Calais was sitting down with visible anticipation. Kaylessa stood in front of him, having just grabbed several pieces of paper as well as a quill.
"We are going to try and get several skills at once. First writing, then calligraphy, cartography drawing, and map making. You will do this while making various maps and labeling them. Then write a small description below about the map. While making sure to write and draw everything as neat and nice as possible."
Hmm, that makes sense. Calais thought while picking up and starting.
"Ah ah, not only will you do this but you will work on getting poise as well. To do this you must sit straight and be confident in what you're doing. Although this one will take longer at least we're starting on it. I will go back and continue with your Brother now but make sure you clean up when you're done. That is a skill you will be getting as well."
"Yes, Mother," Calais said as he began to draw a map of the Ithai home.
He started with an outline of the home drawing a large rectangle. Then made out the hallways and rooms. In the center of the house were the open garden and open space. Kaylessa and Genghis were currently using this area to spar. On the left was a hallway that stretched the length of the house. In this hallway were Calais and Genghis's rooms, as well as a library. To the bottom of the rectangle was another hallway that had the entrance to the house. On the very right opened to a lounge/study. This as well opened to an open atrium room to the north and had a small bathroom that was on the right. Further north was a 2 story building that housed another bathroom and Calais's parent's room.
After completing his map with labels and descriptions. Calais drew a copy of the Atillin southern peninsula. At the very beginning on the right side was the free city of Nevada. Nevada like Gundahar is managed independently being a free city and all. But just like Gundahar, the power balance was peculiar. This city is located on the north side of the Atillin southern peninsula. Making it and Virada compete often for trade routes and such in the Atillin sea. The city of Virada was similarly located to Nevada just further west. And sandwiched between these 2 was the city of Gundahar. On the southern coast of the southern peninsula. Gundahar faced the ocean and took full advantage of its maritime promise.
Ding! Writing Unlocked!
Ding! Map Making Unlocked!
Nice! Thought Calais. Before continuing with his tasks.
…
In the open area at the center of the Ithai home, Kaylessa and Genghis were entrenched in mock combat.
Genghis wielded a wooden spear with armature skill, as well as lackluster strength. While Kaylessa mirrored him with weapon and stance.
They slowly circled each other before Genghis seized the initiative with a thrust to Kaylessas's chest. It was hit to the left then countered with a slash towards Genghis's legs. The boy leaped back only to have another thrust aimed at his chest. Genghis narrowly dodged with a roll to his right bringing up his spear in a defensive position. Thankful he did because his Mother was already in the process of delivering an overhead slash on him. Using the shaft of his spear to block. Genghis felt his arms ache as he strained himself to match the power of his Mothers slash. Having her slash blocked Kaylessa then targeted her Son's fingers. cutting the tip of her spear left along the wooden shaft. Genghis did not expect this. The slash connected with Genghis's fingers. Causing him throbbing pain in his right hand. Senses dulled by the pain Genghis didn't see the kick coming from his Mother. Until he was already on the ground with the wind knocked out of him.
"You may not like using spears Genghis. I know how fond you are of swords, but you will get the skill to level 10. It doesn't matter if you never use it or sacrifice it, 1000 free experience is not something you can pass up. I will have you know we will be getting you the pain resistance skill in the process." Kaylessa said straight face but smiling eyes.
At this moment Genghis was thoroughly confused about how he ended up in such a situation. As he slowly sat up and heard his Mothers words and saw her face. It dawned on him that his future was dire until he reached level 10.
Status!
Genghis Ithai
Human
Male
Age: 6 years
Level: 9 (10,300/25,600)
Mana: (50/50)
Stamina: (12/12)
Vitality: 13
Endurance: 13
Strength: 12
Dexterity: 12
Senses: 9
Mind: 8
Clarity: 9
Magic: 5
Charisma: 12
Luck: 0
Free Stat Points: 9
Skills:
Tier 1: Swimming (LV10) Diving (LV10) Running (LV10) Breath Control (LV10) Listening (LV10) Climbing (LV10) Dodge (LV10) Ambidextrous (LV10) Throw (LV10) Balance (LV10) Stealth (LV10) Reading (LV10) Writing (LV10) Swords (LV10) Knives (LV10) Attilin (LV10) Athleticism (LV10) Pugilist Skills (LV10) Wrestling (LV10) Aim (LV10) Sneaking (LV10) Time Sense (LV10) Jumping (LV10) Learning (LV10) Hiding (LV10) Quiet Step (LV10) Crawling (LV10)
Tier 2: Sense Mana (LV10) Quick Reflexes (LV10) Eavesdrop (LV2) Memorisation (LV2) Stealing (LV10) Sprint (LV10)
Active: [Anywhere but here!]
This is gonna take forever! Thought Genghis.
…
A few days later Kaylessa was sitting in front of her boys in the lounge.
"Now we're going to learn performance skills. Both of you will pick an instrument, and learn the skill for it. And play it till you max it at level 10." Kaylessa said gesturing to the many instruments behind her.
"The arts are unlimited experience really. But for now, you will pick one instrument then we will get singing, dancing, and later performing. Understood?"
Receiving nods from both boys she said, "alright then go ahead."
Looking at the instruments strewn about the room, Calais recognized almost all. They had slight variations from the instruments on earth but they were very similar.
There was a fiddle, harp, rebec, viola, bagpipes, flute, tambourine, lute, lyte, and a few more. But Calais already knew what he was gonna start with.
Before he could grab it, Genghis had already chosen the flute. He picked it up and began blowing into it, leading to a terrible sound playing in the room. After a few moments of having his ears assaulted. Calais tapped his brother's arm and said, "Genghis it's wrong, give it here."
Slightly embraced Genghis gave him the flute. Calais turned to his mother and asked for a knife to fix the flute. After a moment of deliberation, Kaylessa decided to indulge him and Calais took the knife and adjusted the holes of the flute slightly.
Then he gathered himself and took a stance. Blew into the flute and played.
Percocets (Ya), molly, Percocets (Percocets)
Percocets (Ya), molly, Percocets (Percocets)
Rep the set (Yee), gotta rep the set (Gang, gang)
Chase a check (Chase it), never chase a bitch (Don't chase no bitches).
Mask on (Off), fuck it, mask off (Mask).
Mask on (Off), fuck it, mask off (Mask).
Percocets (Ya), molly, Percocets (Percocets)
Chase a check (Chase it), never chase a bitch (Don't chase no bitches).
With the melody playing in his mind the music flowed throughout the room. As he continued his company in the room grew more enraptured, nodding their heads along until he finished.
"That was FUCKING AWESOME! What was that song called? Can you show me?"
"GENGHIS! LANGUAGE!" Kaylessa scolded.
"Sorry Mother, but really Calais can you show me?"
"Sure, I don't mind we can get the skill together. Also, I can work towards the teaching skill." Calais said.
"Nice, oh yea what is that song called, and does it have any words?"
Hmm, it's in another language so no one would understand. Maybe I could translate it but it doesn't translate word for word. Hmm, actually I can do this with a lot of songs, definitely could make some decent money.
"No it doesn't have any words just a melody, we could come up with some if you want. As for the name, it's called Mask Off."
"Nice, alright let's do it," Genghis said happily.
Then the family divulged into instrumental practice. The boys would max out their flute, singing, and dancing skills within a week. Inching ever so closer to the pivotal max level 10.
…
12 days later Calais and Genghis were in the backyard of their home. Kaylessa stood in front of them with a red flag and a blue flag.
"Ok you 2, this is pretty advanced, especially you Calais. But you guys are making really good progress so I'm gonna see how you do. For this session were going to be aiming for silent step, camouflage, and infiltration for you Genghis. Then tracking, for you Calais. Both of you will aim to get the tier 3 skill of night vision. How this is gonna go is I'm going to give you this red flag Genghis. Then I'm gonna take this blue flag and hid it in the house while you take the red one and do the same. You are going to try and find the blue flag and stealthily bring it back to where you hid the red one. I am going to be lurking about trying to catch you. You are to use tracking to try and find the flag not just search around. Calais, you are to search about while looking for tracks of your brother and find the red flag. I'm not expecting stealth from you." Kaylessa paused.
"To summarize I'm defending, you're attacking Genghis, and you're trying to find the red flag Calais. Got it?"
"Yes."
"Yup."
"Alright, Calais with me, Genghis you get 2 minutes to hide your flag starting now."
Then the 2 teams split, Calais followed his Mother as she entered the house. Kaylessa seemed to already know where she was gonna hide her flag. She headed directly to the lounge and set it behind a chair.
That doesn't seem like the best spot but I guess she not really trying to make it too hidden. Calais thought.
"Alright, Calais. When you are trying to get tracking it's not a rush. So take your time and really try and find a trail and find the flag. You know where he started from so just look for any signs from footprints to broken branches. He will have probably hidden it underneath or in something. But you should be fine. It's been 2 minutes go ahead and start." Kaylessa said.
With that Calais jogged towards the door to the backyard. Leaving the house he immediately began to inspect the ground for footprints.
Genghis's feet weren't big and he was wearing sandals. Calais was no tracker having never done something like this before. But Genghis wasn't exactly covering his trail. Calais quickly found his footprints intoned in the grass. He followed them for several strides bringing him to a dirt path. The Ithai family backyard wasn't anything crazy. It was about 1 acre in total (about the size of a football field). This accounted for the yard that went all the way around the house. There were various bushes and fruit trees strewn about the edge. As well as a dirt path.
Currently, Calais had followed the footprints to a fruit tree. He had finally lost the trail of his brother. Calais was looking about the ground having spotted nothing he began to examine the tree. One of the branches was broken he noticed. But there was no trail or flag in sight.
Well, there is no trail but up this tree. So he either climbed up and hide the flag in this tree. Or he climbed to a different tree before continuing or hiding there. He only had 2 minutes to hide the flag, so it couldn't be much farther than this area. I guess I'm climbing, no better time to get the climbing skill. Calais thought, then began climbing the fruit tree.
He made steady progress as the tree was an easy climb. But now he was standing on one of the thick branches looking for the red flag. And with no flag in sight that left him with one option. Pick up the trail his brother took in the trees.
The tree to the right of his tree was a sun tree. It had black leaves and a yellow bark. While every other tree was a normal-looking fruit tree, this one was for a more decorative purpose. It caught his eye not only because of this difference. But because of the few black leave laying on the ground.
The sun tree also would be an easy jump for Genghis from the fruit tree.
This must be the place he hid it. either in the branches or in the tree itself. Calais mused before climbing down and heading over to the yellow trunk of the tree.
This one wasn't as easy of a climb so Calais go a running start. Then jumped planting one foot on the trunk and then pushing himself even higher. He reached as high as he could grabbing onto the smallest and lowest branch and pulling himself up.
Ding! Climbing unlocked!
Nice, that wasn't hard at all. Calais thought as he climbed higher. He was about halfway up the tree when he spotted the red flag and broke into a smile. Steadily making his way to it he grabbed it and thought, I wonder how Ghengis is doing?
…
After placing the flag in the leaves of the sun tree. Genghis immediately went back to the house. Figuring that Kaylessa would hide the blue flag in her room on the second floor of the house. He decided to climb the property's outer wall and get to the rough from it.
Hopefully, I don't mess this up. It won't be stealthy at all if I miss and hurt myself. Genghis thought as he was in reaching distance of the around 2-meter wall. Genghis then looked at the top of the wall and he disappeared leaving a purple distortion. He then reappeared on top of the wall.
Easy! And only 10 mana too, leaving me a bunch to steal the flag and get out.
Genghis made sure to crouch and move as quietly as possible. He could feel quiet step affecting his feet slightly, making him walk toe to heel. His body felt compacted and he was confident he could get the flag and improve his skills in the process.
As he made his way on the roof to his Mother's room. He spotted her in the hallway on the left side of the garden. She had just left the library and was now heading to the end of the hallway.
Seeing this Genghis changed course. She must have hidden the flag in the library, He thought.
Genghis made his way to the other side of the center garden by the roof. Then dropped down to the ground before aiming and using his active to teleport into the open library window. Upon entering he saw that the bookshelves, desk, and chairs were all the same. Nothing indicated the blue flag or even that something was hidden.
Well, I probably have to at least look for it maybe it's behind something. Genghis thought this and made his way over to the desk looking for anything. Bending down he couldn't see anything and was about to open the draws when.
"BOO!"
"AHHHH!" Genghis screamed.
"HAHAHAHAHAHA!" Kaylessa laughed while clutching her stomach.
"That scared the life out of me Mother, why did you do that!" Genghis said upset.
"It was too good of an opportunity haha. Plus you needed punishment for your language the other day. I think this as well as the loss in our little competition will suffice."
As they were talking Calais entered with the red flag, "what happened, I heard a little girl scream in here?"
"HAHA!" Kaylessa laughed.
"Oh, I'm a little girl? Why don't I teach you a lesson?" Genghis said.
The rest of the night was followed by a one-sided wrestling match between Calais and Genghis. Then everyone washed up and retired for the night.