"Tom, you're going the wrong way, it's over here."
Levid's voice snapped Tom out of his thoughts.
Before he knew it, Levid had stepped back around to stand in front of him.
"Sorry, I... I was just a little distracted..." Tom stammered in a hasty explanation.
"Tom, your performance is trying too hard. If you want to seem submissive, you need to look more natural..." Levid patted Tom's shoulder with a meaningful look, then turned and walked away again.
Tom stood rooted to the spot, Levid's words ringing in his ears like a bolt from the blue!
*I was so naive! So full of wishful thinking! My attitude changed so abruptly—how could he possibly fail to guess what I'm trying to do?*
*So... he's keeping me in line! Telling me not to harbor any improper thoughts!*
*Knowing full well that I might turn on him at any moment, he couldn't care less and just lets me be... Does he really think I'm not even qualified to be a threat to him?*
*Damn it! The arrogant bastard! How dare he? How dare he look down on me like this?!*
Tom's face turned pale, his eyes filled with humiliation, the veins on his neck bulging.
In truth, Tom understood Levid's mindset all too well, because before he met Levid, that was exactly how he felt about everyone else.
He had always regarded ordinary people as mediocre fools utterly incapable of threatening someone with his extraordinary talents, which was why he had been so domineering.
He just never expected that today, the one treated like an ordinary mortal would be himself...
He had never imagined that one day he would become the "fool" being looked down upon!
Struck hard by his own boomerang, Tom finally understood a fraction of what those he had bullied in the past must have felt...
"Ding! Detected massive mental damage inflicted on the future Dark Lord. Rewarded Host with 50 Karma points."
Ah... Tom, I'm starting to grow quite fond of you.
***
Mrs. Cole was a thin woman with a haggard face.
The dark clouds of war were gradually enveloping all of Europe, and amidst the widespread anxiety, kind souls willing to donate money and supplies to the orphanage were scarcer than ever.
Mrs. Cole didn't even know if the orphanage would be able to keep its doors open a few months from now...
Managing dozens of orphans and somehow keeping them clothed and fed in times like these had left her utterly exhausted.
"Eric's been feeling a bit off all day. God willing, it's not chickenpox again—we've got enough on our plates. Billy looks much better, remember to dab him with iodine tonight..." Mrs. Cole said as she doled out the food, speaking to a raggedly dressed girl nearby who wore an old apron.
Soon, Mrs. Cole spotted Levid and Tom arriving late. "Vid, are you settling in okay? Tom, I just hope you aren't using your usual tricks to bully Vid! Otherwise, you'll be spending more time in the dark cellar!"
*Who's bullying who here?!*
Tom pressed his lips together in silence, staring blankly down at the dinner that had just been handed to him...
A small serving of baked beans, a scoop of mashed potatoes, a piece of bread, and a bowl of some unidentifiable broth.
"I'm settling in just fine, Mrs. Cole... To be honest, compared to the children still wandering the streets with nothing to eat, I'm doing wonderfully! If you hadn't brought me in from the street... I don't know what would have become of me." Levid looked at Mrs. Cole with a face full of gratitude. "I really am so thankful..."
"You child... as it turns out, taking you in was the right decision. You've helped me out quite a bit lately. Hurry up and eat your dinner. Here, take this..." A faint smile broke through Mrs. Cole's tired face as she slipped an egg into Levid's jacket pocket...
Nearby, Tom glanced down at his own watery, meager dinner, then looked at Levid—who now had an extra egg in his pocket and an apple sitting on his tray—and abruptly understood the cruel gap between human beings...
***
Watching Levid sitting in the corner, leisurely peeling his egg, Tom couldn't help but pick up his plate and sit down opposite him.
"What help did you give that woman? Why does she treat you so differently?"
Levid carefully flicked out the egg yolk and said nonchalantly, "Perhaps, as you said, it's just my pretty face?"
Tom gripped his spoon tightly, wanting to get angry but not daring to lash out.
"Ha, just joking. Have half the egg." Under Tom's disdainful glare, Levid used his own spoon to transfer half the egg yolk onto Tom's plate.
"I simply did a few little things within my power... and naturally, those little things just happened to suit her preferences. In truth, you could do it too. You're just too proud and have always refused to stoop to it."
Tom disdainfully pushed the half-yolk aside. "Hmph, I could never bring myself to deliberately cozy up to people like that..."
"Oh? Then who was the one bootlicking me just a moment ago?" Levid laughed out loud.
"I..." Tom's pale face flushed a rare crimson. "That's because you're stronger than me! I had no choice..."
"Well... of course, of course, Tom, I'm not saying you were wrong. Actually, in order to achieve one's goals, occasionally saying a few nice words and doing a few small favors for others isn't a big deal at all."
Seeing Tom's embarrassment, Levid suddenly smiled again: "Just like how I'm cozying up to Mrs. Cole so I can get a nice single room for my practice and research, while you're cozying up to me to get a way to grow stronger so you can take revenge on me later..."
Tom felt his breath catch in his throat. He hated this feeling of being so effortlessly seen through and having his hands tied!
"Ding..."
Following a system prompt, Levid was rewarded with another 10 Karma points.
***
*"Reparo!"*
Inside his single room, Levid pointed his wand at the crack-ridden lock on the wooden door, forming a specific gesture as he cast the spell.
*Click...*
A faint sound of grinding metal echoed, and the cracks on the metal lock gradually faded away!
Levid looked with satisfaction at the lock, now restored to pristine condition.
*Complete Guide to Low-Level Spells* was indeed detailed enough; not only did it record the historical evolution of every spell, but it even detailed the correct hand gestures for wandless casting...
That was why Levid had managed to pull off this Repair Charm so successfully.
One could say that after acquiring this book, the speed of Levid's research and practice had multiplied at least a hundredfold.
After spending 5 Karma points to buy a bottle of Murtlap Essence, Levid still had 65 Karma points left.
Levid couldn't help feeling a bit excited about what items the shop page would refresh with after midnight tonight.
Fortunately, there was an item-locking feature; otherwise, a balance of 65 might not quite be enough.