I'm puzzled, not understanding why we're training in the forest when my mother always says it's dangerous and we shouldn't go there. I don't hesitate to ask her the question.
"Mom, why are we training in the forest when you always say it's dangerous?" I ask, feeling a bit frightened as I sense constant observation.
"Oh, it's to prevent potential destruction, like our house that you partially burned. I remind you that we're not wealthy, and if the house burns down completely, we'll end up homeless," my mother says with a smile.
Feeling a pang of guilt at her words, I nod in agreement.
"So, what are we starting with?" I ask, curious.
"I'll begin by teaching you the basics of magic. Magic comes from life itself. It's the energy of the stars, the whisper of the trees, and the beat of our own hearts. To call upon it, you must listen to the world, feel its pulse, and connect with that life force," my mother explains.
I listen attentively as she continues.
"Magic is composed of different elements: fire, water, earth, air, light, darkness, lightning, etc. Each element has its own nature, strengths, and weaknesses. You must learn to know them, to respect them, and to master them," she elaborates.
As I listen, I nod, wondering when I'll have access to elements other than fire.
"Everyone has one or more particular affinities with the elements, but that doesn't mean you won't be able to use the other elements. For example, I have an affinity with lightning," she says, conjuring a small bolt of lightning in her hand.
Seeing this fascinates me, and I'm eager to learn more.
"But above all, never forget that with magic comes great responsibility. It must be used wisely and cautiously. Never let your emotions dominate you, because magic reflects your soul. If you're angry or afraid, magic will respond to those feelings," she says sternly.
"Of course, don't worry, Mom. I'll be very careful," I reassure her.
"Good, then if you understand that, it's already a great advancement," she says, ruffling my hair affectionately.
"Now let's move on to the practice. Since you seem to have an affinity with fire, we'll start with that," she says eagerly.
"Focus, Jade. Feel the fire within you," she urges, her voice firm yet encouraging.
I close my eyes and concentrate, envisioning the fiery energy coursing through my veins. Slowly, I feel a warm glow emanating from my core, and when I open my eyes, a small flame dances in my palm.
"Good, now let's see what you can do with it," my mother says, a hint of excitement in her voice.
With her guidance, I experiment with controlling the flame, adjusting its size and intensity. As I grow more confident, my mother challenges me to direct the fire toward a nearby tree, igniting a controlled blaze that sends sparks scattering into the air.
[Fire Magic skill leveled up.]
"That's very good, Jade, keep it up," she encourages me.
But our training is soon interrupted by the sudden appearance of a fearsome creature lurking in the shadows. It appears to be a bear, a massive beast with bulging muscles and shaggy fur as black as ink. Its eyes, two glowing slits, seem to burn with rage. Scars mar its body, and it appears very angry. I wonder what kind of monster it is when the system tab appears.
"If you want to know what kind of monster it is, just stare at the creature and you'll gain a new skill," the system says.
I heed the system's advice and do as instructed. After a few seconds, a new tab appears.
[You have acquired the skill Inspection.]
After staring at the creature for a moment, the system tab displays the following information:
[Name: Shadowclaw Bear
Element: Dark
HP: 5000/5000
MP: 8000/8000
Strength: 45
Magic: 55
Intelligence: 20
Skills :
Shadow Strike (B): Shadowclaw Bear lunges from the obscurity of the forest, its claws infused with darkness. The strike leaves lingering shadows on its prey, sapping their strength.
Night Vision (B+): Adapted to the dense forest, Shadowclaw Bear's eyes pierce through the darkest night. It can track its quarry even when the moon hides behind clouds.
Dark Resilience ( B): The bear's thick fur absorbs malevolent energies. It shrugs off curses and hexes, emerging unscathed from magical assaults.
Forest Camouflage (B): When still, Shadowclaw Bear blends seamlessly with the foliage. Its form becomes indistinguishable from the surrounding trees, making it an elusive predator.
Age: 40]
Upon seeing this, I realize the magnitude of the threat before us. Before the bear can make a move, my mother intervenes. With a snap of her fingers, she unleashes a torrent of flames, engulfing the creature in a blaze. In moments, the bear is reduced to nothing but ashes and dust. I watch in awe, realizing the extent of my mother's power. In that moment, I vow never to provoke her again.
Shaken by the display of force, I decide to use my new skill to view my mother's statistics.
[Access Denied: Unauthorized Command]
I'm initially surprised; I hadn't expected this, but before I can delve deeper into my thoughts, my mother's voice brings me back to reality.
"So, Jade, surprised to see how strong your mother is? That's why you need to train like this; that's how you'll become as strong as me," my mother says with a smile.
I nod in agreement, and the training resumes. For what feels like two hours, I focus on honing my fire magic, which once again levels up. As darkness falls, I'm surprised that no other monsters have attacked us since the bear incident.
"Alright, Jade, let's call it a day. You did well; I'm proud of you," my mother says with a smile, her words bringing some comfort to my tired body.
"Thank you, Mom, but it's mostly because of you," I reply with a smile.
My mother responds with a smile of her own, then snaps her fingers, and we find ourselves back home.
"Go take a shower, Jade. I'll prepare dinner," my mother says as she heads to the kitchen.
I head to my room and then to the bathroom. Stepping into the shower, the warm water cascading over my body immediately relaxes my muscles.
"System, why couldn't I access my mother's status earlier?" I ask curiously.
[It seems there's a force preventing me from seeing her status, as if it's forbidden] the system responds.
I'm surprised. First, the fact that I've transmigrated, and now this. I wonder what secrets my mother holds in this new world and why she's so powerful. Unfortunately, there isn't much information about Jade Smith's parents in the book; it's all very strange.