----- System Status -----
Name: Kael Dray
Age: 6 years
Mana: 0
Resources: 0
Physical Stats:
Strength: 12.50 Dexterity: 14.75 Endurance: 13.90 Mental Clarity: 80.25 Vitality: 15.10
Condition:
Physical: Healthy (Well-nourished) Mental: Focused (Analytical thinker)
Kael's eyes fluttered open as soft rays of morning light streamed through the small wooden window of his room. His gaze instinctively fell on the translucent blue screen hovering just above him. Six years had passed since his rebirth, and the system window, his silent companion, was now a familiar sight.
Though his physical stats had steadily improved, the mana line remained stubbornly at zero. It didn't bother him—yet. His father had explained that mana only manifested after a person's coming of age at fifteen. Until then, the body and mind needed to adapt to the ambient mana, slowly converting it into soft mana compatible with human physiology. The system's clarification had echoed this: mana wasn't just rare; it was a privilege. Even among those who came of age, only a few could wield it meaningfully, and fewer still would learn to channel it into spells or techniques.
Kael pushed the thoughts aside, rolling off his straw mattress and stretching his growing limbs. His small but lean frame reflected his active lifestyle—endless running, climbing, and occasionally tumbling around the village. His unruly black hair fell into his sharp gray eyes as he caught a glimpse of himself in a polished bronze mirror propped against the wall. The six-year-old boy who stared back looked healthier and more vibrant than most kids his age, thanks to his conscious focus on nutrition and exercise.
Sliding open the wooden door, Kael stepped into the warm embrace of the village morning. The sound of chirping birds mixed with the distant chatter of merchants setting up their stalls. His family's stone house stood sturdy and cool, a symbol of their relatively higher status as the village head's household. Nearby, wooden houses dotted the landscape, simpler but functional, reflecting the modest means of most villagers.
Kael wandered through the narrow dirt paths, his bare feet enjoying the earthy texture beneath. A small group of children gathered near the village well, their laughter carrying in the crisp air. He approached them, joining their innocent games of tag and mock battles with sticks. Despite his advanced intellect, Kael understood the importance of blending in, of living as any normal child would in this world.
As he played, his mind remained observant. The stone walls of his home, the wooden fences, the patched roofs—each material told a story of costs and labor. His father had once explained the tax system: the villagers paid 20% of their income in goods, services, or money to maintain the village infrastructure and fund communal projects. From that, a hefty 1,000 gold pieces annually were sent to the baron as a fixed tax, leaving around 500 gold pieces for village development and maintenance.
Kael's analytical mind quickly broke down the material and labor costs of various structures around him. Houses made from sturdy timber required consistent maintenance, while stone constructions, though pricier, lasted decades with minimal repairs. The village well, a communal asset, was an essential lifeline, and its construction likely involved a significant investment of both time and resources.
Currency Conversion:
1 Copper Coin (cp) = 1 penny
1 Silver Coin (sp) = 100 Copper Coins
1 Gold Coin (gp) = 100 Silver Coins = 10,000 Copper Coins
**Material-Based Prices:**
Bread (1 loaf, made from wheat flour) - 2-3 cp
Material breakdown: Wheat (2 cp) + basic cooking cost (1 cp).
Milk (1 liter, cow's milk) - 3-4 cp
Vegetables (per bundle, e.g., carrots, potatoes) - 3-4 cp
Eggs (per dozen) - 10-12 cp
Meat (1 kg, beef or pork) - 40-50 cp
Material breakdown: Animal raising cost + butchering (35 cp) + market markup (5-15 cp).
Wood (1 cubic meter, basic oak or pine) - 5-7 cp
Charcoal (10 kg) - 8-10 cp
Stone (1 cubic meter, basic quarry stone) - 7-10 cp
Iron Ore (per kg) - 10-12 cp
Leather (per 1 sq meter) - 15-20 cp
Rope (per meter, basic plant fiber) - 1-2 cp
Basic Hammer (wooden handle, iron head) - 1-2 sp (100-200 cp)
Material breakdown: Iron (10 cp) + wood (5 cp) + crafting (25-30 cp).
Axe (wooden handle, iron head) - 2-3 sp (200-300 cp)
Material breakdown: Iron (20 cp) + wood (10 cp) + crafting (30-50 cp).
Knife (simple, iron blade) - 1-2 sp (100-200 cp)
Material breakdown: Iron (10 cp) + crafting (20-30 cp).
Basic Sword (iron blade, wooden or simple leather handle) - 3-5 sp (300-500 cp)
Material breakdown: Iron (40-50 cp) + leather (10-15 cp) + wood (10-15 cp) + crafting (100-150 cp).
Basic Tunic (wool or linen) - 5-7 cp
Material breakdown: Wool (3-4 cp) + crafting (2-3 cp).
Basic Shoes (leather) - 1-2 sp (100-200 cp)
Material breakdown: Leather (20-30 cp) + crafting (50-100 cp).
Tent (simple canvas, 2-person) - 3-4 sp (300-400 cp)
Material breakdown: Canvas (50-100 cp) + rope (20 cp) + craftsmanship (100-150 cp).
Bed (simple wood frame, basic bedding) - 2-3 sp (200-300 cp)
Material breakdown: Wood (50-75 cp) + fabric (50-75 cp) + crafting (50-75 cp).
Quality Iron Sword (with leather handle, sharper design) - 5-8 sp (500-800 cp)
Material breakdown: Iron (60-80 cp) + leather (20 cp) + craftsmanship (150-200 cp).
Magic Potion (basic healing, low-grade) - 3-5 sp (300-500 cp)
Material breakdown: Herb (50-100 cp) + magic formula (crafted by mage or potion master).
Simple Magic Item (e.g., enchanted amulet) - 5-10 sp (500-1000 cp)
Material breakdown: Base material (10-30 cp) + enchantment (depending on mage's skill, could be higher).
Writing Materials (parchment, ink) - 1-2 cp (for a set of parchment and ink)
Basic Saddle (for riding) - 3-5 sp (300-500 cp)
.From his calculations, most households lived on modest means,and the village economy was like this
Average Household Income: 40gp/year
Sources of Income:
Farmers (Majority of Households):
Produce staple crops like wheat, barley, and vegetables. Additional income from livestock (milk, wool, eggs). Income estimate:
Crop yield (after consumption and storage): ~20 gp/year. Livestock products: ~5 gp/year. Occasional surplus sales: ~5 gp/year.
Total: 30 gp/year.
Craftsmen (Blacksmiths, Carpenters, etc.):
Earn from selling tools, furniture, and repairing equipment. Income estimate:
Sales/services: ~40 gp/year. Occasional large commissions: ~10 gp/year.
Total: 50 gp/year.
Merchants and Traders:
Earn from buying and selling goods locally or in nearby villages. Income estimate:
Profit margin: ~70 gp/year (after covering travel and trade expenses).
Laborers and Miscellaneous Workers:
Work on farms, construction, or odd jobs. Income estimate: ~15 gp/year.
Average Household Expenses:
Categories of Expenses:
Basic Food (Grain, Vegetables, Meat, etc.):
Cost: ~12 gp/year for a family of 4.
Clothing and Shoes:
Simple garments: ~3 gp/year. Occasional repairs or replacements: ~1 gp/year. Total: 4 gp/year.
Housing Maintenance:
Repairs, roofing, etc.: ~3 gp/year.
Fuel (Wood, Charcoal):
Cooking and heating: ~2 gp/year.
Tools and Utensils:
Farming tools, kitchenware: ~2 gp/year.
Community Contributions (Taxes to Village Head):
20% of income paid in goods or coin. Example: For farmers earning 30 gp/year, ~6 gp goes to taxes.
Miscellaneous:
Festivities, occasional luxuries: ~3 gp/year.
Total Household Expenses: ~25-30 gp/year for an average family.
Income vs. Expenses Summary:
Farmers:
Income: 30 gp/year. Expenses: 26 gp/year. Surplus: ~4 gp/year (often saved or reinvested in livestock or tools).
Craftsmen:
Income: 50 gp/year. Expenses: 30 gp/year. Surplus: ~20 gp/year.
Merchants:
Income: 70 gp/year. Expenses: 40 gp/year. Surplus: ~30 gp/year.
Laborers:
Income: 15 gp/year. Expenses: 12 gp/year. Surplus: ~3 gp/year.
Village Head's Tax Collection:
Total Households in Village: ~200. Tax Collection (20%):
Farmers:1,200 gp/year.
Craftsmen: 200 gp/year.
Merchants: 140 gp/year.
Laborers: 60 gp/year.
Total Tax Collected: ~1,600 gp/year.
This tax revenue funds village infrastructure, festivals, and reserves for emergencies. The remaining surplus stays with households, allowing for trade, reinvestment, or savings.
most households just barely covers their expenses after taxes. Yet, this simplicity also meant that the community relied on trade, mutual support, and careful planning to survive.
Kael's curiosity extended beyond just physical structures. He observed how the village market operated, taking note of the bustling trade of grains, livestock, and handmade tools. Every item exchanged held a value tied to the labor and resources that created it. Silver pieces were the most common currency, but bartering still thrived, with farmers trading surplus crops for blacksmiths' services or tailors' goods. Kael marveled at the intricate dance of supply and demand, the invisible threads weaving together the economic life of Eldham.
Returning home as the sun began its slow descent, Kael couldn't shake a thought that lingered at the edge of his mind. This world, with its lack of advanced technology and limited magic, offered him an opportunity—a blank slate to create, innovate, and build. And build, he would.
He entered the house, greeted by the familiar scent of his mother's cooking. The warm aroma of baked bread and simmering stew filled the small kitchen. His father sat at the sturdy oak table, meticulously reviewing village records. Kael watched him for a moment, admiring the quiet diligence that had earned his father the villagers' respect. The records detailed everything from crop yields to livestock counts, a meticulous account of the village's productivity.
"Kael, come here," his father called, motioning to an empty chair beside him. Kael eagerly complied, his young mind hungry for knowledge. His father began explaining the logistics of crop rotation, how alternating between grains and legumes enriched the soil and maximized harvests. Kael listened intently, absorbing every word like a sponge. He could see the potential for improvement, the ways in which even small changes could yield better results.
As the evening deepened, Kael found himself lost in thought. The future loomed before him, vast and brimming with possibilities. He was a child of two worlds: one of medieval simplicity and another of futuristic complexity. Each day brought him closer to unlocking the potential within himself and the world around him.
With a final glance at the system window, Kael closed his eyes, letting the warmth of the hearth and the soothing sounds of his family lull him to sleep. Nine years remained before he could wield mana .