Two months passed by doing just about the same thing every day. By now I was able to sit by my own and pull myself up to stand around the table or whatever was near. My growth was not only visual in my stats but tangible in real life. Now [LVL] 3 I had some more [HP] and I was getting bolder in my exercise and scouting. Crawling over the logs surrounding my blanket I set out to look about the garden. Before I got anywhere my mother picked me up and put me back in my safe spot admonishing me. Not being to upset about it I sat down and played with my [Claws]. Pulling out each nail one by one until I had my full [Claws] exposed and then slowly retracting each and every one till they were all sheathed. Because all off my stats had grown, I had much finer motor skill whit them and I was loving it.

Crawling over the logs once again I found a little wooden stick and sat down with it. Not sure what I was doing, but determined to make something out of the stick, I stuck out a nail. Using that I started carving the wood. Noting complicated but it was fun to be doing something. After a while the end of the stick was formed into a sharp point. The nail I had used was hurting a little bit now, but the message I received was well worth it.

Notification

~Crafting~

You crafted your first object

Simple wooden arrow

Base [Dmg] 1

Quality bad, effects: [Dmg] and hit-chance reduced to 50 % off base value

‘Meh’ I thought to myself ‘what do I care about the quality. I didn’t even set out to make an arrow. I just wanted to carve with my nails, to see what was possible. Making an arrow was just an happy accident’. What was worth learning that crafting was a something I could do and that there was an quality rating to items that you made.

Looking at my “Arrow” it didn’t surprise me that the quality was rated “Bad”. It was a bendy stick witch twisted to all sides, and my sharp point was definitely not centered at the possible midpoint at the front. ‘but hey, the system said it was an arrow, so an arrow it is’ I thought. Then a realization hit me ‘if I could get my hands on more sticks and keep at it I would improve. Not that I wanted to become an arrow maker or even a wood carver. But it was something I could do while being limited in my movement, and another way to train my attributes’. So I dropped the “Arrow” then and there and crawled around looking for sticks.

Sitting down as soon as I found the next one I started carving again. Again using the nail on the index finger, which was hurting something good by now. Deciding to switch it up, I used alternating nails on this “Arrow” to be. When I finished I got the same message. Just as bad, and with the same drawbacks and [Dmg]. I didn’t know what I was expecting, but this was what I should have been. After repeating this for five or six time I got a different message, that surprised me.

Notification

~Skill discovered~

You have discovered the [Skill] wood carving

Wood carving is a very broad skill and on the most basic [LVL] it can be used to make simple implements or decorations. At greater developed [LVL] it even can be used to make intricate carvings and great works of art.

Not everyone with a knife cutting wood, develops this skill. Only those whom apply themselves and make something significant for their [LVL] will be awarded this [Skill].

Current [LVL] Novice

[Skill] unlock reward + 5 [Dex] + 5 [Exp]

This was definitely food for thought. ‘So every time I applied myself to something and gave more than a normal person would, then I could develop a [Skill]. Nice. And if each [Skill] would give me a reward like this one with + 5 [Dex] + 5 [ Exp], then I would be growing like there’s no tomorrow. However do I want to be a jack of all trades? What about the rewards in higher tier [Skills]? Besides that, what do I have access to at the moment. Getting sticks had me trying to escape safety of the playpen and the watchful eye of my mother. After that I didn’t know anything about this world and the possibilities.’ Concluding this train of thoughts I decided to stick to my physical routine, the daily scouting and wondering around as much as possible and add the carving were I could. All of those things were a fun way to spend time, and for now these things gave me the progress that I wanted.

The next morning, when my father lifted me out of my crib, I wasn’t placed on my blanked in the living room. Instead I was taken outside and seated onto a small cart between some boxes and some sacks. Then my father gave me some sticks, surprised but thankful I cried out “Da-Da” and he smiled to me. Temporarily turning that stern face into al loving one.

After a few moments, were there were piled more boxes and sacks onto the cart we left the garden. For the first time in my young life leaving my new home. Curious I grabbed onto a box and tried to pull myself up to see around better. Due to the wobbling of the cart I didn’t succeed at the least. Trying again the big hand of my father helped me up so I could see were we where going. We were following a dirt track on the side of the river, which was sparkling in the sunlight.

On the other side of the track there was a forest for as far as I could see. After a while my legs gave out due to exhaustion, not being used to standing for any real amount of time. So my father picked me up and put me on his lap with his big hand protectively placed on my stomach. This gave me an safe feeling, even being this high of the ground for being so little myself. About an hour later he placed me carefully back in my spot on the cart between the boxes and sacks so I could rest a bit.

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To exhilarated by this new experience sleep didn’t catch me so carving the sticks were a good distraction. After about the sixth “Arrow” made I picked up new sounds. Not the familiar sound of the running water of the river or rustling of the leaves in the wind. Neither were these the sounds of the wildlife in the forest, the chirping of birds or anything like it. Not even the new sounds of the cart being pulled by the donkey or his heavy footfalls. This was more akin to the sound off thunder but never giving in. It was still faint and far away, but my feline ears picked it up nonetheless.

Looking at the backs of my mother and father in front of me on the cart I could see they were sitting up straighter. More alert. They definitely picked it up also and weren’t comfortable with it at all. Not wanting to disturb them or divert their attention I kept quiet. A little afraid what this was all about, but feeling confident my parents would keep me out of harm’s way.

The thunder didn’t let off, it became stronger as we went on. Reaching the end of the dirt trail we arrived at a cobble stone road. Turning right we went over a bridge probably towards a town, or maybe a castle or something. How would I know, my parents didn’t explain it to me. Not that I could blame them, they probably thought I wouldn’t understand it anyway. Still the thunder kept on now supplemented by the rattle of iron against itself. Just before the pinnacle of the noise reached us the cart swerved off the road ‘probably on purpose’ I thought to myself, but didn’t say anything or moved a muscle. This was something for the grownups to handle I figured.

Moments later the noise died down abruptly, being replaced by an authoritative voice. Bellowing “Halt Demarco, why are not on the hunt? Go to the stables and get suited up!” Hearing this I wondered ‘how does this man know my father, and what hunt?’ Before another thought could come to me my mother answered the man whit an sharp even snarl “Domas, you know Demarco took his leave the moment I was pregnant. Don’t insult us by trying to order him around.” Domas snorted back “You both are herby drafted, try to get out of it. I dare you! I don’t see a child and only parents are exempt. So to the stables with you!” This new revelation was the end of my peaceful existence I thought. Then I felt the hands of my mother picking me up from my spot and lifting me for all to see. The men and woman on the horses surrounding the cart gasped in surprise and Domas sneered a quick “Dismissed” to my parents before bellowing to the rest of the riders to get going.

This left me with so many questions. What is the hunt, why are parents exempt, they all gasped when they saw me. Is it because of me, or my parents? What the hell is going on here. Should I be worried? And so many more. But then my mother cradled me and started humming, moments later the cart started moving again whit a steady cadence. This was too much for my tired mind and body, so I drifted off to sleep.

New noises reached my ears this time more friendly ones. Loud talking, laughing in all sorts of different voices. Slowly opening my eyes and looking around from the comfortable arms off my mother I saw we were on a marked. I looked like a medieval marketplace, with wooden stalls were al sorts off goods were shone to the customers. One sold fish, the other bread and so much more. Some sold tools of all kinds. Fabric was traded and other raw materials. I was wondering why we were here, sure I saw the boxes and sacks on the cart. But being preoccupied by my surroundings on the way here I forgot to try and look.

The cart was put up at the side of the road. Mom was sitting on the box seat with me in her arms, while dad was unloading the boxes. They were beautiful hand carved boxes. ‘Was this the reason why I got a [Skil] so quickly? Is it something that I have an aptitude for do to my father?’ Not wanting to spent too much time on this because of all the new things I was seeing I left it for now. When my father returned for the las box we all left the cart and walked around the marketplace. I took in the sights as much as I could, smelling all the different odors whiffing about. Listening to all the different sounds. I didn’t even realize it when we entered a large stone entryway before we were inside. There an old man was waiting for us, dressed in white robes. He was gracefully smiling at us and said his hello’s with a warm voice.

Not more than a few minutes after entering the large stone building, gazing up at stained glass windows I was handed to this man. He placed me on a big stone shrine and held his hands above me. I was shrouded in an soft white light and without me prompting it my status screen appeared.

Status

Username (Hidden)

Luke

Basic

Life stage

Infant

Exp

41/75

Name

Taika

Alias

-

Species

Lepjag

Seks

Male

LVL

3

Age

7 Mths

HP

30/30

MP

0 of 0

Attributes

Equipped

Max att are lvl 30 due to [LVL] restriction

Str

28

Catapult

Dex

27

Agi

25

Skills

End

26

Claws

Hereditary

Int

30

Wood carving

Novice

Wis

26

I was scared and curious at the same time. ‘Could they see my status, and if so could thy see my hidden name?’ Then the warm voice of the old man sounded again “Congratulations Demarco and Laika, your boy is going to just fine.” Continuing on he said ”He is already past the halfway point of [LVL] 3 and has 2 [Skills]. One we were expecting [Claws] and one really early on [Wood carving]. I guess he played with his [Claws] and wood and developed his [Skill] by accident. No, matter. It’s a good early [Skill] for the boy to have.”

My mother asked if he could tell more and the old man continued “Normally a newborn reaches [LVL] 1 just before he becomes an infant at 3 months old. In the infant stage the child is no longer restricted in growth and will reach [LVL] 5 around 1 year old. After that a growth slows a bit. For a toddler at age 3 [LVL] 10 is expected and in the end most people start adulthood at 15 years old with [LVL] 25. Your son is a little ahead of the curve, but nothing to worry about. What is exceptional is that he has somehow developed all his attributes to [LVL] 25 or more. This is a really good development for him and give him a stable basis.” He concluded. He concluded. Before we, meaning my father or mother, could ask anything more of him, he said farewell and left the room.