I was up before the sun rose. My daughter was still fast asleep and had a little puddle of drool by her pillow. I ran my hand through her hair and kissed her forehead.

Status screen:

Name: Thorwin Delcia

Mana core: Destiny (70%)

Level: 0

Exp: -/-

Stats:

Strength: 6

Dexterity: 6

Vitality: 5

Perception: 6

Cognition: 6

Inflection: 6

Innate Ability: Enhance (Level 2)

Abilities: Iron Will (Level 1), Marksmanship (Level 3), Life Symbol (Level 1)

Skills: Archery (Level 3), Close Weapon Mastery (Level 3), Shield proficiency (Level 1),

Misc Abilities: Mercantilism (Level 1), Mana Manipulation (Level 1), Tracking (Level 1), Athleticism (Level 1), Imbue Mana (Level 1)

Spells: Greater Inspect (Level 3)

Techniques: Yin-Yang Universal Equilibrium (60% to Level 1)

—-

The increase in [Close Weapon Mastery] brought about an increase in my strength while learning [Life Symbol] increased my own vitality. [Greater Insect] increased in level but sadly didnt bring about any attribute changes.

As I meditated, I thought about how to get some sort of training regime going. I leaned on the experience my past life gave me and settled on training that was as realistic as possible. Before I could continue my thoughts, I heard my father shout, “We got company!”

—

We were staring at the gate. Just outside of it were a pair of zombies wearing the ragged remains of what they died in. This was why every body had to be either buried, burned or sanctified at the very least. No one knew why or how and the actual timing of the zombification greatly varied.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

The minute I saw the zombies I ushered my father back into the house. As long as they dont see us, they will continue to mill about or head towards whatever prey or animal they might sense.

After briefing the entire household, we decided that we had to stay indoors until we were ready to clear them out. We would try to toilet and collect water from the rain catchers only at night. The fences, though solid, could easily snap if twenty or thirty zombies started to throw their weight on a single section.

We opened the cellar, lit the lamps and used it as our first training ground.

Everything was moved aside - stacks of grain, pickled vegetables as well as our dried and smoked meats. We were eventually left with a large area with slats of wooden planks.

With Tamly’s help, we managed to get a scarecrow from the fields without being seen. Everyone looked at me incredulously when I asked for the scarecrow to be brought in. This was going to be our training dummy.

I asked my father if he could sense his mana yet, and he shook his head in disappointment.

“Dont give up. Let me show you what I mean,”

I grabbed the spear and thrust it. The tip of the spear briefly glowed white - a sign that mana was infused in it. The skill was called [Infuse Mana] and it was a basic attack skill that all close combat warriors used.

I performed it slower a few more times and demonstrated with my hands how the mana should flow through one's body.

While my father kept the spear, I laid out the rest of my weapons on the ground. My Lylia had her training axe in hand and went off to the side to swing it. She was excited to make her axe glow.

My dagger was picked up by Tamly. She seemed to enjoy the lightness of it. I didn't tell it that it was an uncommon grade item - one that had the Swiftness enchantment on, courtesy of my [Enhance] ability. I showed her a few fighting techniques and left her to it.

All that was left for my mother was the battleaxe, shield, sword and bow. She tried them all but didn't feel at ease with any.

“Why dont you at least get comfortable with the shield? I'll think of something for you.”

She smiled and nodded her head. Then she looked at me quizzically before asking me in hushed tones, “You know Thor, your father and I are really amazed and grateful that we have you here during these crazy times. I don't even want to imagine our fate if you hadn't been here at the start. But…now know that I don't mean to pry but, Thor, umm, how do you know these things?”

Although my mother asked me quietly, the only sound from the cellar-cum-training area was the sound of my daughter going “Hiya! Hiya!” and Snowie mooing with encouragement.

I turned around and my father and Tamly swiftly looked away, pretending to be engrossed with training and meditation.

Sigh

I had long thought about this. I mean, it would be strange that a young man who grew up sheltered away from violence, who enjoyed reading and scholarly activities, who went to a small college in the nearby City of Greyharbour to study Shopkeeping and had nothing to do with knights or Men-at-arms or even Mysticism or magic would suddenly know all sorts about self-defense and fighting.

“Everyone, listen, I had a dream. It was a long, horrible dream where I was shown all sorts of powers, abilities and skills. This dream I had was frightening and scary but it also taught me things; showed me things. So trust me ok? I only have your interests at heart.”

Then my daughter piped in, “Yea, daddy had a few scary dreams. He had one of a man dressed in white and black. Another time when daddy woke up, he was crying and he kept hugging me.”

When Lylia saw that everyone was listening to her, she felt emboldened and continued her story, “I didnt do anything wrong that day and it was an even…”

With the attention all on her, I quietly slipped out of the cellar.

Sorry for making up stuff everyone but I’d rather not tell the truth right now.