After that little incident, night had already fallen. I quickly finished my meal and was about to head back to my room when my mother stopped me.
"Jade, I know you didn't do it on purpose, but next time you want to do something like that, tell me. I can help you. And don't try to lie to me; you're not very good at it," my mother said sternly, her gaze piercing.
"Yeah, I'm sorry again. But isn't grounding me for a week a bit too much?" I tried to lighten my punishment with a touch of charm.
My mother seemed to ponder for a moment before replying, "Alright, you're right. Maybe it is a bit much. Actually, you know what? I'll even help you with your magic," she said, a hint of warmth softening her tone.
"Wow, really, Mom? That's amazing. Thank you!" I exclaimed, embracing her tightly.
"It's nothing. Now, go to bed. We have an early start for your training tomorrow," she instructed.
I nodded, releasing my mother and heading to my room. As I lay in bed, excitement for the day ahead coursing through me, I didn't forget about the system.
"Status," I said, prompting a transparent tab to appear.
[Name: Jade Smith
Age: 5
Race: Half-human, half-dragon
HP: 900/900 > 1200/1200
MP: 1300/1300 > 1600/1600
Magic: 16 > 17
Strength: 10 > 12
Intelligence: 24
Appearance/Charisma: 22 > 23
Affinity: Fire
Skills: Cooking (B), Escape (C), Running (C+), Pain Resistance (F > E), Fire Magic (F): Fireball
Attribute points: 10]
Seeing my pain resistance level increase by one rank from just my mother's slap is both terrifying and impressive. It speaks to the strength of her hand. Yet, there are still no new quests, just the same ones lingering in the system.
Closing the system tab, I drift off to sleep. The next morning, still in the early hours, I'm peacefully dozing when suddenly, the door creaks open and footsteps echo in the room. Then, a hand gently touches my face.
"Come on, Jade, it's time to wake up. Training will begin soon," my mother says, pulling back the covers and forcing me into consciousness.
As I open my eyes, I realize the sun hasn't even risen yet.
"But mom, the sun isn't even up yet. Why wake me so early? Let me sleep a few more minutes," I protest, squeezing my eyes shut even though the covers are gone.
But my mother is insistent. She lifts me out of bed and carries me to the bathroom, then turns on the water, instantly jolting me awake.
The cold water splashes over me, shocking my senses and driving away any remnants of sleep. As I stand there, shivering, my mother's voice breaks through the haze.
"Sorry, Jade, but we have a lot to do today. You need to get ready for your training," she says, her tone firm yet caring.
Reluctantly, I begin to wash up, the cold water helping to wake me fully. Once I'm done, my mother hands me a towel and guides me back to my room to get dressed. Despite my protests about the early hour, I can't help but feel a sense of excitement building within me. Today marks the start of something new, something I've never experienced before: training in magic.
After dressing quickly, I follow my mother downstairs to the kitchen, where a simple breakfast awaits. We eat in relative silence, the anticipation of the day ahead hanging in the air. As we finish, my mother gathers up some supplies, including a few spellbooks and magical implements, before motioning for me to follow her outside.
As we stepped out of the house, the sun had just begun to crest the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink. It was a breathtaking sight, one that halted us a few meters from the doorstep as my mother began to speak.
"First things first, Jade, we'll start with some physical training, and for that, we're going to warm up with a bit of jogging," my mother said, her smile tinged with an enthusiasm I couldn't quite share.
I thought it would be a breeze since I'm accustomed to the two-kilometer runs required for my daily missions, but I was sorely mistaken. We started off well enough, but who could have guessed she'd have us running for two straight hours, with only a ten-minute break in between? By the end, I was gasping for breath, feeling like I was on my last legs, and so far, we had done nothing but run.
"Now, let's move on to some other exercises," my mother declared, her smile widening into what I could only describe as sadistic glee.
"Wait, mom, can't I at least get a break?" I pleaded, clinging to a sliver of hope.
"No," she replied firmly, leaving no room for negotiation.
And so, the physical training continued. We did all sorts of exercises: push-ups, squats, stretches. There was even a moment when she conjured up dumbbells out of thin air and instructed me to lift them. It was torture, and finally, after three grueling hours, it was over, much to my relief.
[Congratulations to the host for completing the daily quest. You have obtained 5 free attribute points to use.]
At least that was one task down. Just then, my stomach began to rumble, signaling that it was nearly time to eat.
"Oh, my baby is hungry, don't worry, the physical training is over. We'll have breakfast now, Jade," she said, heading back toward the house.
But my body was in too much pain; I couldn't move. I called out for help, but it seemed she didn't hear me as she walked back into the house without me. Resigned, I let my body collapse onto the grass and lay there, staring up at the sky.
[Pain Resistance increased by one level.]
I would have been surprised if that skill hadn't improved. After a few minutes, my mother returned with food. The smell alone made my stomach growl again. I sat up immediately, and she handed me a plate. We began to eat in silence, and with each bite, I felt a sense of refreshment wash over me, easing the aches in my body. Within 15 minutes, we had finished everything.
My mother collected the plates and disappeared into the house, only to return a few minutes later.
"Alright, Jade, are you ready to begin the second part of our training?" my mother asked, her smile both warm and mysterious.
Having regained my strength after the meal, I felt ready for whatever was next. I nodded in affirmation, eager to continue.
"So, what spell are you going to teach me today, Mom?" I asked, my enthusiasm bubbling over.
"Oh, you know I favor practice over theory," she replied cryptically.
Before I could grasp the meaning behind her words, she snapped her fingers, and suddenly, we were standing in the midst of a dense forest. The air was thick with the sense of lurking danger, and I couldn't shake the feeling that at any moment, a wild beast might pounce.
"Let the magical training begin, Jade," my mother declared, her laughter echoing ominously through the trees.