The World...

Mark shook his head, brushing the thoughts away as John, like clockwork, jumped into some random conversation. 

One they'd probably had a dozen times before—because there wasn't much else to talk about.

"Meg was bitten by a snake, huh?" John asked, glancing sideways as they walked barefoot along the earthy trail. "Did you guys find the snake?"

Mark shook his head. "No. Some of the kids and elders are still looking for it. It'd be bad if someone else got bitten."

John gave a simple nod, then, with the grace of a drunk juggler, dropped the topic and launched a new one. "Hmm. Looks like it'll be sunny again today."

"Yeah."

John towered just a little over Mark—bulkier too. Not just because of age, but thanks to his trait: Strength Boost, which amped his physical power by 30%.

A pretty useful perk when most of your day was spent breaking your back in the fields.

Their family hadn't bought their forty acres. They hadn't inherited it either. The land was entrusted to them—by the village, shared like everything else around here.

Farming wasn't a solo effort. It was survival by cooperation. 

Everyone planted together, harvested together, guarded crops together. 

Even the kids and elders had their roles.

Why? Because the kingdom didn't care about land or output—just numbers. How many people lived in a village. That's it. 

Headcount determined tax. Not yield.

So, kindness here wasn't charity. It was necessity.

No one wanted to see a neighbor—or a loved one—sold into slavery because they fell short of a quota.

After a while, John piped up like he'd just remembered something.

"So… you're eighteen now, right?"

"Yeah," Mark replied, keeping it short.

"You awaken your trait?" There was a flicker of genuine interest in John's voice—like the older brother was excited to hear what fate had handed his sibling.

Mark lied without hesitation. "Yeah. It's called Stamina Boost. Gives me 20% more stamina than average."

John blinked. "Damn, really? That's actually solid. You'll be outworking the rest of us in no time."

Mark gave a small sigh. "Sure… But I was hoping for something like your Strength Boost. Or even Selina's Enhanced Intelligence. At least then I'd have a shot at learning magic."

John laughed, but it faded into a resigned breath. "Yeah… It's a shame. We just can't help her chase that."

That was the truth of their world.

Even if someone was born with the right trait, the cost of becoming a mage—or a proper warrior—was far too steep for commoners.

The only way in? Sign your life away to some noble. Trade your future for a contract that turns you into a glorified slave.

Mark stayed quiet. 

Maybe it was fate, maybe a curse—but even in this world, power didn't come from talent. It came from who you served… or who you knew.

He glanced at the horizon, deciding to shift the mood. A smirk tugged at his lips.

"So, when are you going to get me a niece or nephew, huh? It's been—what—over a year and a half since you married Selina?"

John's expression shifted. Something passed over his face—quick, but unmistakable. He looked at Mark for a moment too long before muttering, "We're… still working on it. Don't worry."

Mark caught the hesitation. Subtle to most. But John had never been good at hiding things.

"You're being obvious," Mark said flatly. "Just spit it out already."

John laughed awkwardly. "Sorry, sorry… it's just… let's wait a few more days. I'll explain then."

Mark shrugged. "Suit yourself. Just don't drag it out too long."

"You know me." John flashed a weak grin. "I can't hold stuff in for too long."

Mark grinned. "Yeah—especially your shit. Ten times a day."

Then he broke into a sprint.

John blinked, processed the insult, and bellowed, "You little shit! Come here! Seems like you've forgotten what it feels like to get your ass whooped!"

Mark just laughed, barefoot on the dirt road, sprinting ahead.

It felt good. Free. His old body—wrecked by caffeine, deadlines, and burnout—was a distant shadow now.

Here, with wind in his face and clean air in his lungs, Mark felt something he hadn't felt in years.

Freedom.