After about an hour, the sun had begun to set and Arvion had finally made up his mind.

'Screw it why not choose mage. There is so much opportunity to be had with choosing mage and the majestic power of magic. not only would it allow me to access magic but with my high speed and intelligence stats, I should be already a good caster. High mobility and high mental stats though I'm not sure how they will affect my spellcasting exactly. '

'System I choose mage as my starting class.'

+2 to wisdom

+4 to intelligence

+ Active: Mana Manipulation

+Passive: Random magic elemental affinity

+Active: Meditation

'Confirm!' Arvion thought with determination.

A feeling of grand superiority echoed throughout his body as it changed strangely. He felt his bones realign and change based on his choice and he felt as if his mouth changed to better make noise. He felt his pelt change from a pure white to an icy blue. Arvion felt power fill his core that screamed out for domination but just as he was about to try and use this new power to do something it left just as quickly as it came leaving the newly changed arvion in dismay and confusion as everything seemed to have changed.

A wave of tiredness overswept Arvion as he felt himself quickly drift off into a peaceful sleep.

---

What Arvion didn't see at that moment was what happened inside the house above his small resting place.

The young boy from before was sitting still reading a complex book filled with unknown characters that magically seemed to change at every moment. An old man with a grizzly beard wearing a huge robe that concealed his huge frame beneath it sat nearby watching the boy with concentration.

"Boy, you're reading it wrong." The man said before runic symbols flooded his eyes and swirled strangely.

But before the man could continue strange whirling energy filled the room knocking things off the walls and the book out of the boy's hands. A tremor in the earth seemed to shake their small house for a mere moment as they sat there in silence.

"Enough practice today son." The old man said with a solemn look on his face.

"What was that Father?!" The boy asked with a clear look of fear in his eyes.

"A true expert just passed by. An expert in magic like no others. We should rest today for we may not know what comes tomorrow." He said in a wisened old tone.

The boy nodded before going to sit gently in a chair nearby. A careful carving etched deep into the back of the chair read 'Axel'.

---

Arvion awoke to the sound of wood being chopped nearby.

'That boy must be out doing his chores again.'

'I better check out the new skills I got before anything else happens strange like before. Hopefully, that surge of energy didn't give away my position.'

'System Skills please.'

---

Skills:

Passive Skills:

Classes Unlocked LV: MAX +

Natural Stealthiness LV: MAX +

Elementary Shadow Magic Affinity LV: 1 +

No slots remain please evolve to increase skill slots

Active Skills:

Stealth: LV: 1 +

Mana Manipulation LV: 1 +

Meditation LV: 1 +

No slots remain please evolve to increase skill slots

General Skills:

Inspect: LV: 1 +

---

'Open Elementary Shadow Magic Affinity Please'

---

Elementary Shadow Magic Affinity LV: 1

Shadow magic is the oldest magic that has ever existed. It came before the fire, it came before earth, it came before water, it came before the wind, and it even came before light. Before the existence of light and life and matter there only existed the inky black shadow that was omnipresent everywhere. Shadow magic is the most powerful magic as can be inferred by its age but one must master it for it to be powerful. You are but taking your first steps upon the staircase of mastery and have far to go but know this young one, you have made the right choice.

Shadow magic has chosen you, you gain the following benefits:

Access to the Shadow Magic Element.

+10% towards stealth checks

+10% towards shadow based spells

This skill is a part of the Skill tree please evolve to strengthen it.

Costs 10 evolution points to upgrade

---

'Interesting. It's the only skill with a drawn-out definition. The bonus stealth will help me sneak more and accomplish my need for stealth right now. While the bonus to the strength of my shadow spells is hopefully gonna be useful.'

'Please open up Meditation and Mana Manipulation'

---

Mana Manipulation LV: 1

This allows the user to control magical elements to a small degree causing minor effects that could be counted as minor magical spells.

Please experiment to your heart's content.

Upgrade price: 5 evolution points.

---

Meditation LV: 1

This allows the user to regenerate magic by entering a semi-comatose status that prevents the user from doing anything. Increases magic regeneration by 10% while in use. Costs for upgrade: 5 evolution points.

---

'Meditation seems simple and to the point while Mana Manipulation seems like an open-ended skill. both are good in their own unique way but each also has its own downsides. Mana Manipulation seems to rely heavily on my own experimentation and perhaps others as well. Either way, it's a difficult skill to use. And finally, Meditation puts me in a state of a coma for its duration. Very dangerous.' Arvion thought to himself as he observed his skills carefully.

'I should start practicing these skills as soon as possible to understand just how they will affect me but I have a feeling something else is more important.' He thought to himself as he heard his stomach growl lightly. He was hungry. Incredibly hungry at that.

Venturing into the forest was death so it seemed like he must venture into the house and steal food. A vile thought but something necessary for this situation. Hopefully, the humans had food to spare or Arvion would surely die.

Arvion slowly prepared himself and made his way into the inner holds of the house as he wormed his way around in the walls slowly creeping in on the small nooks and crannies through the wall. After what felt forever he finally saw an opening that seemed suitable for him to fit through. He slowly crept his head into the outside and took the eye off the situation that was going on outside.

An old man seemed to be dozing asleep in a chair a few dozen feet away from him while no one else seemed to be in the house. There seemed to be a small storeroom for food next to a kitchen as well as some leftover food that just seemed to beckon towards arvion as if it was just meant for him but before he began his journey forward he heard a loud shout.

"Pest!" Shouted the sleeping old man before standing up and chanting in a strange language that didn't make sense when heard. A small zap of lightning flung across the room and landed on a small bug that seemed to have been hovering over a cup of an unknown liquid. The strange insect made a small buzzing noise before dive-bombing into the cup obviously dead.

The man gingerly stood up, looked around the room, and then grabbed the cup taking a large gulp of the liquid sighing with gratification.

'Danger! This man is dangerous. He must be a mage like me. But I need food badly what should I do?!'