Ryle had been nothing like her older son, Ryan. He had been an oddity since the moment he was born. He would cry when hungry but would stop the minute you stepped into the room, as if he knew you were going to feed him, or before soiling his diaper, and she could swear he got flustered when that happened, but apart from that he would seldomly cry, even when he fell or got hurt. How weird was that?
But this was not the half of it. He had been able to walk since he was barely 4 months old, and not a wobbly baby walk, but like a regular boy much older that his age! He did not seem to like playing with most of his toys like regular kids did, and when he did pick up a toy, he would have this look of deep concentration and would not stop until he either accomplished his goal or exhausted himself, as if undergoing training. At least that is what it looked like that to her. But maybe Sonya was just imagining that? Wasn’t she?
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The exercises had paying off. He had been able to stand up and walk long before expected. Not only that but his fine motor skills had improved by leaps and bounds. Retaining all of your previous life knowledge really made this much of a difference in development speed? That seemed odd. It made no sense. Or maybe was it due to the fact this was another world? Since his birth he had been paying attention to everything said in his presence. At the beginning it had seemed odd to him that they spoke English, but later he had heard the term “Common” when referred to the language of the High Continent, where the Kingdom of Centar, which I live in, is located. He didn’t waste much time dwelling on that as it made it easier for him. He needed to start training his communication skills and regain access to speech as soon as possible.
This world’s technological state looks to be around equivalent of the Middle Ages in Europe, but for the high level of hygiene, the nice smells, and the abundance of clean water. He had not been able to roam freely around the house yet. His mother had restricted his moments mostly to his bedroom and living room. As soon as he had shown the ability to walk his parents had let him walk around and he went exploring they restricted his access to their bedroom (which I no longer shared as I slept through the night), my brother’s bedroom, my father’s office and the kitchen. Leaving only the afore two mentioned rooms. I understood and never tried to go alone inside. This seemed to make my parents wonder. I guess a regular kid would have tried to sneak inside at least once or twice. But why make their life any harder than necessary? In fact, I would attempt to make it as easy as possible on them.
He was thirsty. He checked what his mother was doing. She was still busy preparing lunch. Hmm. I’ll see if my brother or brother can help me out. I see my father going into his office with my brother. I follow them. I stand by the door and my father looks at me as he prepares to close the door. He stops, frowns and after shaking his head makes way to let me inside. I enter the room and take a seat in the floor next to my brother. He stares at me. He does that a lot.
I look around my father’s office. It’s the first time I’ve been inside. I can see his armor in a corner. His name is Roy. He is a patrol captain, for the east section of Centaria, the capital of the kingdom, but today is his day off. One of the perks of his rank. 1 day off after every 9 workdays. May not seem much, but my mother often says it’s better compared to the 1 day every 29 he had as a regular soldier. He is tall, imposing, and always has a smile on his face around the house. In fact, I’ve never seen his this serious before. I follow them forgetting about my thirst.
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I’m about to talk to Ryan about his 10th birthday and his first awakening, when I notice Ryle by the door. He looks expecting. I frown. He should not have this knowledge. His is too young. I shake my head. He is only 10 months old! What am I thinking? Even if he heard there is no way he would even understand what we will talk about. He just wants to be near his brother and father. I let him in. He just looks so mature that it makes me forget he is not even one year old.
“Ryan. You will be turning 10 years old tomorrow. Do you know why that date is so important?” He looks at me and nods. “What you learn today you must not repeat or teach to anyone under the age of ten. For they are not ready to comprehend what I’m about to tell you and their future could be placed in jeopardy if they did it before they are ready” He turns to look to his little brother and looks back at me. “He is too young to understand yet, therefore not a problem at this moment. Do you know what mana is?” Was it my idea or did Ryle froze for a second there? I must be imaging things.
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Did his father just mention mana? Had he heard right? The thing usually mentioned as part of video games? Manga and such? His father was staring at him again. He played absent mindedly with the toy he had brought in with him, while clinging to his father every word.
Stolen novel; please report.
He went into a detailed explanation about how mana was everywhere in nature and as living being when we are old enough to comprehend you can go through your first awakening. Technically you could awaken earlier our father explained, as if reading my brother’s expression, in fact in the Lesser Continent they undertook the first awakening at the age of 7, but the longer you waited the more knowledge you gathered and the better your available Classes. Royals and nobles usually had teachers and instructors, but for regular people usually the parents taught their children all they could before guiding them through the ritual. He warned him that he would be presented through the ritual with mental choices and different classes that had different attributes but warned him to be careful not to remain classless, as he would only be able to change classes again levels 3, 5 and not again until his second awakening, which options depended on the class selected for the first awakening. Remaining classless meant no levelling bonus, and therefore deeply hindered your potential. Also all classes gave one skill every level for the first 5 levels, but classless skills were useless.
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“Are you ready to begin son?” He looked into Ryan eyes. He saw a shadow of fear, uncertainty and the resolve as he looked back and replied affirmative. He was so proud of the boy, a natural with a sword, honest and dedicated. “Let’s begin then.”
He proceeded to guide his son through the meditation as his father had done for him when he had turned 10, explaining how to “feel” the mana around him. And then it happened. The energy ripple that accompanied the awakening.
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He watched stunned as his brother glowed for a couple of second and then with a smile on his face revealed that he had acquired the [SWORDSMAN] class with rare ability [summon sword] which he demonstrated when a sword materialized out of thin air on his right hand. His father was ecstatic! He was a [SWORSMAN] too, but he had awakened as a [WARRIOR] and obtained the [SWORDSMAN] class at his second awakening, which meant my brother would be able to achieve far more than my father and this was reason to celebrate.
If this awakening had to do with accumulated knowledge would the knowledge from his previous life translate to this one? He was sure of it. AS his father and brother left the room on high spirits, they barely noticed him staying behind. He closed his eyes and replayed in his mind the instructions his father had told his brother as he guided him.
Then suddenly everything went white. He was in a big white room and there was someone there. He walked over. He had the shape of a man but looked as if made of pure light. He addressed him. “Hi there!” I’m shocked speechless. He smiles. “Oh boy! Where are my manners. I’m here to help you select your class. Let’s see.” He stopped smiling. “This is odd. This is a first! How old are you? Are you human?”
I nod. “I’m 10 months old” Now it’s his turn to look shocked.
“I thought you were a halfling! How could you have awakened so young?” He mumbles something about bending the rules due to special circumstances. “Well. I’ll add the basic classes to your list for usually upon awakening the person has already learned some skills to base your classes on or at least warrant an artisan class.” He then shows me a list of options:
Classes:
1. [CLASSLESS]
2. [HERBALIST]
3. [HUNTER]
4. [FARMER]
5. [PICKPOCKET]
Hmmm. Nothing really called to him. “Can you explain them to me?”
“No can do! This is a choice you must make for yourself I’m merely a guide.”
Something felt off about [CLASSLESS] it seemed as if it was a class on its own, but why would there be a class like that. He had always had a curious nature. He decided to pick [CLASSLESS] for now on a hunch. If something went wrong, we could change it again when reached level 3 as his father has said. “I’ll go with [CLASSLESS] for now.” The being seemed shocked for a second time. This cemented his decision. He was sure of it now.
“And what shape would you like your grimoire to take?”
“Grimoire? Like a magical book?” I reply
“More like a soul artifact. It will help you level up and grow with you and even if you change classes, it will remain unchanged. It can be anything and will be the source of all your growth. Even a living creature in which case they are usually referred to as familiars.”
“Can it be something intangible? Or invisible?”
“Like what? You know what? Forget it. Either way I can't make the choice for you. It can be anything as long as you have a clear picture in your head.”
I close my eyes. I would be amazing if could be like a game status screen like those RPG games I used to play when I was younger, but I imagine that unrealist... DING!
I opened my eyes and there was the screen as bright as day:
[CLASSLESS] class obtained!
[SIGHT] skill obtained!