The family of three waited outside the mud cottage that was wildly splashed with colours as if it had been painted by a child. They did not have to wait for long as a saffron-clad man walked out of the small home. Guru Pranay smiled at the family as he asked, “Everything was sorted, I presume?”

“Ah yes.” The inspector, [Warrior] named Aditya Pratha answered but his voice was exasperated. “The child just didn’t know any better.”

“He had been very diligent this year.” The Guru amicably replied before his yellowed eyes narrowed in a mock glare at his student, Kiran. “However, he must have forgotten some of his lessons.”

“Yes, he needs to study more.” The mother, the [Artist] named Madhu Pradha, indulgently replied as softly caressed the boy’s bald head.

“The [Muni]* and the [Hrisihi]* seek knowledge even on their deathbed. Kiran has much to learn.” The saffron-clad man smiled at the child. “Did you choose your Class?”

“Yes.” Kiran's father replied instead of the teen as his aching back straightened and his scarred chest puffed up. “He is a [Shishya] now.”

“Good.” The Guru nodded. “Have you selected your first Skill then?” The boy shook his head.

“Go ahead then.” The gaunt saffron-robed man advised and the teen nodded vigorously as he exclaimed. “Status!”

Ting.

[Kiran] [Skills] [Spells]

Kiran called out his name and his Status materialised.

Name: Kiran Prajapati

Race: Mortal Species: Manav

Age: 14 Gender: Male

Class: Shishya Level: 1

HP: 56/56 MP: 84/84

HPR: 17/Day MPR: 21/Hour

Titles: -

Dharma: To learn.

Karma: |-|-

[Str: 3] [End: 3] [Agi: 2]

[Int: 6] [Wit: 3] [Rea: 3]

[Spi: 2] [Wil: 2] [Ref: 3]

[Sur: 3]

Attribute Points: 1

Skills: [Link Lv.1] [+]

Spells: -

Before anyone could comment, the teenager focused on the [+] next to 'Skills' and a new screen popped up.

Ting.

[Select a Skill. Skill Selection is permanent.] [Anatomy Vision] [Spear Mastery] [Focus]

The bald teen narrated the Skill Selection available to him and then focused on the first choice.

Ting.

[Allows the user to see the blood and its movement within another creature. Cost: [SL] MP/Min. Do you wish for this Skill to be granted?] [Yes] [No]

“Hmm. This is the Healer path Skill that you have been aiming for.” Guru Pranay explained. “ However, I would advice you to check the rest of the offered Skills at least once.”

Kiran nodded and focused on [No]. He did not even hesitate as he skipped [Spear Mastery] as he knew this Skill was a result of his father teaching him how to use a spear while he had been living with them. He knew what this skill entailed and he was not interested in what it had to offer. Instead, he focused on the last Skill.

Ting.

[Allows the user to maintain complete focus and ignore distractions. Things studied under the influence of this Skill can be recalled with perfect clarity while using this Skill. Cost: [SL] MP/Min. Do you wish for this Skill to be granted?] [Yes] [No]

“This Scholar path Skill should be the result of your diligent study.” The saffron-clad man answered after thinking a bit. “A good choice but not your goal.”

The boy nodded as he focused on [No] before summoning the description for [Anatomy Vision] and then focussed on [Yes].

Ting.

[You have selected the Skill [Anatomy Vision]. Are you sure you want this Skill to be granted?] [Yes] [No]

Kiran focused on [Yes] with a grin plastered on his face while his fingers fidgeted with unrestrained energy.

Ting.

[Skill [Anatomy Vision] granted.]

The teen jumped and laughed while the adults watched him with a smile.

“Now, now, settle down.” The saffron-clad man admonished lightly. “At the moment you have a single Attribute point. How do you plan to use it?”

The child was still grinning as he answered. “I was planning on saving it for later.”

“Hmm. I would not recommend that.” The gaunt man frowned. “Attributes change the very nature of your being. [Strength] of 7 and 8 are quite different and same is the case with [Intelligence]. If you let your Attributes be wasted in your Status, your progress will be delayed while your peers move ahead. You will remain weak and less intelligent while pears will continuously become stronger and smarter. As a result, they will Level faster and gain Attributes faster while building a strong foundation. You, on the other hand, would still be waiting for your next Attribute.”

The skinny man furrowed his brows as he asked, “Do you understand?”

“Your guru is right Kiran.” The spear-wielding man joined in. “It’s not smart to squander your Attributes.”

The teen frowned for a moment before he hesitatingly nodded. Guru Pranay smiled as continued to explain, “As you Level, make sure to raise your [Spirit] to at least 8 points. Only then will you have a chance at raising your Tier. Understood?”

“Also remember to only raise your Attributes in a safe place where you can sleep peacefully.” The mother added and the child nodded with wide eyes causing the [Artist] to laugh. “Increasing Attributes tends to force you into a deep sleep, leaving you utterly vulnerable for the duration.”

“Then what should I use the Attribute point for?”

“As you are walking down the Healer path,” The gaunt man answered, “focus on your mental Attributes. However, you must try to obtain the [Constitution] Attribute. You don’t want to get sick while healing others, do you?”

The inspector smiled at his son as his chest puffed up with pride. When he saw his son, he did not just see the bald boy standing before him. Instead, he also the future that was not only for his son but also for his clan. In this world, a single powerful ancestor could make a clan. After all, any Inheritance Scroll they left behind would make for a priceless treasure.

The inspector hoped to be that ancestor for his clan which was not some old family that had a collection of Inheritances from their ancestors. Instead, his clan had always been little more than peasants. In fact, he was the first one in the clan's known history to even reach Level 20, thus satisfying the requirement for the creation of an Inheritance scroll.

He hoped his son would surpass him and reach the second Tier, further strengthening the foundation of their clan. However, he would be satisfied if the boy crossed Level 20 and became capable of passing down the rare Skill he had obtained. With his son's achievement, he now saw the sun shining brightly on the future of his clan.

But this thought also ached his heart. For the future of his son and his clan, the man had forced the boy to sacrifice his life. He had sent his son to the Ashram and forced the life of an ascetic upon his boy. It was an austere life, one the inspector himself could not have lived. But this was also the best chance his son could get.

Thus, he had merely laughed and patted his son’s shoulder as the boy chose [Anatomy vision] and deliberately avoided thinking further about his son's forced sacrifice.

-X-

Within a desolate desert, inside a dilapidated shop, on a simple chair, a youth seemingly slept.

-X-