Chapter 5 A rising star

  The next 4 years pass, with a day or two every week being devoted to training with my dad with a wood sword and my mother, practicing the basics of fire magic.

  [New skill learnt! Basic fire magic. Create small flames in your hand or from your fingertips, useful for setting things on fire or for cooking.]

  Status

  Age 6

  Name Xion

  Fox-kin

  Strength 3

  Agility 4

  Intelligence 8

  Endurance 3

  Mana 4

  Skills

  Basic Swordsmanship, basic fire manipulation, Appraise

  I checked my status screen for the first time in a while, my training showing that im getting better, and with my basic fire manipulation I can help out with cooking. Recently in my dreams ive been seeing strange things, screens like the status screen that everyone can see. Big metal wagons that smell gross and move on their own and a thin tall man, every time I see him it makes me angry.

  My mother walks up to me after seeing me stop my training, the fire fading from her finger.

  “Xion, did you get the skill?”

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  I nod, flames rolling over my hand in a controlled manner.

  “I've got to tell the other mothers, you're so smart!” She kisses the top of my head, my tail swinging gently with the praise.

  After my mother praies me for another minute or two I move to the yard, where father is waiting and I grab my wooden sword, today we spar. Before we are ready I try to Appraise him.

  [Level 38 swordsman]

  “Dad is strong isnt he?”

  I say, somehow knowing that I was very weak compared to him.

  “I used to be a mercenary, me and your mother were, before we decided to marry and have you. She was a solid magician, but after we lost a friend we decided to live quietly.”

  My dad explains, telling me the most id ever heard about their past. We move into position and he slowly tests my defenses. I swat each slow attack away and go for a counter, missing by a good deal. We switch and I probe his defense, attempting to sneak a small stab through. He goes easy on me throughout the spar. Several minutes later he takes a stance and parries my sword with impossible speed.

  “That's the skill ‘parry’ a skill simply makes you a bit better at the base move, like magic you can use it without the skill, its just better and easier. Now, id like to see if you can learn it now that you've gotten the basics.”

  We spend the next hour with me swatting his sword aside, being guided and mimicking his earlier movements.

  Once were done and ive caught my breath father sits down next to me.

  “Your mom and I were talking, and we've decided you should get some friends and play with them. I understand seeing your stats improve and that gaining new skills can make you happy, but eventually you'll face a wall, where you won't progress much no matter what you do. That's where I'm currently at. I'm saying you should also get out and play, and have fun.” He ruffles my fox ears a bit.

  “You're old enough to go out on your own now. So go have fun, do a bit of mischief and enjoy your youth.”

  I nod as we both get up.

  [New skill learnt! Parry- a swordsmans staple, quickly knock an attack to the side to gain an advantage. Higher versions let you parry bigger attacks and even magic!/Fused with basic swordsmanship]

  We sat down at the dinner table, after I help mom by cutting some vegetables for a meat and veggie fry. We eat in relative silence before mom speaks.

  “Xion, im heading to the parent meeting tomorrow, I think there are a few others your age that you could be friends with.”

  I nod at her statement, my mouth full of tomato and grilled mutton.

  “Sure mom, ill go with you.”

  The next morning me and mom dress and head to the village Square, where a few other woman and their children are gathered. The meeting starts and the children are all gathered together while the adults talk. A few others my age are together, only one fellow fox kin are among the group, the others are dog kin, cat kin and even one cow kin boy. I open up first, breaking the silence.

  “I'm Xion, thats my mom over there.”

  I point her out.

  The other fox kin speaks up.

  “I'm Sarah, so your mom is the magician? She's cool, I wish I could use magic like her.”

  One of the cat kin boys speak up.

  “You'll be lucky to use magic, any of us would once we go through the coming of age ceremony and get our classes, magic is really hard.”

  I raise my hand when he's done talking.

  “But she taught me how to use magic! Only a bit though, and it is very hard.”

  My face scrunched in concentration, flames coming to life in my palm as I show off a bit.

  “Woahhhh.”

  The whole group looks on with their mouths open.

  “Thats so cool…” someone says as the flames fade from my hand.

  “Anyone wanna play tag?”

  Someone says, it sounds like the dog kin.

  Everyone says some variation of yes and we get up and start having fun.

  The day passes and I learn the names of the others, the fox kin Sarah is sweet, and tends to stay close to me when im around. The cat kin boy from earlier is Jean, and he seems a bit standoffish. The cow kin boy is Derek, he's quiet but strong. The last member of our little group is the dog kin girl named Alice. The others are a bit too young to play with us, and are siblings of the others.