Chapter 3

After two days of walking we were finally close to reaching the capital

Those days I spent mostly gathering information and making relationships, I learned about the geography of this place, about levels, stats, skills, monsters...

...and something that when I heard it...I kinda paled, the tales of human history...

A really really old time ago, estimated at 6.000 years ago was the age at which lots of things ceased to exist...high humans were a human race which governed all humans and with them the whole world, they were considered to be blessed by god, destined to protect humanity and their enemies...

...the neo humans...

As described, it's a race that was created by demons, solely for the purpose of destroying humans...lots of them rivaled the high humans in power once they grew enough, so humanity hunt them down...to eliminate the evil

For that reason an all out war started all across the planet, the neo humans even though, lower in numbers and power, they took on their side any other race that held hate for humans

...how the war played out and who was the winner...to this day we don't know

All we know is that both high and neo humans ceased to exist, with them also disappeared many races of which we don't have any records

And most importantly...gods have ever since been in absolute absence

Some say that the gods fought with each other because of the wars happening between their followers and ended up losing their powers or some others say that they may have just lost interest in this world since that war

...

Well, for some weird reason I don't feel all that evil...the tales may have been simplified and manipulated...the only certain thing is that lots of races disappeared and so did the gods at the same time

...what I should keep in mind is that I absolutely must hide my identity...more lies...

*Daniel...once we arrive there what will you do?* Ethan asked as we were walking

Yes he is the one from whom I stole those clothes...we somehow became friends, he's an adventurer wannabe, well I guess most boys his age,13, would have that mindset...but he's actually pretty serious about it

*I'll probably look for ways to make some money*

*you know, I could as...*

I disturb him to sound more confident

*Ethan, I want to make a living by myself, you don't have to worry...I'll join a guild sooner than you and you won't be able to ever reach me in the ranks* I end it with a mocking smile

*hahaha* he laughed as if to respond to my mocking

*even if you start sooner nothing can get in my way of becoming the number 1...not even kings will stand in my way!* he yelled the last part with a proud smile...as soon as he did...

*smack!*

A hand appeared out of nowhere and smacked him in the head

*ouch!...why did you hit me mom?*

*if you dare say something like this in the capital, you can say goodbye to that stupid head of yours!*

His mom is scary...

*the same goes for you Ethan, you hear me?!*

*Yes, sir!!*...I say without processing my words...and earn myself a smack too

*smack*

*who are you calling that!*

*hahahaha* Ethan started laughing loudly and so did some others watching us from nearby

Kids are the ones to always lighten the mood...I want some kids...

...says the one who's a kid himself...heheh

...

It didn't take us long to reach the gates, they were massive, with the height of a 2-3 story building and the walls covering it even taller

You can tell this wasn't built by normal humans

Before entering, a guard came up to us to ask us where we were coming from and we are here

The guards which brought us here showed him some papers and the guard let us go without any further complications...this country in general is pretty free, it relies a lot on trading and this shows when we had to wait like 1 hour to reach the gate

This country though has something you wouldn't expect from a society of freedom...slavery, but from what I heard it's not the same as on the movies, it works the same way imprisonment works, depending on your crime you'll get a deserving time of enslavement and even get a grade for how many rights you have, for example a D grade slave have all the rights but just have to work 8 hours on what their masters want them to work and an A grade slave has pretty much no rights, you can treat them however you want and work them to their limits...as long as they don't die

Now, the system may be technically fair, but that's only if it is supported by an absolute obedience of the rules and laws from everyone...well as long as I stay out of trouble, like messing with the nobles and powerful people of this land I should be fine

...when we entered I was really impressed with the architecture...it wasn't like anything from earth,some of the buildings were made from stones that had a dark bluish colour and and had some orange shining pebbles inside them, the main roads were massive,the sides full of shops and in the middle passing carriages and people walking...throughout the walk we came across magnificent statues and fountains...they were many and admittedly better than anything I had seen on earth...it's really weird how a civilization not so advanced in technology is surpassing us in art

A single statue caught my attention, it was a depiction of a young woman, somehow made to look as if she was made of water...there's something familiar about this statue...wait it couldn't be that right?...

The ones standing near it or just passing by are all bowing to it and holding their right hand in a fist close to their heart

*what are they doing?* my thought escaped my mouth as a whisper

Ethan who apparently heard me, answered kindly

*their praying to Thelesse, the goddess of the sea and growth...they say that if you do that the goddess might give you a blessing...*

...so she has a name...

Mary overheard and stepped in

*they do say that but a blessing has never come after the great war*

*well...you never know*

As soon as we reached near the statue some from our group do that same bow, and I try to copy it together with Ethan

As soon I took that stance something popped up in my vision

_____

-You have received thelesses blessing-

Type of blessing: direct_secretive

|Bonuses gained:

|

||-efficiency in all water magics |increased

|by 50%

| |skills gained:

| ||-water magic resistance lvl1

|

|-meditative sleep lvl1

_____

My eyes had been launched off my head the moment I saw that

Ethan looking at my surprised expression couldn't help but ask

*di...did you get it?!*

*yes! I di...!*

*smack*

Before I could even finish someone smacked me in the head...the hand feels familiar

*don't joke about that or the church will cut tongue, Daniel!!* Ethans mom spoke behind me

And once again my instinct got the best of me *yes, sir!*

*smack*

That hurts god damn it!

Ethan starting his loud laughter again ended up disturbing those, praying...

*smack*

...no wonder Ethan is so dumb, with those punches he may have multiple brain disorders...

His mom apologized and we quickly started walking again

...for real now, I got 2 new skills?!

Lets check my status

___

-Status-

Level:0. Experience:0/100 (for next level)

Name: Daniel age:12

Health:120 Mana:30/40

Stamina:190/210

-stats:

Vitality:12 wisdom:4

Endurance:19 intelligence:16

Dexterity:26(-1) luck:5

Strength:27

Agility:30(-1)

Perception:1

-Skills:

Quick mind lvl2

Split mind lvl1

Extreme body control lvl2

Power burst lvl1

Water magic resistance lvl1

Meditative sleep lvl1

___

Water magic resistance at its level simply reduces the damage taken from water magic by 10%, not an amazing skill but a skill is still a skill

...as soon as I check the window with the info on meditative sleep I notice something weird

____

Meditative sleep lvl1:

A skill that Automatically activates on your sleep

Makes a space in your dreams where you can consciously practice skills

Earns +10% more experience for any skill while activated

-Overlapping detected-

Skill "meditative sleep" is overlapping with skill "quick mind"

Skill meditative sleep" is overlapping with skill "split mind"

|Overlapping bonuses:

|

||+20% to experience earned during

| meditative sleep (total 30%)

|

|While in use of both meditative skill | and split

|mind, experience increased by |200% (total

|230%)

____

Oh my god, or should I say goddess...just what did she give me...

And is that high judge lady really this goddess that just give me this blessing?...if that is so then why did she give it to me when she hasn't gave one after so long

...every day in this world is just filled with more question...

From what I can imagine after reading the title of my blessing no one should be able to tell that I got it...something that I appreciate, I wouldn't want to deal with the mess that would come from the attention

Trying not to overwhelm myself with excitement I shake my head

...

Finally after all this walking we had reached the installation center, a building that was bigger in size than any other I saw on the way here but it was also pretty simple and lacking in decorative details

...the guard had told me that if I wanted to stay in the capital, until reaching 15 I would have to join an orphanage

After getting around this maze, I finally found the office I was directed to go to, office 213...this place is busy

I knocked on the door

*come in* a feminine voice answered from inside

I held the handle and pushed the door lightly, coming in with my left leg I greet

*hel...*

*tch...it's another midget*

...dumbfounded, I could only wonder how those words came out from the mouth of the same beauty that sits behind the desk

*Will you take a sit already or are you going to stand still staring at me with that dumb looking face of yours?*

...is this what they call a yandere in "Japanese literature" ?

*I'm very sorry if I offended you*

I say in a semi-ironical tone as I sit on the right chair

*I am coming from the makino village an...*

*I know where you're coming from and your situation midget, sir George came here and explained it...I wonder how stupid you yourself have to be for that buffoon to like you*

Ehhh...I wouldn't expect of the nice guard to be nice to this extend

*an...*

*open those filthy ears of yours and just listen *

Aagh...it's happening again!

*you just have 1 choice to make...there are 5 orphanages in the capital and only 2 of them accept random children*

*random?* I ask in confusion

*the others would only accept you if you were given to them with a decent amount of money*

*I see...*

*also George told me to let you know that the remaining 2 don't have the best reputation...they'll basically use you like a slave for as long as you stay there*

*...and where am I supposed to go?!*

*what, are those 2 not good enough for you?*

*of cou...*

*George suggested another orphanage, located out of the capitals walls*

The yandere pointed on a location on the map placed behind her on the wall

*is that one better ?* I asked

*depending on what you consider better...that orphanage keeps beastkins and foreign refugees, so usually no one appli...*

*ok then just get me in that one*

It was my time to speak over her...though for a slight moment I got a scary stare from her, she stayed unexpectedly neutral

*alright then...* she said as she seemed to be pulling up something from under the desk

...a crystal ball with a wooden stand...something similar to what you see fortune tellers use on TV

*...this here, is an identification orb, just put your hand on it and it'll be able to tell me some basic information on you*

...now that sounds bad...

*...what kind of information?*

If it's able to show her my race then I'm in trouble

*your name, level and age*

*that's all?*

She could be lying...

*yes I...*

I once again disturb her

*and is it necessary?*

This time her face twitched hard...

*of course and it is you fucking dipshit!, if you dare speak over me once again I swear I'll beat the living shit out of you!*

In a defensive stance with my head lowered I speak with a trembling voice

*o...o,ok*

Fuck, she is way worse than Ethans mom

Feeling defeated I put my hand on the crystal ball...the instance I do a glow comes off it, almost the same as the glove that disgusting old man used

...getting back to her "normal" state the yandere started speaking in low volume, almost whispering

*his 12, name daniel...level...0??*

*how can you be level 0 at this age?...usually someone surpasses that number at least at the age of 4*

She put her hand in her head almost as if she had a headache and continued

*...anyway...just get out, go to the third floor, find someone named Harry and...*

She again reached below the desk this time getting a paper out...she wrote some things and

*just give him this...*

*ok...thank you*

I tried responding kindly...wouldn't want her turning into that demon again...

And like that I left her office and did what she told me

...

After a lot more of walking I had reached the orphanage with that fellow Harry...a decent man...from what I understand he's being abused by that yandere demon, making him work constantly

The orphanage just by taking a look from the outside you can clearly tell that it's not part of the capital...it's mostly made of wood, rocks and a concrete-like substance...it's not built terribly, it overall looks nice but there's a clear difference in the materials and architecture, which makes it look poor

*go ahead and open it yourself*

Harry told me pointing at the door

...I take some steps forward, and just with a slight push, the door opens...

...what I'm greeted with is a sight to behold...children...lots of em...running, jumping,yelling, fighting

A headache hit me just thinking that I'll have to wake up to this each morning...