When Cain came back, he was blinded by light and noise. His skin breathed and his lungs screamed causing him to announce his discomfort in the only ways possible.
“Wahhh Wahhh” Cain cried his own screams breaking his infant brain's foggy stupor.
What the hell is this? Cain thought. Unable to turn his head he continued yelling at the unfamiliar wooden ceiling.
Where am I? The last thing I remember was... Cain was interrupted as a beautiful dark brown-haired woman appeared before him.
"Shhh shhh, Anton, it's alright," she cooed, gently picking him up and swaying his tiny body.
“There there little guy better now? Moma’s got you.”
Cain listened intently to the woman's strange words, realizing how massive everything seemed around him.
Wait everything is not big… Im small? And I'm the one screaming. And this woman who picked me up after I started to yell is either my caretaker… or Mother.
The reality of the situation sank in as he watched his mother converse in a foreign tongue with a bearded man. After heading upstairs, the man returned with a soft wool blanket and handed it to Mother, who swaddled Cain tightly
Im a baby… And I have reincarnated. Cain paused letting the thought marinate.
Fuck Yea!
In the 2 weeks that Cain had awoken as a baby, he had been very busy. A world of new sensations, people, language, and life. He had met his new family of 5 now including himself. He had 2 older brothers all looking similar. They all had the dark blue eyes of his mother Zsophia. The only difference is age and hair color. Bacchus the oldest at 6 had jet-black hair like their Father. Along with our Mothers' dark blue eyes, he would grow into a charming young man.
The middle child Lazaros looked like a toddler version of Antonisis. Both sporting the dark brown hair of their Mother along with her dark blue eyes.
In front of him now was Lazoaros. He had a whimsical smile as he played with damaged toy fighter figures.
Cain watched him play with slight jealousy. After all, he only had a rattle and some blocks to play with.
But that did not matter, for he was a mature adult. Cain had many other things to focus on. Like how he was in a fantasy world in an ancient time period, with magic.
Status! Cain Thought.
Antonisis Condisimos
Age: 4 Months 2 Weeks
Mana: 60/60
Attributes
Strength: 1
Dexterity: 1
Constitution: 1
Power: 1
Wisdom: 2
Charisma: 2
Skills
Achievements
Oh, my charisma improved, it must be a steady growth rate until I’m fully grown.
Cain or now Known as Antonisis looked down at his skills.
Still now meditation or mana sense. Antonisis paused glancing around the room. He watched as his Mother worked on a mid-day meal. She masterfully was blending something in a bowl while something cooked in a pot over the fireplace. The house was large by ancient standards even modern. There were quaint stone walls that showed gray perhaps a different color previously. The wood beams looked sturdy and the floor had a nice green rug on which he and his brother Lazaros currently sat.
I have been meditating every night though. And my old world didn't have mana so should it be easy to sense? Antonisis looked at his brother who was beating a mage figure with a warrior one. I wonder what skills he has.
Inspect!
Antonisis stared fervently with full concentration. Activating all his brain power on inspecting Lazaros.
Then.
“Fffrrbbttt!” Antonisis let a loud fart rip.
“Hahaha Anton that loud!” Lazaros exclaimed.
“Bacchus, come get your brother and see if he needs to be changed!” Zsophia yelled towards the stairs.
A pair of light footsteps could be heard shortly after then a boy no older than 6 appeared. He had black hair and the same dark blue eyes. He was wearing a white shirt that had a green Roman shield with a white boat on it.
Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.
Is that an emblem of sorts on his shirt? Antonisis wondered
Bacchus's voice rang out as he entered the half kitchen half living room, “Why do I have to change his cloth, Mom!”
“Hush Bacchus I’m cooking midmeal, if you want it to be ruined I can tend to the baby. But that means I will have to make something quick. Hmm, how bout a salad!”
“No no! Fine ill take care of it!” Bacchus said defeatedly.
He walked over to his 2 brothers and moved Antonisis to his back and checked his undergarment.
“Mom Anton is fine, he's all clean.”
“Hmm, he must just be gasy, never mind then. Thank you for checking Bacchus.”
Im being Mocked! The injustice!
I guess that was never gonna work, still worth a try though. I should try and get a lie detection skill to those that always seemed very useful.
As Antonisis thought to himself his Father entered the room. He smelt of alchemic solutions and appeared tired. But the tiredness washed away as he saw his children and wife.
So far I have only really learned everyone's names. Im having trouble understanding much more than a few words.
But from looking at my status I assumed our family name was Condisimos. But my Mother sometimes calls him that. So I think it's his name. Antonisis thought.
The man in question, Condisimos. Was a fit man in his late 20s. He had yellow eyes and a tall frame. Standing around 6’2, a scruffy black beard and black hair that was shaved on the sides and left short on top.
He sat down at the head of a sturdy wooden table and said, “How is everything going today Zoph?”
“Great Anton and Laz have been playing for a while. Bacchus got back from spending time with his friends a little bit ago. He was very helpful in taking care of Anton while I cooked.”
“Is that so,” Condisimos said as he looked over his youngest playing and Bacchus sitting idle near them. He nodded to himself and turned back to Zsophia a smile on his face. “Whats for midmeal then honey? I still have to catch up on potions stock and am gonna be in the shop for a while.”
“Your favorite,” Zsophia said with a smile.
“Oh, you got some buck!?”
“Yup, and peppers and carrots to go with it.”
“Perfect,” Condisimos said contently.
…
Now nighttime Antonisis sat awake in his crib. His parents sleeping in a bed nearby, he decided to continue his test with the system.
Guide! He tried and received no response.
Help!
Skills? Again nothing.
Strength?
Dexterity?
Achievements? No matter what command he said his system did not respond to him.
Well, I guess that's not gonna work. I guess it's all pretty self-explanatory though. Antonisis is my name and my Fathers is Condisimos. Age is age same as mana it's just mana. Hmm maybe there is something there I guess I haven't seen any magic yet. Strength is obviously a measure of physical power. Dexterity is probably agility, balance coordination, and reflexes. Maybe I should go with a dex build. Antonisis pondered as moonlight shined through the glass window. It caught Antonisis attention breaking him from his thoughts.
I can't tell if this world's moon is beautiful or ominous. The moon was orange with a few dotted black spots of varying sizes.
It's like the light it shines on is brighter. Illuminating the night better, but the places it doesn't reach are even darker. Thinking this Antonisis lost a fight with his new infant body and dozed off under the dark light of the moon.
2 months later Antonis was being carried by his Mother as she walked through Selamos. By her side was Lazaros whose curious gaze wandered over everything. In front of her was Bacchus as he seemed to be in a rush to get somewhere.
“Come on Mom! Hurry up!”
“Bacchus relax. When we get to the park you have plenty of time to play, let your brother walk until he gets tired there is no harm in that.”
“Ugh, he's just so slow though! And he keeps stopping to pick up random things or touch stuff. Come on Laz let's go!”
“Okay!” Lazaros responded cheerfully.
The group picked up pace momentarily before Lazaros decided the tree on the side of the paved road was interesting and went to examine it.
“Laz this tree is the exact same as the other trees! You have literally touched all 50 of them since we left the house. Come on! Where almost to the park!”
“Okay!” Lazaros responded with the same enthusiasm again. He quickly waddled after his elder brother before stopping to touch the flowers in the grass.
“OH MY BOOK, LAZ COME ON!”
With a gummy grin, Antonisis let out a delighted squeal of “Eee he hee!” These 2 are hilarious.
“Oh, you found that funny huh little guy.” Zspohia pulled him closer while smiling she then began tickling him causing him to laugh more.
I did like them! I don't like being tickled! Stop that damn woman! Antonisis thought while trying to swat her hand away.
[Achievement unlocked: Tier 4 - Learn a new language before 10]
Huh? Antonisis suddenly froze causing Zspohia to look at him with confusion which quickly turned to concern.
[Chose one of the following - 1. Increase of 8 to Wisdom.
2. Learn a Yellow grade skill related to Language.
3. Get a Unique Orange grade item related to language.]
“Anton? You okay?” Zsopia inspected every part of him. Checking under his shirt and even checking his shorts. Finding nothing and still not getting a response she put a hand to his cheek and gently caressed it with her thumb. Then put her hand over his forehead to check his temperature.
This caused Antonisis the break his shock and meet his Mothers concerned gaze.
Yea, I'm fine Mom I was just shocked. “Ah ma ma ah ba,” Antonisis spoke.
Relief washed over Zsophia as she realized nothing was wrong. She then continued walking behind her other 2 boys while still holding Antonisis tightly.
Antonisis however had a choice to make.
What the fuck is this man! What do I choose?! Is 8 wisdom a lot? It says Tier 4, How many Tiers are there? Is Orange legendary? Is Yellow legendary? Which grade is higher?
Antonisis mind raced, he thought back to all the video games and books he had read in his past life. Trying to infer any information he could from the few words the system had graced him with.
Alright man calm down. It said I got an Achievement for learning a new language before 10. Can I get this again if I learn another language? Doesnt matter FOCUS. Okay, Tier 4 means there are Tier 1, 2, and 3. Good that means Tier 4 is high meaning rare. Hmm, rare meaning is hard to get, so this is valuable. Very valuable even. Okay.
Antonisis took a deep breath. His infant longs filling with humid salty jungle island air.
Skills are always stronger than Stats. Are skills stronger than items though? Will the item go away? No that wouldn't make sense, why give a reward and then take it away? What would be a skill or item related to language then? And what is higher yellow or orange? Orange is always legendary, but that's usually in games that don't have yellow as well in their loot systems. So one of these is over-legendary? Do I get a legendary skill or item for learning a new language? That doesn't make sense, well I guess I am only 6 months old. Status!
Antonisis waited for his status to appear in front of him but it never did. Instead, the message of his achievement and the following options just stayed in front of him.
Well, I guess I gotta choose. Hmm, could the loot be based on the rainbow spectrum? In that case, it would be yellow which is higher. What would I do with an Item anyway I’m a baby.
I chose option 2.
[Confirm - Learn a Yellow grade skill related to Language. Y/N]
Antonisis confirmed
[New Skill! - (Truthsay) - Discern truth and falsehood in all spoken statements.]
Status!
Antonisis Condisimos
Age: 6 Months
Mana: 80/80
Attributes
Strength: 1
Dexterity: 1
Constitution: 1
Power: 1
Wisdom: 3
Charisma: 3
Skills
(Truthsay) - Discern truth and falsehood in all spoken statements.
Achievements
Tier 4 - Learn a new language before 10
Icey fingers of apprehension crept down Antonisis's spine and the gravity of his decision seized him. Was this a legendary skill? Antoisis read over the simple, matter-of-fact skill description.
Doubt plagued his mind. This seems more of a rare skill, not the stuff of legends. So the rainbow spectrum for rarity?
Antonisis reached a conclusion for his reward choice and conjectures. He received a skill to see through the deceptions of lies. But still found himself lost on an island in a sea of mystery.