When Daniel woke up the next day, he stretched with a groan, listening to the soft creak of his muscles. He walked over to the window and opened it wide, immediately feeling the rush of cold air slap him across the face. His breath misted in the frigid morning air, and for a moment, he just stared out at the orphanage yard, watching a few birds flutter around. The quiet scene gave him a sense of calm.
After a few moments, he shook off the drowsiness and headed to the bathroom to start his morning routine. He brushed his teeth, splashed water on his face, and did his best to look more presentable.
When he finished, he returned to his room and glanced at the clock. There was still some time before breakfast, just enough for a bit of quiet thinking.
'Now that I'm back in London, I could check out the local library and see if there are any new skills to learn,' he thought, a grin forming at the thought of some new skills. 'But not today. It's Christmas after all.'
He stretched lazily in his chair, sinking into the backrest with a sigh.
The knock on his door broke his thoughts.
"Breakfast is ready," Miss Jones called from the hallway.
Daniel sighed but smiled, getting up.
When he entered the cafeteria, his eyes were immediately drawn to the Christmas tree in the center. It was decorated simply, but with a charm that made the space feel cozy and festive. Beneath the tree were the presents he had secretly donated yesterday, along with a few that he hadn't.
'I guess they took the presents,' he thought, a wave of relief washing over him.
The children, all too eager, rushed toward the tree, their faces lit up with excitement. But before anyone could grab a gift, Miss Jones's voice rang out.
"First, eat breakfast, then you'll all get a present."
The kids let out a collective groan, but they didn't argue. They lined up, plates in hand, the chatter now replaced by the hum of excitement and impatience.
Daniel grabbed his plate and made his way to his usual seat. When he finished, he set the plate aside, waiting for the others to finish. The anticipation of presents hung in the air.
Finally, when everyone had eaten, Miss Jones smiled and walked over to the Christmas tree, ready to start handing out gifts.
"Daniel," she called his name.
He was a little startled when he heard his name, but he stood up and walked over to her. She handed him a bag filled with a mix of candies and a couple of comic books.
"Thank you," Daniel said, a genuine smile forming as he accepted the gift.
Miss Jones gave him a smile before calling out to the next child. Daniel returned to his seat, feeling content with the small gift.
The children wasted no time tearing into their gifts, some immediately diving into their sweets, others flipping through comic books. Daniel didn't really have anything to do, and he didn't want to train on Christmas. So, he joined in, playing a little with the younger kids and reading through the comics he'd received.
A few hours later, they gathered for Christmas dinner, and afterward, Daniel helped with the cleaning. When everything was tidied up, he headed to his room, content with the day and ready to rest.
The next morning, after his usual routine, he thought, 'I could head to the library, but it's still a holiday, so it's probably closed.'
Instead, he made his way to the kitchen, where Ms. Smith was already busy preparing breakfast.
"Good morning, Ms. Smith. Need any help?" he asked, eager to lend a hand.
She glanced up from her work and smiled. "Welcome back, Daniel. You can wash the vegetables, let me know when you're done."
Daniel nodded and got to work, the rhythmic task of washing vegetables giving him a chance to clear his mind. After breakfast, he headed back to his room, his thoughts already turning to the rest of the day.
'I guess I'll train my Basic Spells skill. It's almost level 100,' he thought, curious about what the next evolution of the skill will be.
With that, he entered the Empty ID and began his training, the next few days passing in a blur.
Monday, December 29, 1991
After breakfast, Daniel snuck out of the orphanage. He headed to the library, the same one he had visited before. When he reached a spot where he thought no one would see, he stepped out of the dungeon and made his way inside.
The librarian glanced at him briefly but didn't acknowledge his presence, quickly returning to his book. Daniel grinned. 'Perfect,' he thought. 'Now, time to see if there are any new skills to learn.'
He began searching the shelves for any glowing books, scanning the titles with focus. After a while, he'd gathered a decent pile of books, ready to absorb their knowledge.
As he began the process, he took breaks in between to avoid another painful headache. 'Not a bad haul,' he thought as he finished absorbing the last book. He glanced at his newly acquired skills:
[First Aid (Active) Lvl 1]
[- Allows the user to properly clean and dress wounds, perform CPR, and handle basic medical situations.]
[Survival Skills (Passive) Lvl 1]
[- Increases the ability to survive in outdoor environments.]
[Mechanical Repair (Active) Lvl 1]
[- Increases success rate when fixing or maintaining common mechanical devices.]
[Navigation (Active) Lvl 1]
[- Increases accuracy when navigating through unfamiliar areas.]
[Sewing (Active) Lvl 1]
[- Improves efficiency in mending or making simple clothing.
- The clothes you make are 2% more comfortable and durable.]
'Five new skills,' he smiled, feeling a sense of accomplishment. He exited the library, taking in the crisp air outside before deciding to observe some people around him.
He used the skill on a random man passing by. The window appeared in his vision:
[Martin Brown - Veteran Soldier - Lvl 16]
[Martin Brown is a seasoned veteran soldier with a rugged, battle-hardened appearance. His sharp eyes and weathered face reflect years of combat experience. He's strong, disciplined, and skilled in tactics and survival, despite his quieter demeanor.]
[Strength: 25
Agility: 22
Vitality: 26
Intelligence: 15
Wisdom: 21
Charisma: 10
Luck: 15]
'I can see stats now,' Daniel thought, a grin creeping across his face. He continued observing, now keenly aware of the numbers hidden beneath each person.
When he reached the orphanage, he snuck in and quietly observed the children too. With all the new information swirling in his mind, he returned to his room.
Sitting at his desk, he pulled out his notebook from the inventory, his pen scratching against the paper as he wrote. 'I see. The average stats, besides Charisma and Luck, are 15, with trained individuals reaching as high as 35.'
'Charisma and Luck vary, though. I saw someone with 75 Luck, but the rest of his stats were average.'
After a few more thoughtful moments, he put his notebook back into the inventory and spent the rest of the day training, his mind buzzing with new possibilities.