Buina Village for two days straight, turning the roads to mud and trapping everyone indoors. Paul, driven to near madness by the confinement, had leapt at the chance to join a patrol to check on some outlying farms where flooding was a concern. This left the house in the decidedly more peaceful, if chaotic, hands of Zenith, Roxy, and us "terrors."
The atmosphere was cozy, thick with the scent of drying wool, baking bread, and the faint, ever-present ozone of Roxy's practiced magic. From my spot on the braided rug near the hearth, I could see the entire tableau. Zenith, humming softly, was kneading dough at the heavy wooden table, her blue hair tied back in a practical bun. Roxy sat in Paul's favored chair, a thick, leather-bound grimoire open on her lap, occasionally glancing over to where Rudeus was meticulously drawing spell arrays on a slate with a piece of chalk.
"The incantation for [Wind Blade] is inefficient," Rudeus declared, not for the first time. "See here, Teacher Roxy? The third syl-la-ble creates a redundant harmonic that wastes 3 to 5 percent of the mana throughput. A modified array, bypassing that node entirely, could yield a sharper, more focused cut." He presented his slate as if it held the secrets of the universe.
Roxy peered over, her purple eyes scanning the intricate diagrams. "A valid observation, Rudeus. However, the redundant harmonic is what makes the spell stable enough for most mages to cast without severing their own fingertips. Your silent casting allows you to skip the incantation, but the underlying structure in your mind must still be perfect. For now, master the standard form. Innovation comes after foundation."
Rudeus deflated slightly but nodded, his analytical mind already whirring to accept the new parameter. "Understood. Foundation first. Then optimization."
I chuckled softly, earning a sharp look from my brother. "What's so funny, Leon?"
"You," I said, leaning back on my hands. "You're trying to rewrite the symphony when we've barely learned to play 'Chopsticks.' Teacher Roxy's right. Don't blow your fingers off trying to be fancy."
"Says the boy who uses [Earth Pillar] to reach the top shelf for cookies," Roxy said without looking up from her book, a faint smile on her lips.
I coughed. "That was one time! And it was a strategic application of terrain manipulation for resource acquisition."
"It was stealing snickerdoodles," Zenith called over her shoulder, her voice warm with amusement. "And you left a dirt stain on the floor."
"A small price for culinary victory," I said, raising my chin. Rudeus snorted, a surprisingly undignified sound.
The rain pattered a steady rhythm on the roof. It was the perfect cover. My Assimilation hunger had been gently nagging at me all day. With everyone confined and distracted, it was an ideal time to do some… housekeeping. My eyes scanned the room, my enhanced senses filtering the world. I could see the heat from the hearth, the slow flow of mana around Roxy, the tiny life signs in the corners of the room.
There. High in the shadowed corner where the wall met the ceiling, a fat, lazy [House Spider - Lv. 0] sat in its web. Already assimilated. Next to a crack in the window frame, a cluster of [Grain Weevils - Lv. 0] munched invisibly on a forgotten bit of flour. Too insignificant.
My gaze drifted to the herb bundles Zenith had hung from the beams to dry. Among the rosemary and thyme, a different kind of movement caught my eye. A [Luminous Moss Moth - Lv. 1], drawn in from the damp forest, was resting on a bundle of mint, its wings a subtle, shimmering grey-green. A Level 1 magical insect. Perfect.
I needed a distraction. "Hey, Rudeus," I said, sitting up. "Bet I can create a hotter, smaller [Fireball] than you can. One that won't set the roof on fire."
His competitive streak ignited instantly. "Impossible. My thermal efficiency calculations are optimized for maximum energy density within a stable spherical form. Yours are… pragmatic."
"Pragmatic means it works," I shot back. "Teacher Roxy, can we have a controlled test? Over the hearth, so any ashes fall in."
Roxy sighed, marking her page with a ribbon. "Very well. A small demonstration. One fireball each, no larger than a walnut. I will monitor for stability."
This was all I needed. As Rudeus stood, focusing intently on his palm, and Roxy moved closer to observe, I subtly pointed my finger toward the moth on the ceiling, hidden behind the bulk of the drying rack. A thread of crimson energy, thinner than a hair, lanced out. The connection was instant. The moth's faint, mossy bioluminescence flickered and died. A wisp of green-tinged energy traveled back to me.
<< You have defeated [Luminous Moss Moth - Lv. 1]. EXP gained. >>
<< Assimilated Minor Trait: 'Low-Light Vision (Minor)' - Slight improvement in vision in dim conditions. >>
<< Trait Synergy Detected! 'Low-Light Vision (Minor)' + 'Compound Eye Processing (Microscopic)' + 'Moth's Dust Sense (Microscopic)' -> [Basic Sensory Suite] evolution progress: 4/5 related traits. >>
So close. I needed one more related trait. My eyes continued their covert scan.
Meanwhile, Rudeus's fireball blossomed above his palm. It was, as promised, a perfect, dense sphere of orange-white flame, no bigger than a walnut, humming with contained power. The air around it shimmered with heat. He looked immensely pleased with himself.
"Well done, Rudeus," Roxy said, nodding approval. "Excellent compression. Your control is improving."
Now it was my turn. I focused, but not just on fire. I drew on a sliver of the weasel's agility, channeling it into my mana circulation pathways, trying to mimic the concept of 'quick ignition.' I pulled 8 MP from my pool—a little more than necessary—and forced it into a tighter, faster spin than the standard [Fireball] form. A jet-black and crimson sphere, edged with flickering blue, snapped into existence. It was smaller than Rudeus's, but it crackled with a fiercer, more unstable energy.
Roxy's eyes widened. "Leon! That's not a standard [Fireball]! The mana signature is… agitated."
"It's a faster cast," I said, grinning. "Less stable, but it reaches max heat quicker." I willed it to hover over the hearth, where it sizzled against the rain-dampened air coming down the chimney.
"It's reckless," Rudeus argued, though he looked fascinated. "The energy loss through radiation in that form is 15% higher than mine. It's wasteful."
"But it's scarier," I said with a shrug, dismissing the spell. The black-fireball winked out. "Sometimes intimidation is a valid tactic."
"Boys," Zenith interjected, wiping her hands on her apron. "Instead of burning imaginary holes in the air, how about you make yourselves useful? Rudeus, the firewood basket is looking low. Leon, there's a leak starting in the pantry corner. Can you use an [Earth Pillar] to redirect the drips into a bucket?"
Quest windows materialized instantly.
<< New Quest: Wood Runner >>
Objective: Help bring in firewood from the covered porch.
Reward: 25 EXP, 10 SP.
<< New Quest: Domestic Engineering >>
Objective: Use magic to fix a household problem.
Reward: 30 EXP, 15 SP.
"On it!" we said in unison, the competition shifting to a new arena.
Rudeus dashed for the door to the porch, eager to apply his 'optimized lifting techniques' to the logs. I headed for the pantry. The leak was a thin trickle of water coming down the stone wall where the mortar had eroded. A bucket was already placed below it. The standard fix would be to patch it with more mortar, but Zenith wanted a magical solution.
I studied the problem. A simple [Earth Pillar] to block it might just force the water elsewhere. I needed to guide it. I focused on the concept of channeling, of shaping. I placed my hand on the damp stone, feeling its cool, rough surface. I cast not [Earth Pillar], but a modified, gentler spell—[Shape Earth]. I willed the existing stone and mortar to flow, not much, just enough to create a tiny gutter that ran from the leak directly down into the bucket's center. It was a minute expenditure of mana, requiring finesse over power.
The stone groaned softly as it obeyed, morphing almost like soft clay for a moment before solidifying. The trickle of water now ran neatly along the new, smooth channel and dripped perfectly into the bucket.
<< Skill Created: [Earth Shape] (Uncommon). A derivative of Earth magic allowing for fine manipulation of stone and soil. >>
<< Quest: Domestic Engineering - Completed! >>
<< Rewards: 30 EXP, 15 SP. >>
"All fixed, Mother," I announced, walking back into the main room.
Zenith came over to inspect, nodding in approval. "A neat job. Thank you, Leon. Much better than your father's usual method of nailing a piece of leather over it and hoping for the best."
Rudeus returned then, arms laden with an improbably large and neatly stacked pile of firewood. He'd clearly used a subtle [Increase Gravity] spell on himself to manage the weight. He deposited it with a soft thump by the hearth, looking immensely pleased.
<< Quest: Wood Runner - Completed! >>
<< Rewards: 25 EXP, 15 SP. >>
"Show-off," I muttered, smiling.
"Efficiency," he retorted.
The afternoon melted into a warm, lazy continuum. Roxy set us to practicing [Heal] on minor kitchen injuries—a small cut on Zenith's thumb from a knife, a tiny burn on Roxy's own finger from a stray spark during her own magical experiment. The green glow of healing magic became a familiar light in the room.
As Zenith moved to start preparing supper, a new opportunity arose. She began shelling a bowl of rock-peas, discarding the tough, inedible pods into a scrap bowl. Among the organic debris, I saw movement. A [Rock-Pea Weevil - Lv. 0], specialized and tough. Not enough. But then, a [Kitchen Spirit Beetle - Lv. 1] scuttled out from behind the flour bin, drawn by the scraps. This was a slightly magical pest, said to be attracted to homes with strong hearth magic. It was a tiny, iridescent thing, almost beautiful.
As Zenith turned to fetch water, and Roxy helped Rudeus correct the cadence of a healing chant he was analyzing ( "It's not a song, Rudeus, it's a focus trigger!" ), I made my move. A flick of will under the table. The crimson thread. The beetle's shimmer faded. The energy absorbed.
<< You have defeated [Kitchen Spirit Beetle - Lv. 1]. EXP gained. >>
<< Assimilated Minor Trait: 'Hearth Sense (Minor)' - Allows faint detection of active magical energies related to fire and sustenance. >>
<< Trait Synergy Detected! 'Hearth Sense (Minor)' integrates into [Basic Sensory Suite]. >>
<< Conditions Met! >>
<< Minor Traits: Compound Eye Processing, Moth's Dust Sense, Low-Light Vision, Passive Wall-crawling Sense, Hearth Sense are merging. >>
<< Evolving… >>
<< Evolution Complete! >>
<< New Basic Trait Acquired: [Keen Senses] - Provides significantly enhanced vision (including low-light), tactile spatial awareness, and minor sensitivity to active magical auras. >>
A wave of sensation crashed over me. The world snapped into hyper-focus. I could see the individual threads in the rug, the tiny pores in the wood grain, the subtle heat haze rising from the hearth. I could feel the vibrations of Rudeus's foot tapping, the draft from the window crack, the faint, warm pulse of the household's latent magic. It was overwhelming for a second, then my mind, aided by the System and Gamer's Mind, calmly categorized and dialed down the input to a manageable, incredibly useful level.
I blinked, reorienting. No one seemed to have noticed. Roxy was now arguing good-naturedly with Rudeus about the philosophical nature of healing magic. "It is not merely biological manipulation, Rudeus! There is an element of sympathetic connection, of encouraging the body's own story to continue—"
"But the 'story' is just a metaphor for cellular regeneration and mana-aided mitosis!"
I tuned them out, focusing inward. One evolution down. My mobility package was next. I had Weasel's Agility, Faint Breeze Affinity, and… I needed two more related traits. I scanned my list. Night Crawler's Vigor (stamina) and Earthworm's Tolerance (pressure resistance) weren't quite right. I needed speed, reflex, kinetic sense.
The answer came during supper. Zenith had made a rich stew, and as we ate, a [Common Housefly - Lv. 0], braver than most, buzzed around the table, evading Rudeus's half-hearted swats. It moved with erratic, lightning-fast precision.
I waited until it landed on the table edge near my bowl. While reaching for the bread, I let my finger brush the wood. A micro-thread of Devouring energy, so small it was almost nothing, touched the fly. It dropped, lifeless. Another microscopic trait.
<< Assimilated Minor Trait: 'Rapid Twitch Fiber (Microscopic)' - Negligible improvement to nerve response speed. >>
Not enough. But it was related. I needed one more.
After supper, during cleanup, my chance arrived. Roxy, demonstrating a practical application of [Water Ball], was carefully floating a stack of rinsed plates to the drying rack. A droplet of water, sparkling in the firelight, fell. My new senses tracked it perfectly. Without thinking, my hand shot out and caught it before it hit the floor, my reflexes a blend of my base DEX, Weasel's Agility, and the new microscopic tweak.
"Impressive reflexes, Leon," Roxy remarked.
"Thank you, Teacher. It just… seemed a waste to let it fall." As I straightened up, I saw my final target. A [Silverfish - Lv. 0], that swift, darting insect, fled from the disturbed dampness under the wash basin. I focused, not on draining it, but on observing its movement with my new [Keen Senses]. I analyzed its leg coordination, its instantaneous bursts of speed. I willed my Assimilation not to take its life, but to copy its pattern. The crimson thread connected, not to drain, but to scan and imprint.
<< Trait Analysis Complete. Pattern Imprinted. >>
<< Synthesized Minor Trait: 'Darting Evasion (Minor)' - Slight improvement to short-burst acceleration and directional changes. >>
<< Trait Synergy Detected! 'Weasel's Agility (Minor)', 'Faint Breeze Affinity (Minor)', 'Rapid Twitch Fiber (Microscopic)', 'Darting Evasion (Minor)' are merging. >>
<< Evolving… >>
<< Evolution Complete! >>
<< New Basic Trait Acquired: [Agile Frame] - Provides significantly improved overall movement speed, reflexes, balance, and kinetic efficiency. Reduces effective body weight for maneuverability. >>
Another, more physical wave of change washed through me. My muscles felt lighter, more responsive. The slight awkwardness of my three-year-old body diminished further. I felt a newfound grace, a potential for speed that hadn't been there an hour ago. I subtly shifted my weight, and my body adjusted with silken smoothness.
The rest of the evening was a test of my new capabilities. Moving to fetch a book for Roxy, I nearly glided across the room, stopping with perfect precision. When Rudeus, lost in thought, accidentally bumped into me, I swayed aside without spilling the cup of mint tea I was carrying.
"Whoa," Rudeus said, blinking. "Since when are you so… floaty?"
"I've been practicing," I said, which wasn't a lie. "You're not the only one who can optimize, brother."
He squinted at me, his genius mind doubtless running calculations on my observed velocity and mass. "Hmph. I'll incorporate proprioceptive exercises into my regimen tomorrow."
As we settled for bed, the rain still whispering against the shutters, I felt a deep sense of accomplishment. The day had been a perfect grind session: filled with family, learning, laughter, and substantial, secret progress.
In our dark room, as Rudeus's breathing evened out into sleep, I pulled up my updated status. The changes were beautiful.
---
STATUS
Name: [Leon] Greyrat (Twin Eldest)
Age: 3
Title: The Devouring Twin, New Game+
Level: 7
Experience: 576/700
Traits:
· Basic: [Keen Senses], [Agile Frame]
· Minor: Rodent's Resilience, Gnawing Strength, Insect Chitin Density x2, Night Crawler's Vigor, Earthworm's Tolerance, Multi-limb Coordination (Dormant)
HP: 205/205
MP: 58/58 (+50% Regen)
STR: 11
VIT: 16
DEX: 17 (Note: Agile Frame provides effective +3 to DEX for movement/reflex actions)
INT: 22
WIS: 19
LUCK: 10
Unallocated Stat Points: 35
System Points (SP): 1,460
---
NEW SKILLS
· [Earth Shape] Lv. 1
· [Mana Sensing] Lv. 4 (Enhanced by Keen Senses)
---
QUEST UPDATES
· Magical Apprentice: Reach Mana Control Lv. 10. (Mana Control: Lv. 6)
· Trait Evolution: Merge 5 related Minor Traits into 1 Basic Trait. (COMPLETED x2)
Rewards Claimed: 1000 EXP, 400 SP, [Random Trait Enhancer] x2.
<< Level Up! You are now Level 8! >>
<< Points to Allocate: 5 >>
---
I'd leveled up from the evolution rewards! I banked the new points, bringing my total to 40. My SP was now a respectable 1,860. The two [Random Trait Enhancer] items sat in my inventory, glowing softly. I'd use them later, perhaps to boost my new Basic Traits or to elevate a crucial Minor Trait.
I dismissed the screen, lying in the dark. The house was quiet save for the rain and the creak of settling timbers. I could hear Zenith and Roxy speaking in low tones in the main room, the fire's faint crackle, the steady beat of Rudeus's heart from the other bed. With my [Keen Senses], it was all a rich tapestry of peaceful sound.
Today had been about the small things: fixing leaks, fetching wood, learning, joking, and growing. No epic battles, no world-shaking revelations. Just the steady, satisfying grind of life and power.
As sleep finally claimed me, I thought of Paul, out in the rainy dark, and smiled. He was probably complaining about the mud, telling tall tales to the other villagers, and missing his weird, wonderful family. We'd be here when he returned, a little bit stranger, a little bit stronger, and ready to surprise him all over again.