"SON !!"
.
She came rushing at me with tears in her eyes, and before I could do anything, she was hugging me.
I had a lot of questions, but the one that bothered me the most right now was...
.
"Sorry, but who are you?"
.
Her body crisped and face paled immediately at my question.
.
"W-What? It's me, your mother!"
.
I looked at her with a confused expression on my face, and when I was about to retort, the doctor butted in.
.
"Actually, since he landed on his head, it wouldn't be surprising for him to suffer from memory loss." seeing it didn't reassure her, he quickly added.
"Though, you don't have to worry about it too much, it should be back to normal in a week or so with the help of a simple grade 1 potion."
.
Upon hearing this, she heaved a sigh of relief. I could see she deeply cared about me, even if I was extremely confused on my end.
'potion? Like those from fantasy and games??'
Seeing how thing were going, I choose to remain silent.
.
"Thank goodness, but will he be able to get out anytime soon?"
.
"Yes, in fact he should be able to leave by tomorrow, we just need to do a few test to make sure he's alright."
.
Watching this interaction I could sense she was glad I was fine but also a bit sad to leave me here another day.
.
"Sigh... I'm just relieved you're ok."
.
~DING~
.
Just as she finished her sentence, her phone interrupted. Her brows immediately nit into a frown, pulling out her phone, she annoyingly scoffed under her breath.
.
"tsk... fucking bastards"
.
Turning her head my way, doing so, her expression softened.
With a gentle smile, she said.
.
"Sorry for only being able to see you for just a short time, but mom has to get back to work. I'll be back by tomorrow to pick you up!"
.
Turning towards the doctor, she softly added.
.
"Please take care of my son."
.
"But of course!" replying without hesitation, he confidently smiled.
.
Seeing this, she nodded. She proceeded to go and kiss my forehead.
.
~Kiss~
"alright, rest well and do your best to not strain yourself."
.
With those final words, she left.
Though I was confused by what was happening, I also felt a warm sensation surround me, the kind of warm feeling I hadn't felt in a really long time.
The doctor, also leaving the room, spoke.
.
"We will do the tests in about five hours, so you should do what she said and rest for now.
If there's anything you need, feel free to ask by pressing the button to your right."
.
Left alone in the room, I realized how tired I was and decided to take a nap.
.
###
.
"Thank you very much for all you've done for me and my son"
.
"Thank you for taking care of me"
Bowing slightly in the direction of the doctor, my 'mother' and I thanked him.
.
"Don't worry about it, I'm just doing my job" blushing slightly while smiling, he waved out.
.
And with that we left. I followed my 'mother' to a rather futuristic looking car. Though it was a bit dirty and some paint was coming off here and there.
.
When I got in the smell of cigarette hit my nose, but being used to it as a (former) smoker myself I didn't react much, and just got in the car.
.
Strapping myself, I looked at my 'mother' who was currently looking at me weirdly.
.
"Huh? What is it?" weirded out by her, I asked.
.
"You're not bothered?"
.
"By what??" confused, I looked around the car for what I was supposed to be bothered by.
.
"The smell… You complain every time you get the car."
.
"ah" turns out, whoever 'I' was, didn't like this type of smell.
"I guess I am a bit bothered..."
.
Not wanting to seem suspicious, I made a small lie.
.
"Never mind, let's just go home, you must be quite tired."
.
I nodded without saying a word
The ride 'home' was silent and rather awkward, neither of us spoke to the other.
.
Arriving in front of a small house, she looked at me with a bright smile and said.
.
"We're home"
.
Getting out of the now parked car, I walked into the house, once I got in I felt an odd sense of belonging, as if this as always been my house.
.
Suddenly I got a small headache, and with it came multiple memories of 'me' in them, but these memories weren't mine.
Seeing me in pain, my 'mother' got immediately worried.
.
"ARE YOU OKAY!? WHAT HAPPENED!?"
.
" Guh... I'm okay, it's just a small headache."
.
Just from me having a headache, she was already on the verge of tears.
After calming her down for a bit, she went to the kitchen to cook dinner, I offered to help, but she categorically refused and said I had to rest.
.
So instead, I went to take a nice hot bath, after having lied in bed for a week, I felt dirty. Arriving in the generic looking bathroom, I headed for the bathtub. glancing in the mirror before getting in, what I saw shocked me.
I could see myself, but much younger.
.
It was creepy to say the least. The only feature apart from me being young, was that my eyes became green.
Being mentally overloaded enough, I just ignored it and went on with my bath.
.
Once refreshed, I ate dinner with my 'mom', and made some small talk.
.
"Oh Right! You'll turn 16 next week, what do you think we should do for your birthday." she said excitedly.
.
"Wait, 16?" no wonder I looked so young.
.
"Crazy right! You grew up so quickly, I remember changing your diapers like it was yesterday."
.
"Please stop, that's embarrassing."
Pouting a bit from my response, she continued.
.
"Fine, I'll stop with the embarrassing stuff. But what do you plan on doing if you have an awakening."
.
"An awakening!?"
I was taken aback, first the potions, and now awakening, I have been putting the question of where I was on the side for now, but I'm starting to get an inkling.
.
"Ah, did you also forget about that?"
.
"I think I know a bit, but I'm not sure."
.
"Well, basically everyone the day they turn 16 years old has a chance to awaken. When awakening, one can choose a class and the more talent you have, the more class you'll get. There is also this thing about subclass and skills, but that's not really important, I'm sure you can find an explanation for those online."
.
"Ah, I see" with the confirmation of what an awakened was, I knew I was in [Records Of Heroes], the novel I cherished over my own life.
.
"If you awaken, you'll have the chance to enter the Crossroad academy, this is where all talent train to become heroes."
.
And with the mention of the 'Crossroad academy' and 'heroes' it only served to confirm it.
.
"I'm not sure, I'll think about it when, and If I awaken."
.
I'm saying that, but if this is really the world of [Records Of Heroes], in order to survive being awakened is a must.
Interrupting my thoughts, my mother said in a serious tone.
.
"Well that's fine, but if you awaken I want you to be extra careful when selecting your class."
.
"Don't worry, I will."
.
What she was saying made sens, because in the novel, when someone awakens they are presented with a floating screen.
And with it, they can select a class and a subclass, but the classes you can pick, vary from person to person with some being more powerful than others. The number of classes also varies depending on your talent.
So selecting your class carefully is a must, because depending on your talent the class you're presented with will vary.
For instance, an individual with average aptitude may select one class and one subclass, and will be presented average strength class options.
Whereas an individual with better aptitude may select two classes without any subclass, and will be presented more powerful classes.
The increase in the number of classes and subclasses is directly proportional to one's talent.
It is interesting to note that the main character in the novel has three classes and a subclass, which just goes to shows his talent.
.
Me being an avid reader of this novel, I of course, more than once or twice, fantasized about being a part of it, and what combination of class would make me powerful.
Though, most of those fantasy involved unrealistic luck and insane talent.
.
'Well I don't even know what my talent is so the best thing I can do for now, is to gather information of where and when I am in the story.'
.
Being too immersed in my thought, I didn't realize the diner was over. I proposed to help with the dishes but got rejected like before.
.
Instead, I went to 'my' bedroom. What I saw upon entering could only be described as deplorable. The room was a mess, from dirty cloth lying all around to the not so hidden tissues, if I was to live here, I had to do something.
But not right now, I was far too tired for that. I instead headed to bed and passed out.
.
###
.
BIP!~BIP!~BIP!~BIP!~
.
Waking up to the sound of an annoying alarm, I looked around my room for a bit, it was now much cleaner than it had been prior.
Time sure flew by fast, in the blink of an eye, a week pasted. During said week, I gained more of the memories of the original body, for some reason his name was exactly the same as mine.
I also took the time to do some research about where and when I am.
What I found out, was that I am currently in England, and I also figured out I was right near the beginning of the second part, where the MC enrolls into the Crossroad academy.
And today should be the day I awaken (or so I hope).
.
I quickly got dress and headed to the kitchen to make myself some breakfast.
Seeing my mother, I quickly greeted her
.
"Morning mom."
.
"Morning..." She had a coffee in hand and was dressed in an unbuttoned black suit with a nice pair of black pair of pants and shoes, she had messy hair and dark bag under her eyes.
She kinda reminded me of myself... or should I say past self?
.
"Tough night?" at my question, she seemed to realize her current state and quickly tidy herself up.
.
"No, you don't have to worry. I just had to do a bit of overtime work last night." she said, so while giving me a faint smile.
.
"Fuck! I'm going to be late." taking a small metal briefcase, she headed for the door, but before she left she turned around and added.
.
"I know it's your birthday, and I'm sorry I can't spend the day with you. I'll bring you some cake after work and we'll celebrate tonight. Is that alright?"
.
"Yeah, you don't have to worry about it, have a good day at work and good luck."
.
"Thanks, I love you!"
.
"I love you too." waving my hand with a smile, I saw her off.
.
Shortly after she left, I heard the doorbell ring.
.
DING~DONG~
.
'she must have forgotten her keys.'
.
But when I opened the door, what greeted me wasn't my mom but a delivery man.
.
"Oh, it's already here!"
.
Last night I ordered an iPod from Packmazon, I was surprised it arrived so quickly, but thinking about it made sense, this is a futuristic world with magic in it after all.
I quickly signed and took the small package.
.
I immediately opened the package in front of the delivery man just in case the product was missing, but it was a useless worry and everything was in order.
Though I was a bit disappointed that there were no music on it, but that was to be expected. It just meant I had to add them myself.
With that in mind I spent all day finding and adding music I knew from my previous world, I was really glad to see that most if not all of them existed her.
After spending about five hours doing the same thing, I decided to go and take a quick shower.
.
Right as I was about to get in I got surprised by a blue floating screen, it caught me so off guard I slipped into the shower curtain.
.
"Well, this is humiliating..."
.
I had been preparing all day to receive this screen, but it had to come the moment I let my guard down.
.
"Well, let's just see what my talent is." Shrugging what happened off, I looked at the two screens.
.
"Wait? What? Two?"
There should normally only be one that allow you to select your classes, and then it disappears until the next class change.
It wasn't hard to see that the two were different.
One showed:
__________________________________
Class 1: select one of the following ▼
| Swordsman |
| Healer |
| Mage |
| Ranger |
Class 2: select one of the following ▼
| Alchemist |
| Thief |
| Paladin |
| Tactician |
__________________________________
This page in is the one every person get when they awaken, lady luck seemed to be with me on this one. I had access to two classes, which meant I had over average talent.
.
The other screen on the other end was longer.
__________________________________
Name: Theodore Lettore
Race: human
Age: 16
Class 1: [not selected]
Class 2: [not selected]
----|Status|----
Strength: 0.302
Defense: 0.245
Agility: 0.321
Mana: 0.563
Intelligence: 1.187
Perception: 0.315
Dexterity: 0.236
Charisma: 0.201
---------------
--[Potential stats]--
Strength: 7.6 / 20
Defense: 6.2 / 20
Agility: 9.3 / 20
Mana: 10.9 / 20
Intelligence: 14.4 / 20
Perception: 8.2 / 20
Dexterity: 6.5 / 20
Charisma: 6.1 / 20
--------------------
Skills:
[Reader]: Allow the user to read status and understand every language, user will remember what he read forever.
--------------------
Synchronization: 51%
_________________________________
This was a stat board that showed me all my stats and skills.
I was familiar with as it was the same as in the novel, the problem was, one is only able to see it using an expensive artifact built by the dwarfs.
It even showed me my Stat Potential (SP for short), also known as fixed stats, shows the potential of one's stats, 10 being the average.
The closer you are to 20 the less difficult it will be to augment the related stat.
Even though they're called fixed, they could sometime change with certain conditions, for example if you lost a leg your agility would inevitably go down, the opposite works as well.
All this in itself wasn't a concern, I could easily guess the reason I was seeing this was thanks to the [Reader] skill, no what bothered me was the Synchronization thing that I had never seen.
I pondered about it for a while, but I couldn't guess no matter how long I thought about it.
.
"Just what is it?" expressing my concerned out loud, I was yet again surprised by another screen.
.
[It represents Synchronization between you and the past owner of this body]
[the closer you are to 0% the more you become like the original owner of this body, and the closer you are to 100% the more you are yourself.]
.
"!?" that explains why I was feeling more emotions than I ever had myself.
.
"What are you?" I carefully asked.
.
[I am the system in charge of protecting this world.]
.
"Did you send me here?"
.
[Yes, I am the one who brought you to this world.]
.
"Why?"
.
[...]