Congratulations!
You have advanced from Baby to Toddler.
[Expand]
I mentally expand the information and skimmed it quickly, deciding to ignore my new height and weight, for now, focusing on the stats I found more interesting. I decided to forgo the sizing section, I was no longer a baby but I was still too small and helpless for that to be of any use. For the first time since being born, I took a close look at my basic information window.
Toddler Advancement
All your attributes have been reconfigured. Please review this information:
Name: Idika Bloodstorm
Personal Statistics [Expand]
Physical: 2 [Expand]
Mental: 1 [Expand]
Spiritual: 1 [Expand]
Affinity: 1 [Expand]
Resistances: 1 [Expand]
Skills: 1 [Expand]
Powers: 2 [Expand]
Traits: 10 [Expand]
Additional Statistics [Expand]
I immediately noticed the two new fields of information. Additional Statistics and Personal Statistics. This was starting to feel more like a game. I selected the expanded options and started reading through each of the sections. While reading, I found that I was able to customize the layout and how information was presented.
But it had limitations, I could only arrange the data with similar informational types or rearrange data that was already being grouped together.
There was so much to absorb, it made me dizzy, so I decided to just organize it in a manner that would allow me to read it quickly and easily. As I did this I noticed that there were settings, it allowed for enabling notifications and how the information was portrayed to me. I mentally chose the ‘Settings’ option only to be greeted with a new pop-up.
Settings Disabled
You may not access this feature. You must grow further to unlock more features.
New Soul tip: You may access the more advanced features the closer you are to coming of age.
New Soul tip: Coming to age happens when either you naturally become an adult, or you complete all required milestones.
Huh, interesting, so the more I grew the more things that would unlock. Looking over the text a word caught my eye, ‘milestones’. There had been a few pop-up notifications I had gotten that mentioned reaching a milestone, so those were related to the information I had access to.
I closed the window and experimentally reached out with my mind, trying to summon data on my milestones. It seemed like these windows reacted to my thoughts, so theoretically, all I needed to do was think about the information and it would appear. My test was answered with several new popups.
Growth of Self
You have completed 3 of 10 milestones.
Growth Stage: Toddler
Growth: 35% out of 100%
New Soul Tip: You advance in a tier by completing milestones.
New Soul Tip: As you have not yet become tiered you will have a set of random milestones assigned to you, according to your race and starting environment. Completing all milestones grants a boon and each milestone also grants 10% growth. If you grow past the ability to achieve all milestones, you will not gain this boon.
New Soul Tip: As you have an additional soul you have accrued additional milestones.
Milestones
Corporeal Soul: Overpower all your direct siblings in a physical activity. [Incomplete]
Corporeal Soul: Make your mother favor you over your siblings. Have her focus on your growth and potential. [Completed]
Corporeal Soul: Touch a weapon. [Incomplete]
Vaettir Soul: Witness Inscription and runic magic coinciding together. [Completed]
Vaettir Soul: Gain the ability to speak. [Compleated]
Vaettir Soul: [hidden]
Vaettir Soul: [hidden]
Player Soul: [hidden]
Player Soul: [hidden]
Player Soul: [hidden]
New Soul Tip: All milestones, except the ones gifted by the corporeal soul, will remain hidden until achieved. Milestones after achieving tier will be visible going forward.
I felt a little annoyed, over half of my listed milestones I couldn’t even read, and apparently, they would only appear once I achieved them. So I had no idea how to complete them. I needed to grow enough to at least hold a conversation with my mother, or at least be able to wander around and explore a bit. Being confined to the harness or a basket was driving me crazy and starting to get a little claustrophobic.
The ‘New Soul Tips’ was definitely helpful, but there was still so much I didn’t understand about what was going on. Our Mother had mentioned the milestones earlier when I had managed my first word and Malkadian had crawled, so that meant this ‘system’ wasn’t exclusive to me. So if that was the case our mother must have had to meet her own milestones, maybe she could help me figure out how to complete mine.
But that was easier said than done, I couldn’t even say the word ‘mother’ much less ask questions about tiers and milestones. No, I would need to advance more first. Since both the Vaettir Soul and Player Soul milestones were hidden, that left me with just the Corporeal Soul list. It was as good of a place to start as any. I looked at my siblings and focused on their additional statistics, narrowing in on the specific section that mattered to me.
Movement Types
Child Crawl: You are able to crawl as a basic movement.
Toddler Walk: You may expend Qi to walk for a distance. If you run out of Qi before ending this movement you will fall to the ground; there is a chance to take damage.
Walking is a physical activity, right? So, if I managed to walk before my brothers, and for a decent measure, I should be able to complete the milestone. I had seen that a few had started to crawl, but no one had attempted walking yet. We were all still pretty small, so if any of them tried to stand up before me, a light shove should keep them off balance enough for me to walk first. I was hesitant about the idea, remembering the line about taking damage if you fall.
I would leave it as a last resort, as we were all still swaddled and most of them were now asleep. I wiggled in the constricting fur blanket, kicking my pudgy legs and swinging my arms as best I could. I felt the blanket loosen and then fall limp around me. Alright, step one was completed now it was time to get into position. With my body free I rolled over onto my stomach, it took far less effort than the first time, and I raised myself onto my hands and knees.
I shifted my weight to my hands and lifted my leg, placing one foot on the floor followed by the other. It left me in an odd position with my rear end in the air and my elbows and knees locked. I shifted my weight to my feet, lifting my hands from the ground, and tried to straighten my legs so I could stand up. But as I did, it felt as though something was being poured through my body. The overwhelming feeling, like my cells bursting to life and fire rushing through my veins, was so intense that I was seized by panic. My concentration was broken and I fell backward, landing hard on my backside.
I let out a sad sniffle, trying not to cry, that would summon mother and she would just put me back to bed with the others. It was difficult to hold it in as my bottom throbbed in pain. Baby's soft skin was not worth being so weak that sitting down too forcefully could do you in.
‘What was that?’ I thought to myself after I had calmed down, ‘It felt like I was on fire. But it wasn’t painful. More like, warm waves of water licking my body,’ suddenly, I felt myself pull away from the present moment. Into what I knew was a memory.
“Nara, close your eyes and visualize your body,” A voice warm and loving whispered in my ear, “Let the energy flow through you and down to the earth. Take a deep breath and let yourself relax.” I felt myself leaning back against the source of the voice, legs crossed and hands on my knees, in a lotus position. I remembered feeling myself getting heavier and lighter at the same time and the pressure moving about me.
The memory cut off and I came back to the present.
I felt flooded with emotions, I didn’t fully understand what had just happened, but I knew two things for sure. I had unlocked a memory from my former life, and someone close to me had shown me how to use the fiery energy in my body.
I already knew how to do it, I just needed to trust myself and my instincts. I closed my eyes, visualizing the energy in my body, it was a blazing fire. It started in my stomach as a warm pool of energy. I focused my will on standing up, eyes still closed, and watched as the flaming energy poured into my veins and coursed through my body.
I opened my eyes and found that I was standing. I did it! My body was wobbly on my tiny feet, and I could feel the small pool in my stomach shrinking quickly. I realized I didn’t have much time before it was gone, and I wouldn’t be able to walk. I took a few wobbly steps forward and saw that one of my brothers had also freed himself and was now attempting to stand.
I acted as quickly as I could, taking a step toward him and attempting to push him, just enough so he would sit back down. But my hand barely made contact with his shoulder when I felt myself being seized by the head. I was startled by the wet maw closing around me, it was Sha’ree, I could feel the drool trickling down my face.
Then I was dropped to the ground, my already bruised backside ached again, she had placed me back on the fur-lined bedding. I was annoyed and confused, looking up at the wolf I was greeted with her bared fangs, yellow eyes narrowed at me and she let out a low growl. She had never growled at us. Even though no words were spoken her message to me was clear.
‘Violence to your siblings will not be tolerated,’ her obvious displeasure and menacing air caused me to lose what little bladder control I had. And I started to cry.
Ability Toggled: Summon Mother
But as I cried three new system messages appeared, overshadowing the ability notification.
Pre-tier Milestone Achieved!
You now understand Prana, Qi, and Energy.
Congratulations!
You have completed the Fourth Pre-tier Milestone!
Pre-tier Milestone Achieved!
Overpower all your direct siblings in physical activity.
Congratulations!
You have completed the Fith Pre-tier Milestone!
You are awarded 20% Growth. You are now at 55% growth.
The time needed to reach adulthood is reduced by 20% of the total requirement. Your attributes and size will be finished adjusting within 10 seconds.
Congratulations!
You have advanced from Toddler to Child.
[Expand]
I fell silent as I read the messages, astounded at what I had accomplished by simply taking a few wobbly steps. I also realized I had grown to twice the size I had been before, and my limbs were longer and far less chubby. I also felt a shift inside myself, I knew my stats were changing but there was something else.
Something told me this was happening too fast. But I couldn’t dwell on it as my mother entered the yurt. She was at my side in an instant, her expression looked cross as she picked me up, rushing me to her workshop in the back. Muttering and cursing as she did so.
“It was too fast! Damn it Idika!” she placed me on a large wooden table, lined with bolts of brightly colored cloth, scowling as she spoke. I wasn’t sure if she was talking to me or herself.
“These things should take time! How did you even manage to advance that fast?!” Urana continued, her voice sounding agitated almost panicky. She began to measure out lengths of cloth and cut them into different shapes, marking them with chalk.
Then she seized me under my arms, lifting me to stand on the table, and began wrapping the cloth around me pinning it in various places. My mother looked up from her work for a moment, locking her golden eyes with mine, the first time she had actually looked at me since bringing me to the back yurt.
“Do not move till I’m done,” she said in a commanding tone. I did as I was told.