Sebastian, now fully embodying the young Asta, stood outside the orphanage in Hage Village. The crisp morning air carried the scent of freshly tilled soil and pine from the surrounding forests. His small hands gripped a piece of charred wood as he stared at the crude wooden board he had fashioned into a makeshift chalkboard.
"I have ten years," he muttered to himself, determination etched into his youthful face. "Ten years to prepare for the future. No wasted time. No wasted potential."
With deliberate strokes, he began outlining his plan for the decade ahead. The board quickly filled with a meticulous schedule, broken down into hours and activities:
Daily Schedule
Morning:
1. Strength Training (Push-ups, sit-ups, squats, lifting rocks from the fields)
2. Endurance Building (Running laps around the village, climbing hills, swimming if possible)
Afternoon:
1. Skill Practice (Farming, basic chores, assisting villagers to gain practical skills)
2. Book Reading/Trade (Seek out books from villagers, study available subjects, and trade labor for knowledge)
Evening:
1. Mental Exercises (Focus drills, memorization games, visualization techniques)
2. Reflection and Planning (Review progress, write observations, and set goals for the next day)
Sebastian took a step back to admire his work. The schedule was rigorous, but it was a necessity. Asta's future self became strong through sheer willpower and perseverance, but Sebastian's advantage lay in his knowledge. He would use every tool at his disposal to optimize his growth.
The initial days were punishing. Though Sebastian's young body brimmed with natural energy, it was unaccustomed to the relentless training he imposed. Mornings began with sets of push-ups, sit-ups, and squats. By the third day, his arms and legs trembled under the strain, but he pushed through, driven by the chiming of the System:
[Physical: +1 Strength]
[Physical: +1 Endurance]
Each notification was a victory, a tangible reminder that his efforts were paying off.
In the afternoons, Sebastian dedicated himself to skill-building. The village elder, Sister Lily, often assigned him tasks to help maintain the orphanage: plowing the fields, planting seeds, repairing tools, and preparing meals. Though mundane, these activities were invaluable. By the end of the week, the System acknowledged his progress:
[New Skill Unlocked: Farming (Basic)]
Farming (Basic): Enhances proficiency in planting, cultivating, and harvesting crops. Higher levels improve efficiency and yield.
[New Skill Unlocked: Cooking (Basic)]
Cooking (Basic): Grants the ability to prepare simple meals. Higher levels allow for better ingredient management, nutrition, and flavor.
Evenings brought quiet study. Books were scarce in Hage Village, but Sebastian found a dusty tome on herbal remedies left in the orphanage's storage room. The dense text challenged him, but with persistence, he deciphered its contents:
[New Skill Unlocked: Herbology (Basic)]
Herbology (Basic): Provides knowledge of common plants and their uses, including basic remedies. Higher levels allow identification of rarer herbs and creation of advanced treatments.
[Mental: +1 Intelligence]
[Mental: +1 Wisdom]
Sebastian's training wasn't limited to physical exertion or academic pursuits. He incorporated the realities of village life into his regimen, transforming mundane tasks into opportunities for growth. On the fourth day, while retrieving a stuck kite from a tree for one of the younger children, he felt a surge of balance and coordination:
[New Skill Unlocked: Climbing (Basic)]
Climbing (Basic): Increases proficiency in scaling surfaces like trees, rocks, and walls. Higher levels improve speed, grip strength, and efficiency.
Similarly, his morning sprints around the village evolved into something more. By the second week, his strides grew longer and more controlled, allowing him to outpace even the older children:
[New Skill Unlocked: Sprinting (Basic)]
Sprinting (Basic): Enhances short-distance running speed and stamina. Higher levels increase burst speed and energy conservation.
Bounding exercises also paid off. After several sessions of jumping drills—hopping over rocks, barrels, and low fences—his vertical leap improved dramatically:
[New Skill Unlocked: Jumping (Basic)]
Jumping (Basic): Boosts vertical and horizontal leaping ability. Higher levels provide increased height, distance, and control.
Books were rare treasures in Hage Village, often hoarded by their owners. To access them, Sebastian adopted a strategy of bartering labor for knowledge. One afternoon, he approached the apothecary, a stern but kind man named Brann.
"If I gather herbs for you," Sebastian proposed, "will you lend me your book on potion-making?"
Brann raised an eyebrow but eventually agreed. Days of foraging and careful study followed, yielding new insights and another notification:
[New Skill Unlocked: Potion Crafting (Basic)]
Potion Crafting (Basic): Allows creation of simple potions using common ingredients. Higher levels improve success rates and potency.
[Mental: +1 Focus]
By the end of month, Sebastian's progress was undeniable. His body had grown leaner and stronger, his mind sharper and more disciplined. The System's interface now displayed a wealth of incremental stat gains and a growing list of skills:
Primary Stats:
Physical: 35
Mental: 25
Magic: 0
Detailed Stats:
> Physical: Strength: 10 | Speed: 8 | Endurance: 12 | Charisma: 5
> Mental: Intelligence: 10 | Wisdom: 8 | Focus: 7
Skills:
> Farming (Intermediate): Improved crop cultivation efficiency.
> Cooking (Intermediate): Enhanced meal preparation with better nutrition and flavor.
> Climbing (Intermediate): Increased speed and grip strength when scaling surfaces.
> Sprinting (Intermediate): Faster burst speed and better energy conservation.
> Jumping (Intermediate): Higher jumps and better control over landing.
> Literacy (Basic): The ability to read and write at a fundamental level. This skill allows for the comprehension of basic texts.
> Herbology (Basic): Foundational plant knowledge.
> Potion Crafting (Basic): Ability to create simple potions.
As he reviewed the interface, Sebastian couldn't help but smile. These notifications weren't just numbers; they were proof of his efforts and determination.