"I stood up from my bed and went to the hall where I found my next tutor waiting for me.
He had gray hair signifying his old age, had a long beard of the same color, and held a thick book titled, 'History: Basics'."
The Historian inside of Edward, the original David, rose up as he got a glimpse at the book.
Edward quickly covered the distance between the old man and him and greeted him with a bow.
The old man decided to greet him back and said, "The name is Pedro Fronza, I've been waiting for you, little Edd."
"Apologies for my late arrival as I was tired of my physical training," said Edward apologetically.
"Ah, that must be the reason." Pedro chuckled.
"Now, let's go to your room," he added
Edward led the old man to his room and both of them took a seat on the chair near the round table.
The lesson began and lasted for an hour.
To summarize it all, Edward learned about The Roman Empire, their arrival and departure in the British Isles, the impact they left, the arrival of Saxons, and the invasion of Vikings.
Similarly, over the next 5 hours, Edward studied Politics, Language, and Arithmetic.
All of these were a breeze for Edward as he was able to revise everything from his previous which was hazy since the reincarnation and also understood the opinions of today's era but the thing that caught his attention the most was the status screen at the end of all lessons.
Status:
Name - Edward Plantagenet
Age - 11
Title - Heir of Norfolk
Martial - 3
Diplomacy - 2
Intelligence - 28
Reputation - D
Wealth - £2,100
Skills - Appraise (Lv. 2)
Level - 5 [389/500]
Spare Points - 2
His intelligence soared by literally 26 points and double the amount of his own history teacher who had like 15. It seems that as his previous life's memories became clear, he was able to gain more points from the past pieces of knowledge.
He also leveled up himself because of his sudden rise in intelligence and his skill with multiple appraisals over the day. He also gained 2 spare points which he could invest in other attributes.
'My intelligence is already higher than the best of scholars, so I should invest some in martial. My body is already as weak as it can be due to surviving the life-threatening disease.'
Edward invested both of his points in Martial and took it to 5. His body suddenly started feeling energetic and much better than usual. He noticed that his sunken cheeks have filled in by a bit which made him look better.
'This is pretty much cheating, isn't it? If I keep doing so, I would soon be able to recover and aim for power. After all, who doesn't like having a name in the annals of history for themselves?'
Soon, the day passed by as he took his afternoon nap and went straight to the library after that.
He started reading a book about his dynasty's origin. This would certainly be taught by his history teacher later on but he couldn't wait to satiate his curiosity.
He read about the Anglo-Saxon Kings of England, among them, Alfred The Great shone brightly. He saved Wessex as well as the Saxons from extinction under the Danes.
He also revised his knowledge about William The Conqueror from whom he could trace his lineage. His own father was the Prince of England because of being 5th son of Edward I and for 5 years was also the heir of the kingdom, that is the reason he has a 3-point argent on his coat of arms over the original Plantagenet banner. The three-point argent is granted to only the heirs of the throne and even after the birth of Edward III, Thomas didn't forsake the old banner as the Earl.
Edward himself was the grandson of the former king which gave him quite a strong claim on the throne and was currently 4th in the line of succession after the current king's son, the king's brother, and his own father.
Soon a servant asked him to come for dinner which he complied and as he had something planned for tonight.
As soon as he reached the dinner table, he eyed his father for a glimpse of his status and the following appeared in front of his eyes.
Status:
Name - Thomas Plantagenet
Age - 34
Title - Earl of Norfolk
Martial - 15
Diplomacy - 11
Intelligence - 10
Reputation - B
Wealth - £457,891
Skills - Organisation(Lv. 14), Etiquette(Lv. 12), Financial Literacy(Lv. 10), Leadership(Lv. 8)
Level - 19 [1176/1900]
The Earl's stats were on the levels of mastery or nearing them, his wealth was astounding, in future's currency, it was valued at £280,834,440 and those skills of his were overkill.
Edward quickly sat on his designated chair and initiated the dinner after the mass with his family in order to not arouse suspicion.
After appraising numerous individuals over the day, he concluded that an average adult in 30 had his or her level ranging from Lv. 10 to Lv. 15 and attributes were either divided equally, which was rare or one of the attributes had an advantage over the other two. Stats from 0 to 3 signified incompetence or young age, 4 to 7 signified moderate control over the attribute, 8 to 11 defined that the user is a veteran related to the attribute and is proficient in it and 12 or above showed the mastery of the attribute which a very few could achieve in a lifetime. The same goes for the skills.
"How did your interactions with the tutors go?" Thomas inquired, his tone carrying a hint of seriousness.
"They displayed competence in their respective fields, which turned out to be quite beneficial," Edward replied.
Thomas fixed his gaze on Edward, prompting him to continue. "Father, I have a request," Edward ventured.
Thomas's curiosity was piqued. "Go on."
"I'd like to undergo a basic education completion test next week," Edward revealed.
The statement nearly caused Thomas to choke on his food. The child who had been seemingly listless until recently now wanted to take a test to complete his education within a mere week.
"Seems like you've undergone quite a transformation," Thomas muttered, a mixture of surprise and resignation in his tone.
"Well, if you're determined, I won't stand in your way," Thomas conceded, a wry smile tugging at his lips. "Perhaps a taste of challenge will impart a valuable lesson," he thought aloud.
Soon, Edward left after finishing his dinner and went to sleep back in his chamber.
—----------------
The week passed by in the blink of an eye…
The day of the examination had dawned. The assessment was split into two distinct segments: the Physical Test and the Written Test.
The Physical Test was designed to assess his mastery of sword arts, gauge his strength, and measure his endurance. Meanwhile, the Written Test comprised 60 comprehensive questions, covering four subjects: History, Politics, Language, and Arithmetic.
Conducting the Physical Test was none other than Walter Manney himself. Edward, who had sized him up just a week ago, was taken aback by the '17' displayed in the martial category—the highest score he had encountered so far.
The test comprised a solitary duel against Ser Walter, who assured Edward that he would exercise restraint—though whether this promise would hold remained to be seen.
The clash began with a flurry of movement, the sound of steel ringing in the air as their blades met. Despite Walter's pledge to hold back, his skill was evident in every precise strike and calculated parry. Edward, however, refused to back down. He met Walter's advances with a determination that belied his age.
For a child of merely 11 years, Edward displayed remarkable strength and agility. His movements were not as refined as Walter's, but his raw energy and eagerness compensated for his lack of experience. The spectators, including his family and other onlookers, watched with bated breath as the duel unfolded.
Edward managed to block several of Walter's attacks, each clang of metal reverberating across the training ground. He even managed to land a few counterstrikes that showcased his developing skills. The determination in his eyes was unmistakable—this was a test not only of physical prowess but also of his determination to prove himself.
However, as the duel progressed, it became clear that Walter's experience and mastery were a league above Edward's. With a swift move, Walter disarmed Edward, sending his weapon clattering to the ground. The duel was over, and it was clear that Walter had emerged as the victor.
Despite the loss, there was a sense of accomplishment in the air. Edward had displayed a level of courage and skill that no one had expected from a child his age. The applause that erupted from the spectators was not just for the victor but also for the valiant effort that Edward had put forth.
Walter extended a hand to help Edward up, his expression a mix of approval and respect. "You've got potential, lad. With time and training, you could become quite the swordsman," he said, a hint of encouragement in his voice.
Edward nodded, his chest heaving with exertion and a triumphant smile on his face. He might not have won the duel, but he had won something equally valuable—the acknowledgment of his capabilities and the promise of improvement which indirectly meant his passing of the test.
Thomas was taken aback by his son's display of skill, his astonishment quickly giving way to elation. He found himself filled with happiness, realizing that Edward hadn't been making empty boasts when he had requested the test within a week.
After triumphing in the initial round, Edward transitioned to the great hall to tackle the written test. The allotted time of three hours seemed rather scant for a paper encompassing 60 comprehensive questions. Perhaps that explained why the passing threshold was set at 150 out of 300.
The questions were easy for a modern man like himself but Edward made sure to not give out information about the future or write something controversial as he didn't want to spur trouble over a single paper.
After 3 hours, the answer sheet was collected and all four tutors sat at their chairs to analyze the answers. Within half an hour, each of them was done with their parts and each of them was equally shocked. Edward's score was as follows:
History - 70/75
Politics - 62/75
Language - 67/75
Arithmetic - 75/75
Total - 274/300
Achieving a score of 274 in the foundational written exam was an accomplishment reserved for the intellectually exceptional. The inquiries concerning History and Politics posed considerable challenges, yet Edward's responses were notably astute, offering clear and insightful explanations.
This examination marked the culmination of his foundational studies, paving the way for him to embark on the more advanced education befitting a nobleman. While typically undertaken at the ages of 13 or 14, Edward's expedited completion of the previous curriculum allowed him the opportunity to commence his advanced studies earlier.
The advanced learning encompassed a wide array of subjects including Horsemanship, Falconry, Hunting, Combat Training, Chivalry, Latin, Literature, Music, Art, Philosophy, Theology, and numerous others. This phase of education typically extended for a span of five years.
Over the last week and after the test, Edward's status has grown by a bit.
Status:
Name - Edward Plantagenet
Age - 11
Title - Heir of Norfolk
Martial - 6
Diplomacy - 5
Intelligence - 28
Reputation - C
Wealth - £2,116
Skills - Appraise (Lv. 3)
Level - 6 [219/600]
Spare Points - 1
His notable source of contentment came from the elevation of his reputation from D to C, signifying a transition from 'Somewhat Negative' to 'Neutral.' Additionally, he observed that beyond Level 5, each subsequent level advancement would provide a solitary spare point rather than the previous allocation of two.
Thomas approached Edward and remarked, "I must admit, your progress has taken me by surprise. Just last week, you were on the verge of death, and now you've managed to make me immensely proud with your achievements."
"The honor is mine, Father."
With a satisfied smile, Thomas affectionately patted his son on the back and asked Edward to take the upcoming week off, as his advanced education was slated to commence the following week.