Surprisingly, after watching Gabriel for the entire day, had been a relatively active but not an overly active kid. Mostly just sitting there reading, watching the plants and bugs, or exploring the garden.
It was surely different from other kids she'd seen and heard about, but maybe he was just more well behaved then other children, this thought could be true, especially with how he already ate with manners last night.
Eventually after a few more minutes of watching she go bored again, going back inside the hut to continue the technique she had been given. The guards may take in the kid even if he wasn't useful since he might awaken a Talent since he was closely related to someone who had, or they might just agree to take him in as leverage or simply to keep Asher's close blood alive as a chance for another Talented one to be born if Asher never had kids himself.
Even if just being kept around to have kids wasn't the best at least he'd get to always have something to eat and somewhere safe to sleep, she could almost pity Gabriel. That kid better hope to awaken a Talent, for his own good at the very least. After all, just awakening a Talent is so rare in this world that any normal person would do anything for that chance.
-( Around a couple of months later~)
Mia, as she had been calling herself, had constantly either been taking care of Gabriel, doing odd jobs around the village, or helping Asher gather things. Having been determined to be useful.
Around the village new rumors were going around that Knights from the King's personal Guard were going to visit to see if anyone with a Talent was among the village.
This was a dream come true for the villagers, especially young teens that dreamed of leaving the place and making a name for themselves.
But then there was that one simple problem. Most of them would never even have the chance to awaken since Talent's were often genetic. Even if you managed to awaken without the genes to already get the ability to, those Talents were often much weaker, or almost non-existent compared to others. That or they would simply cause mental problems to the awakeners.
Having heard these whispers while helping the village's Healer retrieve some herbs from the gatherers, she had immediately knew where the timeline of the world currently was.
This was indeed very different from the world she once knew, Theo had been supportive, Asher has a brother named Gabriel, which is smarter then most kids his age. Then there was everything else.
For some reason, unlike her last life, Sub Rosa was still a less desired place to spawn, but it still had many players, but here she was, one of the only two players in the village, and like the other player's name suggested 'Ghost' she hadn't even found anyone in the village that might even seem like a player!
She could only hope that this 'Ghost' was either always out of the village, or she just somehow hadn't run into the player. Otherwise even thinking about other possibilities made her feel slightly down. She wanted to meet this player to hopefully gain an ally but hadn't even seen the player's butt at all!
With a huff, she set down the last of the herbs, got a few coins for her work and looked towards her EXP. Unlike many other games where EXP was used as soon as it hit enough to level up. You could have multiple things to use it on so it saved up in its own little bar.
-EXP : Thirty five
Just enough for the first level up, but she was going to save it until it got to seventy. That way she could level up twice in a row, and have more time to think about what stat the stat points she'd get should go into. PLus have a little bit left over in case she needed her EXP for something else.
Happily making her way home to the hut, she stopped by a bakery. She hadn't tasted anything except from what Asher made, which was usually that grain porridge or skewered meat if he had a good hunt.
After contemplating for a few moments, she chose a fluffy but small looking bread. Even with the small size, it was still too big for her to eat alone since her character was only just getting used to eating everyday again. But she could give what she couldn't eat to Gabriel. Reinforce their friendship more.
Paying two copper coins for the bread, she ate it contentedly while continuing her walk back to the hut. It wasn't like the bread she had been having in reality but it was still better then the bread from when the worlds would merge. At least it wasn't as hard as a rock because it went stale a month ago.
Having ate as much as she could have of it, she entered the hut, finding Gabriel waiting as usual like the good boy he was. He had immediately ran over to her, giving her a big hug and asking what she had.
And of course she gave it to him to try. Seeing his eyes light up at the taste as he ate made he feel something when she thought of her future plans, although she couldn't quite place it. Either way she went to the garden with her usual excuse of gardening and telling him to stay.
Mia knew he would, he always listened. No matter what she had asked before.
Theodore Ashford / Gabriel Greystorm POV
Having been watching her over the last two months, he knew that she was hard working and often outside of the hut. He'd also seen her preforming a weird set of movements in repetition for ages before Asher came home.
Finishing the last bit of bread she gave him, he went and sat on the bed to continue his breathing practice. Somehow, he had found out that both any of his actions and his breathing practice often resulted in him gaining EXP, although he didn't know how much he needed to level up since it never actually happened.
But then again, if he really thought about it, he did hear that EXP had multiple uses. So maybe he really just needed to think about it and wish for it to occur?
-Name : Gabriel (Theodore Ashford) / Greystorm
-Nickname : Ghost
-Level : Zero
-EXP : One Hundred And Twenty
It was a large amount, sure. But he also hadn't used any. So after fidgeting with the system panel for a few minutes he had figured out how to level up.
~DING! Successfully Leveled Up!
~DING! Worldwide announcement! Player : 'Ghost' Is The World's First Player To Reach Level One!
~DING! Successfully Leveled Up!
~DING! Worldwide announcement! Player : 'Ghost' Is The World's First Player To Reach Level Two!
~DING! Successfully Leveled Up!
~DING! Worldwide announcement! Player : 'Ghost' Is The World's First Player To Reach Level Three!
~DING! Player has been given Three Stat Points to use as he wishes. Do you wish to announce first level up rewards? Y/N?
Immediately clicking 'no' he already knew he gained far too much attention. Immediately going to the Global Chat Channel to see how everyone was reacting to the news.
~Lotus_Seed: Holy shit! Who's this Ghost fella?
~Yellow_Flames: How did he even figure out how to level up? And so much!
~Blade: How'd he even get that much EXP!?
~ANON: Someone find that 'Ghost' guy! he knows how to use EXP!
That wasn't even a fraction of the different responses from the two hundred pre-order players, most of them were either shocked, doubting, questioning, or even cursing him for finding out how to level up but not telling anyone how.
With a sigh he closed the Chat, at least it wasn't as bad as it could have been, but now his levels were at three, and his EXP zero. But as he looked at his system screen again he could see that there was a new section.
- Status Points : Three
- Profession Points : Three
He didn't really have anything to do with them for now, so he had decided to wait until he got into a situation a boost into a stat would be useful.
-Mia / Irene Claire POV
The moment this notification had shown up on her System Panel, she had immediately been thrown into a state of shock. This person, the only other person in Sub Rosa. 'Ghost'.
She hadn't expected this 'Ghost' character to achieve all of this. She hadn't even heard of such a figure in her last life. Something must've either happened to this Player before she joined the game before or something must be very different. So many things had changed that her knowledge may be completely useless. Or at least the in game knowledge.
Although as long as she can make sure that her character has a decent level then she'd be fine. But she'll need to reach level five before the King's Guard would finally arrive.
This was only at level five could Talents even cause a slight impact passed the initial effects. Without it she'll just seem like a normal child, and they'll probably refuse to take her with them.
Making her choice she used her little EXP to get to level one.
~DING! Successfully Leveled Up!
~DING! Worldwide announcement! Player : 'Rain' Has Leveled Up And The World's Level Leaderboard Has Been Activated!
She could already tell how everyone was reacting, but the impact was limited as they were still talking about that 'Ghost'. Although there was still an impact.
Going to check the leaderboard she knew that she'd be second at best, after all 'Ghost' had just reached level three, and she was only at the first level. Mia knew that she needed to continue to be hard working to hold an advantage over every single one of the other players.
Every action ever the next few couple of months was tedious and tiring, having to constantly take care of an active child, now also doing the cooking, doing tasks around the village, and also helping Asher transport whatever of his share in the hunt he brought back to the village.
Although she had many things to do within the village, she never left it since she had to take care of Gabriel and keep up appearances as if she was a normal child as they would notice if a child started going into the forest to join in the hunts.
If she remembered currently enough, around now would also be when the villages started getting weary of the children that the players had become. With the mentality that 'children will be children and they'll stop exploring soon enough', but after months of this. The sudden change in always wanting to go out was... Worrying.
Stonebridge as the largest newbie village, would soon either start sending players to be sent into the forest but also be unable to return, this was due to what the NPCs' believed to be demon possessing behavior, only even from refraining from killing the Player's completely because even if the empire was at war, execution wasn't legal just yet.
But the moment the war would eventually break out that law would go out the window with the belief of spies.
So she started playing the long game from the beginning. During this area of time she had reached level two, and was close to reaching level three. Even managing to help with some hunt if she begged enough and woke up early enough. But only if it was a brief hunt, yet even with a brief yet successful hunt could give so much more EXP then her usual tasks.
Even with her diligence had she yet to see the Sub Rosa's second player. Making sure to check the World Level Rankings every night, she had long been pushed out of second. Currently being placed fifth, with fourth, third, and second place all being level three. Yet 'Ghost' was still first with level four, and she knew that with how quickly that player had managed to level up prior, 'Ghost' was probably just saving up all his EXP, unlike everyone else.
Despite this, and despite her slow leveling speed, she should still make just enough EXP to reach level five and be one of the few players that would be taken to the academy.
-Theodore Ashford / Gabriel Greystorm POV
Although he had reached level four, he had been resisting the urge to level up until someone else reached level four, just barely keeping within the level ranges of other players as to not attract too much attention, even if he was staying in first place.
Having been keeping up the act of an overly happy child, he was tired. Pretending to have such large amount of energy while actually not was far more tiring then he thought.
Deciding to leave the hut while Mia and Asher was gone, quietly and carefully leaving, wanting to actually explore the place without the two or at least one of the two breathing down his neck constantly, as to make sure he wouldn't get into trouble.
Peeking outside, making sure that the two of them weren't coming back, after confirming that they weren't and that no one was around, heading towards the edge of the village. Carefully leaving boundaries of the village and heading towards the forest.
After walking for a few minutes, he found himself at the forest's edge. Walking inside with as much confidence as he could muster, he headed into the forest carefully having heard in his last life that hunting a Beast or anything could increase EXP or stats.
Taking his gauntlets out of his inventory, and quickly putting them on after some trial and error. They felt strange having not wore anything of the such before. He'll have to get used to it eventually if this was going to be his only weapon for a while.
Exploring within the forest outskirts, he found a few fruits, they looked ripe and juicy, they would make nice snacks or he could give them to Asher and Mia.
Continuing to explore, surprisingly he didn't come across any animals during this time, which was what he thought of as concerning.
This meant that if he wanted to actually hunt anything he would have to go further into the forest. Yet if he went to far he may not come back, he was not confident in his abilities to hunt down a Beast, a Beast that may or may not be too strong for him to even think of fighting.
Dejectedly he left the forest, hiding all the fruits he gather as well as his gauntlets to the best of his ability. Which was, iffy at best, trying to hide a pair of gauntlets and a bunch of fruit under baggy clothes is fine. But under slightly ripped baggy clothes? That was different since there were little gaps someone could see through if he moved wrong.
-Asher Greystorm POV
Having been coming back early from hunting and scouting the forest today, he had returned back to the hut, but he didn't see what he usually had. With Gabriel missing, and Mia not there either. But he knew she usually went out and did tasks around the village to help out, but never had she taken Gabriel with her yet, and went they went to explore the village together she often asked him first.
To Asher just this scene was wrong, quickly placing everything down and searching around the hut and its garden, he still couldn't find Gabriel.
Rushing outside, he didn't ask around, he could already tell where Gabriel might've gone. The last time he had been out with them, Gabriel had been taking glances towards the forest when he probably thought he wasn't looking.
Luckily, this year's annual Beast hunting had already been carried out by the City Guard, with only a few still sneaking around so the nearby population could revitalize as to continue to gain Beast crystals yearly. But as it was seen a few months ago, just half a year ago, Beasts could be smart, well, as smart as a Beast can be and manage to ambush prey. The outskirts would still be safe for a few more weeks, but if his little brother went just a step too far...
Shaking the thought from his head, he quickly went towards a relatively low part of the village's fence, yes, just a normal wooden fence, it wouldn't keep out intruders, but it did often manage to keep children inside, to stop them wondering too far, but last week a small fire had burnt this area so it had yet to be fully rebuilt, the only reason it was so put off in the first place was because this area was usually far away from where the children liked to play.
Asher could already see a couple of signs, a small pair of foot prints, how the fence was still not repaired, then those foot prints growing further and further away as they headed towards the forest in the distance.
Quickly following the foot prints he lost track of them soon after they entered the forest, lost among the fallen leaves and grass.
Carefully and quietly listening for movement, he also followed the path he thought a child would take, deeper into the forest, but only slightly deeper, a child wouldn't actually go into the depths of a deep, dark, and scary place. Right?
Especially after his last experience with a Beast. No child would want to go through that again, why would he have even come here? Asher had heard stories of children suddenly acting different in near and far villages around that they often went into he nearby forests, but that was months ago and no new children had been acting like that since.
His little Gabriel wouldn't have been hiding it, would he? No, he was probably just curious. But then again, curiosity was what killed the cat.
Continuing his search, rapidly and almost frantically, he ran into a few small animals on the way, but ignored all of them. Eventually after searching for a few minutes he could hear foot steps, immediately heading in that direction swiftly but carefully.
Fortunately it was his brother. Picking up Gabriel, Asher immediately wanted to scold him, but found the boy's happy face as he offered him a fruit he had found.
Instead just giving a few harsh words as he started heading back to the village, he was far too relieved to find that his brother was safe and sound that Asher never noticed that there was actually a pair of gauntlets hidden under Gabriel's clothes. With plenty more fruits then he had been offered.
That day, being the more eventful and stressful he had endured during this hard time, he never wanted to lose his brother, never again. Never. Again. He would never lose Gabriel again, he'd rather die before that could ever happen to his little brother.
Taking a deep breath to calm himself, he re-entered the village how he had left it, although it was starting to get dark, and Mia was probably worried, it was better worried then dead.
Better surviving a merge, then dying alone and hungry. He didn't know when he had regained these memories. But they were useful. Very, very useful. He knew things no one else did. He stopped something that was supposed to happen, something that was supposed to take his brother away even without those memories.
What did the Other World say about things like this? Oh, yes. Regression, it was called. Having also read some of the books that they had that hadn't been destroyed in the merge. This was what they called a 'Main Character', was it not?
Although, he would rather not be one. All those quests, mission, often just being a novel for someone else to read for their own enjoyment.
Asher would rather not be a tool if he could prevent it.
Looking down at his brother, Gabriel had fallen asleep. His chubby face relaxing as he dozed. "Cute..."
Asher really did miss this, just brotherly bonding time. But unfortunately he had helped another child and also had to take care of her, but at least she was a useful tool. At least until she finally breaks, that is.
-Mia / Irene Claire POV
They were both missing, and if they had just gone out together they were both late. This worried her greatly. Her future meal tickets and possibly her future tools, slipping away.
Calming herself down, she sat on one of the two chairs, having long started today's fire, and started cooking today's meal.
Although she knew this would all be useless if she couldn't reach level five. With her calculations over what she earned for the last half a year, she'd either be unable to make her self set quota, or just barely graze passed it into success.
But it was more likely then not that she would fail. Unless she started going hunting more often. Just exploring the forest could give her more EXP then her current daily gain.
If needed, she'd start sneaking out at night. After all, she needed to meet that quota. For her own good. For her own, destined future to be even better then it was before. Possibly even keeping her dear Theo, even if he wasn't useful, he could still be used as entertainment.
~Chapter End