《Chronicles of Aerthos: A Reincarnated Soul's Stat-Driven Rise》 Chapter 1: Birth in Riverford The tires of the truck screeched loudly, a child¡¯s startled cry pierced the air, and then there was a sickening, heavy crash. That jarring sequence of sounds was the last clear memory Mihir retained from his life in Kolkata. He had been rushing to work, caught in the usual morning chaos of the city, when a brightly colored ball bounced into the street, followed by a small child who hadn''t looked before running after it. Seeing the bus approaching rapidly, Mihir reacted purely on instinct, leaping forward and managing to push the little girl back towards the safety of the sidewalk, even as he himself was struck by the full force of the vehicle. In the aftermath, everything simply faded into darkness, not with pain, but with a gradual lessening, like the volume of sound being turned down slowly, or a light dimming until it finally went out completely. He experienced a sensation of floating, as if drifting aimlessly in a vast emptiness, until a voice, soft and warm like the gentle heat of the sun, reached him in the void. ¡°Mihir,¡± the voice resonated, carrying a sense of immense size and kindness that enveloped him, ¡°your previous life was unfortunately burdened by misfortune, a cosmic misstep that caused undue hardship.¡± Confusion flickered within him, a faint echo of his earthly existence, as he wondered, Who is speaking to me? What mistake are they talking about? He remained unable to see anything, only feeling a sense of lightness and weightlessness surrounding him. ¡°To rectify this¡­ imbalance,¡± the voice continued, the warmth growing slightly stronger and more comforting, ¡°I am offering you a new beginning, a chance to live again in a world quite different from the one you knew, a world called Aerthos, a realm of swords and magic, fundamentally structured around¡­ systems.¡± The word systems sparked a faint, almost forgotten feeling of excitement within him, a distant echo of cherished memories of playing games, of losing himself in RPGs, leveling up characters, and mastering complex skills, all from a life that now felt incredibly remote, like a half-remembered dream. ¡°In Aerthos,¡± the voice explained, the warmth now becoming even more pronounced and reassuring, ¡°power is not an abstract concept but a tangible reality, clearly visible to all; every being in that world possesses a status window, displaying their attributes, skills, and inherent potential for growth.¡± The voice then declared, ¡°You will be reborn there, Mihir, as a new person, as Rylan.¡± Rylan. The new name echoed in his awareness, feeling somewhat unfamiliar yet strangely right at the same time, and a flicker of anticipation, a fragile spark of hope, began to glow within the fading remnants of his consciousness. ¡°To aid your transition,¡± the voice continued, now tinged with a note of apology, ¡°and to compensate for the inevitable disorientation and the initial lack of clear memories, I am bestowing upon you two unique gifts, special skills that will be intrinsically linked to your very being from birth.¡± The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. A surge of warm, tingling energy flowed through him, suffusing his formless essence with power. ¡°The first gift,¡± the voice announced with gentle authority, ¡°is Intuition, a deep-seated sense of knowing, a constant guiding whisper that will help to steer you on the correct path; it will not grant you perfect foresight, but it will subtly nudge you towards advantageous opportunities, provide warnings of hidden dangers, and resonate within you when you are about to make a truly correct choice.¡± Intuition¡­ the skill name resonated in his mind, sounding exceptionally useful and undeniably intriguing, perhaps like a gamer¡¯s in-built sense for finding hidden quests or optimal strategies. ¡°And the second gift,¡± the voice continued, its tone now filled with a hint of wonder, ¡°is Rapid Learning, a remarkable potential, a profound talent that will significantly accelerate your ability to acquire new skills and deepen your understanding of this new world, a gift that is, in essence, quite extraordinary.¡± Rapid Learning¡­ That definitely sounded like an incredible advantage, like having a built-in cheat code activated from the start, and a faint, unseen smile might have touched his lips if he still possessed a physical body to express such emotions. ¡°You will not consciously remember your previous life on Earth, nor this very conversation we are having now, Rylan,¡± the goddess stated, the comforting warmth of her presence now enveloping him completely, ¡°however, echoes of your past will linger, surfacing in your dreams, in fleeting glimpses of a life you once lived, and in moments of d¨¦j¨¤ vu, that peculiar sensation of knowing something instinctively, even when you cannot consciously recall why.¡± The light surrounding him intensified, becoming almost overwhelmingly bright, yet still retaining its comforting warmth, as the voice softened, gradually fading into the distance. ¡°Live well, Rylan,¡± it whispered, ¡°live your new life to the fullest, and perhaps, in this different existence, you will finally discover the happiness that was¡­ misplaced in your previous one.¡± Then, everything rushed in. Colors, feelings, spinning. And then¡­ just feeling. Warm and soft. Sounds far away. Rylan opened his eyes. Soft light was all around him. He blinked, and slowly turned his head. A gentle face came into view, a woman looking down at him. Her eyes were warm, and she smiled a soft, loving smile. He felt safe in her arms. A larger figure moved closer, a man standing beside the woman. He looked down at Rylan with kind eyes and a quiet smile. Rylan looked from the woman to the man, and back again, feeling a warmth spread through him. ¡°Welcome, Rylan,¡± the woman murmured, her voice gentle. ¡°Welcome to the world, little one.¡± Rylan. His name. It felt right. He looked up at the woman¡¯s face again, and then at the man beside her. He felt a deep sense of comfort, a feeling of being cared for. ¡°He¡¯s strong, Lienea,¡± the man said softly to the woman. ¡°A good boy.¡± Dad? Mom? Even though he didn''t know words, the feelings were there. Safe. Loved. He was Rylan now. In Aerthos. With them. Riverford. A new life was beginning. Earth was like a forgotten dream. Only this moment mattered. And deep down, a tiny spark of something new began to grow. Excitement. Maybe adventure. He was Rylan, and his story was starting. Chapter 2: Status and First Memories One month passed quickly in Riverford. For Rylan, it was a blur of warmth, soft touches, gentle voices, and the comforting rhythm of feeding and sleep. He existed in a world of pure sensation, responding instinctively to the care of his parents. He was lying peacefully in his simple wooden crib, sunlight filtering softly through the linen curtains of the nursery, when something utterly unexpected happened. A shimmering, translucent blue window abruptly materialized directly in front of his infant eyes, filling his limited field of vision with glowing symbols and neatly organized lines of text that made absolutely no sense to his newborn mind. Overwhelmed by this sudden and inexplicable visual phenomenon, and completely unable to comprehend its meaning or purpose, Rylan instinctively reacted in the only way he knew how to express distress. He drew in a sharp breath, his tiny chest heaving, and then unleashed a loud, piercing cry that echoed through the quiet house. In another room of their small home, Lienea was humming softly as she folded freshly laundered linen clothes, her thoughts drifting contentedly to her newborn son. The sudden, sharp sound of Rylan¡¯s cry instantly shattered her peaceful reverie. Maternal instinct overriding all else, a surge of immediate concern shot through her, and she dropped the neatly folded clothes without a second thought, rushing quickly towards the nursery to check on her precious infant. Isla and Kael, playing quietly with wooden toys in the main room, paused their game, exchanging curious glances at the sound of their baby brother¡¯s sudden outburst. Just as Lienea reached the doorway of the nursery, her expression etched with worry and her hands outstretched to soothe her crying child, Bron entered the house, his sturdy boots making soft thuds on the wooden floorboards. He carried the familiar scent of fresh-cut wood and damp earth, evidence of his morning spent working in the nearby forest. He took in the scene at a glance ¨C Lienea¡¯s anxious face, Rylan¡¯s loud cries emanating from the crib, and Isla and Kael peering cautiously from the doorway of the main room ¨C and a calm understanding settled over his features. ¡°Lienea, love, don¡¯t fret so,¡± Bron said, his deep voice gentle and reassuring as he approached his wife and son. He placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, then glanced at the date stone hanging near the door. ¡°Today¡¯s the day, isn¡¯t it? Rylan¡¯s one-month mark.¡± Lienea paused in her anxious movements, her brow furrowed in confusion as she looked at her husband, then back at the still-crying Rylan. ¡°The day¡­?¡± Bron nodded calmly, a knowing smile softening the lines around his eyes. ¡°Aye, the day his window appears. Remember, it¡¯s always around the first month. Sometimes a bit before, sometimes a bit after, but always close to the one-month mark.¡± Understanding dawned on Lienea¡¯s face, relief visibly easing the tension in her shoulders. Of course. She had almost forgotten in her new-mother worry. The Status Window. A normal part of life in Aerthos, even for newborns, although the sudden appearance could certainly be startling, especially for a baby. Isla and Kael, now realizing it wasn''t an emergency, crept closer to the crib, their initial worry replaced by childish curiosity as they peered at their little brother and the strange blue glow emanating from above him. Rylan¡¯s Status Window, now that its initial startling appearance was over, remained a constant, if not consciously noticed, part of his vision. If one knew how to focus their awareness, it was always there, a softly glowing blue overlay on reality. For Rylan at one month old, it displayed the most basic information: ----------------------- | Status Window | ----------------------- | **Name:** Rylan of Riverford | **Age:** 1 Month | **Race:** Human (Aerthos) | **Class:** None | | **Stats:** | * Strength: 1 | * Dexterity: 1 | * Vitality: 2 | * Intelligence: 1 | * Willpower: 3 | | **Innate Skills:** | * Intuition | * Rapid Learning ----------------------- Rylan¡¯s initial years passed in a comforting blur of typical childhood experiences, filled with the constant presence of Isla and Kael. He grew and developed as any normal Riverford child would, but always with his older siblings close by. Isla, with her two years of seniority, took her role as big sister very seriously, often hovering protectively, gently correcting Kael if he played too roughly with baby Rylan, and taking it upon herself to ¡®teach¡¯ Rylan about the world, her lessons often consisting of slightly bossy but well-intentioned pronouncements about the ¡®right¡¯ way to do things. Kael, energetic and always eager for adventure, saw Rylan as a slightly fragile but potentially interesting new playmate. He would often try to include Rylan in his games, even when the baby was far too young to participate, narrating his elaborate adventures to the often-uncomprehending infant, and occasionally attempting to ¡®help¡¯ Rylan learn to crawl or walk, his methods enthusiastic but not always entirely gentle. Rylan, for his part, seemed to thrive in the constant attention and playful chaos generated by his older siblings, his baby gurgles and smiles often directed towards their faces as they peered into his crib or included him in their games. A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. One afternoon, Lienea sat beside Rylan¡¯s crib, a well-loved children¡¯s book open in her hands, Isla and Kael settling down on the floor nearby, ostensibly to listen to the story but also keeping a watchful eye on their baby brother. She began to read aloud in her soft, melodic voice, pointing at the colorful illustrations and the simple words beneath them. Rylan, though only a few months old, seemed unusually captivated, his infant gaze fixed intently on the pages, his tiny brow furrowed in concentration as he listened to his mother¡¯s voice and watched her finger trace the lines of text. Isla, ever the observant one, noticed Rylan¡¯s intense focus, nudging Kael and whispering, ¡°Look at him, Kael, he¡¯s really watching!¡± Kael, initially more interested in playing with his toy soldiers, glanced over at Rylan and then back at his toys, shrugging dismissively but still subtly angling himself to keep an eye on the baby. To Lienea¡¯s surprise, after only a few repetitions of the same simple words ¨C ¡°cat,¡± ¡°dog,¡± ¡°tree¡± ¨C Rylan began to babble sounds that, while not yet clear words, very closely mimicked the shapes and rhythms of what she was reading. Isla gasped softly, her eyes widening in childish amazement, while even Kael paused his playing, momentarily impressed despite himself. Days turned into weeks, and Lienea continued to read to Rylan every day, often with Isla and Kael joining them, sometimes listening to the stories, sometimes just using story time as an excuse to be near their baby brother. It wasn¡¯t long before the villagers, initially amused by the stories of the baby who seemed to ¡®listen¡¯ so intently, began to murmur in genuine astonishment. Rylan, barely a year old, was clearly and undeniably beginning to recognize and even ¡®read¡¯ simple words in his books, far ahead of any other child in Riverford¡¯s memory. Bron and Lienea, while secretly thrilled and immensely proud, simply smiled and attributed it to Rylan being a particularly ¡°quick¡± and ¡°bright¡± little one, pleased that their children were forming such a close bond, and still completely unaware of the extraordinary skill of Rapid Learning quietly blossoming within their youngest son. That night, as the peaceful quiet of Riverford settled over their home and Rylan drifted into the deep, untroubled sleep of infancy, strange and vivid images began to flicker behind his closed eyelids. He saw fleeting glimpses of a world utterly unlike Riverford ¨C a sprawling, noisy city teeming with unfamiliar faces and brightly colored vehicles, a chaotic jumble of concrete and steel under a hazy sky. He saw a flash of a brightly colored ball bouncing into a street, the terrifyingly close image of a huge, speeding bus, and then a sudden, jarring sensation of impact. Interspersed with these disturbing images were softer, more indistinct impressions ¨C a sense of immense warmth, a feeling of being enveloped in kindness, and a fleeting, almost dreamlike vision of a woman¡¯s face, radiating gentle power and ineffable compassion. Unseen by Rylan, Isla and Kael, in their own beds in the next room, stirred slightly in their sleep, subconsciously sensing a shift in the atmosphere of their home, a subtle change they couldn''t quite understand but which registered in their young minds as something¡­ different about their baby brother. He awoke from these strange dreams with a soft whimper, his tiny body momentarily tense, but the lingering fear quickly dissipated in the comforting warmth of his blankets and the familiar quiet of his nursery. He had no conscious understanding of the images he had seen, no memory of a past life or a conversation with a goddess. Yet, something subtle had shifted within him. A spark of Mihir¡¯s adult intelligence, his accumulated experiences and observations from a previous life, had quietly ignited within the fertile ground of Rylan¡¯s infant mind. He remained, outwardly, a normal baby, loved and cherished by his family, especially by his ever-present older siblings, Isla and Kael. But deep within, the seeds of a different kind of awareness had been sown, ready to slowly germinate and grow as he journeyed through his new life in Aerthos. Chapter 3: Riverford, Status Awakening, and Hidden Potential Riverford was peaceful. It was simple. The village nestled in a curve of the Clear River. It grew from the land. Ancient trees embraced it. The Greenwood Forest stood on three sides. Buildings were made of forest wood. Dark wood aged richly. Roofs were thatched with river reeds. Paths of packed earth wound around. Gardens overflowed with herbs and flowers. The village green was Riverford''s heart. It sloped gently. Sheep kept the grass short. Villagers walked across it. The village well stood in the center. Stones covered it in moss. A wooden bucket hung ready. Essential buildings faced the green. The Hearthfire Inn was largest. Its sign showed a bright fire. It was Riverford¡¯s social center. Travelers rested there. Villagers gathered in evenings. Nearby, the smithy stood sturdy. Hammer on metal rang daily. Isla and Kael¡¯s uncle worked there. The village store was small and wooden. Maeve, a kind woman, ran it. It offered many goods. Local produce and tools were there. Imported spices and fabrics too. Merchants brought them sometimes. The Elder¡¯s Hut stood apart. Willows whispered around it. It was larger, well-kept. Elder Rowan lived there. He was village leader. He held local wisdom. Paths branched from the center. Some led to fields. Fields were cleared from the Greenwood. Villagers grew crops there. Wheat, barley, and roots. Other paths went to the Clear River. Canoes and boats rested on the banks. They were ready for fishing or river travel. The Greenwood Forest was always present. Tall trees formed a green wall. Leaves rustled. Birds sang. It was a soothing backdrop to life. Rylan''s childhood unfolded in Riverford. Life was peaceful. It was predictable. His siblings were always there. His days were simple. They were joyful. He shared them with Isla and Kael. They played for hours. Isla was seven now. She was responsible and capable. She often organized games. She took charge cheerfully. She set rules and made sure Rylan joined in. Kael was nine. He was energetic and boisterous. He was Rylan¡¯s constant friend. They played adventurously. He dragged Rylan to the riverbank. He taught him to skip stones. He started wrestling matches. They played on the village green. Isla often stopped them because Kael played too rough for Rylan. They built forts together using Greenwood trees. Kael led construction and planned defenses. Isla organized supplies. Berries and stones were their supplies. Rylan found hidden nooks and sturdy branches. Even young, he was good at it. Their games mixed tag and hide-and-seek. They played at the forest edge and had adventures. Riverford became a fantasy realm. Knights and mages lived there, as well as fearsome monsters. Kael was always the hero. Isla was a wise sorceress. Rylan played along happily, as the loyal sidekick or a gifted apprentice. His Intuition helped sometimes, and he found clever strategies that surprised his siblings. Rylan grew. His Rapid Learning skill became subtly noticeable. Isla and Kael learned at a more typical pace. His skill remained a family secret. Bron and Lienea observed it with quiet wonder. He still loved listening to stories. Isla and Kael joined story time now. They sought Lienea''s attention and asked many questions. Rylan absorbed stories a bit faster. He remembered details slightly better. Siblings and even Lienea forgot details sometimes. He started reading early. He read somewhat well for his age. Isla and Kael were impressed, though a little envious. He read simple books around age three. Isla still worked on harder words. Rylan read with a bit more confidence. He often asked for new stories. He borrowed Isla¡¯s practice books, sometimes learning lessons a little quicker. Isla felt a mix of pride and mild annoyance. He developed physically at a good pace too. He kept up with Kael in running sometimes, despite being younger. He climbed trees with reasonable ease. He learned to swim in the river somewhat quickly. Kael often took a bit longer to master new physical skills. They were friendly, with a touch of competition. Kael was proud of Rylan¡¯s quickness in some things. He still wanted to be the stronger, older brother. Socially, he was also quite perceptive. Playing with siblings, he learned sibling dynamics. He understood their moods fairly well. He learned from each interaction and picked up social cues somewhat quickly. His Intuition showed subtly. He played with Isla and Kael. It seemed like luck sometimes. They played in the woods. He steered them away from thorns because Kael fell there before. Kael dismissed his ideas, but Isla listened more. It helped them sometimes. They played hide-and-seek. Rylan found good spots. He chose spots by feeling, not by thinking. Siblings were frustrated but admired him sometimes. They squabbled over toys and argued in games. Rylan knew what to say sometimes. He knew what to do sometimes. He calmed tension occasionally and helped harmony sometimes. He calmed Isla''s bossiness sometimes and soothed Kael¡¯s pride sometimes. Then, his fifth birthday neared. Rylan lay in bed. Sleep came gently. Images flooded his mind suddenly. Emotions surged powerfully. He saw a different world. Glass and steel towers rose high. Streets filled with noisy vehicles. Faces were pale and strange. He saw a bright ball roll into a busy road. A bus loomed large and fast. He felt impact, sickening and brutal. Then, images faded fast. Recognition came instead. Knowing settled in. Isla stirred next door. She sensed a shift in Rylan. Something changed subtly. She couldn''t name it. Childish intuition felt it. Something important happened to Rylan. He didn¡¯t recall Mihir¡¯s life in Kolkata or the goddess in the void. But then, in Riverford, in his bed, Rylan understood. Certainty filled him. Deep inside, he knew. He lived before. Reincarnation was real. It was him. Birthday night arrived. Candles glowed warmly. Berry pie smelled sweet. Songs faded. Presents unwrapped. Parents sat Rylan down. The fireplace warmed them. They looked serious and loving. Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. "Rylan," his father began, voice gentle. "Tonight, you are five. You''ll understand something new. It''s special. Everyone has it. Not everyone understands." Mother smiled, reassuringly. "It''s your ''Status'', Rylan. Like a secret page, about yourself. Only you see it." Rylan tilted his head, intrigued. "My status? Am I tall?" Father chuckled. "Not like that. Remember the ''Status Board'' we talked about? It shows your inner strengths, your potential. Tonight, you''ll see it more clearly. It''s¡­ changed a bit." Blue shimmer appeared. A faint window in front of Rylan. It looked different now, more than before. Words filled it, still almost understood, but sharper, somehow. He gasped, eyes widening in surprise. "Whoa! It''s¡­ different! What happened?!" "It''s your Status Board, Rylan," mother said softly. "Showing you more details now. It was blurry before, just showing basics. Now it''s clearer." Rylan nodded, and his father asked, "Can you share your Status with us too, so we can explain it?" Father pointed to the shimmering screen. "See there? ''Attributes''. Your basic strengths: Strength, Agility, Dexterity, Vitality, Magic Power, Intelligence, Willpower, and Luck. Now you see the numbers clearly. Everyone starts with values." "Numbers next to them?" Rylan asked, squinting. "Yes, those are your starting attribute values. Children begin at Level 1 around age five. As you work harder, your Level will increase," his father answered. "Every year on your birthday, from age five to ten, you''ll receive 5 attribute points. From ten to fifteen, you¡¯ll get 10 points each birthday. Use them wisely to improve your stats," his mother added. "And from ten to fifteen is when most children grow rapidly and learn things quickly," his father clarified. Father leaned closer. "Look here," he gestured to the Status Board. "More details. Now you are five." He described it to Rylan, painting a picture:
===================== STATUS ===================== Name: [Rylan] Level: [1] -------------------- ATTRIBUTES ------------------- Strength: [5] Agility: [7] Dexterity: [6] Vitality: [6] Magic Power: [3] Intelligence: [8] Luck: [Fixed] (10) Willpower: [9] ----------------- ATTRIBUTE POINTS ---------------- Available Points: [0] ===================== SKILLS ===================== Innate Skills (Unique Rank): - Intuition(beginner) - Rapid Learning(begineer) Combat Skills: - None Magic Skills: - None Social Skills: - None Utility Skills: - None ================================================== "See, Rylan?" father said. "You have values for each Attribute: Strength for power, Agility for speed, Dexterity for precision, Vitality for health, Magic Power for magic potential, Intelligence for mind, Luck for fortune, and Willpower for mental strength." Mother pointed to a new section. "''Innate Skills'' are listed here now," she said. "You were born with them. Let''s see¡­ you have two Unique Rank skills!" his mother exclaimed, surprised and pleased. Skill Rankings: Common ==> Rare ==> Legendary ==> Unique ==> Mythic "Rapid Learning¡­ that explains why you pick things up a bit faster than others. It should help you learn more quickly. We can look for books in the city library to understand it better," his father answered. "And Intuition¡­ that¡¯s a rare and powerful skill. It gives you a strong sense of what¡¯s right, what¡¯s wrong, and what¡¯s beneficial. I read about it in the capital''s library. People with Intuition often make their mark on history," Rylan''s father added. "We''ll read more about these Unique Skills later. For now, let''s look at the rest of your Status," his mother suggested. "Attribute Points: Currently zero," father mentioned. "But tonight, on your birthday, you''ll receive 5 attribute points. You can add these to your stats. While it''s tempting to use them right away, I recommend pushing your body first. Train hard, improve your stats naturally. Use attribute points later, when it gets harder to improve through normal training. That¡¯s what your mother, Isla, Kael, and I all did." Rylan''s mother continued, "Consistent practice improves your skills. Blacksmithing with Uncle will improve your ''Blacksmithing'' skill. Helping Maeve at the store will improve ''Negotiation''. You can learn many new skills by working hard." Rylan''s eyes lit up. "I want to learn everything!" Rylan''s father calmly stated, "Without a Profession that supports a skill, you can only reach the Intermediate rank in it. To go beyond that, a Profession helps greatly." Skill Mastery: Beginner ==> Intermediate ==> Advanced ==> Master ==> GrandMaster Rylan drooped his shoulders slightly. "So, without a Swordsman Profession, I can''t learn swordsmanship like you or Kael beyond Intermediate?" "You can learn swordsmanship, son," his mother corrected gently. "And with exceptional willpower, some individuals¡ªthough very few, maybe one in a million¡ªcan even surpass the Advanced rank without a supporting Profession. But it¡¯s incredibly difficult." Father, turning serious again, said, "Remember, your Status Board is private. Keep it secret. Only share it with those you truly trust. Knowing your Status can reveal weaknesses that could be exploited." "Yes, keep it secret for your safety," mother reiterated. "Okay," Rylan nodded, now very serious. "Around age twelve," father continued, "you''ll choose a ''Profession''. Knight, Mage, Craftsman, and many others are options. Professions guide your path, making related skills easier to improve and level up faster. A Swordsman Profession aids sword skills; a Mage Profession aids magic. When you get your Profession, you''ll also gain some starting skills related to it. We''ll discuss Professions more as you get older." Rylan looked at his Status, now clearer, more detailed, and understood. Excitement and responsibility filled him. He knew there was much to learn, about himself and the world. His fifth birthday marked a new beginning, a deeper understanding of his life''s path. He was still Rylan of Riverford, loved son and playful brother, but also someone with hidden depths and unique potential, waiting to be unlocked through effort and dedication. The night in Riverford deepened, and Rylan¡¯s journey truly began.