A man was sitting in a lotus position eyes closed, likely contemplating something.
“What is life?” he muttered, brows furrowed.
Is it the will to survive? To overcome all odds, become victorious and accomplish one’s goal? Then what about the thing after it, would it not be called life? Obviously, it would still be. I have a hard time putting my mind around something innate to me but out of my control. I feel that the answer is simple yet complex enough to be considered as profound.
He opened his eyes.
In front of him is a clearing inside a forest. The clearing is surrounded by tall towering trees, slightly obscuring the sunlight from peeking through. Critters roam the area once in a while. Squirrels, raccoons, foxes and even deers were seen prancing around the humongous roots of the trees.
At the middle of the clearing lies a rock. The rock is clearly old, likely suffered through the passage of time. But the aeonian rock still cannot escape the forces of men. A horizontal cut shaved the top portion of the rock, splitting it in two and creating a flat area above it.
A young man – nay, it was the boy sitting cross-legged meditating at the top of the rock. Baby fats can clearly be seen at the boy’s cheeks indicating his age to be around 15. He has black hair and black eyes, a common trait particular to the people at this region. But strangely enough, wisdom often flashes through his eyes, belying his youthful age. He has an average physique, somewhat scrawny with fair skin snow skin, making bystanders question his sexuality.
The boy scanned the clearing in front of him, his eyes scrutinizing every living being, clearly searching for something.
At last his gaze landed into a rock. The boy chuckled, his voice strangely soothing.
“Ahh, the real question should be, ‘What differentiates life from death?’”
Then the boy promptly closed his eyes and all sounds ceased at once. The animals simultaneously raised their heads and looked upon the boy. Seeing the stillness of the surroundings, the critters slowly left and the clearing was forcibly plunged into an area of silence.
Life, it encompasses everything alive from critters, small to become unseen by the naked eye up to gigantic beasts, roaming the vast desolate lands. With a simple leap of logic and removing energy from the equation, we can hypothesize life is what powered these beings. It wills the creatures to move, to resist and to survive.
Then, what differentiates life from death? If life is to move and survive then death perhaps is the state of inanimation? Then where can golems be classified, life or death? These beings composed of rock and powered by mana can also be considered as a type of life (or semi-life for technicalities) yet it is clearly dead due to the materials it was created from. It is akin to calling a puppet alive, such blasphemy to the wonders of nature.
Summarizing the points above, I can only conclude that I know nothing about life. But one thing is certain, Life is Life.
Two days have passed since then. The boy meditating at the middle is still there. Signs of struggle littered across his face. His brows were furrowed and lips quivering.
After an indefinite time has passed, his complexion eased.
You have found that life is to move, to resist, and to survive. Life is to live and be alive, such a simple but profound phrase.
Due to understanding the minor underlying principles of life, you have gained the Minor Dao of Life.
The boy abruptly opened his eyes and an aura of still calmness engulfed the area. With a flick of the boy’s sleeves, the strange sensation was gone.
He glanced at his interface and inspected the fruit of his endeavor.
Minor Dao of Life
The Dao of Life is the Dao of living. It encompasses life at its very foundation, to live.
Due to comprehending a part of the Dao of Life the user gains:
+50% Affinity to Life
+50% Efficiency in learning Skills related to Life.
Passive Skill Unlocked: Touch of Life
Touch of Life: Creates a soothing aura, instantly raises the favorability of the user to any living creatures nearby.
Skill Acquired: Beacon of Life
Beacon of Life: With you as the center, creates pulses that spreads throughout the surroundings to detect life. The radius is dependent on the caster’s divine sense.
Due to high affinity with life, the skills Life Attunement, Healing Magic Mastery, Heal and Reinvigorate were acquired.
He stood up and dusted his pants.
“Now that I have made a breakthrough let’s go home.”
He jumped from the rock and headed towards the trees, disappearing from the clearing.
***
The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.
“Rudwick Roa” The teacher called.
“Present”
Obviously, I hastily answered.
Today is Monday. And as everyone in my age should be, I’m at school. The teacher is at the front is calling our names for attendance. For reasons even I do not know, she is very petty when it comes to grades. It’s not like she’s strict on everything but strangely she’s so fixated on the class’ attendance.
I stretched lazily and glanced at the clock. It’s about time she’d finish the roll call and officially start the class.
Unfornately for our class, our first subject would be the dreaded science.
“Okay class, get your books and let’s resume the topic we held last week.”
The teacher declared whilst she put away her attendance sheet.
“Any clarifications about it before we start?” she asked.
I glanced around, waiting for her to continue her tirade. It was also because of it that I was shocked by my classmate who suddenly raised her hand.
“Teacher, I do have some qualms about something.”
I glared at her, clearly incesed why she answered the evidently rhetorical question.
“Yes Tina. What is it?”
And now even the teacher is amused because of the unexpected outcome.
“Can I ask why we were grouped together with him?” and she pointed at me.
“What? Is that it?” I replied – more like scowled to her.
Now that she was making a scence, I eyed her angrily. She dared to bring me into this mess?
The petite girl who was pointing at me was a blondie. Her long waist-length hair was gleaming from the sun light that poke through the window. I must say, if I were a pedophile myself, I’ll rate her as perfect loli waifu. Alas, I was not. Coupled with my anger, I’m pretty sure someone would be biting the dust today.
She scoffed at me and faced the teacher.
“Hmph. Why would someone like me work with the lazy you? Jean and I can handle it with ease!”
Alright, I admit I might be seen as lazy by them but I don’t care. It’s not like the works were interesting enough for me to meddle on it.
“Calm down Tina, don’t be so mad. I’ll personally supervise the groups and if someone doesn’t work their pay, I’ll punish him, no questions asked.”
And with that, she smirked and sat down. As for me, I sat down as well. I hid my anger and crafted a plan inside my head.
“Now that the issue was resolved peacefully, let us proceed to the lesson. Is everybody ready for the group reports?”
Today is the day for our group reports. Essentially, group reports are like individual researchs that are compiled from a group to be presented to the others. Coincidentally, the topic was about life and I, who had just finished my Dao will consolidate it here.
“Children, please form your groups so that you can discuss your findings.”
And just like that, they all stood up and went to their respective groups. They, being the technical word here because I, who was a lazy bum refused to budge from my seat.
Minutes later, someone behind me shouted.
“Teacher! Rudy’s not getting up again!”
On cue, Tina being the bitch herself added fuel to the fire.
“Leave him alone Jean, I’m pretty sure he can’t even finish his assignments much less do the report.”
“Cut it out Tina, I’m pretty sure he has his reasons” the teacher berated. Thank god teacher was impartial. How can I survive without her?
I sighed. Willing my body to stand up, I headed towards their area and glanced at the papers and notes scattered on their table.
I sat down next to them and watched them work silently. The two of them were furrowing their brows, scanning and skimming every material and summarizing them into another paper.
“So, what do you want?” seeing them work hard, my anger subsided quite a bit.
“Hmph. It’s not your business. You didn’t even bring anything with you.” as expected she’s angry.
“Hey hey, just because I didn’t bring anything doesn’t mean I can’t do something.” I retorted.
Picking up a piece of paper, I read it.
“Life is the condition that distinguishes animals and plants from inorganic matter, including the capacity for growth, reproduction, functional activity, and continual change preceding death.”
“Hoh, quite a fancy definition.”
Tina glared at me. Sensing her agitation I replied.
“It’s not wrong to define it like that but it’s very rigid, it feels like an ironclad rule put in place by some supreme god (Google-sensei)” I chuckled at that.
The class ignored my outburst but Tina and Jean eyed me suspiciously.
“Then, what do you want to suggest?” asked Tina gritting her teeth, clearly indicating my guess was spot on.
I picked up a piece of paper and wrote something. After a few minutes of nothing but scribbles, I handed it to them.
She received it and read.
“Life is everything from the smallest bacteria up to the humongous trees. It is there to motivate every single being to move, to resist and to survive. Such is the principle of life. An example of this is humans. We need to eat to survive, we worked hard every day. We, students, study so hard just to ensure a bright future. Our parents labored day and night to acquire money which were used to support us. But, to what lengths? It is in order for every single one of us to survive. Hence, life, from the beginning of our childhood, from the menial things we’ve done down to the achievements we’ve acquired is to ensure our survival, our foothold in the society. Life in its very essence is to resist death.”
After she read the paper, she became silent. Thoughts were swirling in her mind. Before she understood the situation, she didn’t notice her lips parted and she said, “How?”
“What?” I replied.
“I... H-how did you write it?” stuttering and incredulity marred her face. I guess she can’t comprehend how I, the laziest bastard around managed to create a satisfactory report.
Well then, it’s time to play the fool.
“Huh? I didn’t write it. I just copied it from the researches I’ve made. Don’t tell me you didn’t do yours? Who’s the lazy bum now?” I shouted, voice laced with mockery loud enough to let the whole class hear them.
The class simultaneously laughed, making Tina’s cheeks red from embarrassment.
“You!” she spat at me, enraged.
I shrugged and sat down. After the commotion died down, I huddled close to her. I leaned down to match her ears and whispered.
“Calm down, it’s not like you’ve lost something. I just wanted to be overlooked and will let you hug all the credits. Just tell teacher that I helped do the menial tasks.” I said with a wink.
Her eyes went wide but before she said another word, the teacher intervened.
“Class, return to your seats and begin to discuss the reports in front of the class. Choose a representative from your group.”
From our group of three, Tina was chosen as our representative as it should be. She stood up and glared at me before she walked towards the front of the class together with the other representatives.
From then on, I entered fugue. By the time Tina was almost finished with her report, I woke up from my stupor and shook my head. I stared at the window and inspected my newest addition in life.
Name: Rudwick Roa
Health: 107/107
Stamina: 160/160
Mana: 255/255
Chakra: 50/214
Qi: 9/9 (1st Stage of Qi Condensation)
Passive Skills: Aural Supression Lv. 2, Physical Fitness Lv. 3, Chakra Control Lv. 1, Sword Mastery Lv. 2, Deftness Lv. 2, Touch of Life Lv. 1, Life Attunement Lv. 1, Healing Magic Mastery Lv. 1
Active Skills: Meditation Lv. 3, Cultivation Lv. 1, Fireball Lv. 2, Gust Lv. 4, Chakra Circulation Lv. 1, Qi Circulation Lv. 1, Beacon of Life Lv. 1, Heal Lv. 1, Reinvigorate Lv. 1
Dao: Minor Dao of Life
Finished Classes: Mage, Cultivator, Ninja
Class Available: The Fool 10/20, Healer 0/10, Aeromancer 0/25
Skill Points Available: 2
Just as I was about to close the interface, I spotted that the reports ended and I stood up from my seat, grabbed my purse and promptly left the classroom.