Daily Rewards! Transmigrating into a novel as a side-character!

I departed the Blackwood mansion later in the day with Kael seated beside me in the carriage. The young man looked noticeably different from when I'd first found him - cleaner, better fed, and carrying himself with growing confidence despite his humble origins.

His ice-affinity awakening had progressed well under the basic training regimen my father had arranged, and he'd reached Elite rank through dedicated practice and the resources provided. Still, sitting in a luxury carriage heading toward the kingdom's most prestigious academy clearly made him aware of how far he'd come from his previous hell.

"How are you feeling about tomorrow's examination?" I asked as the carriage rolled smoothly through the duchy roads toward the capital.

Kael was quiet for a moment, staring out the window at the passing countryside. "Good, but nervous."

The honesty was refreshing. Most people in his position would try to project false bravado or excessive confidence to impress their patron.

"Nervous about what specifically? The combat assessment? The theoretical knowledge portion?"

"Both, I suppose." He turned to face me directly. "I know I've gotten stronger thanks to your help, Adrian. The training, the resources, everything you've provided has transformed my capabilities beyond what I ever imagined possible. But the academy accepts the kingdom's best awakeners. What if I'm not good enough? What if I fail and waste the opportunity you gave me?"

I could hear the genuine concern in his voice - not just fear of personal failure, but worry about disappointing me after everything I'd invested in him.

I reached over and tapped him firmly on the shoulder. "You've got this."

Kael looked at me with surprise at the simple, direct encouragement.

"I wouldn't have sponsored you if I didn't believe you could pass," I continued. "Yes, the academy has high standards. Yes, the other students come from privileged backgrounds with years of proper training. But you have something many of them lack, training under a commander rank warrior, genuine hunger to improve, and the discipline."

"I just don't want to let you down."

"Then don't," I said simply. "Show them exactly what you're capable of. Fight like your life depends on it, because in a way, your future does. This examination is your gateway to resources and training that will determine your entire trajectory as an awakener."

Kael nodded slowly, some of the tension leaving his shoulders. "You're right. I've come too far to fail now."

"Exactly. And remember - I've seen you fight. I know your capabilities firsthand. Trust in the strength you've already developed."

The carriage continued toward the capital as evening approached, carrying a nervous but determined young man toward an opportunity that would change his life forever.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

When we arrived at the mansion, Kael's eyes widened as he took in the elegant white structure. This was clearly far beyond anything he'd experienced before - the architecture alone spoke of wealth and status that his street-survival background couldn't have prepared him for.

"This is… yours?" he asked with obvious disbelief.

"One of my properties," I confirmed casually, leading him inside. "Come on, let me show you around."

I gave him a comprehensive tour of the facilities, starting with the residential areas before moving to what would really matter for his preparation.

When I opened the door to the main combat training room, Kael stopped dead in his tracks.

"This is incredible," he breathed, staring at the reinforced flooring, enchantment arrays, and professional-grade equipment.

"It's built to the same specifications as the academy," I explained. "I wanted private training space that wouldn't compromise on quality."

I showed him the specialized practice chambers in the basement, the outdoor training grounds with their privacy wards, and the various combat dummies set to different rank levels for testing.

"You can use any of these facilities tomorrow morning before your examination," I offered. "Get some practice in, warm up your techniques, make sure everything feels sharp."

"Thank you, Adrian." The gratitude in his voice was genuine. "For everything - the sponsorship, the training, bringing me here. I won't waste this opportunity."

"I know you won't."

I led him upstairs and showed him to a comfortable guest bedroom I'd designated for his use. The room was well-furnished with a proper bed, private bathing facilities, and everything he'd need for a restful night.

"This is your room while you're here," I said. "Make yourself comfortable."

Kael set down his belongings.

"Get some good sleep," I advised, turning toward the door. "Tomorrow is an important day. You'll want to be well-rested and mentally sharp for the examination."

"I will," Kael promised. "Good night, Adrian. And thank you again."

"Good night, Kael. You've got this."

I left him to settle in and made my way back through the mansion, checking on the other occupants of my increasingly crowded household. Kojiro was training in one of the training rooms, and Changing Star remained peacefully asleep, still processing the Soul Stone's energy.

Tomorrow would determine if my investment in Kael paid off - if he could pass the academy's rigorous examination and become another piece in the complex network I was building.

The next day arrived with early morning light filtering through the mansion windows. I woke before dawn, my internal schedule refusing to allow lazy starts regardless of how comfortable the bed was.

My first priority was checking on Changing Star, who remained in deep sleep on the highest floor where I'd established my personal quarters. I'd deliberately chosen the top floor to minimize the chance of Kael accidentally discovering her existence - at least until I decided how to handle that particular revelation.

She was still glowing softly, curled up on her magical cushion with her gemstone treasures arranged around her like a miniature dragon's hoard. Her breathing was steady and deep, accompanied by that gentle purring sound that indicated contentment even in unconscious rest. A soft smile graced her small face, suggesting pleasant dreams rather than distress.

"Still devouring that energy...it must've been alot." I murmured, gently stroking her head. The worry I'd felt initially had largely faded - through our bond, I could sense she was perfectly fine, just requiring extended time to integrate such massive soul power.

I left her to rest and made my way to the training facilities for my morning workout. Two hours of intensive practice covering blood manipulation, combat techniques, and secret art refinement left me properly warmed up and energized for the day ahead.

After a quick shower to wash away the training sweat, I descended the stairs from my top-floor quarters. The vertical separation wasn't a permanent solution - if Kael was going to live here during his academy enrolment, he'd eventually need to know about Changing Star's existence. But that was a complication I decided to think about later.

For now, maintaining separation was simpler.

I made my way to Kael's guest room and knocked firmly on the door. "Kael, time to wake up. You've got an examination today."

Knock knock knock

No response.

I knocked again, louder this time. Still nothing.

Frowning slightly, I opened the door and peered inside. The bed was neatly made, and Kael's belongings were organized on the dresser, but the room was empty.

'Where is he? Is he training?'

I made my way toward the training facilities, and sure enough, found Kael in one of the practice chambers working through an intensive exercise routine.

He was drenched in sweat, pushing through body conditioning exercises with focused determination - the same regimen I'd taught him, variations of what my father had drilled into me and from my previous experience on earth. Push-ups, core work, footwork drills, combat movements. His form was good, showing the discipline he'd developed through consistent practice.

"Training well?" I asked with a smile, leaning casually against the doorframe. "Make sure you don't tire yourself out before the exam."

Kael immediately paused his routine and wiped the sweat from his face with his sleeve. "Of course," he said, slightly breathless but maintaining composure. "Just wanted to warm up and clear my nerves. I couldn't sleep much anyway."

I pulled a small leather pouch from my storage ring and tossed it to him.

Clink!

The sound of coins jingling was unmistakable as Kael caught it reflexively.

"What is this?" he asked with confusion, opening the pouch to peer inside. His eyes widened at the contents - easily several dozen golden coins, far more than necessary for a simple meal.

"Some coins for you to buy breakfast," I said simply. "I don't have anyone cooking in this house, so get yourself some proper food before the examination. You'll need the energy."

"This is... too much for food, isn't it?" Kael looked at me with uncertainty, clearly uncomfortable with what he perceived as excessive generosity.

I ignored the question entirely. "See you at the academy."

I turned and departed before he could protest further or try to return the excess money. Whether he spent it all on an elaborate breakfast or saved most of it for future needs was his decision - the point was ensuring he had resources available without needing to stress about finances on an already nerve-wracking day.

As I left the mansion and retrieved my skateboard for the journey to campus, I reflected on the strange household I was accumulating. A sleeping dragon on the top floor, a swordsman patrolling the training facilities, and now a sponsored student preparing for his entrance examination.

The mansion was becoming far more than just a private residence - it was transforming into the operational base for everything I was building in this world.

Arriving at the academy entrance, I was once again given the looks that I always perceived from the fellow students. This time, the looks had increased, as for the reason...I knew it well.