I was squatting on the training ground. I was waiting for Uncle Bennett; Aruna told me he should arrive any minute now.
According to the game's description, he should be a muscular man with black hair and sideburns that resemble a lion's mane. His blue eye had turned white due to a congenital problem.
"Sven! Laocard!" someone shouted from afar.
I calmly turned around. It was him a soldier in plate armor with an enchantment painted on his gorget, and on his arm was a leash. At the end of the leash was a monster. It was taller than me, its body resembled a very fat bat, with a pig's face, and sticky, nasty drool ran from its mouth. I immediately jumped to my feet.
"What is that creature?!" I yelled.
"They call it a 'Dretch,' isn't it cute?" Bennett shouted.
"No, not really!"
"Hey, you hurt its feelings!"
"I didn't mean to!"
"Your assignment for today is running!"
"What!"
He let go of the leash, and the creature started running towards me. Its hands were raised, ready to grab me. I instinctively ran away from that disgusting creature. I just ran; I wasn't even thinking about fighting it. Dust billowed up behind me.
Half an Hour Later:
My legs were buckling, and sweat was pouring down in streams. But out of the corner of my eye, I noticed that Uncle Bennett was lying in a hammock in the center of the arena. Maybe I just need to stop and show my fearlessness, like with dogs.
I turned back toward the creature. It was running right at me. He wouldn't actually attack me, would he? My uncle wouldn't bring a real monster. But it was getting closer, closer, and closer. No, no way if I don't run, I'll either die or won't be able to sit down on my butt again.
I quickly turned around, but before I could move, it pounced on me. It pinned me to the ground and started licking me with its foul tongue. My arms couldn't move because the creature was holding them down. I kicked and fought, trying to break free.
Bennett, unable to contain a huge grin, walked over to me. F**king sadist, that's why he was the first to be killed. A few minutes later, he walked up to me and pulled the Dretch off.
"God, he smeared me with drool," I whispered, getting back on my feet.
"You're lucky I castrated him," Bennett said.
I wiped the foul drool off myself. Still, I don't want to know what he would have done to me otherwise. Bennett put the Dretch back on the leash.
"You go drink some water and rest for now," Bennett said, walking away with the Dretch.
I lay down on the ground. I need to do something about this. I need to find out if I have a Trait or Skill that will help me restore stamina. That's one of the first skills you need to learn. Maybe I have that skill? Every being has at least one Trait from birth, and around age ten, they acquire a second one. If I'm already ten years old, I have a second Trait, but how do I find out what it is? Can other mobs or NPCs like me even see Traits? I think to activate a skill, you just have to will it.
Restoration, Restore, Energy Restoration, Ki Restoration... Damn, I probably don't have a skill or Trait like that.
God, in all Isekai stories, there's a System. I touched my heart, my forehead.
"Status, System, Character Sheet, I am," I said.
And a System window appeared above me. Hooray, I thought.
CHARACTERISTICSSTATISTICSSHOPBATTLE PASSSOON...
What? What does "Soon..." mean? Does that mean there will be a system update as I progress? Strange, but okay, we'll see.
Characteristics, I thought, and the window opened the Character Sheet:
Name: Sven Laocard Race: Human Class: ??? Subclass: ??? Traits: "Perfect Aim - Level 2," "Aberrant Mind," "Resilient - Level 1" Spells: "Magic Hand," "Weapon Defense" Every breath you take is being counted. We are watching you.With love, Camelot.
Class and Subclass are understandable, but what is Aberrant Mind...
"Hey! You seem to have been lying down for a while," Bennett shouted.
I got back on my feet. Next, I did push-ups (30 reps x 3 sets, 30-second rest), squats (15 reps x 3 sets, 30-second rest), lunges with a 5-kilogram sword (30 reps x 5 sets, 1-minute rest), etc.
"We need to wrap up in ten minutes, let's have a couple of sparring matches," Bennett said.
I already said he's completely incompetent. Naturally, I was beaten with a wooden sword for about ten minutes. Afterward, I sat and drank water on the bench for another half hour. Bennett left. I hope he doesn't come to the next training sessions anytime soon.
After a short rest, I got to my feet and, staggering, went home. As I walked from the training ground, through the backyard garden, I saw my younger brother, Aurion, sitting and nourishing the flowers with his Ki.
I didn't look at him for long, and entered the mansion, walking down the corridor. As soon as I got to the room, I threw myself onto the bed. And quickly opened the System window:
CHARACTERISTICSSTATISTICSSHOPBATTLE PASSSOON...
I had already seen the Characteristics, now I need to look at the Statistics.
STATISTICS
Intelligence: 9 Strength: 12 Agility: 11 Wisdom: 11 Constitution: 12 Charisma: 8 Transcendence Points: 0 One Transcendence Point is equivalent to three Sub-Transcendence Points.
What are "Sub-Points"? I focused my gaze on Charisma, and sub-statistics popped out from underneath it?
Charisma: 8 Performance: 5 Intimidation: 8 Deception: 2 Persuasion: 9
Hey, why is Deception so low? Is Sven really that righteous? God, and why the "Aberrant Mind" Trait?