"I guess it's time to meet Sir Bajar," Shin murmured to himself, stepping into the dark tunnel. He activated his skill, Shattering Booster, and in an instant, he reached the academy grounds. Without delay, he made his way to his dorm room, only to find Sir Bajar waiting for him inside.
"Wow, I didn't expect you to get here this early!" Bajar said, clapping his hands with mock surprise.
"Well, Lady Fiona said she needed to meet with Priest Charles, so I figured I'd use the extra time to get here quickly," Shin replied casually.
"I see," Bajar said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "Well, are you ready for our final training session this month?"
"Yes, sir," Shin said, his tone firm and serious.
Without another word, Bajar tossed a small, glowing cube onto the ground. As it hit the floor, a portal opened, revealing a shimmering pathway to a hidden location. Shin followed Bajar through the portal, the vibrant landscape beyond unlike anything he'd seen before.
They walked for a while until Shin found a sturdy tree to rest against. He watched curiously as Bajar headed toward an old wooden cabin nearby.
Why's he going in there? Shin wondered, his curiosity piqued.
A few minutes later, Bajar emerged, carrying a wooden tray laden with a strange dish.
"What's that?" Shin asked, eyeing the food with interest.
Bajar sat down beside him and set the tray between them. "It's called chuchimi. In my hometown, it's a symbol of loyalty and respect."
Shin examined the dish a perfectly grilled fish wrapped around a mound of fragrant, golden rice. He picked up a piece and took a bite, his eyes lighting up immediately.
"Wow! This is amazing!" Shin said, his voice full of excitement.
Bajar chuckled. "It's a rare delicacy. The rice can only be grown in special soil, and the fish… well, let's just say it takes a skilled hand to catch one. It's not easy to prepare, but it's worth it."
"But… why are you giving this to me?" Shin asked, looking genuinely confused.
"It's simple," Bajar said with a grin. "You're my student. And as your teacher, it's my duty to take care of you."
Shin's eyes began to water, his voice trembling as he spoke. "S-Sir… I… I've never had someone care about me like this before. Besides my grandma and my best friend…"
"Hey, hey, stop crying! You look pathetic!" Bajar said, patting Shin's shoulder awkwardly.
"I-I'm sorry, sir. I just… I couldn't help it," Shin stammered, trying to wipe his tears away.
"Well, get used to it. We'll be spending a lot of time together, so you'd better toughen up," Bajar said with a laugh, trying to cheer him up.
After a brief silence, Bajar looked at Shin with a curious expression. "By the way, Shin, you've never told me your last name."
"I-I don't have one," Shin said hesitantly. "I'm an orphan. My grandma took me in, but she never gave me her last name. She said… it was to keep me hidden. When I was ten, she told me the truth."
Bajar's expression softened, and he placed a firm hand on Shin's head. "I see. Well then, from now on, you can use my last name. I'll be your father figure."
"R-Really?" Shin asked, his voice shaking with disbelief.
Bajar nodded, a warm smile spreading across his face. "You're now Shin de Monico."
"T-Thank you, sir. I'll make sure to make that name known across the world!" Shin said, lowering his head in gratitude.
"Here." Bajar handed him a small glass of deep red liquid.
"What's this?" Shin asked, eyeing the drink suspiciously.
"It's a special wine. Today marks the start of me treating you as one of my own blood," Bajar said.
Shin hesitated for a moment before gulping it down in one go. "Woah, that's strong! What's it made of?"
"Different kinds of fruit… and a little animal blood," Bajar said nonchalantly.
"W-What?!" Shin's eyes widened in shock.
"Relax, it's safe. It's supposed to be sweeter, but I only brewed it for two months. I started making it the day we met," Bajar explained, laughing at Shin's horrified expression.
After finishing their meal, they stood up, stretching and preparing for what lay ahead.
"Now," Bajar said, cracking his neck, "let's talk about what you'll face in the festival… and the challenges you'll encounter in the future."
"I don't know what kind of abilities your Earth has, but judging from you... I'd probably think your world has nothing to offer," Bajar said bluntly, his tone carrying a sharp edge.
Shin flinched, feeling a pang in his chest. "Agh-"
"No offense," Bajar added, though his expression remained serious.
"I mean… it's true I was a loser," Shin thought bitterly, his gaze dropping. But Earth has its abilities too… I shouldn't tell him that. If I do, I'll just get bullied for being weak again.
Bajar crossed his arms, his eyes narrowing. "First, let me explain the power that everyone here is born with a gift from the heavens."
As he spoke, a square, transparent screen materialized in front of Shin. The glowing display bore the words [Trait Holder], along with lines of information that Shin couldn't fully comprehend yet.
"W-Woah… i-it's like a system!" Shin stammered, his eyes wide with amazement.
"System?" Bajar repeated, raising a brow.
"Ah, yeah! It's kind of like this. Almost every registered hero back in my world has something similar," Shin said brightly, his enthusiasm breaking through.
Bajar smirked. "So, you guys do have powers. And yet, somehow… you're still weak?"
"Well… it's only for the chosen few," Shin admitted, his tone deflating slightly.
"I see," Bajar said, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "Anyway, it's rare for someone to openly show their Trait Holder. Normally, they're hidden. Only specific traits allow a user to display their information like mine does. Honestly, it's kind of useless it's just for flexing. But, I guess it finally has a purpose now."
Bajar's tone grew serious as he met Shin's gaze. The air around them shifted, and Shin instinctively straightened up, sensing that something important was about to be revealed.
"Listen closely," Bajar began. "There are three kinds of traits. Let me explain them."
1. Innate Trait:
These are the traits a Person is born with.
They serve as the foundation of a Person abilities, strengths, or quirks.
Upgrade Potential: Innate Traits can grow stronger over time through training, experiences, or specific triggers.
Once upgraded, an Innate Trait can develop into a Personal Trait, reflecting how the Person actions and personality influence their natural abilities.
2. Personal Trait:
These traits evolve based on a Peeson growth, actions, and personality.
They are unique to the Person, often shaped by their journey, goals, and emotional state.
Evolution Potential: A Personal Trait can evolve further into a Special Trait after undergoing significant hardship, trauma, or a pivotal event. This reflects the Person breaking past their limits or achieving a breakthrough.
3. Special Trait:
These are rare, powerful traits that represent the culmination of a Person's experiences and struggles.
They often come with exceptional abilities or effects, setting the Person apart from others.
Special Traits cannot evolve further but can be refined or mastered for even greater impact.
Bajar finished explaining the three types of traits to Shin, who was still processing the information.
"But… I'm not from here. Can I still have a trait?" Shin asked, a flicker of doubt in his voice.
"Hm. Try saying 'Trait Holder' and think of it," Bajar suggested, his tone casual but watchful.
Shin took a deep breath, then yelled at the top of his lungs, "Trait Holder!" He focused intently, willing something anything to appear.
A few moments passed in silence. Nothing happened.
"So… what happened?" Bajar asked curiously, leaning forward.
Shin sighed, slumping his shoulders. "Nothing appeared..." His voice was filled with disappointment, his confidence faltering.
"Tsk. You should have one. The heavens grant their blessing to anyone who exists here," Bajar said, furrowing his brows as he tried to think of a solution. Finally, he sighed. "Sorry, Shin. I can't figure out why it's not showing for you."
Shin clenched his fists. "I guess I really am different… Maybe I don't belong here after all," he muttered under his breath.
Bajar, noticing Shin's disheartened expression, clapped his hands. "Enough of that. Let's move on. The second power system here is called Aura."
As he said this, a crimson energy began to flow around his right arm, crackling with intensity until it fully enveloped his limb. Then, from his left hand, a dark, inky energy began to seep, swirling around his arm before merging seamlessly with his skin. The contrast between the two energies was striking, almost hypnotic.
"There are a lot of different kinds of aura in this world, each with its own appearance. Most of the time, you can identify them by their color. For example," he raised his glowing right arm, "the most common aura is red. It's a manifestation of primal, raw strength."
To demonstrate, Bajar turned to a nearby tree. He adjusted his stance, raised his right fist, and delivered a controlled one-inch punch. In an instant, the tree splintered and exploded into pieces, sending debris flying.
Shin's jaw dropped. "Incredible… It's just like Aetheris!" he thought, recalling something similar from Earth.
Bajar dusted his hands off. "Aura users are rare among students. This kingdom doesn't teach aura mastery. Our allied kingdoms are the ones that handle that sort of training."
Shin tilted his head, curiosity gleaming in his eyes. "What about your left arm? That dark aura… What is that?"
Bajar paused, glancing at his left arm as the energy swirled ominously. A faint shadow seemed to stretch out from it, giving it an almost otherworldly feel. But instead of answering, he straightened up and clapped his hands together.
"Alright! Let's move on to the third power system magic," Bajar said, neatly avoiding the question. His voice shifted to a more lecturing tone as he continued. "The types of magic in this world are vast, but let me give you the basics…"
Shin frowned slightly but nodded, deciding to let the unanswered question go for now. Bajar's explanation was too fascinating to interrupt.
1. Physical Magic
Description: Focuses on enhancing physical attributes like strength, speed, durability, or even regeneration. Could also include things like adapting one's body for unique combat scenarios (e.g., growing claws, hardening skin).
Subtypes:
Strength Magic: Superhuman strength and endurance.
Flexibility Magic: Enhances agility, reflexes, and acrobatics.
Sensory Magic: Improves vision, hearing, or touch for battle precision.
Drawback Idea: Overusing physical magic can lead to physical strain, muscle tears, or even the body breaking down.
2. Race Magic
Description: Magic tied to a specific race's culture, physiology, or heritage.
Examples:
Elven Nature Magic: Deep connection with forests, able to summon vines or communicate with animals.
Demonic Chaos Magic: Unpredictable spells fueled by raw emotions or destructive power.
Draconic Flame Magic: Only accessible to dragon-kin, capable of unleashing devastating fire spells.
Interesting Mechanic: Some races might be unable to access other magic types, creating unique strengths and weaknesses.
3. Elemental Magic
Description: The classical magic system tied to controlling natural elements like fire, wind, water, and earth.
Advanced Concepts:
Hybrid Elements: Combining two elements (e.g., water + wind = ice magic).
Environmental Influence: Elemental magic is more potent when used in its natural setting (e.g., water magic is stronger near a river).
Mastery Levels: Beginners might only summon flames, but masters can create firestorms.
Balance Idea: Elements might have counters or weaknesses (e.g., fire is weak to water, wind disrupts earth-based attacks).
4. Buff Magic
Description: Enhances allies with magical boosts, temporarily improving their physical or magical abilities.
Variants:
Offensive Buffs: Enhances damage output or attack speed.
Defensive Buffs: Shields, increased resistance to certain attacks.
Mental Buffs: Improves focus, courage, or even magical aptitude.
Drawback Idea: Buff magic might drain the caster's energy the longer it is active, requiring strategic use.
5. Dark Magic
Description: Forbidden magic focused on manipulation, curses, and psychological control. Often feared and misunderstood.
Abilities:
Shadow Manipulation: Control or create shadows to trap enemies or conceal oneself.
Curse Magic: Inflict long-term debilitating effects like bad luck, pain, or madness.
Soul Magic: Interact with or manipulate the souls of others (dangerous and taboo).
Dark Aura Mechanic: Users of dark magic might attract hostility or suspicion. The aura could even corrupt their personality over time, adding a psychological cost.
There could also be a unique magic to every kind of magic that's is certainly hard to learn and even to master it.
Bajar finished his explanation with a satisfied sigh. "That's all for now. I won't go into martial arts or weapons you'll pick up a lot as you travel the world in the future. Experience is the best teacher, after all." He paused to wipe a tear from the corner of his eye. "God, in a few years, you'll be a grown man, slashing monsters, and probably having fun with different ladies."
Shin gave him a deadpan expression. "You're overreacting, Sir Bajar."
"Maybe," Bajar said with a laugh, then added, "Oh, I almost forgot! There's also something called Guardians. I don't know much about them, though, since they're probably the rarest type of power I've mentioned. However, I think the kingdom's archmage, Belldia, has one. You should probably ask her about it—if she's in a good mood, that is."
"I see. Thank you, Sir Bajar. I won't forget this!" Shin said, bowing slightly.
Bajar smirked. "Heh, don't worry about it, kid. Just make sure you at least make it to the third trial in the festival. That'll be enough to make me happy."
"Don't worry, Sir. I'll give it my all!" Shin replied with determination, his eyes gleaming with confidence.
Bajar chuckled, shaking his head. "The third trial… There are plenty of challenges ahead, but I believe in you. Just don't let me down, alright?"
Shin grinned. "I won't! I'll surpass what you expect of me, Sir Bajar!" He clenched his fists, his resolve stronger than ever.
"Good. Now, let's head back. I need to meet Father Charles." Bajar turned towards the portal, gesturing for Shin to follow.
Shin nodded, and the two stepped out of the portal together. As they arrived back, Bajar gave Shin a pat on the shoulder. "Alright, kid, I'm off. You should get plenty of rest tonight. Tomorrow's going to be a big day, and you'll need all the energy you can get."
"I will, Sir," Shin said, giving a respectful bow.
The moment Bajar left, exhaustion hit Shin like a wave. It didn't take more than a few minutes for him to collapse onto his bed and fall into a deep sleep, dreams of trials and triumphs swirling in his mind.