I intended to start training as soon as I left my bedroom. However, after giving it some thought, I decided to explore Sturm Manor first. It had been a while since I saw the place, and I figured it was a good idea to refamiliarize myself with it. Besides, at my current level of physical fitness, even walking around counted as a decent work out for me.

First I walked around the main building, before I headed outside and wandered through the grounds. As I took everything in, I understood what it meant to be part of House Sturm for the first time since my rebirth. Hell, maybe I understood it better than I had during my first time around as Gabriel Sturm.

House Sturm was one of the oldest Houses in the Solarian Empire. Our power and influence had diminished since our heyday, but we remained strong. We stood the test of time and boasted one of the oldest lineages in the entirety of Lumina. As such, we didn’t need to put on airs. Nor were we interested in garish displays of wealth. Instead, we valued simplicity and elegance.

The architecture and interior design of Sturm Manor’s main building reflected this attitude. While not as opulent and ostentatious as the homes of other Houses, it was far more tasteful. It was a perfect example of subtle, understated elegance.

Not only that, but the main building was old. However, despite its age, it was in good repair. It wasn’t decrepit. By just walking through the main building’s halls, one could feel the weight of House Sturm’s history. It was a subtle, but powerful message: House Sturm was ancient. Despite the passing of millennia, we remained strong.

In addition to the main building, Sturm Manor consisted of several annexes and plenty of gardens. My ancestors had claimed a verdant and fertile land as their own, and it showed. It was spring, so all the plants were in full bloom. The smell of green growing things filled the air, so thick that I could almost taste it. Together with the clear skies and the morning sun, this all made for a rather beautiful day.

The servants of House Sturm bustled about, busy with their various duties. When I passed by them, they watched me from the corners of their eyes. After I was out of earshot, or so they thought, they whispered amongst themselves. I enhanced my senses using the mana, allowing me to listen in on their conversations.

While I hadn’t formed a mana core, and didn’t have a magic circle anymore, I was still Awakened. This meant that in addition to sensing mana, I could control it to a limited degree. In fact, I had excellent mana control. This was one of the reasons I became an S-rank hunter. Unfortunately, I could only use the mana in the environment around me. I couldn’t produce my own mana yet.

Under normal circumstances, I wouldn’t eavesdrop on the servants, but these weren’t normal circumstances. I needed information on what was going on in Sturm Manor, and the servants were the best way to obtain it. They had eyes and ears everywhere. Never underestimate the rumor mill. Sifting through everything to find useful nuggets was a bit of a pain, however.

To my disappointment, I didn’t overhear anything too useful. The servants were all wondering what would happen to me. Now that I had shattered my magic circle, I was little better than a commoner. The only thing I had going for me was my bloodline.

Some of the servants speculated that my father would send me to the Northern Annex. This was where House Sturm confined any scions that had fallen out of favor. Troublemakers, disappointments, etc. Others believed that I would be married off to some other House, or maybe even a minor noble family. A few thought my father would expel me from House Sturm altogether.

After a while, I stopped eavesdropping on the servants, since it proved unfruitful. However, while most of what I overheard was useless to me, it reminded me of the Northern Annex. I knew a little about it from my memories, but not much. During my first life, I wasn’t interested in it at all. I had no reason to. However, things were different now.

I needed a place to train in private. That was one of the reasons why I decided to explore around Sturm Manor first. Otherwise, people would start asking questions, the kind I wasn’t interested in answering. Rather than deal with all that, I was better off keeping my training a secret. For now, at least.

Perhaps the Northern Annex would suit my needs. I would need to check it out to know for sure. If it didn’t, I would just find a different place to train. Best of all, it was unoccupied, if I remembered right. I would have the place all to myself.

So, without further ado, I headed towards the Northern Annex.

***

It took me longer to find the Northern Annex than I expected. While I knew what general direction to go towards, north, I didn’t know its specific location. It took me about an hour to find it. By the end, I was breathing hard and covered in sweat.

On the one hand, this counted towards my training. On the other hand, my body was so out of shape that an hour-long walk counted as training. Once again, I felt the urge to slap my past self. I was obsessed with becoming a proper wizard, but that didn’t mean I needed to neglect my body to this degree. I mean, Father was a proper wizard and he was in fantastic shape.

The Northern Annex was located along the outskirts of Sturm Manor, near the border of House Sturm’s territory. It was hidden from the main building by a small forest that consisted of aspens, maples, and oaks. A narrow paved stone path wound its way through this forest, leading to the Northern Annex.

The land further north, beyond House Sturm’s territory, was untamed wilderness. It was filled with wild animals and the occasional monster. However, Sturm Manor was protected by several defensive spells and enchantments, as well as a small private army, so safety wasn’t a concern.

As I walked through the forest, along the narrow paved stone path, a sense of peace settled over me. Due to its location, few people ever came in this direction. The trees formed a thick canopy overhead, providing shade for the narrow paved stone path. It was also quiet here. I only heard the sounds of nature. Wind rustling the leaves, tree branches swaying, birds calling one another.

Altogether, it almost felt like I was the only person in the entire world. That alone made this place perfect for training. Not only that, but it also served as a great place to rest and relax. While I preferred to keep myself busy, I also understood the value of taking a breather.

Maybe I should move out of the main building and into the Northern Annex. The Incident gave me sufficient justification. I just needed my father’s permission. Considering what happened, I’m sure he would agree without hesitation.

However, when the Northern Annex came into view, I heard voices. There were other people here. My mood soured. It felt as if intruders had trespassed onto my territory. A ridiculous thought, since this was my first time visiting the Northern Annex, in this life or my first one.