Two Gifts? How Is That Possible?
Our journey continued smoothly as we traversed several territories, drawing ever closer to the capital city. The road was filled with sights and experiences that were completely foreign to me—exotic foods I'd never heard of, strange festivals I was accidentally swept into, and bizarre wares displayed in roadside markets. Having grown up in a small village, every moment of this trip was a revelation.
Both Yuri and Luka, my ever-reliable companions, seemed to enjoy the journey as much as I did, given that they had never ventured this far from home. Their company made the miles pass with ease, though a bittersweet feeling lingered. With each step toward the capital, I knew our time together was nearing its end. Their job as my escorts would soon be done, and we would have to part ways.
Eventually, we arrived in a bustling town just two stops away from the capital. Following our usual routine, we joined up with a merchant caravan for safety along the way. My ability to cast Cleansing made me an asset, saving the merchants both time and effort during our shared travels.
A Night of Revelation
After exchanging farewells with the merchants, Yuri, Luka, and I secured a modest yet tidy three-person room at an inn. As usual, their preference for cleanliness meant we avoided any less reputable establishments, a sentiment I wholeheartedly agreed with.
That night, a strange dream visited me. I couldn't remember the details, but a deep, inexplicable sense of importance lingered when I awoke. Shaking off the haze of sleep, I realized something felt… different.
It didn't take long to figure out why.
"I think… I turned ten today," I muttered to myself, sitting upright in bed.
And with that realization came the knowledge that I could now view my Status. My heart raced as I concentrated, mentally summoning the screen. The words and numbers materialized before my eyes, vivid and overwhelming.
Name: Matthew
Gender: Male
Age: 10
Race: Human
Gifts:
Sacred Beast SummoningBlessing of the Spirit King
Skills:
All-Element Magic Lv3Utility Magic Lv8Space-Time Magic Lv5Enchantment Magic Lv1Mana Control Lv2Element Control Lv5Mana Sensing Lv4Mana Concealment Lv1Magic Range Expansion Lv1Magic Range Focus Lv1Meditation Lv3Alchemy Lv2Synthesis Lv1Decomposition Lv1Craftsman's Touch Lv1Charisma Lv1Aesthetic Sense Lv3
Two gifts?! My eyes widened as I reread the information.
Sacred Beast Summoning allowed me to summon and form a contract with a single sacred beast, a rare and powerful creature said to surpass even mythical beasts in strength and rarity.
Blessing of the Spirit King, on the other hand, granted me the ability to wield all eight elemental magics—a feat practically unheard of.
Then came the skills. My jaw dropped as I scanned the list.
All-Element Magic Lv3: This consolidated the basic elemental magics—fire, water, wind, earth, ice, lightning, light, and dark—into one skill. The catch? Each individual element was weaker compared to specialists.Utility Magic Lv8: An insanely high level, far exceeding the standard of level 5 for professional utility magicians.Space-Time Magic Lv5: As expected, given my prior aptitude.Mana Control Lv2 and Element Control Lv5: My control skills were decent, especially with the latter supporting complex spells.Other unfamiliar skills like Magic Range Expansion and Craftsman's Touch hinted at hidden potential, while practical ones like Meditation and Alchemy showed my father's influence.
But two gifts… I couldn't let anyone know. Gifts were already rare enough, and possessing two would undoubtedly draw dangerous attention.
As I stared at my Status, I must have been making strange faces because Yuri eventually called out.
"You okay, Matthew? You've been sitting there making faces for a while."
Snapped out of my thoughts, I glanced up at him and Luka, who were already awake. "Oh, uh… actually, I just turned ten today."
Yuri's face broke into a grin. "Ah, so you saw your Status, huh? Don't worry, I won't pry. Asking about someone's Status is bad manners."
Luka, on the other hand, looked delighted. "Happy birthday, Matthew! This calls for a celebration later, don't you think?"
"Thanks," I replied, forcing a smile while keeping my nerves in check. "I'll let you know if I need help figuring out some of my skills. There are a few I don't recognize."
"Of course!" Luka beamed, her enthusiasm infectious.
The gifts, however, would remain a closely guarded secret. That's a secret I'll take to my grave.