Morning arrived quietly.
The first rays of sunlight slipped through the thin curtains of Evan's room, painting pale gold lines across the wooden floor. Outside, the city had only begun to stir— the quiet rustle of morning wind brushing against the rooftops.
For most people, it was just another ordinary day.
For Evan—
It began with a sound.
!~Ding~!
Before his thoughts could even fully gather, a translucent window appeared in front of his vision.
[Note: you have a pending notification]
"What? I have a pending notification?"
"When did that appeared"
[Answer: It was generated last night.]
"Thinking about it, I did hear a system notification yesterday… but I probably ignored it because of the shock."
[Do you wish to see the pending notification?]
[Y/N]
"Why not?"
[System mission completed]
[
Step onto the first step of mortal cultivation.
Requirements:
Start your cultivation by entering the Essence gathering stage.
Reward:
500 System points
]
Evan's eyes widened
"When did the new quest generate?"
[Answer: This quest was always there.]
"What do you mean by always there? You mean there is a quest that is already generated but not shown to me?"
[Answer: Affirmative]
"The system shows me the quests that are currently generated right now."
It took some waiting, but in the end, the system replied.
[You don't have the required authority for this action.]
"Why? This is my system, right? Then why cannot I see the mission? "
[Answer: As the sole user of this system, you are the owner of the system.
The detail you requested is restricted by the authority that made the system.
]
"The Authority... You mean my mother."
[Answer: Affirmative]
"Why did she do that?... I can grow faster if I know all of the missions."
[Answer: The Authority's intentions are unclear. Would the host like me to analyze that possibility?]
"You can guess?"
[Answer: As the system currently is, I am unable to have high-level processing power. But this little thinking power is possible.]
"Then what is the reason?"
[Answer: As the host knows, The Authority/Your mother loves you very much. Given this information, she would love you to live a happy life. Giving you all the missions at once may lead your brain to start doing essentially 'Achievement hunting', making your life lack the most important aspect that is: 'Living a happy and fulfilled life'.]
"Wow… I didn't expect the system to start giving me life advice. Thanks, system."
[Note: No need for thanks. Looking after the host's well-being is also part of the system.]
"Wait, does this system feel more lively today?"
[...]
"...Strange."
suddenly
[A new quest is waiting for your attention. Do you wish to see?]
[Y/N]
"Dodging the question? Strange... Wait, a new quest? Show me."
[New Mission]
[
Begin your path as a body cultivator.
Requirements:
Start your body cultivation by entering the Body Tempering stage.
Reward:
500 System Points
]
"Wait, body cultivation. Shit...didn't I have to do body cultivation today?"
Evan rushed to leave the bed. Suddenly, a small creak appeared at the door.
"My prince... It's time for your breakfast. You have to do something important. Right?"
Evan froze. He was supposed to start doing body cultivation today he almost forgot that part.
"Oh yes... body cultivation, I didn't forget."
Lyra narrowed her eyes.
"If you didn't forget, then why are you talking to yourself? Is that the system again?"
Shit... Was I talking out loud?
!~Ding~!
[Answer: Yes]
'Shut up, I didn't ask you.'
"What did the system say to you? Did you do something strange?"
"No i didn't. The system gave a mission to do body cultivation."
"Oh... even the system knows you need body cultivation right now. What are you waiting for? Come eat breakfast, and let's start body cultivation."
"Why do you look so happy to start teaching me body cultivation? Strange..."
"It's nothing strange about it. I love teaching you my prince~."
Here is that, That smile.
Evan shook his head.
...
After Evan and Lyra come out of the house to the training area of the house.
There was something new here.
a small black wooden pool.
"Let me guess that pool is also from the ring, right?"
Lyra smiled
"My prince is smart."
"Hey, I haven't said anything smart enough to hear that."
"hehehe... I was messing with you."
Lyra suddenly walked around behind him.
Before Evan could react—
Her arms gently wrapped around him.
It wasn't tight.
Just a soft embrace from behind.
Her chin rested lightly near his shoulder as she pulled him slightly closer.
The warmth of her body spread through his back immediately. Her arms were soft, and the calm scent of herbs and soap lingered around her, making the moment feel strangely peaceful.
For a second, Evan forgot about the system.
Forgot about cultivation.
Forgot about everything else.
"…Lyra," he said softly.
"Hmm?"
"You hugging me like this is really relaxing my body and mind."
Lyra stiffened slightly.
Evan continued, his voice playful but calm.
"After everything that happened yesterday… I think I really needed that hug."
Lyra didn't move, but Evan could feel her arms tighten just a little.
"It almost feels like you're trying to comfort me," he added with a small smile. "Like you want to share some of your affection with me."
Lyra's body froze.
A faint blush slowly crept across her face.
"I–I was not hugging you for something like that!" she said quickly.
Her voice lost its usual calm composure.
"And stop saying strange things like that!"
Evan chuckled.
"Strange things? I was just describing the situation."
Lyra immediately let go of him and stepped back.
Her cheeks were slightly red now.
"W-wait… how do you even know how to talk like that?" she asked, narrowing her eyes suspiciously.
Evan turned toward her with an innocent smile.
"Books, Lyra. Books"
"Books?"
"Yes"
Lyra crossed her arms, still staring at him.
"What kind of books are you reading, my prince?"
Evan shrugged casually.
"Educational ones."
Lyra stared at him for a long moment.
Then she shook her head, trying to hide the faint color still lingering on her cheeks.
"…Forget that," she said quickly. "It is time to start body cultivation."
Her tone became firm again, but the blush hadn't completely disappeared.
"Strip."
The blush was still on her face, and she pulled Evan's clothes, and he was standing only in his underwear.
Evan was shocked.
"Now let's start with body cultivation."
"Body cultivation strengthens your physical structure. Like Muscles. Bones. Tendons. Organs."
"And the first step of body cultivation is called. 'Body Tempering' "
"We achieve that in many ways. Eating Rich foods and start strengthaing your body by doing physical activities, that is one of them-"
Lyra looked away.
"Forget that, we are not doing something barbaric, instead we will be using this pool and his Body cleansing liquid."
"Now get in the pool, my prince."
Evan looked at her.
"Wait, you haven't told me the other way."
"My prince, please."
"Ok, ok."
agreeing to her, he climbed onto the pool. The water was cool to the touch. but easily adjustable.
"My prince. I am going to mix this body cleansing liquid using Qi."
She started pouring the liquid into the water and started mixing it using her Qi.
suddenly the water in the pool become little hot.
"My prince, this is going to hurt a little."
As soon as she said that. Sharp pain hit over his body.
"Wha- .... Ahhhhh,"
Evan yelled.
Evan jumped out of the pool immediately. The pain was too much for his 5-year-old body.
"Lyra, what was that..."
The pain didn't linger; it slowly faded away.
"My prince, I know doing this is painful. But there is no other way."
Looking at her, Evan saw her eyes trembling, and she had bitten her lower lip. Almost like she cannot see him go through this pain.
A woman who didn't bat an eye before killing people without thinking twice. now trembling her eyes and lips because. Her prince is feeling pain. Of course... The system said she 'Likes me.'
At this point, he doesn't need the system to say that she likes him.
Evan chuckled.
Evan looked at her again and asked her.
"Lyra, I don't mind eating rich foods and doing exercise-"
She immediately interjected
"My prince i cannot let you."
"Why?"
"My prince, do you want to eat rich foods and swallow a body cleansing pill, be tied up to a tree, and have me beat your body up using a stick, do you?"
Evan's eyes widened.
"What... ?"
"I said it right. My prince, that method is barbaric. I cannot do that to your young body."
"wait... young body? Will you do that if I were older?"
She didn't answer, she just looked away.
"Fine, I will use this bath."
Evan looked at the pool. It was painful, alright. But compared to getting tied up to a tree and getting beaten up with a stick. This was heaven.
Not that he knows... In his 32 years of life, he was never beaten up like that.
"Here goes nothing."
Evan climbed back onto the pool again. It was painful, but comparatively lesser; he had gotten used to it from earlier.
The body cleansing liquid slowly sweeps into his body.
It was slow at first. The longer Evan waited. The more liquid has gone into his body.
As the amount of liquid swept into his body increased, the pain increased.
Evan's small body began to tremble uncontrollably.
Lyra was staying there, her arms crossed. Her eyes were moist, and her lips were trembling.
She knew how much pain her prince was going through. because she had gone through the same.
Unlike him, she only had to go through it after she became more than 10 years old.
She knew that it was too much for a 5-year-old.
But they both have to go through it together. He cannot lose his life, and she cannot see him die; that is gonna break her.
more than the loyalty, she started to like Evan even further at some point.
...
Hours passed.
The liquid is almost finished.
As soon a last drop of liquid he could absorb went into his body. A dark liquid started oozing out of his body. Evans body was glowing.
Lyra was shocked.
"My prince-"
suddenly
BOOM
The dark impurities slowly dissolved into the water.
Evan's body suddenly felt lighter—stronger.
And then—
A familiar notification sound chimed in Evan's head.
!~Ding~!
[System mission completed]