Bloody Leggings

The goblins, emboldened by the death of the soldiers and the maid, surged forward, eager to tear Aeris apart next. But she was ready. Her heart pounded in her chest, not from fear, but from the exhilaration of what was to come.
She extended her hand, feeling the familiar surge of magic course through her veins. The System’s upgrades had enhanced her abilities tenfold, and she was about to unleash them for the first time.
“Let’s see how well this works,” she muttered under her breath, her eyes narrowing on the approaching goblins.
Her fingertips glowed with a faint blue light as she summoned her first spell: Ice Spears. Shards of crystalline ice materialized in the air around her, sharp and deadly, before launching themselves at the goblins. The first row of creatures was impaled instantly, their bodies skewered by the ice as they screeched in agony.
The remaining goblins hesitated, but Aeris wasn’t done. She raised both hands this time, her lips curling into a cruel smile.
With a whisper, she summoned her next spell: Glacial Blast.
A wave of freezing wind erupted from her hands, engulfing the entire group of goblins in an instant. The temperature plummeted, frost forming on the ground as the goblins’ limbs froze solid, their grotesque bodies encased in ice.
 Their panicked screams were cut short as the cold consumed them, turning them into grotesque statues of frozen death.
In a matter of seconds, the ambush was over.
Aeris surveyed the scene with cold detachment. The road was littered with frozen corpses—both human and goblin. 
Blood stained the ground, mixing with the shards of ice that glistened in the fading light.
 Her heart barely fluttered as she took it all in. This was just the beginning.
Without sparing another glance at Esther’s lifeless form, Aeris turned and made her way back to the carriage. 
Her pristine gown, once stained with blood, was now spotless—thanks to a quick spell to clean away the evidence of the massacre.
She climbed inside, shutting the door behind her.
 There was no need to wait for anyone else. She would complete this journey alone.
As the carriage resumed its path toward Priscilla Academy, Aeris leaned back in her seat, her mind already on the next challenge.
 The Academy would be full of potential threats, rivals, and enemies. 
But now, she had the power to deal with all of them.
And she wouldn’t hesitate to use it.
Thevcarriage rocked gently as it continued its journey through the darkening forest. The quiet creak of the wooden wheels and the rhythmic clopping of the horses should have lulled Aeris into a state of calm, but sleep eluded her. Instead, her mind wandered, replaying the events of the ambush.
Esther’s blood still stained the hem of her white leggings, a glaring reminder of the maid’s final moments.
 Aeris hadn’t flinched, hadn’t hesitated to crush her throat. She had been ruthlessly efficient, something the Aeris of this world was known for. But deep down, there was a lingering question. 
Was this truly her, or had the System altered her in some way?
In her old life, Nagisa Minazuki had been meek, passive, a pacifist. She had avoided conflict, always trying to stay out of harm’s way. But now, here she was—bold, confident, and willing to get her hands dirty. 
There was no hesitation in her actions, no guilt gnawing at her conscience.
She stared at her bloodied leggings, her mind spiraling. The sight of Esther’s blood clinging to the fabric was what snapped her back to reality. Her brow furrowed in vexation.
“How revolting”
Her gaze shifted out of the carriage window, spotting a river up ahead, glistening in the moonlight. 
She needed to clean herself, to rid her body of the remnants of the day’s violence.
“Stop the carriage,” she commanded, her voice stern yet calm.
The driver obeyed without question, bringing the horses to a halt near the riverbank.
 Aeris stepped out into the cool night air, the scent of damp earth and babbling water filling her lungs as she skipped toward the river's edge.

Aeris stood at the river’s edge, the soft breeze tugging at her hair as she reached up to unfasten the clasps of her gown. She took her time, slowly peeling away the layers of fabric with a detached grace, letting the cool air brush against her skin as the heavy gown slipped from her shoulders and pooled at her feet.

The night was quiet, save for the gentle lapping of water against the rocks. Aeris bent down to remove her boots, setting them aside, before sliding off her stockings, revealing her pale legs adorned with layers of half healed scars, the result of Fathers tyrannical tutelage.

Each piece of clothing removed was methodical, almost ritualistic, as though she were shedding the last remnants of her old life.

She stood there for a moment, gazing down at her body—the body of Aeris Garland.

In the dim moonlight, her skin seemed to glow with an otherworldly sheen, smooth and unblemished save her legs.

Her fingers traced the lines of her body, from the sharp angles of her collarbone to the gentle curve of her waist. Her new form was lean, elegant, and yet undeniably strong. Muscles subtly rippled beneath her skin, far more defined than she had ever been in her old life. It was a body built for power, for control, and she couldn’t help but admire it.

Her reflection in the water shimmered, and for the first time, Aeris truly saw herself. Her long, snowy hair cascaded down her back, contrasting starkly with her dark violet eyes that gleamed with cold determination.

She was beautiful, deadly, and a far cry from the woman she once was.

She slipped a hand down her arm, noting the firmness of her muscles—remnants of the strength she had allocated through the System.

But it wasn’t just her body that had changed. Something deeper had shifted within her

Was this the System's doing? she wondered, her eyes narrowing at her reflection. Or was this always how I truly was?

She shook the thought away. It didn’t matter. What mattered was that she had control now. She was no longer a pawn in anyone else’s game.

Aeris waded into the river, the cool water sliding up her calves, then her thighs, before she sank deeper, allowing it to envelop her entire body. The sensation was almost therapeutic, washing away the grime of battle and the blood that still clung to her. She dipped her head back, her hair fanning out in the water as she let herself float for a moment, the weight of the world slipping away.

And then, just as she began to relax, a soft chime echoed in her mind, drawing her attention.

System Notification
Title Earned: Goblin Slayer
Achievement Unlocked: Slay 20 Goblins
Title Effect: Lesser goblins will worship you and follow your commands.

New Point Allocation: 20 Points Earned

Aeris blinked at the notification, feeling a surge of satisfaction. The title was intriguing—Goblin Slayer. She hadn’t expected such a reward for the massacre earlier, but the benefits were clear. If she encountered more goblins in the future, they would submit to her, bending to her will. That could be useful.

As for the 20 points, it was time to allocate them. Aeris stood in the shallows of the river, her mind already calculating the best way to distribute her newfound power. The points would only make her stronger.

Point Allocation

Magic: 40 → 50

Dexterity: 0 → 5

Intelligence: 30 → 35

With 10 points invested into Magic, her already formidable magical prowess would become even deadlier. The extra 5 points in Dexterity would enhance her agility, allowing her to move with greater precision in battle. And finally, another 5 points into Intelligence would sharpen her mind, making her even more dangerous in the complex political games she knew she would face at the Academy.

The System’s final chime echoed softly, confirming her choices. Aeris felt the familiar rush of power surge through her once more, her body tingling with newfound strength. She smiled, a slow, calculated expression that spoke of ambition and control.

Her journey to Priscilla Academy was far from over, and already she had gained so much. She would take everything this world had to offer and more. Whatever—or whoever—stood in her way would be dealt with, just as easily as she had dealt with the goblins and Esther.

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