'Wish I could sleep for five more minutes.' Aiden thought with a sigh.
He then stood up from his bed and started getting ready for his day. After all, getting up from bed without a good sleep was never easy.
He had a month-long holiday from the academy as they were preparing the academy for the newly advancing second years.
After her recovery, Zoe had defeated the other person who had lost and had advanced to the second year.
But Aiden hadn't seen it since he had better things to do. Though he had heard two of his classmates talking about how amazing her fight had been and Aiden had felt like facepalming.
'They will definitely grow up to be simps.' Aiden thought with a shake of his head as he felt his system chuckle.
< Are you sure that you won't grow up to be like them host? > The system asked back as Aiden sighed.
'If I really wanted to simp on someone, I wouldn't do it on someone like Zoe. That girl needs lessons on how to act and personality development.'
< Are you forgetting that she is a ten-year-old while you on the other hand have the mentality of a twenty-eight years old person? >
'Technically, I never reached that age. I died while being eighteen years old and after reincarnating, I am going through my childhood again. So I never grew up.'
< That's fair host. >
Aiden's debating skills were top-level, and the system was sure that not many people could beat him in it. But unfortunately, that was as though a human had an expert level of flying ability without wings.
In a world of power, speaking skills rarely mattered except for politics.
< So then if you had to simp on a girl, how would she look and what her personality would be? > The system then asked curiously as Aiden smiled
'No comments.' He replied and touched the bracelet on his wrist. His mother would soon appear to take him to training but this time, Aiden had something different in his mind.
Instead of focusing on his shadow skills, he would focus on building his foundation. After all, no matter how many luxuries a building had, if it was made from cheap material, it would crash one day.
< So you don't like that girl Zoe? > The system asked as Aiden nodded.
'I think I am not alone on that decision. I am sure that you will find many people who would hate Zoe or perhaps even think about her dying.'
Aiden replied as his mother appeared in his room. But today, she looked serious. The usual casual aura she had during their training sessions was gone.
'Something is wrong.' Aiden narrowed his eyes as he looked directly into his mother's eyes.
"Is there a problem mother?"
"Nah, I am just thinking about something." Aysel shook her head as she tried to smile but was stuck half way.
Looking at her child, she was wondering what would happen to him if invasions started to happen soon.
After all, he would be the core target for the invasions since he was the heir to the throne. The future demon king.
'I want to let you enjoy your innocence a little longer Aiden. If you saw what happens beyond the capital, you might turn into something else. And I don't wish for that.' In the end, she tightened her heart and gave Aiden a smile.
"So, what do you want to train about?" Aiden was still staring straight into her eyes.
'He can tell that I am lying.' Aysel had no idea how she could tell this by just looking into Aiden's eyes. Perhaps it was a mother's intuition.
"I want to learn to fight," Aiden replied as he looked away from her eyes.
"Technically that's what we have been doing for a long time."
"We have been using the shadow element the entire time. But this time, I want to learn how to fight without the use of skills or spells." He shook his head as Aysel looked surprised.
"You want to become a ranker?" Aysel raised her eyebrows as Aiden nodded
"Though I have no idea what that means." He added as Aysel chuckled.
"You were nodding so confidently even though you had no idea what I was talking about."
"Fake it till you make it," Aiden replied as Aysel's mood suddenly changed.
She let go of the worries about the future for the time being and smiled.
"A ranker is a person who uses elemental energy with various weapons or doesn't use it at all. For example, an archer uses elemental energy to enchant his arrows or uses a spell to make his next attack power.
Then there is a swordsman who polishes his skill his entire life and becomes extremely proficient in using his sword. He would have created skills that wouldn't require him to be dependent on the elemental energy." She then explained it to Aiden who nodded.
"But would he be inferior to a swordsman who is using elemental energy?"
"That depends on the person. I know swordsmen who can shatter mountain ranges with a single strike of their sword without using elemental and then I also know swordsman who can do the same thing with elemental energy." Aysel replied as Aiden nodded.
"There was a legend about a swordsman who was born during the time of the war of beliefs. He wielded two swords, one with elemental energy and one without it. Legends say that he is the only person to ever slash the sky in half."
"Slash the sky in half?" Aiden blinked in disbelief as he thought that such a feat wasn't possible.
"That's just a legend, however, that person did it while using elemental energy and not using it at the same time. Which means that no matter how efficient you become in wielding your weapon, in the end, it depends on what you are gonna do with your skills." Aysel's words were imparting wisdom to Aiden. "My father once used to say, think why you wield your weapon."
"Why do I wield my weapon?" Aiden asked back as she nodded.
"Once you figure that out, you will start becoming stronger on your own. Till then, we can work on your basics." Aysel said as she extended her hand forward for Aiden.
'A reason to wield my weapon.' The words lingered in his mind as he held Aysel's hand.
< Do you have a reason host? > The system sounded like a teacher at this moment.
Aiden, on the other hand, felt like the child who was trying to cower in the corner so the teacher wouldn't notice him and would ask him the question.
'I don't know that system.' He replied honestly as he heard sweet laughter.
< Then find that reason host. And remember, walking alone is not always the solution to every problem. > The system then went silent as a static noise filled Aiden's ears.
[ The system will remain inactive for a month. Only the status screen will be visible.
All skills, except the passive skills, will temporally be unavailable.
No exp or job exp will be gained during the time limit. ]
And for the first time since his reincarnation, Aiden had no cheat supporting him.