Ten years later.
Shadow stood in front of a well, gradually he pulled water from the well. Behind him were shouts of training.
"Harder!"
"Faster!"
"More precision. Lower your body and maintain defenses"
The other bastards of the Lord were training. Well, they weren't bastards, but Shadow preferred to call them by that.
He gazed at them with deep violet eyes and instantly saw their weaknesses. He scoffed a little and turned his attention back to the well.
He wasn't allowed to train.
His mother, Lea was a maid. A servant of the Draven family and as such she had no noble blood. The others, on the other hand, had mothers who came from prestigious families.
He glanced at the other bastards once more, his eyes met with one who sat in the ground. A girl.
He couldn't quite remember her name, but he knew she was less of a bastard than the rest were.
In the house of Draven. Only swordsmen were made. It was the only skill that was given preference above all. And the girl who locked eyes with him had not a lick of talent in Swordsmanship.
She was a mage.
Shadow turned away and hefted his bucket of water. His body was still weak and scrawny, but he had done what he could to strengthen his body as much as possible.
In the time Shadow had been alive. He had observed that this world was basically a fantasy world. The kind that existed on earth.
Magic, spells, monsters, caves, and the lot…
He had taken the last decade to learn all that he could about this world. It's magic system, power balance, politics, and everything that mattered.
But what caught his attention the most were the attributes of magic that each person had. It was intriguing to say in the least.
Especially his. Shadow had manifested a rare attribute. As his name implied, he had the shadow attribute.
He felt it was a corny joke made by Syl. Although he would have preferred a more destructive attribute.
Lightning would have been much better.
He sighed outwardly.
[BORED? I THOUGHT YOU DIDN'T LIKE THE OTHER SPAWNS OF LORD DRAVEN?]
I don't.
He was almost at his makeshift cottage. He had made himself in the depths of the forest where he could train and be at peace. Away from the nagging and disturbances of the others.
[DON'T YOU FEEL LONELY?]
I prefer being alone.
He wished he could shut up the system that rang commands and gave demands whenever it wanted.
It was Syl. But not exactly Syl.
A fragment of her consciousness. It had been two years ago when he randomly saw a holographic message pop up in front of him.
He had been in the forest looking for fruits and herbs from the tops of trees and roots of bushes.
He shook the memory away and focused on himself.
"Kael!"
"Kael!"
Shadow heard his name being called. The voice belonged to the only other woman who cared for him even though he had tried pushing her away countless times.
Lisa.
"I'm here" he said tiredly as he dropped the bucket of water on the ground. He stretched his arm out, swinging them in slow circular motions.
His training was a bit too much for his fragile body, but he didn't care. He had to get stronger fast. And the system was doing everything it could to make that happen.
Although Shadow would wish he never had the system to begin with…
"Oohh, where have you been?" She rushed at him. Pulling him into a tight hug.
"Where you hurt anywhere? Did they insult you or beat you up?" She checked his body for any marks of wounds or injuries. But nothing.
"I'm fine" he said pushing her slightly away. Lisa felt a bit hurt by that gesture. But Shadow couldn't help it.
He had finally understood the reason he had been called upon this world. He couldn't bask around in Lisa's comfort or be lazy in his training.
He also didn't want to be used. However...
He was still too weak.
"Thank goodness you're okay. I've told you many times to avoid playing around with the other children of Laird Draven. It's not safe for you, they could…." Her voice broke.
"Could what?" He asked. His voice, stern and demanding.
Shadow immediately caught himself. Just now he didn't sound like a ten-year-old child and that was a problem. He couldn't go around sounding like a grown man in his fifties.
"I just want you to be safe… Your mother" she began.
"I know, Aunt Lisa. You've told me the story countless times. But I'll be fine. They beat me up just that one time and never again" Shadow said, his voice softened towards her.
"I promise" he added. He didn't want to remember the woman who birthed him. Neither did he want to remember being beaten up by a bunch of toddlers.
[QUEST!]
Aah shit! Shadow cursed.
[RAID THE CAVE OF GOBLINS IN THE EASTERN REACH OF THE FOREST.]
[TIME LIMIT]
[TWO HOURS.]
[FAILURE TO COMPLETE THE QUEST.]
[MANA REFLUX AND DIARRHEA.]
[GOOD LUCK!]
Shadow's face crumpled into a frown. He hated the random quests that the system gave him. They were absolutely unnecessary.
But the rewards were always worth it…
He smiled at himself and looked at Lisa. He raised himself up, standing on his toes and kissed Lisa on her cheeks.
"Can I go play in the forest? I want to pick up some fruits and berries he pleaded.
Lisa looked a bit taken aback by the gesture but smiled warmly. "Don't take too long, be back before sunset" she said as she straightened up.
Shadow ran away like a child happily would, into the forest until he was covered by trees and debris.
He stopped abruptly and turned towards the east. His eyes darkened as the surrounding shadows moved.
They obeyed him and did as he willed. Wrapping themselves around his body and forming two little sharp daggers in his hands.
Shadow dashed forward.