Chapter 6 - 5: Prodigies
Four years had passed since Kriantis's birth into the harsh embrace of the Blood Forest and the Safrion tribe. Four years of absorbing, analyzing, and adapting, all from the confines of a rapidly growing, yet still fundamentally weak, child's body.
The world that was once a blur of incomprehensible sounds and overwhelming sensations had slowly sharpened into focus, largely thanks to the passive skill that had manifested just two months in.
[Language Comprehension (Basic - Rank I): Increases the speed of understanding and learning new languages (spoken, written, nonverbal) by a factor of 10. Current Languages: Common Tongue (Fluent - Reading/Writing/Speaking), Safrion Dialect (Native - Listening/Speaking)]
While full literacy would require formal instruction, which he had yet to receive, understanding the spoken Safrion dialect, the nuances of tone, and the flow of conversation had become second nature long before his second year. It was an invaluable tool, allowing him to process the constant stream of information from his family and the village environment.
His internal world was a stark contrast to his external reality. While physically mastering the challenges of walking, then running, on the uneven ground of Bloody Haven Village, his mind was constantly working. He diligently practiced the internal circulation of mana, following the faint pathways he could now perceive within himself.
(Stage 2: Mana Bonding achieved last year. Control is finer, the pool feels slightly larger... Energy stat is now 15. Still small, but the growth rate is noticeable. Let's push towards Stage 3: Manacule.) Kriantis nodded as he stopped to think.
He often sat observing the daily life of the tribe, his golden eyes taking everything in. Hunters returning, sometimes triumphant, often weary or injured. Gatherers sorting herbs and materials, their knowledge vast but specific. Nurturers tend to the sick, the young, and the general well-being of the village.
Then there was his mother, Merlia (Lv 17, ER: H-), who expertly managed her duties, her movements efficiently, and her mana usage for simple tasks seemingly effortless despite choosing to remain a Follower.
Not forgetting his eldest sister, Raia (now Lv 11, ER: I+), training rigorously with the other Hunter aspirants, her spear a blur, her determination fierce.
Aside from those two, there was Amber (Lv 7, ER: I), the quiet middle sister, already displaying an uncanny knack for identifying rare plants and minerals, her focus intense.
And finally, Pamela (Lv 5, ER: I-), the youngest, her face tear-streaked as she endured basic combat drills under the relentless tutelage of their father.