Weeks had passed since Palim discovered the status panel.
The first time it appeared, he'd been shocked. A floating screen, much like something from a video game, with his name, age, and abilities neatly listed. His brain had instantly latched onto it, analyzing and categorizing what little information it presented.
The stats were simple—basic, in fact. Strength, agility, intelligence, mana—all set at 1. Probably typical for a newborn, but it didn't sit right with him.
What stood out most, however, was the EX Skill: Recycle.
What does it mean by recycle? he'd wondered.
His scientific mind took over. Recycle, in his previous life, had meant reprocessing materials into reusable forms. Was it the same here? Or did it mean something entirely different in a magical world?
He needed to experiment. But how could a baby experiment without raising suspicions?
It started small. He focused on the concept of recycling, imagining different things—objects, food, air, even his own body. Nothing changed.
Then one afternoon, a crumpled piece of cloth had fallen into his crib. His sister, Becca, had been playing nearby and didn't notice.
Palim stared at the cloth, thinking hard. He tried to imagine it merging, fusing with him. Become his strength. The word "recycle" echoed in his mind, and without knowing exactly how, he activated the skill.
There was a soft shimmer in the air.
The cloth disintegrated into nothing, leaving behind a faint trace of energy that Palim felt flow into him. His heart raced. He hadn't expected it to work.
He checked his panel immediately.
Attributes Updated
Strength: 1 -> 1.01
Agility: 1 -> 1.01
Stamina: 1 -> 1.01
His recycling process had converted the cloth's material into raw energy that increased his stats. But the result was minimal. A single decimal point in strength and mana didn't feel much, but the principle was fascinating.
The skill didn't simply reuse materials to make other objects; it seemed it could convert them into raw energy, possibly based on their composition. It could be an energy-to-mass conversion of sorts. Efficient.
However, he realized the limits of his baby body quickly. Using Recycle drained him—mentally and physically. His stamina was low, and the amount of energy a simple cloth provided wasn't enough to make a significant difference.
He pushed further. Over the next few weeks, he tested on different small items—stray scraps of food, tiny pebbles, even spilled water. He realized that materials with higher densities or more complex structures gave more energy when recycled.
Attributes Updated
Strength: 1.01 -> 2
Agility: 1.01 -> 2
Stamina: 1.01 -> 2
His progress was slow. Too slow for his liking. Recycling gave him a meager boost, and the strain on his body meant he could only experiment in short bursts. But every point mattered. He tried to focus on a specific stat, like "absorbing this to make him stronger", but while his instinct told him he could do it, he wasn't able to. Yet.
The EX Skill: Recycle wasn't limited to physical objects either. He noticed a faint interaction with the air around him when he focused hard enough. His mana stat had something to do with it, but his understanding of magic here was limited.
So much to learn, he thought.
Language was also in good progress.
Palim knew that understanding his family was crucial. He wanted to know more about the world, and listening to his family's dinner talks was his best way to learn.
His progress with the native language was swift, thanks to his intellect. He paid close attention to everything—how Elena spoke to him, how Ruth gave simple instructions to Becca, the way words flowed in daily conversation.
The language itself was structured similarly to what he knew from Earth, though there were subtle differences. It didn't take him long to grasp basic patterns, the simple words for "food," "sleep," "mother," and "father."
He also learned phrases that indicated care, like the gentle way Elena would coo, "Rest, little one," or how Ruth would say, "You're safe with us."
Becca was, by far, the most interesting teacher. She talked constantly.
When she played with him, her chatter was non-stop, giving Palim a chance to absorb more complex vocabulary. She used words that often confused him at first—describing animals, toys, and even places he hadn't seen yet.
But repetition was key. After weeks of listening, he understood basic conversation. And though his baby mouth couldn't form the words yet, his mind was absorbing it all like a sponge.
Becca, his cute older sister. She adored him.
The bond between them was growing stronger with each passing day. She was always eager to hold him, to show him toys or simply sit beside him and babble about her latest adventures.
"Look, Palim! This is a ball! You'll play with me soon, right?"
Palim would smile or gurgle, and she'd beam, proud of her ability to entertain her baby brother. She loved taking care of him, and in return, Palim enjoyed her presence. It reminded him of the simpler joys of brotherhood, something he hadn't experienced in so long during his previous life.
At times, he even wondered if Becca sensed how different he was. But if she did, she didn't show it. To her, he was just her adorable, slightly more alert baby brother.
Despite his mental maturity, Palim had to restrain himself.
Physically, he was still just a baby, but with the slight stat increases, he could feel his body developing faster than normal. His muscles, although weak, responded quicker. He could lift his head, move his limbs with more coordination, and even shift his body in ways that felt beyond a newborn's capabilities.
But he couldn't let his parents notice. He needed to blend in, act like a normal baby. His movements were slow, deliberate. Whenever Elena or Ruth were near, he made sure to fumble and flail just like any infant would.
When he was alone, though, he tested his boundaries.
He would wiggle his toes, flex his fingers, and stretch his legs under the blanket. Every tiny action felt like progress. Maybe he gained some stats thanks to that, but with his experiments with the Recycle skill, he couldn't be sure.
He imagined what it would be like when he could finally crawl, walk, and eventually run.
But he wasn't there yet.
His main concern was control. If his parents saw him moving too skillfully, they'd start asking questions. He needed more time to build up his strength and agility without drawing attention.
Still, the feeling of his body developing was exciting. His increased stats gave him a sense of power, even in this small, helpless form.
Palim's mind raced constantly.
The potential of this world was immense. The combination of magic, his Recycle skill, and the knowledge from his past life offered endless possibilities. He had barely scratched the surface, but already, the idea of growing stronger consumed him.
He needed more information. He needed to understand the limits of magic here, the rules of this world, and how his skill fit into it all.
Most of all, he needed time. Thankfully, he was only a few weeks old.
But patience wasn't easy. Every day, he felt the urge to push further, to explore more. But his current form was still too weak, too limited.
The world beyond the walls of his home was a mystery. He had heard Becca and Ruth talk about the village, the forests nearby, and the bustling markets. He couldn't wait to see them for himself.
He felt a familiar drive rising in him, the same one that had pushed him in his past life. The desire to build, to improve, to innovate.
But this time, it wasn't just about technology or science. It was about surviving in a world filled with magic, danger, and unknown forces.
Soon, he thought.
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My first Original Work !
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