The Scum Emperor's Redemption System

[Ongoing Editing]

The air was brisk as Argider followed Elira into one of the palace gardens. The dew on the grass glistened under the pale light of dawn, and the atmosphere felt eerily calm, considering the storm of chaos they had all endured the day before. Argider trailed behind her, feeling a mix of nerves and anticipation.

"So... you really think I can do this?" Argider asked, hugging herself against the morning chill.

Elira, who had been walking ahead with purpose, turned sharply on her heel and raised an eyebrow. "Do I think you can do this? No. But do I have any other choice but to try? Also no."

"Wow, your confidence in me is overwhelming."

"Don't start whining already. You wanted this," Elira snapped, rolling up her sleeves. Her commanding tone didn't do much to ease Argider's nerves.

They came to a small clearing where rows of herbs and medicinal plants swayed gently in the wind. A section of the garden had clearly been used for testing Elira's "Chloro Magic." Vines were still half-buried in the soil, while some leaves curled in unnatural ways as if scorched by a spell gone wrong.

"First things first," Elira said, crossing her arms. "You've used magic before, right?"

"Uh... kind of?" Argider scratched her cheek sheepishly.

Elira narrowed her eyes. "Kind of isn't going to cut it. What have you done?"

"Well..." Argider hesitated. "I tried to shoot a lightning ball at some intruders. It fizzled out. Does that count?"

Elira sighed deeply, muttering something under her breath. "This is going to be painful. For both of us."

"Hey, I resent that!"

Elira ignored the protest and gestured for Argider to stand in the center of the clearing. "Fine. Show me what you've got. Focus your mana and try to conjure something. Anything."

Argider gulped, extending her hand awkwardly. She furrowed her brow, trying to recall the sensation of summoning lightning. Her palm tingled faintly, and for a moment, she thought she had it. A small crackle of energy sparked at her fingertips—only to sputter out with a disappointing pop.

"Really?" Elira deadpanned. "That's it? That's all you've got?"

"I'm trying, okay?!" Argider protested. "It's not like I had a manual or a mentor. I was cursed into this body, remember?!"

Elira pinched the bridge of her nose, clearly regretting every life choice that had led her to this moment. "Alright, let's start from the basics then. Magic comes from intent. It's about control, focus, and visualization. If you're scattered, your spell will be, too."

"Okay, okay, control, focus, visualization," Argider repeated like a mantra.

Elira stepped closer, her tone sharp but instructive. "Close your eyes. Picture the magic flowing from your core, through your veins, and into your hands. Envision it forming something solid."

Argider obediently closed her eyes, trying to imagine lightning crackling in her palm. She could almost feel the energy building, but it fizzled out again as soon as she lost concentration.

"Ugh!" she groaned, slumping her shoulders.

"Pathetic," Elira muttered, shaking her head. "You're overthinking it. Magic isn't just about force. It's about precision. You're trying to summon a thunderstorm when all you need is a spark."

"Okay, okay," Argider said, exhaling slowly. "Precision. Got it."

"Good. Now try again," Elira ordered.

Argider took a deep breath, focusing on the advice. This time, she didn't try to force the energy. She let it flow naturally, like water trickling through a stream. Her palm tingled again, and a faint orb of crackling electricity began to form.

"There!" Elira said, her voice tinged with approval. "Hold it steady. Don't let it dissipate."

Argider grinned, feeling a flicker of pride—only for the orb to suddenly burst in a harmless but embarrassing shower of sparks.

"Dammit!" she cursed.

Elira sighed but gestured for her to try again. "At least you made something this time. Progress, I guess."

For the next hour, Elira put Argider through a grueling series of exercises. She made her conjure small orbs of lightning, extinguish them, and conjure them again. Each attempt left Argider more exhausted, her mana reserves dwindling with each failure.

"Can we take a break?" Argider panted, collapsing onto the grass.

"Do you think your enemies will let you take a break?" Elira shot back, hands on her hips.

"Do you think my enemies will have me shoot lightning for hours on end?"

Elira rolled her eyes but allowed a brief respite. She plucked a leaf from a nearby vine and tossed it at Argider's head. "Here. Chew on this. It'll help restore some of your mana."

Argider caught the leaf, eyeing it suspiciously. "This isn't poisonous, is it?"

"Do you think I'd waste my time poisoning you after all this effort?"

"Honestly? Yes."

Elira groaned. "Just eat it."

With great reluctance, Argider chewed on the bitter leaf, grimacing at the taste. To her surprise, she felt a small surge of energy returning.

"Alright, back to work," Elira said, dragging her to her feet.

"You're worse than a drill sergeant," Argider grumbled.

"You're welcome."

This time, Elira introduced fire magic into the mix. She explained the basics of summoning a flame, emphasizing control and restraint.

"Fire is dangerous," she warned. "If you let it get out of control, it won't just hurt your enemies. It'll burn everything around you—including yourself."

"No pressure," Argider muttered sarcastically.

"Shut up and focus."

Argider closed her eyes again, following the same principles she'd used for lightning magic. This time, she imagined a small, steady flame in her palm. To her astonishment, a flicker of fire appeared.

"I did it!" she exclaimed, grinning triumphantly.

"Don't celebrate yet!" Elira snapped. "Keep it steady!"

Argider tried to maintain the flame, but her excitement got the better of her. The fire suddenly flared up, nearly singeing her eyebrows.

"AHH!" she yelped, frantically waving her hand to extinguish it.

Elira burst out laughing, unable to contain herself. "You're hopeless!"

"Hey, at least I didn't set anything on fire!"

"Yet," Elira added with a smirk.

Despite the constant teasing, Argider felt herself improving. By the end of their session, she could summon both lightning and fire with a semblance of control.

"Not bad for a beginner," Elira admitted grudgingly.

"Thanks... I think?"

Elira smirked, crossing her arms. "Don't get cocky. You've got a long way to go. But maybe—just maybe—you won't get yourself killed immediately."

"High praise coming from you," Argider shot back with a grin.

As they packed up for the day, Argider couldn't help but feel a flicker of hope. For the first time in a while, she felt like she was making progress. She wasn't just a weak, cursed emperor anymore. She was learning, growing stronger, and maybe—just maybe—she could become someone worth following.