Raiden woke up several hours later, his mind hazy under slight mental pressure. As his eyes fluttered open, the familiar blue screen greeted him once again.
Ding!
[Objective Completed! You have gained 1 Skill Point.]
A felt a flicker of satisfaction as a small, brilliant crystal icon appeared beside the text.
Though it had been a minor task, the Skill Draw System had rewarded him for completing the mission. This first reward suggested greater opportunities that would come, possibilities that excited him despite being unaware of the system's extent of power.
Before his vision, a list of skills unfolded across the screen, each one labeled with a required number of points.
While some skills demanded more, the most fundamental ones just needed one. His gaze locked onto one particularly important entry at the top of the list:
[Mana Sense - 1 Skill Point].
The description was brief.
[Mana Sense: Allows the user to see the flow of Mana in their surroundings.]
Raiden didn't need to ponder over it for long. Mana was the magical energy that governed this planet; understanding its flow was the foundation for mastery of magic.
He gave the skill quick thought. The crystal icon split into light, and a rush of knowledge poured into him. His body tangled as if something new was opening.
His senses sharpened all at once. Though still nestled in his crib, he could feel something different in the air—a subtle, evasive presence throbbing about him.
The world seemed alive in a way he had never seen before. Mana, the lifeblood of magic on this planet, was guiding him. It was faint, distant, but it was there.
A small smile drew at the corners of his chubby lips. For the first time since rebirth, Raiden had experienced a flutter of control. Though it was a small start, it was the beginning of something more.
He closed his eyes once again—not to sleep, but to focus. He refused to remain a helpless baby for eternity. The Skill Draw System had offered him his first tool—and he planned to make the most of it.
«»«»«»
A month after his birth, Raiden's consciousness began to whirl more regularly. His senses were sharpening with each passing day.
He was free from limited flashes of awareness. Instead, he now experienced longer stretches of wakefulness, which allowed him to observe his surroundings more clearly.
The once-blurred images were now taking shape as he watched the intricate patterns on the canopy above his crib, the carved wooden furniture in the nursery, and the golden light streaming in through the tall windows.
His frustration lessened each day. Though his body remained weak and awkward, his mind was as sharp as it had always been.
The Skill Draw System was quickly becoming his most reliable companion. The translucent blue screens frequently appeared before his eyes with fresh missions.
Most of the missions were mundane tasks like [Drink a full bottle of milk] or [Cry for two minutes straight].
For each of these missions, he was rewarded a single skill point, though occasionally, he would come across tasks that were worth two skill points.
He completed them deliberately, thinking of them as little stepping stones toward more power.
With his growing pool of Skill Points, Raiden kept unlocking fundamental talents, carefully choosing those that would accelerate his development.
His improved reflexes and enhanced perception allowed him to better sense his surroundings and somewhat reduce the awkward movements of his infant body. He could now clearly distinguish between voices, catching the subtle variations in pitch and tone that revealed the speaker, their emotion and intent.
Most importantly, the presence of Mana became clearer—he could feel the faint pulses that seemed to echo through the very air. A constant reminder that magic permeated all around him.
«»«»«»
One quiet afternoon, while Raiden was sound asleep in his crib, a loud sound burst across the nursery.
The door swung open, and a tall, imposing man stepped inside. His hair, the same golden as Lady Elise's, framed a face that seemed to always be austere. He wore a dark blue doublet stitched with gold thread, and though his gray eyes were cold, they softened the moment they fell upon the infant in the cot.
Bowing slightly, the nursemaid stepped aside.
"Good afternoon, my lord," she said, moving back to give him space. "Wonderful comeback. Lady Elise will be glad to see your return."
With his deep and resonant voice, Lord Cedric Goldheart answered, "Yes, I am sure she will." He nodded, then turned to look at Raiden. "But I wanted to see my son first. I have kept him waiting to see me for far too long."
Raiden immediately recognized the man—his father, Lord Cedric. He looked closely at him, fascinated by the man who had become his father in this life. This was the first time they had been this close.
As the head of the Goldheart family, Lord Cedric exuded the power and authority that Raiden could almost feel radiating from him.
Approaching the crib, Lord Cedric gently reached down with his large hands and carefully lifted Raiden from the blankets.
A faint smile formed on his lips as he cradled the baby in his arms, his gaze softening even more as he carefully looked at the little bundle. "You're growing fast," he murmured. "Your strength already strikes me as outstanding. One day, you may even surpass your brother."
Looking at his father's face, Raiden could sense the weight of expectation behind those words. Even at such a young age, it seemed like his small shoulders were already carrying the hopes and aspirations of his family.
He did not find it surprising. Noble familiars, especially the legacy families like the Goldhearts, were bound to customs and traditions.
Raiden thought back to the goddess's portrayal. He could relate to much of it, but it's too early to worry about that, he decided. 'Right now, I have rather modest personal goals.'
Just then, Raiden suddenly saw a fresh blue screen flickering before his eyes, presenting an unexpected chore.
[New goal: Puke on Father's face]
[Reward: 4 Skill Points]
Raiden almost laughed. If he had been able to, he would have burst into laughter.
This was the most ridiculous task the Skill Draw System had proposed for him. Nonetheless, he wasn't able to deny its appeal.
Four skill points—enough to unlock a mid-tier ability if he played his cards right. The reward far outweighed any previous mission.
"This one's for you, Skill Draw System," Raiden remarked, his young mind already plotting. Though he wasn't particularly aware of how an infant's digestive system worked, he did have [Improved Reflexes] and [Enhanced Perception], which gave him more control over his body than any normal newborn.
He focused softly on the sensation in his stomach, managing the slight pain brought on by drinking too quickly.
His tiny fingers curved as he prepared for the job. Though he was determined to succeed, it felt strange to deliberately bring pain upon himself. The prize was worth a bit of embarrassment.
"Let's see how you like this, Father," he said.
The timing was perfect. As Lord Cedric let out an abrupt burp, leaned in closer, cooing softly to his son, Raiden's small body trembled.
Then, the next instant, a stream of milky vomit erupted from his mouth, splattering directly across Lord Cedric's face.
The chamber went into startled silence. The nursemaid gasped, her hand pressed to her mouth. Lord Cedric froze, wide-eyed, as the baby's spit-up streamed down his cheek. He seemed too stunned to react at first, his austere style disrupted by the unannounced attack.
Raiden could hardly contain his satisfaction. Though he couldn't laugh, his eyes glistened, and the sound resembling a gurgling coo was clearly coming from his throat. Happy with his own handwork, he looked up to face his father.
Lord Cedric blinked in disbelief, but then a resigned sigh escaped his lips. He shook his head, and a reluctant smile started to bloom on his lips. He then brought Raiden back to the nursemaid.
"It seems my son has quite the personality already," he said, dabbing his face with a handkerchief the nursemaid just handed him, his voice soft with amusement. "A mischievous one at least."
The nursemaid, still flushed with guilt, hurried to take Raiden into her arms. She hesitated before rushing toward the wash basin, "I-I'll make sure he's cleaned up, my lord," she stammered.
While she carried him away, Raiden's vision once again flashed with the blue screen.
[Mission Completed! You have gained 4 Skill Points.]
He felt a surge of contentment. Not only had he completed the task with accuracy, but the reward was more than enough to shift circumstances.
Now he had saved enough skill points to start considering some of the more advanced skills the system had to offer.
"I suppose this is just the beginning," he thought, his mind already drifting toward his next goal. Each day brought him closer to reaching his full potential, even though he was still a baby.
If earning skill points was this fun, then he couldn't wait for whatever crazy tasks the Skill Draw System would throw his way.
Knowing that his mischievous start had molded the type of life he had meant to live, Raiden closed his eyes with a contented sigh as he was returned to his crib.
He looked forward to the next assignment.