Ray stepped down from the wall with terror plastered across his face, he was enthralled by the beasts strength yet scared for what it could mean for his potential future. but deep within was a longing. 'I want to fight it one day' the voice was faint. almost an echo of the wind within his mind. yet once that idea took hold it was impossible to shake.
'I need to fight that beast one day' his lithe body was shaking with adrenaline at this point. and with a tinge of excitement he looked at the knight besides him.
"Knight Robert, c-could i join the militia? be like you?" He asked. His voice tinged with fear, but he wasn't scared of being harmed. Ray was terrified he wouldn't have the opportunity.
Ray, caught within his own thoughts didn't notice the smile that deepened on Knight Roberts face. yes most wouldn't have noticed but Robert was a Knight of the Silverskin family, a trained leader that had to place the safety of the whole town above himself.
He'd often look into potential recruits, either common soldiers or elite Knights. and the sheer focus shown by Ray these few months didn't go un-noticed by him. Ray, this mere ten year old child did work beyond his ability day after day without rest, the commitment and passion was unlike anything Robert had seen.
"When your twelve, head to the knight training school just north of the business district you work in. and show them this letter. if you still want to join by then." Robert pulled out a pristine white envelope with a deep-red seal. The seal depicted a six-limbed beast with two mouths.
"Keep it safe" and with that Robert quickly left the area, returning to his post.
'Thank you Robert, and two years from now should be enough for me to finish my Bodybuilding passive. i look forward to it' Ray thought with a grin.
indeed it was a situation where both sides got what they wanted and needed. Ray needed a in for military training and Robert needed more capable knights to defend the town.
So they both parted with joy in their hearts. looking forward to the future.
And time passed like that months ticked by and soon, Rays 11th year anniversary would arrive.
'Ding!' Just as Ray finished his work for the day his mind echoed with the systems notification.
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Bodybuilding (partially unlocked): requirements, lift 5 times your strength limit everyday 334/1000 (current state +1 Str) (locked +1 Str +1 Vit)
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Ray felt a surge of strength flow through his veins and his previously exhausted self regained just a little bit of energy.
"partially unlocked? that's new? I've never seen someone with a partially unlocked skill before." he muttered to himself whilst heading on home to the inn.
Ray quickly locked himself in his closet room, lit the candle and took a look at himself.
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Name: Ray
Health: 60/60
Strength: 6 (+1 Bodybuilding)
Vitality: 6 (+1 natural growth)
Agility: 6
Mind: 5
Skills:
Observe: 'A true hunter can Analyse its Prey.' Can sense all skills and stats of the target. (within a 10 digit range) +1 Mind
Tough body: your body has been strengthened from years on the streets. +1 Vit
Deft hands: As a street urchin sometimes you have to put your hands where they don't belong. +2 Agi
Bodybuilding (partially unlocked): training your body daily can lead to extreme benefits if you can persist. (requirements: lift 5 times your strength limit (kg) every day for 1000 days 334/1000) +1 Str (locked stats +1 Str +1 Vit)
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"this past year I've gained around 2 strength and 1 Vitality. and finally my body is above average for my age." Ray looked down at his body and his barely defined muscles with a hint of joy. 'this is it, the feeling of progress, just like that first night.'
He looked around his room. His gaze landing on the full body mirror in the corner. staring back was his reflection.
"I've grown taller, probably half a foot taller than i was before." indeed, while Ray wasn't considered tall for his age and was on the shorter side still. he'd fixed some of the defects that living on the street gave him, eating a full meal everyday was something the previous Ray couldn't dream of.
His fluffy white hair was starting to cover his eyes as he never cut it, It was full of split ends. His eyes were mostly red, with hints of their former green swirling within, the stripes of green were reminiscent of fish in a fish-bowl. He didn't know why or when his eyes began changing colour but it was months before he gained his system.
Rays face had a small bit of chubbiness to it now, evident that he'd been eating his fill with the new money he had access too.
Ray's clothes were still rags for the most part. he bought a new outfit before but they got ruined with overwearing it too. the cleanest part of his attire was his shoe's. simply because he only bought them recently.
Staring at his reflection Ray couldn't call himself handsome or cute or rugged, he just felt extremely plain. The only standout part about him was his bright-white hair colour, you'd forget about the rest of him with how attention grabbing it was.
Ray continued looking over his changes, and suddenly remembered a forgotten part of his status. 'if only i could level up, how did it say i get exp again? Killing? but how can i find creatures to kill?'
…
"Hello and welcome to Zarrick's butchery, what are you here for?" A chippy masculine voice came from behind the counter.
"Hello there Zarrick, are you looking for new workers?"
"Always, not many want to bother getting their hands dirty here, you got any experience?"
At this point Zarrick finally poked his head out from behind the counter, allowing Ray to get his first glimpse of the guy.
The butcherer was a lean guy with tense muscles that felt like a taut bowstring, ready to burst forth with unprecedented power, The man was tall too-toweringly so. Ray only came up to his waist. And Ray suspected that Zarrick would have to bend down to enter/leave his own shop.
'observe'
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Name: Zarrick
Strength: 14
Vitality: 10
Agility: 14
Mind: 11
Skills:
Common slaughterer: you've slain thousands of common beasts and have a expert level knowledge on them +1 mind, +total common creature knowledge
Knife mastery: you've wielded the knife for long periods and gradually grown accustomed to its movement. +2 agility
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