The System

[Immortal Link: Death will not claim you, although all accumulated souls will be lost forever. Your soul is tied to the Immortal Cycle, Death no longer holds any ties over you, but your death will bring demons to your location.]

Aiden looked around as he read the last line of the text for the skill. His body went into instinctive defense mode as he drew his sword. But so far nothing seemed to be nearby as he began to ease up a bit. Looking down at his stats he saw little arrows pointing up next to the value.

Clicking one of his stats, the one being Magic, he felt as tingle throughout his body. It was like a constant buzz as he noticed the number lit up and it caused other numbers on his stats to change too. What surprised him most was that his Magic stat improved his Magic Power status. It was currently sitting at 30 power, but as soon as he clicked it again it went up to 40. More over, his required souls also went up as a result for another level.

It was originally 1,500 to level, now it showed 1,800 to level again as he leveled twice. Which he only had 4,700 left. He decided to spend more points on his Magic stat and one more on his Intelligence stat. Resulting in having only 950 souls left in his reserve. Looking at his stats now he had a little a small understanding to how it worked. As when he confirmed the level up, it would immediately take effect.

[Vitality: 8]

[This is your base stat value for HP, every time you gain a point, multiply it by 20 and that is your true HP. Once you reach 20 points, it reduces to 15 points added. 40 points drops it down to 10 points, and finally once you hit 60 points, that makes it 5 per point. HP: 160/160]

[Intelligence: 11]

[This is the value of your total Soul Power, every point adds 10 points. SP: 110/110]

[Endurance: 8]

[This is your stamina stat, shows what skills cost stamina or even how long you can run without resting. This stat also determines item weight capacity, it is your stat x10 in units. Every point is 10 minutes for running, while each point gives you 5 Stamina points. Recharges after a full 10 seconds of not consuming stamina. STM: 40]

[Strength: 8]

[Able to wield weapons equal to your base point value with ease in pounds. Each point adds 1lbs to easily wield weapons. Armor and weapons wielded and worn are calculated into Units for you to wear without being heavy. Each point is your stat x10 units, 25% and below makes you light, up to 60% is medium, and above that is heavy. More than 100% and you can't move, but you become heavily resistant to damage and can't be knocked around. In order to use a weapon too heavy for one hand, it must be within 3 times you base. Anything more than that, you can not wield properly.]

[Dexterity: 8]

[How dexterous you are with specialized weapons. Bows, Rapiers, daggers, etc. these are your weapons that show finesse. If you don't have the Dexterity to wield a weapon, it doesn't function properly and will be prevented from use.]

[Magic: 6]

[This stat determines your overall Soul Power. Increasing this stat will add 100 points per stat added, if you do not meet the requirements to use a spell, then you can not cast it. Soul Power: 600]

[Faith: 2]

[Your belief in the gods of the realm will grant you holy boons. Even if you do not praise a god or follow a covenant, you may still use spells tied to this stat. Each stat point added gives 100 power to your Miracle Power. Miracle Power: 200]

[Luck: 10]

[You were born lucky, every lord and peasant holds onto this aspect of life. Every point adds 1% to your luck, also helps in other aspects beyond your knowledge. Item drop rate: 10%]

Aiden read all the little descriptions for each stat and knew what he wanted to slot his points into right away. When he upgraded his Magic stat, he felt a swell of power from within his body. When he cast his Soul Dart, he noticed that the size of the Soul Dart was much bigger than what it was before. What he also noticed was when he cast the spell, a small counter at the corner of his vision popped up saying that the spell cost 5 points per Soul Dart. It would then slowly climb back up every minute with a single point.

His face felt warm as his smile went from ear to ear, "I have grown stronger!" He cheered and bounced around as he started to laugh, starting cry a bit as he finally could do something with his life. Though he knew he had to keep the mark somewhat secret as even he knew of the legends passed down through the village. As the Demon's Brand was once worn by the Hero of ages past, but then suddenly disappeared one day. So he got up and went to the lake to cover the mark with dirt and mud. As long as it wasn't visible to anyone than he would be okay.

With that he left the lake behind and returned to his house with the herbs he decided to have outside of the inventory tab. He didn't know what it was called, but he remembered the knight saying something about a "System". Although, Aiden didn't know what a system was, but decided it would be best to keep it simple for himself and just go with what the knight called it. As he walked through the door he noticed his father pacing back and forth waring his shoes out in the figure eight he was doing.

As Aiden had opened the door and called out to his father, Marcus turned and saw his son covered in dirt and mud. "Aiden! My son where have you been?" He continued asking the where and why questions that a father or mother would ask their child when they were missing for a while. Aiden explained he took a nasty fall from climbing up the mountain a little as the patch of Goddess Tears were picked by someone else. A lie he had to tell his father as it was the only thing feasible for his father to expect. But Marcus then looked straight at his son and grasped his shoulders.

"My son, you didn't head towards the usual patch right?" Aiden said he did, which caused Marcus to hug him. "Oh thank the Goddess you are alive, bless your soul for being so lucky as to not been eaten by a demon." Aiden tapped his father's back a little uneasily, as the hug was out of nowhere.

"What do you mean father? Was there a demon around that area?" Aiden asked, playing dumb.

"Yes, reports said a Goliath Cobra moved into the area not long ago. So I was tasked to kill it but couldn't find where it was till a Slayer happened to see it earlier." Aiden gulped, hoping he was not also seen. "They said it followed something into the woods and chased it, he didn't expect it to be gone long so he waited for it. But no sign of the demon," Aiden puffed out his chest a little in shock.

"Well I guess I was lucky enough to have avoided getting discovered by it." Aiden said as he let out a sigh of relief. But now he had one problem, if the Slayer was there to kill it and let it go, why would they do that? Was it something the Slayer wasn't ready to face, or was it because of something else? Aiden let the thought linger in his mind for a bit as his father started to grab a pitcher of water and a cloth.

"Boy you need to clean up before we go see the Slayers," Marcus started to wash Aiden's face as he rubbed off some of the dirt off his face. Aiden quickly batted away his father as they both laughed at one another. His relationship with his father was always like this, it was good to know he had such a caring father to come home to. He wished he could live with his father for as long as he could, but knowing what fate had just been given him, he couldn't. It would only put his father at risk as being branded with the mark on his hand. Aiden would likely face trouble worse than anything from this village.

After Aiden left to go get changed and cleaned up, he scavenged for a pair of gloves to wear. What he found was a pair of fingerless gloves under his bed in a box. Amazingly they still fit him and covered the mark pretty well. Returning outside, Aiden had on his Elk leather armor, a white long sleeved shirt, and brown pants with black boots. The gloves were brown in color to compliment the armor on his forearms. His belt held two bags meant to hold herbs and one to hold vials, with a clip meant for an Agate but not one available to him yet.

His father turned to look at him and a tear weld up in his eye, seeing his son in such an outfit was seeing Aiden becoming a man. Wiping the tear and pointing a finger at his son he said, "Now, if you pass this trial, the Slayers will take you to their hold just past the mountains and about a week's journey from the mountains." Marcus placed a hand on Aiden's right shoulder, "I hope you pass so you can leave this dingy town. I hope one day you can have a family and I can become a grandfather."

"Dad!" He brushed his father's hand away, "That is so not cool, I doubt anyone would find me attractive anyway." Aiden's black hair fell over his eyes which his father calmly brushed aside. Meeting his father's gaze, Aiden blinked as he saw a gentle and warm smile from his father.

"My son, Aiden Drake, you will are special. The world will one day see this and regret the mistreatment you have suffered in life." Touching the side of his head with gentle pats, Marcus nodded, "Your mother would be so proud of the handsome young man you have become." They stood in silence as they stared at the floor, their heads touching one another. Aiden smiled and looked up with now a sense of relief and a moment of clarity.

'That's right, my mother was also a Slayer, it runs in our family. I will make you proud dad, mom,' Aiden hugged his dad. 'I will be strong for you both, thank you for having me.' With that, they left their house and headed out to the ruins. A place where Slayer Trials were held to continue the next generation of Slayers. Aiden, now armed with his Demon's Brand and the system to guide him. He felt like he could take on anything they were going to throw at him. Even with a storm heading their way over the ruins where the trial was supposed to take place.