Waking up alongside the sun, like every other day, is tiring. But I'll wake up the instant I splash cold water on my face, so it's alright.

My name is Ian Blackstone, but everyone just calls me Ian or boy. Growing up in a small village hasn't been a treat, but it's not like I can go anywhere else after all I'm only seven.

Changing into my, not so clean, cloths I say, "Status"

[Name: Ian Blackstone]

[Species: Human]

[Class: None]

[Class EXP: None]

[Title(s): None]

[Stats: Vitality 10, Agility 8, Strength 7, Mana 15]

[Affinities: Fire 1%, Earth 1%, Water 1%, Air 1%]

[Skills (Active): Woodcutter Lvl 1/10, Laundered Lvl 2/10, Herb Gathering Lvl 2/10]

[Skills (Passive): Lesser Breathing Technique Lvl 1/10]

[Magical Skills (Active): Mana Sphere Lvl 1/10]

[Magical Skills (Passive): Lesser Meditation Technique Lvl 1/10]

Still seeing my below average stats, with the exception of mana, I slowly exhale...

This system was created for humans and other races, during the era where humanity and the other prominent races were suffering at the claws and teeth of magical creatures (Well the humans more than the other races). So a group of powerful mages, called Salazar Imperials, managed to create a world-class spell that would affect all of the prominent races from that day forth with what they called the World Status System.

Only the prominent races would be affected by this spell, no magical creature was affected by the spell. Meaning, that they would either have to become a familiar or a guardian of one of the prominent races to have access to the world status. To become a prominent race, your race would have to have been included or similar race to that of Salazar Imperial mages. Since, when they created the world-class spell, every member in attendance was of each race. With the creation of this spell, all the prominent races began to understand their potential, even how strong they needed to be in order to face certain magical creatures and live out their lives. Many started to realize their limitations, whether it came to certain monsters or affinities and skills, in general, became easier to acquire or advance because there was now a less vague visual guideline to follow.

Thousands of years have passed since that day. And this World Status System is now a common place thing, it distinguishes the elite from the common. Which is where I am at the moment, stuck with being a below average common human. Usually kids my age have started going to school to help figure out what future classes are available to them, and what stats they need to increase or add in order to actually get said future class. As for me, well let’s just say I cannot spend my time sitting around listening to teachers and figuring out my future class.

After eating breakfast, I head out to do my morning job of cutting wood for the carpenter around the corner. Even though my strength stat is low, I’m the only working child in the village. So the carpenter doesn’t get mad at my lack of productivity, as long as he doesn’t have to do it himself he doesn’t mind letting someone like me doing it. Usually for a kid my age, their stats average around 10 to 12, however, I’m at 7 in strength and that’s only because I’ve been cutting wood daily for the past 4 months. If I hadn’t been cutting wood it be at 5, which is even worse.

The other children in the village just play and attend the only school in the village every day. Whereas, I have to work to make ends meat, as the saying goes. Unlike the others, my parents left the village around two years ago and I haven’t heard from them since. They of course left me enough money and food for several months, however with them not returning and all, I had to start making money by doing various miscellaneous task around the village just to get by! No family from this village can afford to support an extra child and it is too small to have a church in it, so there goes the ‘orphanage’ option.

Needless to say I am on my own, but that’s alright. I enjoy my life, although not as much as when I had parents, more like I’m not crying in a corner waiting for someone to save me.

Continuing my morning routine of chopping wood, I take a quick break and look out into the field where all the other village children are. Looks like Miss Lily decided to have class outside today, cannot disagree with that. It’s pretty nice out today, the sun is shining, there’s a cool light breeze coming from the southwest and not a cloud in the sky. Too bad that I couldn’t join in on the lessons, the school day lasts for 6-8 hrs every day except weekends. And I need to work, to keep both a roof over my head and food. Not to mention a boat load of miscellaneous things that a growing boy requires. At least I’m not daydreaming of things I don’t have… Back to wood chopping I guess.

Finishing chopping wood, I head back to my house after I collect my daily coins from the carpenter and make myself some lunch. Nothing too exciting, just a piece of bread from the local baker and some cheese from the dairy farmer’s wife.

After eating, I sit in the middle of my bed and start both my [Lesser Meditation Technique] and [Lesser Breathing Technique]. Both of these skills are passive, ones magical in nature and the other is physical. My parents taught me the basics of these two skills before they left, however, they told me never to do them at the same time. Something bad is supposed to happen, but for some reason I’ve managed to find a natural rhythm between the two skills that allows me to do them at the same time. Guess that’s because I’m working with the ‘lesser’ version instead of the ‘basic’ version my parents taught me. But as a result my mana stat is at 15, which is above the average for my age. Makes me pretty happy!

Controlling my breathing and calming my mind, I invited the surrounding mana in the atmosphere to enter my pores and circulate through my body. Not all the mana gets absorbed into me, but enough to make me more aware of how it flows through my body each and every time I take a breath. It does nothing to increase my total mana, however it makes my recovery rate faster than normal.

A minute or three later, I finish my meditation and breathing techniques. Still sitting on my bed, I’m a little sweaty, but it’s nothing compared to after a session of wood chopping so I’m fine. I start to gather the stored mana in my body into a small sphere in the palm of my hand. This skill is called [Mana Sphere], it’s currently at level one but once it reaches level five I should be able to shoot it outwards to my intended target. Holding the [Mana Sphere] in the palm of my hands, I try to get the sphere as smooth as possible. Accomplishing that, I cancel the skill and restart it from the beginning.

It’s the middle of the afternoon, when I finish practicing my two passive skills and my only active magic skill. Taking a drink of water from my water container I left on the table, I get up and walk out of my home and onto my next job. Herb gathering for the local herbal store.

The lady, Mrs. Hemsworth, lets me collect the more common and daily purchased herbs that she sells at her shop. It was really nice of her, because some day I want to be able to go out into the world and at least be able to tell edible plants from poisonous ones. But that dream is far, far away. Entering her shop, I head to the main counter where I can see her sitting behind it humming some soft tune while there is a lull in customers. And to the right of her, on the counter, my list of herbs that I need to gather for her.

Finally noticing that someone has entered her shop, Mrs. Hemsworth says, “Hello, Ian my boy! Isn’t today such a beautiful day? I wish I could close up shop and enjoy the day.” With a heavy sigh she continues talking, “Well here is the list of herbs I need you to gather for me today. There’s nothing new or dangerous on the list. But more importantly, you remember how to pick the Breeze Grass, right?” Looking at the list that she handed over to be while she was talking, I notice that most of the herbs on the list are something anyone with a level one in [Herb Gathering] can do. And the Breeze Grass, she mentioned, is the first level two herb that she’s allowed me to gather.

Remembering where each of the five herbs are on the list, I reply, “Hello to you to Mrs. Hemsworth! And yes I remember how to properly gather the Breeze Grass.” Looking at me like she wants to see if I remember it, I start to explain how to gather the herb like she told me to from the last time I gathered this herb for her. “First, I need to create a small barrier that’s blocking the direction of the wind. Second, I slightly water down the blades of grass. And lastly, I cut the blade of grass and instantly put it in the special pouch that you have provided me!”

Satisfied with my answer, she hands me five individual pouches. Four of them are made of a common brown cloth material, while the last one is made of a black leather with a silver cord to close the pouch with. The last pouch is for the Breeze Grass, it has both the wood and wind element in it. So as soon as the blades of grass have left the earth they immediately start to follow the wind currents, three times faster than a normal blade of grass. So by creating a small barrier and then wetting the grass with water, I can reduce the chance of the Breeze Grass escaping my grasp.

Exiting the shop, I head out of the village and towards the forest nearby. The other four herbs I’m gathering are on the edge of the forest, but the breeze grass is further south. So I’ll start with these four.

The four herbs I have to collect, beside the Breeze Grass, are: Yellow Blue Grass, Bolted Flower, Swaying Toadstool and Iron Berry. Each of these herbs can be used to help the various people who enter and exit the forest every day.

Yellow Blue Grass, is just like the name. It’s a grass that is both yellow and blue. Depending on the yellow and blue ratio the grass can be used as a paralytic or a sleeping aid when turned into a cream. So it’s not dangerous in its unprocessed form and it requires no special gathering method. It’s a level one herb after all.

The Bolted Flower, is a flower with its petals in the shape of a lightning bolt. With its electrifying yellow color, it’s a counter agent to the Yellow Blue Grass when it’s turned into a paralytic cream. Another level one herb.

Next, the Swaying Toadstool, is a bluish mushroom that sways on the edges of windy plains that are about to turn into a forest. Even if there is no breeze, this mushroom will still sway. I don’t remember what it’s for, but it’s a level one herb so it’s not poisonous.

And lastly, is the Iron Berry; a red and gray berry that grows on an Ironwood Bush. It has both the wood and metal element in it and it’s known for being one of the ingredients in making a Strength Boosting Potion.

By the time I gather all five herbs, the Sun has almost disappeared from the sky. I should have enough time to get back to Mrs. Hemsworth, collect my coins from her and head home for dinner. Managing that, I get home with time to spare. While I was at the store, giving Mrs. Hemsworth back the herbs I gathered. She was glad that I was able to collect more Breeze Grass then the previous time, so she gave me an extra coin!

At home, I reheat the leftover soup that Mrs. Chastely taught me to make. It’s real easy! Even a seven year old can make it! Finishing my meal, I count the number of coins I earned today.

15 copper coins from the Carpenter and 30 copper coins from Mrs. Hemsworth. So that’s a total of 4 ½ bronze coins. I’m gonna put 20 of the copper coins into my collection for rent and use the other 25 to buy food for tomorrow.

Just to let you know, in case you were wondering, my rent costs 62 copper coins or 6 bronze coins a month. The house isn’t that big and neither is the surrounding properties, so usually it cost 7 bronze coins. But the person I’m renting took off a whole bronze coin worth, mainly because I’m a child and I’m not destructive like the other boys in the village. I’m really grateful to that person!

Anyways that’s a typical day for me. Although, usually I alternate wood cutting and laundry duty every other week.