Chapter 63: Chapter 61: Identifying the imbalance

“If you are unable to understand the cause of a problem it is impossible to solve it.”

Naoto Kan

Stunned silence dripped to the floor, as the beer slowly trickled its way down the wall. They sat for a second absorbing the new information. Needless to say, from the earlier conversation I had already realised that 118 was well beyond what even a 10-year-old would have unless they had assigned their free points to it. Something I had not been able to do. But something my mother had done for me in saving my life the hour it had started. Telling the truth was going to rock the boat, a little, but seeing as my body, or boat, in this metaphor already had a hole in it, and had sunk. It did not seem like I could possibly do any more damage by rocking it when I was already 6 feet under the waves.

“118?” I winced internally at Aleera’s shrill questioning, happy I was safe in my mother’s arms again. Without a facial response to focus on she was left complaining to the table where the numbers were written in wool. “That’s more than me?” she complained. “How does he have more than me?” She turned to Grandfather. “He’s supposed to be my little brother.” She argued with father before she turned back to me again, demanding crossly, “Can you assign your stats?” It appeared that this was what she found unfair the most and to seemed like the only possible explanation for how I had overtaken her.

“Darling, you know you can’t assign your stats till you are 10.” Father played the peacemaker in the family.

“Yes Father! And you can’t access your stats till your 5. We all know the system doesn’t play fair when it comes to Kai!” This was the most childish my sister had ever appeared. A confusing turn of events, but then she had just learned that her baby brother had more vitality than her, despite being over 8 years older. There were bound to be some ruffled feathers among the family dynamics.

“Well . . .” Father was left unable to argue the case seeing as there were already a few unprecedented moments this morning when it came to the system regarding what could and couldn’t be done and by what age.

“Hmph,” he cleared his throat, “How do you have 118 points of Vitality? And like Aleera asked can you assign them?” He asked me repeating Aleera’s question admittedly a lot more calmly than she had practically screamed at me.

“No I can’t”, I wrote defensively on the table. Not that it would have appeared anything other than defensive after my sister’s outburst. “Mother,” I added responded reminding them of Mother’s earlier confession of adding points to my vitality.

There was a moment of quiet contemplation, considering first the fact that I like most other children should not be able to assign my points freely and secondly that mother’s belief in what she had managed to do earlier was actually the truth.

She quietly asked, “How many points did I assign?”

I remembered my frustration at the time. When all the work of my time within the womb was assigned away. It had felt completely unfair at the time whether or not it had saved my life. I had had plans. A build I wanted to aim for and her motherly intervention, although timely and necessary to save my life, had disrupted them.

I straightened out the wool before writing with it again, “80.”

This time, my father wasn’t drinking, so there wasn’t a spray of beer across the table to herald my announcement. Perhaps he had learned from his earlier mistake or was just being cautious this time around.

Aleera though was less forgiving. “Mother can’t have assigned 80 free points to vitality on your birth day. That would mean that you were at least Level 8 before you were even born.” She argued. “You’re lying.”

It was interesting, that my sister, who had always known me for the little monster I was, had the most difficulty with accepting my monstrous stats. If I had been someone else, perhaps she would have had less difficulty accepting them, but I believed it was probably because I was her little brother that she had the difficulty. After today, she would have a harder time thinking of me as her little brother, when for the next year or at least until she turned 10 and was able to assign her stats, I would outweigh her in terms of my status.

“Is it so hard to believe, Aleera?” Grandfather mused thinking out loud. “You know the first levels come the easiest. A single skill can gain you several levels if practiced long enough and within the womb what else would a sentient being have to do other than practice. More importantly though what quirk did you receive for passing 100, Kai?” he questioned moving on to something altogether different.

“Quirk?” Aleera questioned Grandfather before I could respond, perhaps jealous that there would be another level to the absurdity that was my vitality score.

“Yes, for reaching 100 before the age of 10 most noble children who manage to do so receive a quirk to their status. Now seeing as it is vitality that we are talking about the quirk added to his status should be along the lines of hale, tough or robust. There are a variety of quirks named differently but all related to health in one form or another, making them more resistant to disease or poison, less likely to be injured, or helping them to heal quicker. There are a myriad of quirks but they are all worth getting. The question though Kai, is what is yours?”

Again, everyone turned to look at me before focussing once more on the table. “No quirk.” I wrote, disbelief slowly etched itself on my grandfather’s face as his eyebrow rose but before he could respond and before I could be denounced once more by my sister as a liar, I quickly added the words,

“Trait . . .

before 1 . . .

Long . . .

Lived”

“And what does that mean?” Aleera grumpily asked her family, exasperated by the repeated tangents this conversation was taking. The whole point of the conversation was supposed to be working out a way to balance my stats but all that we seemed to be doing so far was highlighting the problems I had created for myself. And the numerous ways in which I had managed to imbalance myself.

“Well this means that Kai is now officially half-elf as Elves are the only race that is likely to ever hit 100 in vitality before the age of 1, or they are just born automatically with the trait, who knows, I don’t.” Grandfather threw his hands in the air in despair before sarcastically adding, “I am assuming that Kaius was the father and not an Elf or a Troll?” he said pinching the bridge of his nose with his fingers. The whole situation seemed to be becoming increasingly stressful for him. Whether it was the worry over my health, frustration over being completely unaware of the extent of my abilities or anger at being unable so far to affect much I wasn’t sure. Perhaps it was something else altogether entirely.

“There’s no need for that.” Kaius stood to back his wife resting his hand on her shoulder. “He’s our son as you well know.” Defending both my mother and me or perhaps just reassuring himself through repetition as to my parentage.

While Aleera seemed confused by the addition of Elf and Troll to the conversation, “Elf or Troll?”

“A trait isn’t a quirk. It is a racial attribute. It is the difference between the characteristic of an individual and the genetics of a character. They are a world apart, think of a quirk as an addition to your vitality stat and a trait as a multiplier of it. Ergo Elf or Troll. Elves are the noble race with vitality as a strength and have the trait Long-Lived meaning they heal quicker, are more resistant to disease, less likely to be injured, and just generally live ten times longer than we do. While Trolls are the base race with vitality as a strength and have the trait regeneration which does pretty much exactly the same thing only they aren’t quite so pretty about it.” He answered as he ran his hands through his hair before biting his knuckles, as if his brain was quickly running down the branching problems my trait could cause him or us in the future.

“So Kai’s a half-elf?” she turned to mother and father confused.

“No Kai’s your brother and our son. He just appears to have gained his system and levels earlier than most and I unknowingly assigned them all to his vitality, because he was dying when he was born. As your grandfather well knows!” She calmly responded to Aleera before glaring crossly at her father.

“You know what this means though. If he has that level of points supporting his brawn how on earth has he managed to gain the imbalance, crippled. Have you ever heard of a crippled elf or troll?” Now both hands were going through his hair and if he wasn’t careful his hair would be leaving with his hands.

Aleera though hadn’t forgotten the 80 points and the 8 levels they represented. “If you were level 8 when you were born Kai. What level are you now?” she cautiously asked as if she didn’t really want to know the answer but still had to know anyway.

In for a penny, in for a pound, besides, was there really that much of difference between level 8 and level 11. They sounded relatively close together. But I couldn’t resist answering with writing, “You told me not to say.” On the table in an effort to avoid answering a moment longer.

“That was then this is now.” She argued back in front of our parents and grandfather who were equally keen to find out but willing to let her ask the questions.

“You first.” I facetiously returned the question. I didn’t see why this had to be solely the interrogation of the infant. Turn about was fair play in the family. Although knowing her level wouldn’t exactly help me unbalance myself. At least I’d have a greater understanding of where I stood in the world.

“It’s not a competition children,” mother intervened before she could respond. “Both of you need to grow up a little, and believe me, Kai, the irony is not lost on me.” She spoke to the two of us. Although, as I had throughout the entirety of this conversation, I responded not at all. I was going to be eternally grateful that my respiratory system worked without and separate from my status. Otherwise, I would have had to spend all my focus and attention on trying to get my body to breathe in and out without stuttering and stalling.

“I’m Level 12.” She proudly answered, telling her parents for perhaps the first time. It was clear that getting to level 12 before your 10th birthday was something to be proud of especially seeing as that would mean she had 120 free points to spend when she finally had her tenth birthday. Mother and Father both congratulated her on her progress while Grandfather clearly looked like he felt he could have gotten her higher if he had been given more time to work with her than he had been allowed.

I knew she wasn’t going to be happy with me or my answer. But the letters formed in the wool anyway. Best to rip off the bandage quickly I thought. At least I wasn’t at a higher level than her. “Level 11.” I wrote. The silver lining to the number was that there wasn’t another number 8 to be added on after the 11 this time. Although I was sure Aleera was waiting just to make sure the other shoe didn’t drop before she responded, questioned, or just generally just complained about my level and progress.

“How is that fair? I know it isn’t a competition, but when faced with my brother achieving in nearly 1 year what it has taken me nearly a decade to attain, don’t I have a right to complain?”

“You can’t measure your success by someone else’s ruler. We’ve already worked out Kai is a catalyst. As such he is always going to gain experience and level at a different rate to others. That has nothing to do with you, the hard work you have put in and the progress you have made. But you can make the most of this. The closer you stick to him, work with him, learn with and teach him the quicker you will rise. Don’t drive your brother away by being cross about it. But make the most of it. Grow alongside and with your brother. You will only empower one another if you do.” Mother consoled her. “We are proud of what you have achieved and if you can face it Grandfather has always been ready and willing to push you harder. Not that, that, is necessary mind you. We love you for who you are, not what level you might be, as proud as we are of your progress.”

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Regardless of Aleera belittling herself, I was impressed with Level 12. I had been stuck on Level 10 for so long it seemed. Only making it to Level 11 with my grandpa’s money. I suppose he must have done the same for Aleera, but still, I wondered, how in the Compass Kingdoms she had managed to get the rest of the experience points of over the years. Especially if her near decade of progress was actually only made in the 4 years since her system had unlocked. I wanted to ask. But I wouldn’t. Her feelings were clearly tender at the moment and I didn’t want to rub any salt in any of her wounds. If I could have expected her to understand, I would have drawn an emoji of a smiling face on the table. But it could of come off sarcastic. If there was one thing I didn’t miss about my world it was trying to guess the right emoji for the sentence and how it could be taken wrong by the one receiving the message. Did not miss that at all.

“So Kai is Level 11, has a vitality of 118 a strength of 28 an endurance of 28 and a dexterity of 34. If he has all of that, as his brawn, why then is he acting as if he is crippled.” Father finally summarised and asked returning to the original question that started the entire debate over where my imbalance lay.

“I wonder indeed,” Grandfather asked, almost sardonically. “What are your senses sitting at Kai?”

The old grump knew. I might have shocked him at first but other than my sister he had always had a better handle of who I was and what I could do. While I had enjoyed their reactions to my first revelation I was coming to regret being as honest as I was. It just felt a little awkward now. As if we were actually talking about some sort of taboo subject. Which didn’t really make sense considering where I had lived my first life. But here and now with my sister listening on and getting disheartened by the progress, I had made I found it getting harder and harder to give them the next shock or surprise. Although it was my life, the numbers had always made it seem like a bit of a video game. Not something to take too seriously just something to power on up through. But for my family, it had never been a game and it had never been anything other than their complete life. While mother might have told Aleera that it was who she was not what her level was that mattered. Your level and stats were clearly the second most important thing in this world. Without family, without stats you had nothing.

I hesitated, wondering whether I could pretend I had fallen asleep. I mean it wouldn’t be like they could tell, limp as a ragdoll I lay. Grandfather tapped his fingers twice on the table to hurry me up. If there was one person here who was not going to let me pretend I was asleep it was him. Furthermore, he would hesitate to wake me up if I did.

Resigned to revealing all I wrote “121” in the wool. I didn’t hesitate when I finally added them to the table there was no 1 . . . 2 . . . 1 this time. The numbers and the inhalation of air around the table instantaneous.

“And how have you . . .” I could hear what Aleera mumbled and clearly wanted to ask. How had I managed to achieve that if my mother had not added any points to my stats?

The questions were getting harder to answer. I struggled to think of how I was going to respond to that question when it was finally asked. I let go of holding myself to the slower time while listening to the world. I let go and fell into my head allowing my subjective time to speed up. It might cost me more in terms of stamina but it would give me time to think through my answer. Plus if I was lucky I might just spend enough stamina to finally fall asleep.

The Vitality had been my mother’s fault more than mine. Yes, it had meant that I was a little bit of an insomniac over the last year but what I had chosen to do with that extra time was the reason for my senses stat. Well, that and my time isolated within the womb. Here I supposed the reason I had done so well with the senses stat was because I had managed to sense Mana very nearly from the beginning. A new sensation was perhaps easier for me to sense than a native to this world and had known no different. That and the fact that I had never stopped sensing it since. Working on my skills through the night and sensing everything and at every opportunity had helped me to level all of my sensory skills. Then as my sensory skills levels had risen so too had the points I had in my senses stat. Was she not aware of how to raise her stats? Was this common knowledge? Or was there another reason not to? I had never asked and no one had ever told me.

At least I didn’t have to mention that Senses was actually my third stat to get a trait in. When I thought about my Mind stat in more detail I found it a little bit embarrassing that the system felt that when I arrived or gained consciousness however it happened I only had the mind stat of an 8-year-old. That was just depressing. Still, we hadn’t got around to them asking about my mind stat yet. Maybe children in this world were just particularly smart. That or I clearly hadn’t been using a lot of my brain in my old world before I reincarnated. Not really a surprise, I could have done more, seen more, been more in my last life.

“No Aleera, your question stands and I will ask it if you don’t.” Aleera had finally calmed down and hesitated to jump on questioning my answer after she had been reassured by the love of her mother. Grandfather as always was less hesitant to cut to the heart of the matter. “How have you managed to get up to 121 in your senses without your mother adding any points to your status? Even if you started at 10 at birth you should still only have naturally grown up to around 29 points if your senses stat stayed in line with your strength, endurance, and dexterity stats. What is different between you and Aleera? You both have the same parents, same house, same upbringing.” And as usual, was completely insensitive in how direct and pointed his questions were.

“Maybe a tad less aggressive Father. Bearing in mind he is still a child. Kai, how do you think you got to 121 in your senses stat?” Mother intervened. For once not raising her voice at her father, as if to make a point, that if she could be calm and collected, then so could he.

How was I supposed to explain my growth when I didn’t understand it fully myself. I didn’t have their knowledge of what was and wasn’t possible only guesses. I didn’t have a full understanding of roughly what age people achieved level 10, 15, or 20 level skills at. Was it really fair to ask me to explain, when I didn’t actually know, I could only guess and hypothesize?

Hesitantly I wrote, “I’m not sure.”

Calmly, as if to show that he too could be collected Grandfather patiently asked, “But you have some ideas?”

I had spent a lot of time trying to work this one out. Admittedly to see if I could get my traits and the answer I had come up with was, ‘I thought it might be my sensory skills that helped me to level.’ Now I wasn’t going to try and spell all of that out so I simply settled for writing ‘Sensory Skills’ on the table in wool.

Aleea butted in, “How would that help?”

Grandfather postulated for her benefit and mine, “It isn’t completely accurate to say that a level in a sensory skill can give you a point in senses. But . . . there does seem to be some correlation with improving your sensory skills and your senses stat increasing. Whether that is because you are getting better at your skill and your senses improve or your senses improving which helps you to level your skill is an area up for debate. A bit like the philosophical conundrum of which came first the chicken or the egg. If he has enough sensory skills they could, in theory, allow him to level up his senses stat as he has levelled up their skill levels. But first, he would require gaining the skills, and second he would have had to level them up at the same time.” He explained to Aleera.

“So, what sensory skills do you have?” he asked me.

Looking at my status I started to list my sensory skills. This was going to be a little bit embarrassing. The names of the skills being fairly self-explanatory as to what I had been using them for. It took me a while but I started to lay it out for them. Grandfather had picked up a notebook to write them down between the waves of wool that spelled them out for them.

Tier 1:
Time sense (LV 30)
Listening (LV 30)
Sight (Lv 15)
Scent (Lv 15)
Detect (Lv 15)
Taste (Lv 15)

Tier 2:
Sense Mana (LV 38)
Eavesdrop (LV 28)
Quick reflexes (Lv 27)

Tier 3:
Echolocation (LV 26)

Each family member had a different reaction to the results. Mother and Father both smiled proudly through the listing, with mother raising her eyebrow at eavesdrop. Aleera though seemed to have a little epiphany with the separate senses and shouted, “That’s why you wanted to play the game.” Finally, Grandfather shouted, “Ha echolocation. That’s a new one, I’ve never heard of it before.”

They spent a little while looking at the list and thinking about it. Then Grandfather returned to lecturing mode talking directly to Aleera while showing her his paper list. But we all listened in eagerly, “You can see if you add them all up he has 120 levels worth of tier 1 skills, 93 levels worth of tier 2 skills, and 26 levels worth of Tier 3 skills all directly related to his senses. That is a total of 239 skill levels, which would easily support his senses stat growth from approximately 30, which would be in line with his Strength and Endurance stats, up to 120 which he is claiming he has. Not to say that this isn’t weird too but in theory, the numbers would work out. The oddity here is the wide range of skills and how high he has managed to level them but then perhaps that is just part and parcel of being a catalyst. So little is known about them, more myth and legend than fact and truth.”

“So, does that mean Kai has a second trait or quirk?” Father asked still happily unpacking my stats as if they were a present just for him rather than a measure of my soul. I suppose for a man who had clearly been hoping for a son the stronger my stats, the stronger the family legacy I would be leaving behind one day.

“Hmm, well seeing as he hasn’t turned 1 yet I suppose he should have another trait rather than a quirk. Did you get the trait super senses?” Grandfather mused.

“Yes.” There was no point hiding it especially if he knew of it by name.

“That aligns perfectly with when he appeared to become sick then. He wasn’t sick he was overwhelmed by his senses. I’ve seen recruits throw up when getting sensitive as their quirk. It wasn’t his magic stat causing his initial problems, it was his senses stat.” Grandfather looked happy to have finally worked out something that had been confusing him before. Mother and father were equally relieved to realise that I had never been in any physical danger of being unwell.

While Aleera realised something else entirely, “He has two traits? Does this one come from another race? What race is this one from?” She seemed weirdly fixated on the idea of me being part elf, part troll, part beast. As if that somehow made me more or less of a little monster to her.

“Well, if we were on the compass continent he would either be a Beast elf or an elfkin with those traits. It would all depend on which genetic trait was more dominant in his development.”

Wait just a second was I going to grow up as some sort of mixed breed race due to my traits. Did traits alone determine your genetic makeup? I hoped not. I was quite happy being human one of the more relieving moments of being born was finding out that first I was human and second that I hadn’t switched genders in this weird world that was the stage for my issekai tensei. Yes, I admitted to reading the odd manga or watching the occasional anime. Just a part of my wide and varied collection of media I indulged in from time to time.

Luckily Grandfather disabused Aleera of her hopes, “Seeing as he has achieved this, all on his own. And . . .” he looked pointedly at mother, “he is completely human, you will never be able to tell his traits from looking at him.” Mother and Father seemed relieved to be reassured but Aleera seemed a little sad by the prospect.

Maybe she needed a puppy.

Suddenly tired, I found myself falling asleep.

The conversation carried on around me but I no longer responded.

All the poking in the world wouldn’t wake me, I had finally run out of stamina.