Abarith
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Chapter 4: Steps Towards Greatness
🕑 Added 2024-11-22 05:35:04 +0000 UTCThe morning after the funeral, Jeremy and Andrew stood in the field behind their house. Jeremy felt a weight in his chest that hadn’t lifted since the day before. Alicia’s absence was a raw wound, and though it was just him and Andrew now, he couldn’t shake the sense that she was still there somehow, watching.
“Today, you start your training,” their father announced, his voice steady, his expression hard. “You’ll need every advantage before the Academy of Humanity begins. Those who turned thirteen months ago have already been training. You’ll have to work hard to catch up.”
The boys’ eyes widened in shock. “The Academy of Humanity?” Jeremy repeated, as if he hadn’t heard right. “But… isn’t that the best school of humanity? We didn’t even take the entrance exam!”
His father’s face softened slightly. “Yes, that academy. You’ll be going there without needing to worry about exams. Just leave it up to me.”
Andrew looked at his father, a mix of excitement and disbelief on his face. “But Dad, how…?”
Their father’s reassuring smile told them everything they needed to know. “You’ve earned your place, boys. I’ve made sure of it. Focus on your training and make the most of this opportunity.”
Relief mixed with excitement in their eyes as they nodded, and their father’s gaze moved between them, seeing the determination in their expressions. He gave a short nod in return.
They nodded, and their father saw the determination in their eyes. He gave a short nod in return.
“Show your Status,” he said. “It’s not something you should do often. Trust is rare, so keep this private.” The boys had been begging to see their parents’ Statuses for as long as they could remember, but their parents had always refused. Now, with their own Statuses awakened, they were eager to see one another’s.
Jeremy Hoppins
Tier -
Body -
Mind -
Soul -
Skills:
Universal Equipment Slots - Personal
“You know this already,” their father began, “but it bears repeating. Skills aren’t just granted. Except for your personal Skill, every other Skill is earned through focus, discipline, and hard work. And having a Skill is only the beginning. A Skill grows as you infuse it with essence, making it more powerful. Without essence, it’s just potential waiting to be realized.”
Jeremy nodded, understanding. “And essence is purified through dungeons, right?”
“Exactly,” their father confirmed. “Essence flows through everything in the universe; it’s the foundation of life, power, and growth. But to use it directly, we need it purified, and that’s where dungeons come in. Monsters in dungeons contain this purified essence. When you defeat them, you gain that purified essence, which you can then use to strengthen your Skills.”
Andrew’s eyes gleamed with fierce determination. “So, the more essence we get, the stronger we’ll be.”
“Exactly,” their father agreed with a sharp look. “But be cautious. Just as you can kill monsters for essence, others can do the same to you. This is why war is at the core of our society—we invade alien civilizations for their essence, and they do the same to us.”
Jeremy nodded, taking it in. But then Andrew broke the silence, his voice loud and certain. “Then I’ll make them pay. I’ll kill every Pretender that took her from us. ”
Their father looked at him approvingly. “Exactly. We fight to protect humanity and to protect those who can’t protect themselves. Even if you choose to leave the battlefield after your mandatory service, your work would have been a great help.”
Then their father reached into his pocket, his expression turning serious. “Now, I’m giving you something important. Don’t ever tell anyone or show this to others, and never take it off.” He held up three amulets, each one shining a dull green in the sunlight, dangling from thin chains. Jeremy could feel his pulse quicken just looking at them.
Amulet of Insight
Neck Item
Grants the wielder greater insight.
Soul 1000
“This will help you to unlock Skills and to improve their rarity,” their father explained, his eyes intense. Seeing their surprised faces, he added, “Yes, these amulets are rare. Each one costs as much as several thousand planets’ worth of essence, enough to train entire armies from scratch.” He paused, letting that sink in. “And that’s why no one can know you have them. People would kill you to get their hands on these. Your academy is the best school across humanity, and even with all the influence and resources it has, they only lend this amulet to the top of each batch for a single month. You’re getting a head start few ever even dream of. Do you understand?”
Jeremy and Andrew nodded, feeling the massive weight of the gift—and the risks it carried. Their father continued, “These were your mother’s and mine. They came late in our careers, and I can tell you, we wouldn’t be where we are without them. Starting out with these, you’ll outshine us before long.” His smile held a hint of sadness. “Here, Andrew, you take one. Jeremy, because of your Skill—you’ll wear two.” He didn’t mention the reason for the third amulet.
“So… we just put these on?” Andrew asked, admiring the light glinting off the gem embedded in the middle of the amulet.
“That’s right,” their father said, nodding. “Just put them on, and the System will equip them in your Status. As for you, Jeremy, having two might give you an advantage, but we’ll see.”
Jeremy took the two amulets from his father. The chains felt cold and solid as he slipped them over his head, but the sensation vanished as the amulets immediately disappeared. He felt that he could get back the amulets anytime he wanted, and when he checked his Status, he saw new lines for them.
Equipment Slot - Amulet of Insight
Equipment Slot - Amulet of Insight
Andrew noticed his amulet in his Status too, his eyes lighting up with excitement.
Their father stepped back, giving them a quick nod. “Here’s how this training will work. At the academy, you’ll get to try different styles, so I don’t expect you to specialize yet. Right now, I’ll focus on generic Skills that can help you in any situation.”
He paused, a faint smile crossing his face. “Now, as my father made me do, and his father before him, now I’ll make you do. Are you ready?” The boys nodded, bracing themselves.
“Good. I’m still sleepy, so I want each of you to get me a cup of coffee from town. Mr. Hendrikson makes a great cup of coffee. Grumpy as he is, he fills his cups right to the brim just to watch customers tiptoe around, trying not to spill. Run to his shop, get a cup, run back, and don’t spill any.”
The boys stared at their father, trying to judge if he was joking. But his face gave away nothing.
With a sigh, they took off, racing each other towards town just beyond the horizon.
As Jeremy and Andrew reached Mr. Hendrikson’s shop, they quickly saw their father hadn’t exaggerated. The shop was busy, full of familiar faces from their small town, with conversations all around and people enjoying their breakfast. The warm smell of fresh coffee filled the air.
Mr. Hendrikson, white hair showing his age, stood behind the counter. He raised an eyebrow as the two boys came in, both breathing heavily from the run.
“Well, well. You two seem like you’re in a rush,” he said in his gruff voice. “What can I get you?”
Jeremy looked at Andrew, who gave him a quick nod. “Two coffees, please, Mr. Hendrikson. To go.”
Hendrikson’s eyebrows shot up. “To go, huh?” He chuckled. “Starting early with coffee, are we?” He turned to pour the coffee, filling each cup right to the brim, the liquid almost sloshing over. As he handed them each a cup, he gave them a serious look.
“Careful, now. Spill any, and you’ll owe me for it.” He grinned, and Jeremy wondered if he, too, was in on their father’s little scheme.
The boys stepped outside, balancing their steaming cups as they walked. Jeremy felt the heat through his fingers as he held the cup, knowing that even the smallest move could send the coffee spilling over.
They glanced at each other, and nodding, set off slowly, one careful step at a time, as if they were carrying a sleepy baby. Every small bump in the road sent coffee rippling dangerously close to the edge, and before long, a small dip in the road splashed some onto their hands.
“Hot, hot, hot!” Andrew muttered, trying to adjust his grip. “How does anyone drink this without spilling?”
“I think Dad wants us to figure it out,” Jeremy said, grinning. His fingers stung from the heat. “But he also told us to run.”
Andrew shot him a wary look. “Run? We’ll lose half the coffee if we try that.”
“Probably,” Jeremy admitted, feeling a challenge build in his chest. “But maybe he wants us to find a way to do it without spilling too much.”
With a deep breath, Jeremy picked up his pace. Coffee sloshed over the sides, and he winced as it splashed on his hands. But he kept moving, checking over his shoulder to see Andrew following, looking both determined and frustrated.
They sped up into a jog, then a run, quickly realizing that keeping the coffee in the cups was almost impossible. Every time one of them adjusted their grip or slowed down, the balance would throw off, sending more coffee over the edge.
By the time they made it back to their father, the cups were nearly empty, coffee staining their hands and arms. They handed him the nearly empty cups, sighing in frustration.
Their father looked at the little bit of coffee left in each cup, a slight grin breaking through his serious expression. “It’s a start,” he said. “But I was hoping for more than just a few drops.”
Jeremy gritted his teeth and, without a word, turned back toward town for another attempt. Andrew followed close behind, and soon they were back at Mr. Hendrikson’s, holding another pair of full cups.
The second attempt was just as frustrating. They tried to keep a steady jog, adjusting their grip and focusing on every step, but coffee still splashed out. The road was uneven, with rocks and dips that made their task even harder. When they returned to their father, they still had barely any coffee left.
As morning passed and afternoon came, they kept running back and forth to the coffee shop. With each trip, they picked up small tricks—how to control their breathing, step carefully over the bumps, and adjust their pace to avoid jostling the coffee too much. Jeremy found himself paying attention to every movement, fine-tuning his steps to make them smoother.
With each attempt, they managed to bring back just a bit more coffee. They realized that running wasn’t only about speed but rhythm, too. Keeping a steady pace and controlling the sway of their bodies helped keep the coffee from spilling. Jeremy noticed that the better his stride, the less the coffee sloshed. He began to feel a strange sense of calm settle over him with each run.
Around their seventh trip, something changed for Jeremy. His legs felt lighter, his stride smoother, and the coffee barely moved in his hands. He reached his father, handed over his cup, and was surprised at how little he’d spilled.
His father took the cup, nodding. “Looks like you’re getting the hang of it.” Then a small notification flickered into Jeremy’s vision.
Unlocked Skill: Running
Jeremy blinked at the words, feeling a mix of excitement and realization. This had been his father’s plan all along. The running, the coffee—it had all been a way to help him unlock this Skill.
He looked up at his father, who gave him a knowing smile. “It isn’t just about repetition. You could do the same thing a thousand times, but without knowing what went wrong, you will never improve. Even with the amulets helping you, the two of you surpassed my expectations,” his father said, pride showing in his eyes.
Jeremy felt a rush of satisfaction. He turned to Andrew, who was still struggling with his latest cup, coffee sloshing over the sides.
“Come on, Andrew, let’s get you that Skill too,” Jeremy said, grinning.
But his father held up a hand, stopping him. “No, Jeremy. You’ve already unlocked Running, which means you’re ready to move on. Andrew is close to getting his, he can get there on his own.”
Jeremy opened his mouth to protest, but his father’s expression was firm. “Your personal Skill gives you an advantage now, and you need to take it. Time is precious.”
Andrew’s face fell as he looked from his father to Jeremy. A hint of something—disappointment or maybe even jealousy—crossed his face before he nodded, masking his reaction.
Jeremy felt his sense of accomplishment dampen. He gave Andrew a sympathetic look, hesitating, before turning back to their father. “Alright. What’s next?”
