Ethan's appetite had vanished after that last system message. How he wished he could shove his whole arm down Ares' throat just so he could stop that annoying laugh.
"You're so dead, boy. Blame your bad luck that this system allows us to give quests. I'll make you work ten times harder than you're supposed to. After all, hard work they say pays." Ares revealed.
"You will not trouble the boy. He already has enough on his plate." A female voice that Ethan was yet to learn belonged to the goddess, Athena rebuked Ares.
'Is this even possible? Learning a dozen martial arts in only a month, this is pure madness.' Ethan thought, now regretting his earlier praise of the system.
"Everything is possible son. Especially now that you have our powers flowing through your veins. Talk to Hermes, I am sure he can work something out with you." Zeus advised sympathetically.
"Hermes. I got a question. Is it possible to learn all that you plan to teach me in a month?" Ethan asked the speedster. Already steeling himself for the bad news he was sure was soon to follow.
Hermes who had been wondering just what had made the boy spit out Lucian's wonderful cooking quaked an eyebrow as he heard the boy's question. "A month? what would even give you that idea?" The protector asked?
"Forget it. I knew it was impossible. I was only following Zeus' suggestion that I speak to you about my system's quest." Ethan said with a sigh. Mr.Twist who had been sitting on the floor a little away from them with his food turned to look at Ethan as he heard Zeus' name but said nothing to the boy.
"Your system's quest? What is this quest? Does it have anything to do with your question? also, I never said anything was impossible." Hermes corrected.
"You mean I can learn everything you intend to teach me in only a month?" Ethan asked in disbelief. How was that even possible? Be asked himself.
"Kinda. It all depends on your talent for grasping things and the amount of time you dedicate to practice. Is this what your system tasked you with? to learn everything I have to teach you in a month?" Hermes asked the boy.
"Yh..it said to finish my training with you in a month," Ethan answered the protector with renewed hope.
"Wow..that is one crazy system." Hermes snickered. "To think that it will give you something like that as a quest. This system must either think highly of you or is just plain wicked. Luckily for you, I can teach you everything in a month. Buuut...there's a condition."
Ethan had been smiling whiles Hermes spoke about the system and the possibility of him finishing his quest. That was until he mentioned there was going to be a condition attached. Ethan's smile faded immediately he heard the long 'but'. Why couldn't anything ever come freely to him? He asked himself in sorrow. "What is this condition?" Ethan inquired.
"You can't complete your mission if you only train after school. It is just impossible. If you want to get anywhere in the specified time, you need to move in with me. That way I can train you my way. Morning, afternoon, and evening. Luckily for you, I have already developed a personal fighting style that incorporates all the different martial arts and which is quite effective against single as well as multiple opponents. Still, I can't teach you in time if you don't move in. Unless of course, you plan to wake up at dawn and walk here as well as spend long periods here after school." Hermes pointed out.
Ethan was speechless. Hermes wanted him to live here for a month? In this house? Of course, he would. But just as he had made this decision he thought of his mother. Was he really going to leave her all alone with that animal, Dred? He asked himself. It's all for her. I need to do this so I can finally get the power to free her and me from Dred.
"Will you do it?" Hermes asked as he saw the flash of uncertainty that crossed the boy's face. But it was gone again in a second.
"I will do it. I will stay here with you and work day and night till I get the desired result." Ethan said with great conviction. "But I'll like to know if I can give your phone number to my mum so she can reach me if she has any trouble. Hope you don't mind?" Ethan asked the protector.
"Not at all but don't you have your e?" Hermes asked the boy since he found it weird to be the first point of contact between a mother and her son. He was taken aback when the boy shook his head in denial.
"Phones are expensive and we need all our money for food and clothes," Ethan told Hermes who clearly looked surprised. Ethan didn't blame him. He was sure he was the only kid in all Mid-Mount who didn't have a phone. Everyone else had one.
"I see..well, you can have mine when you're leaving. I'll format it and then give it to you. Just shut up and take it" Hermes said as he saw Ethan attempt to protest. "Seriously, it's no problem. l already have a spare with all my information successfully backed up. Just take this so you and your mother can talk anytime you want." Hermes finished.
Ethan nodded. "Thank you, Hermes, I will repay this kindness one day. I promise" Ethan told the protector full of gratitude. Some would say he was overreacting over a simple phone but this wasn't just a phone for him. This was a way to always be close to his mom and in his eyes, no other gift could compare to this. Not even the chain that had granted him this new power which was a close second.
"Don't worry, it's nothing," Hermes said. "Let me start formatting my phone now. It's getting late. You should go change into your previous clothes. I would be finished with this by the time you cow out." Hermes instructed as he fished out his phone which was a slim and sleek beautiful touchscreen design. Ethan couldn't believe such a phone was going to be his.
Ethan who had long since stopped eating his food got up and headed to the room where he had changed his clothes previously. He took his time in changing since he wanted Hermes to be done by the time he got out. He got out about ten minutes later and went to Hermes who handed him his phone. Ethan looked at the phone for a second and decided to try his new skill on it. 'Inspect' he said in his head.
[Item : Smartphone]
[Brand Name : Phantom Experia 2.5]
[Released : 7/4/2069]
[Hardware : Mighty F9 Zionic, 4TB Ram]
[Display : 6.0 inch. ]
[Storage : 6 terabytes. Expandable]
[Camera : 500mp(dual camera)]
[Battery : 9000mAh]
[Operating System : Phoenix Az.1]
[Price : UW¢10,000]
10,000 UWC for a phone? That money can buy a house for christ's sake. And he just gives it to me? Just how rich is this guy? Ethan looked at the protector who was talking with Mr.Twist and shook his head. 'Well, I just need to take care of it well. Plus my inspection skill seems pretty powerful for LVL 1. Maybe it's because it's only an item I used it on. How do I even level the skill up?' Ethan asked himself. 'I will find that out later.
Now all I need to do is get home and inform my mom about this new arrangement. I should come up with something to tell her so that she doesn't worry.' Ethan thought. He started thinking of excuses he could use but then the familiar chime of the system sounded in his ears again.
[Sub Quest : Convincing Mrs. Brunson]
[Quest Reward : +20 exp, +10 System points(for unlocking system skills) ]
Ethan smiled as he saw this message. 'Looks like this system wants to give me free exp as well as system points. This will be the easiest quest in all quest history' Ethan thought.