apart like ash carried by the wind.

A sharp crack echoed in his mind, and for a brief moment, everything went dark.

That’s it… I’m dead.

But then... Something changed.

Energy surged through his body, far stronger than before. Stone fragments began forming midair, gathering rapidly.

“Huh…?”

Hilda’s eyes widened slightly.

Ralph and Issabella leaned forward in shock.

The stone bullets fully formed—

—and launched.

They tore through the targets instantly, piercing straight through and embedding deep into the wall behind them. Dust erupted into the air as the impact echoed across the training ground.

Silence followed.

“He… did it…” Ralph muttered in disbelief.

No one spoke.

As the dust cleared, the damage became visible deep punctures in solid stone, far beyond what a basic spell should produce.

Hilda slowly turned her gaze toward Nolan, her expression unreadable.

How did he do that…?

Nolan stared at his own hand, equally stunned.

“How…?”

A chime echoed in his mind.

[System Activated.]

[Host absorbed magic spell: 4 elemental magic.]

[Ability class updating…]

[Update complete.]

[Status Window]

Name: Nolan Weldon

Age: 18

Class: Mage (4 Element User)

Level: 10 (Tier–1)

HP: 195/196

Mana: 120/120

Abilities: Fire Lv1, Earth Lv1, Wind Lv1, Water Lv1

Strength: 20 | Speed: 22 | Agility: 21 | Intelligence: 24

Free Tokens: 12

“Woah… but how…” he whispered, reaching toward the system.

“Explain.”

Hilda’s voice cut through his thoughts, colder than before. “And where did you take my book?”

“I… don’t know,” he replied, glancing toward where it had vanished. “It just… happened.”

“Hmph.”

She turned away.

“That’s enough training for today. Get some rest. Tomorrow… real training begins.”

With that, she left.

Later that night, Nolan lay on his bed, staring at the system.

“So books can be absorbed… and I gain the abilities directly…” he muttered. “Level one skills… locked progression…”

A knock interrupted him.

“You can come in.”

The door opened, and a young man stepped inside. He looked to be around seventeen, his posture refined and composed. Dark hair framed his sharp features, and his eyes held a calm but calculating gaze. His noble attire was flawless, tailored perfectly to his frame.

Nolan’s eyes narrowed slightly.

No doubt about it…

“Greetings, dear brother.” The male said with a mocking grin.

Nolan’s expression turned cold.

“…Hello, Victor,” he said quietly. “…dear little brother.”

---