As we came closer to the church's doors, we noticed a few children accompanied by one or both parents. Were there seven others awakening today?
When spotting us, each of them bowed their head and made a path. I noticed all of them were thin noticeably so. I wanted to make their lives better, the lives of the people I would one day be a lord to, unknown to me.
My father was subtly watching me, and seeing my eyes saddened then Shine with resolve, he smiled, knowing the land would have a good lord after he retires. He motioned for his people to stand, and we entered the church.
Being led to the main hall, each of the children stood on a marble floor with a gold twelve-sided star, with their parents to the side. My family, on the other hand, was standing with the bishop of the church, an older woman named Fey.
She stepped forward on the elevated stand.
"Now, children, your awakening will begin when the sun shines highest and perches the twelve windows of the twelve great deities."
With that, a bright light shone through the hall. When I was temporarily blinded, I heard a whisper:
"Good luck, little one."
When I came to, a screen was in front of me. Many described their skill book—that's what this world called the image that showed them all of their skills, like a scroll or tome—but I saw it as a hollow, graphic blue screen. I looked around and noticed the other kids staring at the air in wonder.
"Now then, children, you may speak your skill out loud or keep it private. That is the will of the gods. But I will say, the lord and lady are present, so you have a rare opportunity."
My father stepped up.
"Young ones, I, Baron Vatear, will not force you to state your skills. But know you all will gain the highest benefits I can bestow if you show this trust."
To my right, a boy raised his hand. He was a bit taller than I was, with tan skin, brown hair, and brown eyes.
"Um, lord… I received the E-Tier skill Knocked Arrow. It says my firing speed with any bow weapon will be increased."
My father smiled. "What is your name, child?"
"I… I… it's Mark, my lord. Mark."
"From this day onward, you will be taught in my manner. You will receive bow instruction from a formal knight."
Mark's mother gasped, quickly running to hug her son and then bowing to my father. The other children quickly looked at their parents; when they saw them nod, they each stated their own skill.
Each ranged skill was common—F and E tiers. Mark was a rare one, having an uncommon D-Tier martial skill.
"Now, to make things clear: you can learn skills. It is difficult but possible. But life skills—you are born with them, and they can never be enhanced or changed."
As the final girl spoke, she said, "I have the D-Class skill Magic Feather. When I run out of mana—"
Her father ran to her, claiming her mouth shut. Looking at my father, he nodded, and the man quickly picked up his daughter and left. The reason: mana or magic-related skills meant one thing—she had the aptitude to be a mage. In the whole territory, there were only two mages: my mother and our head maid, Fran—excluding my sister, who was sent to the largest magic academy in the north of the kingdom.
Alison's magic skills were so rare that each skill rank was seen as one higher. In everyone's eyes, that girl didn't unlock a one-in-a-hundred D-Tier skill, but a one-in-a-thousand C-Tier skill.
As for me… well, it read:
L-Tier Skill: Upgrade — When meeting a condition, you may upgrade anything of your choice to a higher tier.
Epic Skill: Arts Information — When scanning a person, you will see a portrait of them. You will see the most ideal path they may walk. When looking at a team, you will see a portrait of its past. When you grow stronger, you may add or take away from a portrait.
unique Teir Skill: Bodybuilder — When you consume food, it will contain equal parts protein, carbs, and fiber, no matter its composition.
When you exercise, others around you gain 10% in their muscle growth.
Well… hot damn.
Back in the manner, my mother and father took me to the study—a room lined with bookshelves and a large lacquered wooden desk with a grey leather seat, a warm fireplace, and a rug made from a wolf the size of a bear. I always wondered what kind of wolf grew that big.
I looked around the room. Portraits of every baron who came before hung on the walls. Our family was fairly young, which was why only the portraits of my grandfather, great-grandfather, and the first baron—or should I say baroness, my great-great-grandmother—were displayed.
In front of me were my father and mother, their eyes expectant. My father was the first to speak.
"David, I congratulate you, my son. Per noble tradition, you may say your ability in the presence of only your mother and father. But as for the Vatear tradition, we will say our abilities first."
He looked at my mother, Lilian. If I wished, she nodded. She then looked at me warmly.
"As you know, baby, I'm one of the few mages in the territory. My life ability is the D-Tier skill Store Spell. It is an ability that allows me to store one casted spell, which I can cast instantly with no mana cost besides the initial cost to cast the spell."
After her description, she took a step back and allowed my father to step forward.
My father looked at me and announced something shocking.
"David, I am one of the few in the kingdom that holds two skills. Now, before you ask your questions, I will state what they are.
"F-Tier skill: Weapon Partner. Once in your life, you may choose a weapon to be your lifelong partner. When chosen, you will gain 20% greater fighting capacity, but when not wielding your partner, you will lose 50% of your fighting prowess.
"As for my second skill, it is C-Tier skill: Grand Cleave. When swinging your weapon downward, you will gain 5% greater strength."
Now you may ask your questions.
"Um… so what is your weapon companion, Father?" I asked.
He smiled and stated, "I have not yet chosen."
In my thoughts, I halted. My father—a top-class knight, someone the Duke thought of favorably and who had been titled the Wolf Baron for over a decade—hadn't been using his second trait?