At the beginning I thought to make this chapter small. But as I started to write it things I wanted add just kept on piling up…

Chapter 10. Summer festival.

“Nghh…” I let out a painful sound.

With the feeling of pain, which comes from my legs, I open my eyes. The first thing I notice is the simple wooden table with a chair and a window over them.

“So I am back in my room.” I say while trying to look around.

“I guess, I passed out…” I just keep talking, trying to distract myself from these burning legs.

“Damn it! I must have really pushed myself way beyond my limit.” Almost shout while rubbing my legs.

*creak*

As the sound reached my ears, I turn my head. What I see is mother entering my room with something in her arms.

‘What is she carrying? Wait isn’t that meat, bread and … Tea?’ Especially tea made me confused, since we had only little of it for some honorary guests.

“Good you are already awake. Asger, I brought you your breakfast. Just sit in your bed!” Mom said as she was walking to me.

I immediately done what she asked ignoring all the pain that came from moving.

“Here’s your breakfast.” She put something like a wooden tray on my knees.

As I was looking at what was in front of me small tears appeared in the corners of my eyes.

“What is it? Does it hurt so much?” Mom asked in a bit of worried voice.

I just shook my head. ‘It isn’t pain. This is just… I always wanted to feel being cared like this.’ Of course I didn’t say anything. Only watched at the tray with teary eyes in silence.

“Well then why are you waiting? Dig in!” Said mom with a smile on her face.

As I was starting to chew meat and bread down, I looked at the tea. “But why tea?” I wondered.

“This is a reward for you. Since yesterday you made me and you father proud.”

“Huh? But I didn’t do anything special.”

“Yesterday you trained really hard. And no one does this kind of thing at your age. Since it’s pure torture, because of low stamina. Normally everyone starts when they are at least over 3 years old and have no less than 10 points in it.” She said looking at me with a huge smile.

While mom was talking I pretty much finished my whole breakfast.

“Ah. Can you explain how to get only agility stat? Since yesterday even thought I raised 1 point in it but I also got 2 points in strength.” This is what bothers me the most. I want to increase my agility to counter strength. But if I get more strength than agility it kind of loses the whole purpose.

Mother just looked at me for a few moments until she said. “Strange question. But anyway it is impossible. To increase agility you must move. To move you must use muscles and while using them you gain strength.”

After thinking for a bit she added. “Don't waste your time on it. Due to our racial characteristics, it is very difficult to get points in agility and intelligence. So train your strength and defense, while doing this you will end up increasing other stats.”

Mother picked up tray from my knees and started walking towards door.

“Ah and one last thing. DON’T YOU DARE GET OUT OF THAT BED TODAY” These words of my mother, made shivers run down through my back.

“Phew. I guess this is what high level presence looks like.” I said with some cold sweat on my forehead.

“Haaa. While I was living here I kind of got used to seeing those ter… Those Northmen. But still I don’t want to look like them. I agree trained body is what everyone wants, including me, but not to the point where your neck is as thick as an average persons leg…” I give a deep sight seeing as my fate is going into one direction.

“Anyway I will go for agility and will hope for the best.” I decided to change my fate by trying till the very end.

===== =====

First two days I stayed in my room.

On the third even if my legs were still numb, I already tried to run a bit. But it was really uncomfortable so I stopped.

When the fourth day came I decided that it’s already time to start light training. But this time I decided to change tactics to only running in circles and no stairs.

On the fifth and six day I continued my running. Increasing it’s time by a bit everyday. Of course I decided not to use ‘until I collapse’ training anymore. Since consequences were too big.

And now on the seventh day I am going to my teacher’s house again.

‘’

Status WindowLevel5RaceNorthmenStrenght16Defence10Vitality9Inteligence42Stamina9Vigor11Agility5Presence1ResistanceWater0%Earth0%Ice1%Fire0%Lightning0%Darkness0%Nature0%Wind0%Poison0%Alcohol0%Titles

‘Hmm. Running is a bit less effective than training on the stairs. Since I got 1 point less in stamina than last time. And strangely my level increased but nothing happened. I guess it doesn’t do anything aside from showing how high it is… But there is still one problem. Should I be concerned about this vigor?’ I was analyzing my achievements in the past week.

Being in a deep thought I didn’t notice how fast we got to our destination.

“Asger, I will be coming to pick you up so wait for me here.” Dad said to me.

I nodded to him and went into the teachers house.

Few kids were still missing so I had to wait for about 10 minutes until class started.

And when it finally started I was able to learn few things but the class ended way faster than I wanted.

For me the most shocking moment was when teacher changed his monotone to more passionate one.

Apparently further in the North there is a number of villages which looking in map makes something like a line. So they all are called ‘The Last Line’, since they are like a boundary between the end of civilization and complete wilderness. But most important part is that every Northmen must venture there at least once in their life and join a patrol group. Otherwise you can’t be called a true warrior.

‘Hm. I think I will also go there later to check it out.’ I was thinking about teachers story while waiting for my dad.

“Did our little boy forgot his way home?” Once more this idiot is bothering me.

“I was just told to wait. And the one who is little isn’t me. If you don’t believe, come and stand near me.” I look at him with a small grin on my face.

He grit his teeth.

‘Oh looks like I hit a bulls eye’ I muse myself.

I shift my body in preparations of his sudden attack. But from behind me I hear my father shouting.

“Asger, come! Let’s go home.”

In the end I just turn around and walk away.

===== =====

Just like this, weeks, even months went on.

Before I noticed about 5 months have passed by. Bringing us to the middle of the summer. And yes since Landamot is in a bit of the southern region we get even 3 months of summer, 1 month of spring and also 1 month of autumn.

And today is a special day. Since today is summer festival. Of course it will only start at the evening and will end in the morning.

Whole town is preparing for it. Bonfires is being built, full carts with barrels of mead and ale are brought in and meat is being stacked into real mountains by hunters.

*huff*

*huff*

I keep my rhythmical breathing while doing sit ups.

At some point I decided to try other methods of training. So now as to not get bored I change training method every day.

*huff*

“Asger, stop training. Also come and wash your sweat off.” Shouted my mom from the first floor.

“Ah I guess it’s time for festival to start.”

“But before going let’s take one more look.” I say with a bright smile. Because I really like to look at my growing stats.’’.

Status WindowLevel12RaceNorthmenStrenght91Defence66Vitality26Inteligence47Stamina42Vigor29Agility34Presence2ResistanceWater0%Earth0%Ice2%Fire0%Lightning0%Darkness0%Nature0%Wind0%Poison0%Alcohol0%Titles

“All my stats are starting to look good. Except presence. And even that second point I got is apparently from level increase.”

“Also that intelligence… I got few points from classes but still to gain more in this environment is really hard. But I will really want to learn at least few spells in the future.” I said this with a somewhat frowned face.

“Well got to hurry or that monster will get mad.” I have been calling mom like this for a few days. The reason for this is our conversation about levels.

“Mom, what’s your level?” Since after I hit level 12, I started to wonder if I am becoming an op character like in all those novels.

“Level? What was it? Let’s see… Oh 351. So did you want to ask anything else?” Asked my mom.

“No. No. It’s nothing.” After saying that I just silently went back to my training.

That didn’t demoralize me. On the contrary it made me more determined even thought I knew that a long road is still in front of me.

It wasn’t long until we left our house and started walking towards the town.

‘Ah… I really can’t wait. I want to see how does that tablet work.’ This is what made the most exited about this festival. Apparently all 8 year olds are no longer considered as children. From that point on they are something like teenagers, who can make their own choices like picking a craft and similar… But before that, on summer festival they must prove themselves to the whole town using a tablet. If their level is below 80 they are being seen as weak, if it’s above 100 they are considered top of their generation.

‘But really, when I am 8 years old, no matter what, I will definitely be above level 80.’ I don’t want attention but being at the bottom is the worst.

Finally we reached main square. The moment we came. I was flooded by the smells of boiling stews, roasting beefs and by the sounds of music.

This square is massive most likely made for occasions like this where entire town comes together. On one side of it I can see something like a platform made of wood. On it musicians are playing. What’s more these musicians are humans and one of them is a beautiful woman.

Maybe it’s because it been so long until I saw a beauty, but my eyes were as if glued on her. She had long blond hair and her lips were a bit furrowed as she played her strange instrument looking similarly like a harp.

‘How long has it been since I saw a woman who I thought is beautiful?’ Well I read in novels and saw movies with beautiful women warriors in my past life. But in this town I never saw anyone like them. Most of them were ugly or with somehow deformed faces from fights…

“Asg…”

“Asger!” Someone called me.

“What are you doing? Come.” It was my mother.

I wiped my droll… Ah I mean wind blew some dust on my face, so I had to clean it. And immediately followed my parents.

In front of the stage dancing was going on. But we didn’t go there instead we went to the opposite direction, towards where all the food was being prepared.

The closer I got the more alluring this delicious smell became.

“How have you been Ulfhildr?” My father asked a woman with a huge scar on her face.

“As you see still living.” While roasting some beef she answered to my father and started to laugh.

“How’s your husband?” Now it was my mom who asked. But after this I stopped paying attention to their conversation.

‘Ah this nice smell is making me hungry.’ Thought while looking at roasting boar.

“Ah! Asger, do you want some?” Asked a girly voice.

“Huh?” I was still confused since my whole focus was on the boar.

“You were looking at it so intensely I thought you wanted some.”

After turning my head a bit to the left I noticed a big brown eyes looking at me.

“Hege? What are you doing here? And also yes please!”

“I am learning from my mother how to cook.” She said while taking two wooden spits already prepared with meat and some grilled onion rings.

Hege turned towards me and while giving both of them she said “here you go.”

“Wow… Thanks!” I said while gulping down my saliva.

Without waiting too much I took the first bite and was amazed by how good it was.

“Mmm… This is really delicious. Don’t worry Hege. Work hard and I am sure that one day your food will taste as good as your mothers.” This is something that came from my heart.

Suddenly I got a strange vibe that something is not right. So I looked sideways and noticed my parents with Ulfhildr, Heges mother, looking at us.

‘Wait… I think I just raised some bad flags.’ I say in my head as I am remembering the conversation a few seconds ago.

‘Need to fix it and fast, before something happens which I might regret for the rest of my life’ Don’t get me wrong she is a nice person, but here body is transforming into a terminator… And that’s it.

“Also if you ever need some help don’t be afraid to ask me. Since you are like a little sister to me who I never had. So no matter what I will always do my best to help.” After saying that I take another look at my parents. And it seems that they returned to their conversation.

“Okay!” Said Hege cheerfully.

‘Phew, I think this was a really close call’

“Asger, if you want to go look around you can do so, but come back here after 8 year olds finish showing their levels.”

“Ah and just in case something happens ask for help. People from this town lookout for each other.” Said my mother while father was still talking with Ulfhildr.

I looked at Hege, but she was already busy putting meat on spits. So I decided not to disturb her and turned my attention back towards the stage.

It took me some time but I am finally standing near the stage. ‘What an inspiring melody…’ I think this while listening to it with one word written on my face ‘bliss’. Of course seeing the sole beautiful flower in this garden of weeds has nothing to do with it. My eyes are just by accident looking that way.

Finally music stops and musicians leave the stage.

‘Damn I just got here and they already finished. This was way too fast.’ I mumble in my mind.

“Finally you moved! Ha ha ha. You just stood there for about an hour already looking like a complete moron. Ha ha ha ha.” Said a somewhat boyish voice from behind me.

‘I don’t even need to see him to know who is talking. It’s that moron Elis. But really what a strange name. No wonder he didn’t tell me back at our first meeting.’ While thinking this, bliss from before is already

being replaced by sourness.

“What do you want?” I asked with a tired voice.

It’s not like I really hate the guy. At first I thought he will be like Robby, from my past, but soon I noticed that I was wrong.

Elis was getting along with pretty much everyone in class. Apparently he is using some kind of strange pattern for friend making. By being a bastard at the beginning he shows who’s the boss. But later with some confrontations he will try to befriend you. And strangest thing is that it works…

Well at least not in my case. Since we became more like rivals, fighting after each class, than friends.

“Nothing. I am just waiting for a town chief to start his testing.” Said Elis.

“Yeah. Me too.” I gave a simple answer.

We stood for a few minutes in silence until I finally asked to destroy this awkwardness.

“I am interested. Do you train your body? Since I managed to increase my stats quite a bit, but you still put a good fight, even thought I win every time.”

‘Did he just blush for a bit… I must be imagining things.’

“Yeah… You suddenly became so strong. But I didn’t want to fall behind, so I started training.”

Being recognized is putting me again in a good mood.

“Oh. Finally it’s starting.” Said Elis in a serious voice.

As I looked forward, I noticed a really big person with already quite a lot of grey hair walking on the stage. In his hands was a strange stone tablet which was about the size of A4 sheet paper.

The moment he got to the center, he said: “I hope you all are having a good time. But I want all of you to stop what ever you were doing for a few minutes. Since there is a bunch, in total even 17, young lads, who are waiting to show their achievements. So as to not make this long, let’s start.”

While he was still speaking boys and girls walked towards him in an orderly line.

“Vandrad Ivarson!” Said chief in a loud voice so the whole square could hear the boys name.

And the first boy in line moved forward. I know that they are 8 year olds now, but if I would have seen them for the first time, he definitely would have looked like a middle schooler about 12 to 14 years old. This is because by the age of 10 our growth spurt ends and we pretty much reach the max height, in other word our growth slows down. But at the age of 10 we still only look like the heavily trained humans. So from that point we gain more muscles and start looking more and more like a real Northmen.

He stood in front of the chief and put his right hand on the table, held in a sturdy mans arms.

Suddenly an enormous screen appeared above them.

Status WindowLevel86RaceNorthmenStrenght861Defence713Vitality161Inteligence53Stamina314Vigor317Agility95Presence49ResistanceWater0%Earth0%Ice11%Fire3%Lightning0%Darkness0%Nature0%Wind0%Poison0%Alcohol0%Titles

“Wow the screen is soooo huge!” I was a bit amazed.

“Huh? Of course this is the biggest as it can get. Chief specially made it like this to show everyone.” Elis quite proud of himself explained to me.

‘Why do I feel like I just lost? Anyway just looking at his stats I can already see how he trained. Most likely lifting some kind of weights since his agility is really low. And his intelligence is similar to mine…’ I thought this while evaluating this boys stats.

“Not the best but still pretty good. Now show us your Titles.” complimented the chief.

But he had none.

“Next. Gudrod Biolfrson.” Announced the elder.

And so one after another they showed their levels. Only one person had 79 levels, while the rest was from 80 to 100, but no one had more than a 100. Also no one had a title.

Finally chief announced the last persons name: “Alfhild Manadottir”.

When I saw her I immediately noticed something different about her. While all the rest of girls, still looked pretty normal, comparing them with older women. They already had quite a lot of bulging muscles, like someone who done heavy training in gym. But this Alfhild comparing with others looked smaller and weaker. Her hair was light brown color, put into a pony tail and still reaching below her shoulders.

‘Maybe she is some kind of crossbreed between a human and northmen. But she is definitely the most beautiful local which I have seen.’ I was a bit mesmerized by her.

“I guess she is…” Elis mumbled to himself so I couldn’t hear everything.

Finally with her right arm on the tablet a huge screen appeared again.

Status WindowLevel97RaceNorthmenStrenght431Defence397Vitality139Inteligence1223Stamina187Vigor285Agility188Presence41ResistanceWater2%Earth3%Ice26%Fire1%Lightning1%Darkness1%Nature0%Wind0%Poison2%Alcohol0%Titles

“Why does she have such a huge intelligence? No one even had over 95.” I am dumbfounded for a bit from what I see.

“She must be a White Witch.” Said Elis in a really serious voice which I never heard from him.

“White what?” I try to inquire more.

“Just look” was the only answer I got from him.

“Almost 100 I expected nothing less from you. Now show us your Titles” Once more repeated the chief

And the screen changed to another one.

*Titles*White Witch

White WitchReduces all racial special traits. Intelligence increases by x3. High affiliation with ice magic.

“White Witch? What is that?” This is the first time I hear this.

“Witches are born in every race. Like elf’s has Green Witches, demonic races has Black Witches, we have White witches. To be born as one is a rare chance about 1 in a 1000. I don’t know about other races but here in North after the test, when they are 8 years old, they all travel to Deirdalgil, the magic school for White Witches.” Explained Elis while looking to the stage.

“How do you know so much?” I ask him.

He looked a bit at me confused. “Do you mean you never saw one? In our town, there are 3 of them.”

“Ah. I never met them.” I have to admit I didn't spend a lot of time in town.

I take another look at him and start to wonder. ‘He is smallest in our class and knows so much about it. Is he…’

“Say can a man be born with something like this?”

“No. Only women.” He answered fast without even thinking.

“I see…” Maybe I imagined too much.

Anyway since it finished and musicians are getting back on stage. I need to go look for my parents.

“Well I have to go. Till later.” I say while walking away.

== End of chapter 10 ==

The MC heard Elis name wrong thinking that he's a boy. But later her name I will write as Elise. This is just so you don’t get confused later.

Well I think I wrote most of what I wanted. So its time to move on. And in the next chapter mc will have a few years of a time skip. Next chapter I hope to write a bit interesting since I got something special planed for him.