Master Slagmire

(Hey guys, I know the story seems pretty boring, but after the next time skip, things start to make more sense rather than just a bunch of random POVs. Oh and there will be a definite protagonist. Please stick with me until then)

(Also, I've changed the writing pattern a bit. It's not that big a change though, don't worry 🤭)

GALE'S POV

Imagine waking up in a new world as a mixed breed. Yes, a mixed breed, as in a cross between a human and a dwarf. I'm literally half-dwarf.

I'm under 5'6 and belong to the minor population of mixed breeds in the Javin Kingdom. My attributes and talents are just as regular as any other dwarfs';

[Attributes: Metal]

[Skills:]

[Racial Skills: Crafting, Smithing, Metallurgy (+)]

[Generated Skills: Nimble, Sharp Sight, Detect]

The only thing that made me appreciated by some dwarven blacksmiths, was my unique skill "Detect";

[Unique Skill: Detect]

[Detect: Access basic information about equipment]

Apparently, unique skills are skills that are generated based on a combination of factors from your lifestyle, including genetic information in your bloodline.

Although it is possible for two people to have the same unique skill, it was beyond rare. It occured as many times as the three suns and seven moons of this world aligned.

As I was only a child, I still had a long way to go before I could start practicing my racial skills and as such, I could only generate assist skills such as nimble to help me run faster and sharp sight to avoid being cheated.

The system rang out at that point, bringing me out of my memories;

[New Goal]

[Details: Survive for 5 years on the new planet]

[Grade: Inferior]

[Time Remaining: 3/5]

[Rewards: Access to other tabs, +2 racial skills, Unlock new system function, *System shall take over stat increase*]

[Penalty: Death]

[Accept ?]

I stared in shock at the mission rewards, especially the highlighted one.

Yes!!! Finally! I'm tired of working out everyday.

Although it seemed easy, the system rarely ever gave stat points unless it was a mission. Even after leveling up, my stats remained the same. I couldn't increase my stats without physically working out or reading some books.

But now, the system will take over that. Meaning as long as we level up, we'll have some assigned stats.

I was so overjoyed, I bounced out of the small shop and down the gravel-covered street. It was probably very weird to see a short dwarf skipping, but I was too happy to care.

"Gale, you look very happy today. Off to see the old coot?"

"Yes Sir Quire."

"Make a great one kid. Use that unique skill of yours very well, alright?"

"I will, sir"

Any other person probably would've been worried about the death penalty, but not me. The only things dwarves went out into the world to do was to trade weapons for currency. Meaning before I turned 10, I would be within the hidden Kingdom of Javin.

Before, I was itching to get out and slay some beasts, but now, I'm perfectly fine with being trapped within these walls.

System! Why does the goal have a grading system?

[Goals are divided into stages or grades; inferior, minor, small achievement, intermediate, major, huge achievement, superior, and peerless. These show the importance of the goals assigned.]

Are goals the same as missions?

[Goals aren't missions. The major difference being the participation. Goals are completely voluntary, although some are necessary for survival and as such cannot be accepted. Missions are compulsory and must be carried out or host shall receive punishment]

I accepted the new goal without hesitation.

System! Do you regularly issue goals?

[System is not inclined to issue goals unless they cannot be rejected.]

Thinking back, the system did mention that some goals are necessary. Just like the new goal, even if we don't want to accept the mission, we would still have to live past 5 years and as such, the goal would still be counted and the rewards given.

So, unlike this new goal which is necessary, you don't issue goals normally?

[If host can survive past 5 years of age, host can naturally unlock the "Goals" tab and take up as many goals as pleases host]

What do you mean if?!

I had a deep frown on my face. I was very sure this system was mocking me.

I'm already shut in within this kingdom alright?! I'm very sure that no beast horde can kill me.

[Host must not forget that beasts are not the only danger in the current world]

That was right. I had forgotten because I'd been living so peacefully, but there were dwarves, specifically the nobility, who hated and absolutely abhorred mixed breeds. I recalled the recent killings that had taken place in my neighborhood.

It's not possible, is it? Could the nobles be doing this? But that's against the rules of the kingdom. If His Majesty finds out, won't he kill them? Aren't they afraid of death?

"...His Majesty has not even sent guards to this place, looks like no one really cares for us mixed breed"

"Be quiet Dryn! If the guards heard you, you know what they'd do"

"It's the truth, isn't it? What if His Majesty knows about this and is doing nothing?"

That last sentence caught my attention and I turned my head to the group of small dwarven kids hiding in the alley.

His Majesty...knows?! But if that's true, isn't he supposed to stop it?Or could he be pretending not to know just so he could catch the nobles in one fell swoop?... But that's a lot of lives lost just to catch some nobles.

A very crazy, deadly theory was forming in my mind which would definitely get me killed and I couldn't bring myself to think about it and what it would imply.

No! No! That's not possible. His Majesty definitely plans to deal with them. It's not possible for that to be the case. We'll see.

I stood outside a small workshop with a rusty, metallic door. The sign read, "The Divine Forge". Pretty cheesy.

I pushed aside the door before stepping in.

Well that's not something for me to think about. I'll leave it to other members of society. In due time, the truth will come out.

"You're here, Gale"

"Master, how'd you know it was me?"

"I can sense you through the elements, boy"

"What? Did the door tell you it was me again?"

"He told me through the fire this time. That old metal hunk seems to be in shambles, huh? He hasn't spoken through the door in quite some time."

Seems to be?! That door is rusty, rickety, and looks like any little wind could blow it right off!!

Master Slagmire was a very weird metalsmith. He crafted weird looking weapons and called them "godly artifacts". He spoke of the elements like they were one person and called them "Father".

The only reason I was still sticking around this dude was cause his knowledge of metals and weapons was the best in the entire area of mixed breeds.

[Host's comprehension of the elements has increased by 25%]

[Host's comprehension of the elements has increased by 15%]

[Host's comprehension of the elements has increased.....]

[Host's comprehension of the.....]

When I learnt at other blacksmiths, my comprehension would increase by 7 at most. When I started learning from him, I started off at 45%. Ever since then, my comprehension has never fallen below 15% and that was on bad days.

It seemed that master was in one of his sad moods. I would only ever get 15% increase rate when he feels troubled and doesn't teach me well.

"Master, what's on your mind?"

"Ha! There's troubled days ahead"

Did he just reply me?!!!

"What's wrong?"

"Boy, don't believe anything they tell you"

Holy shit!! He really did reply me!

"Who's they?"

"You'll know when the time comes"

Cryptic! As expected

"What does-?"

"Forget it for now, let's continue"

For a short moment, I was shocked. Master usually never tells me what wrong. He would normally say something along the lines of "Nothing you should know, boy" before brushing me off to continue his talk about metals.

There was a sudden pain in my head, sort of a ringing, after which it was back to normal. I looked around.

"Weird! What just happened?"

"It's probably just dizziness from the smoke. Ha!"

He let out a deep sigh before continuing with his teaching.I knew something was wrong.

[Host's comprehension of the elements has increased by 15%]

My theory was confirmed. I would only ever get 15% increase rate when he feels troubled and doesn't teach me well.

Somehow, that kinda sounds familiar !

"Master, what's on your mind?"

"Nothing you need to worry about, boy"

He hesitated for a bit before he finally answered. I couldn't get him to tell me, just like always. I always asked the same question, but he would brush it off with something along those lines. Just once, I wished he would answer me.

Perhaps he never would...

~~~~~

CARTER'S POV

Being a prince is really not ideal for your first ever transmigration.

For the past few years, I've been training, training and training. And you know what's worse? I have three elder brothers and a younger sister.

Okay! Having a younger sister isn't the bad part. It's the three elder brothers that hurt. Imagine being in line for a kingdom with people who have at least 2 years worth of experience.

That's right! I was born into a power struggle for the throne. I'm still so young, yet my father, the "King", and my mother, a random "queen" probably couldn't hold it in anymore, and decided to do the unspeakable.

Speaking of unspeakables, one good thing about this new world is that it's not against gay couples. Hell! There's none of that "homosexuality is a sin" campaign.

Meaning, I could get out there and pick a guy to get married to. Though I doubt my father would let me pick from the "commoners".

For my third birthday, he got all the nobles to line up their first sons and daughters and asked me to pick who I would like to be betrothed to.

Know what I did? I threw a tantrum, cause I'm not going to get married to some stuck up brat who wasn't educated by his father. I pretended to feel hurt that my dad wanted to sell me and made a lot of fuss.

It's been seven months since then, but for some reason, everyone still calls me "the weeping saint of the kingdom". So apparently, when I cried for my father not to send me away, I was seen as a man who was not burdened by love or relationship and wanted to lead the people righteously.

Now I have to maintain that image, even though I'm still secretly meeting with a young guard I met.

He's cute, funny and I ask him up to my room every night. Don't worry, we're not doing anything beyond that. We're too young for that after all

[New Mission: Rise of the Weeping Saint 1]

[Mission Details: Solve some of the kingdom's issues]

[Issues Solved: ?/?]

[Time Limit: 3/6]

[Rewards: +500 Fame, +10 all stats, + 2 Generated Skills, +25 intimacy with the King]

[Penalty: ???]

My first reaction was to jump off the king-sized bed.

Intimacy with my father?! What's that about?Doesn't he love me already? Unless I'm not his kid?!

[Host is overreacting. The King's children are destined for great things, as such, he cannot show obvious intimacy with any of his children, no matter how much he loves them. This reward basically increases your chance of being giving the throne in future.]

Oh! That's what it does

I have to say, I wasn't feeling up to the task all of a sudden. It'd be enough for me to just leave the kingdom once one of my brothers gets the throne. I don't really have much interest in ruling. I care for obvious things such as justice. But I wouldn't go actively seeking for evil to eliminate. I know my limits.

Do I have to? I'm doing alright already.

[Host must not forget that this world is all about survival. System only ensures that host has adequate power to protect himself. Also, host cannot refuse as it is a mission issued by this system.]

I might have imagined it, but the system's voice was tenderly at the start, but after the first two sentences, that emotionless and flat tone came back.

Why'd you have to start with the first phrase? Were you just buttering me up for that last part?

[Host is overthinking]

Whatever! Also, why is the mission already 3 years late?

[The actual time limit is 3 years for the mission. System has only presented it in this form as it is at this age that host is capable of presenting solutions to issues]

I'm pretty sure I could've presented solutions when I was 1.

[Host is being stupid. Host would have been unable to talk then. And for a 1 year old to present solutions to nationwide problems, you'd definitely have been killed in a month.]

Damn! Harsh but true.

I sprawled back onto the bed.

"The mission isn't going anywhere. I'll start tomorrow"...