Born in Another World With Two E Rank Skills!?

"Does being unbound mean I can learn more than two skills?" Kael asked.

Headmaster Dalen, seated once again behind his desk, arched an eyebrow. "No. Not in the traditional sense. The system still binds you to two core skills. But being unbound means you can imitate others—recreate effects through magic, as long as you understand the underlying principle."

Kael leaned back in his chair, mulling that over. "So I can't learn a third skill... but I can fake it if I understand how it works?"

Dalen nodded. "Precisely. With your level of Omni-vision, imitation is a form of expression, not a constraint."

Kael closed his eyes and concentrated. His Omni-vision flared to life. For the first time, he saw not just magic—he saw emotion.

Colors shimmered off people like waves of heat. Dalen himself was surrounded by a soft grey aura.

Worry.

Kael turned slightly and saw Mira nearby, waiting patiently as she usually did. Her aura radiated soft pink, touched with grey and a gentle blue.

Love. Sadness. Worry.

Kael looked away from her quickly, pretending not to notice the pink. He wasn't ready to talk about that.

Instead, he stepped toward the tall window and peered out over the courtyard below. Dozens of students moved through the academy grounds, each glowing faintly with emotion-colored light.

But one in particular caught his eye.

The arrogant student from the elemental test—Kael couldn't remember his name—moved with stiff shoulders and clenched fists. A deep black aura pulsed around him.

Rage.

Why is he so angry?

Kael pushed the thought aside and turned back to Dalen. "Where do you think Maledir will strike next?"

Dalen didn't answer immediately. Instead, he stood and walked to a cabinet, pulling out a rolled map. He placed it on the table and unfurled it. The parchment shimmered as he activated its enchantments, and glowing lines appeared across its surface—magical ley lines, glowing with power.

Kael examined the map. His eyes caught on a familiar pattern.

Wrenvale. The first village he'd helped.

It was right next to a major ley line.

His heart sank. "Balen… The village could be next."

Without waiting, Kael thanked Dalen and bolted from the room.

---

He arrived in the city with a purpose, breathless and determined. First, he went to the courier station and paid for a priority message to Wrenvale, warning Balen of the potential danger.

Then he rushed to the guild.

The receptionist looked up as Kael slammed a request down on the desk.

"Requesting an urgent S-Rank mission. Objective: Protect Wrenvale. Suspected target of a shadow attack. Reward: One jade coin."

The guild official's eyes widened at the reward.

Just as Kael was about to post the request, a man and woman approached from behind.

"Wait," the man said. "Can we see that request?"

Kael turned, ready to respond—and froze.

Two faces. Familiar in a distant, dreamlike way.

Recognition tickled the back of his mind.

He knew them… didn't he?