When Daniel woke up the next day, it was very early. The quiet morning air settled around him, but his mind was already racing. He had two goals for the day: to get permission to leave the grounds of the orphanage and go to the library, and to try to do something with his mana.

He wasn't sure how to achieve the first, but he hoped that if he asked Miss Jones, she would let him go. 'I'll see how it goes', he thought, uncertainty bubbling inside him. The second goal, on the other hand, felt like it was within reach.

For the past few days in the library, Daniel hadn't just been reading. The quiet, stillness of the room had started to drive him crazy. Every now and then, he took breaks to practice his Meditation skill, using it to center himself. He wasn't sure if it was the skill working or just the natural rhythm of it, but he sensed something when it reached level 5.

It wasn't located in any one place, but rather spread evenly throughout his body. It was like a quiet hum, a sense of power that wasn't physical but still undeniably real. He didn't touch it then, but it felt like he was ready now.

'I have an hour until breakfast. That should be enough', Daniel thought, setting his resolve. He slipped into his Active Meditation state, focusing all his attention inward. His mana, which had felt foreign and elusive before, now began to feel clearer, sharper. Slowly, he tried to control it, and to his surprise, it was easier than he expected.

'Am I some kind of genius?' he thought, sarcasm lacing his thoughts as he guided the mana into his arm. His concentration tightened, and with a deep breath, he threw a straight punch.

[You have obtained the skill [Power Punch (Active) Lvl 1]]

'This quickly?' he thought, a grin tugging at the corner of his lips. He opened his skill window eagerly to check out his new skill.

[Power Punch (Active) Lvl 1 / MP: 10]

[- Increases the power of your punch by 5%]

"Not bad at all," he muttered, pleased with the results. After a moment of contemplation, he stood up, eager to test the skill. He threw punch after punch, feeling a rush of excitement building inside him. But after a while, dizziness began to creep in. His vision blurred slightly, and he staggered before sitting down in the chair next to his desk.

Stolen story; please report.

'What's going on?' Daniel thought, confused, and quickly opened his status window.

[Name: Daniel Wilson

Level: 1 XP: 0/100

Class: The Gamer

HP: 140/140

MP: 5/195

SP: 150/160

Strength: 13

Agility: 15

Vitality: 15

Intelligence: 24

Wisdom: 15

Charisma: 10

Luck: 10

Stat Points: 0]

He felt a little proud of his stats after all the hours spent reading in the library. 'I think I know what's wrong with me', he thought as his eyes focused on his mana pool, which was nearly empty. He'd been so focused on the punches, he hadn't realized how quickly his mana was draining. 'What happens if I empty it completely?' he wondered, but he didn't try to push his luck. Instead, he began meditating to restore his mana faster.

Just as he was about to try something else, he heard the familiar knock on the door followed by the voice, "Breakfast is ready!" He sighed, his stomach reminding him that he hadn't eaten yet. He got up from the floor, stretched, and headed to the cafeteria.

The usual breakfast passed quickly, spent in his usual spot and filled with casual conversation with Victor. The idea of going out to play with him crossed his mind, but then his goals for the day resurfaced. 'Right, I need to ask Miss Jones if I can go outside the orphanage.'

As if on cue, he saw her entering the cafeteria. His heart quickened, but he pushed through the nervousness. He walked in her direction, catching her gaze.

"Miss Jones, can I go outside the orphanage to the library?" he asked, his voice steady but a little anxious.

She looked at him, clearly troubled by the question. "Didn't I show you the small library in the orphanage just four days ago?" she asked, brows furrowed in confusion.

"I've read all the interesting books there already and want to learn more," he said quickly, hoping she'd understand.

She stared at him for a moment, doubt evident in her eyes. "If you say so," she began, her expression softening. "I could take you with me. I'll be going out in two days, and I could leave you in the library while I take care of some things. You can read as much as you want."

Excitement surged through him, but before he could voice his gratitude, she added, "But you'd have to do extra chores for that."

Daniel's enthusiasm dipped a little, but then an idea sparked. 'Wait, I can use my cooking skill for that.' Without hesitation, he quickly said, "Can I help in the kitchen?"

Miss Jones blinked in surprise. She had expected him to decline because of the extra work, but now she was genuinely impressed. He seemed determined. "I'll see what I can do," she said, a small smile tugging at the corner of her lips.

The next two days were going to be busy.