Frey Valerion
—Frey get up faster! We need to work! Get up! — I could barely hear these words through the veil of sleep. I ignored them and continued my sweet dream. But suddenly I felt someone pull my blanket off me and I, wrapped in it with my head, fell to the floor by inertia, hitting my head.
A second… Two… Three… It took me a while to realize what had just happened… The soft rays of the morning sun caressed my half-naked body, and a gentle breeze blew through the window curtains. I admit that I almost relaxed. However, the growing pain in the back of my head brought me back from my fantasies, and I opened my half-asleep eyes.
And now I, the great Frey Valerion, am lying on the floor next to my bed, wearing my pajamas, and I realize something very important: «I'm going to have a bump...»
— Get up, you idiot! — someone's hand grabbed my pajamas and lifted me up, throwing me on the bed.
After lying there for another ten seconds, my mind decided that I needed to do something. I stood up, brushed off my back, straightened my pajamas, stretched, and a new, unremarkable day began for me.
— Finally! — a voice exclaimed happily.
— Ah... Good morning, Julius, — I replied, turning around. Across from me on the next bed was a small boy of my own age with wheat-gold hair and bright blue eyes. He was dressed in a light-colored t-shirt and dark shorts, and on his feet were simple leather boots.
Julius Valerion was my adopted younger brother. We had spent our short six years together as orphans, carrying out various tasks for our adoptive father.
— Go change your clothes, we need to go now, — Julius said to me in a manic tone, shaking my shoulders vigorously.
— Yes, I hear you, — I said, getting up from the bed. I walked quickly to the small wardrobe, opened the bottom shelf that belonged to me, and took out a slightly worn-out T-shirt and shorts, identical to Julius's but completely black.
While Julius politely turned away, I quickly removed my pajamas and changed into my everyday clothes. As I folded my clothes and placed them back in the wardrobe, Julius turned around when he heard the sound of the shelf closing.
— Are you ready? — asked Julius getting up from his bed.
— Yes I'm ready — I replied putting on light leather boots on my feet.
— Okay then let's go — the adopted brother came to me with a waiting smile. I nodded to him and grabbing the handle of the thick oak door opened it with a slight creak.
I and Julius went out into the corridor and after walking a little down a small wooden staircase leading to the first floor of our modest dwelling.
Downstairs was empty — not a single soul.
This was not surprising, as many of the adult foster children were now working to earn money for their future lives, while the younger children were carrying out small tasks and, in some cases, had acquired a so-called profession. This was the case with Julius and myself.
Our profession was that of a woodcutter, which was not very popular but undeniable. Our task was to cut down a massive oak tree, known as the «tree of evil», in the middle of a forest near a village, and once we had completed this task, we would be able to choose a new profession for ourselves.
Professions in our world were sacred and undeniable. They are given by God's grace at birth, and they can only be changed when the purpose of this profession is completed, in our case, to cut down the «tree of evil»
As we approached the exit, two axes lay on the bare stone wall, the finest we could find in the village, crafted by our best blacksmith, Beren.
Each of us grabbed an axe and shouldered it. I opened the door, and my brother and I stepped outside.
It was as fresh as ever outside. Next to the cobblestones leading to the main road of our village, there were decorative flowerbeds filled with blooming tulips that emitted an incredibly pleasant scent. Little by little, I relaxed and, with renewed vigor, followed my brother to our daily routine.
•••
— Kiya! — I shouted, striking the dark trunk of a towering oak tree with all my might.
"Ding!"
As soon as the tip of my axe reached the small part of the tree that had already been cut, an unpleasant, painful shiver spread from the axe to my hands, then to my wrists, forearms, shoulders, and back muscles, and then throughout my entire body.
— Ha-ha-ha-ha! Frey, you're so funny every time you do that! — Julius laughed so hard that his shoulders shook as he lay on the grass under the shade of a massive tree. His head was resting on one of the large roots of a dark tree as he poked at me, laughing contagiously.
— Hey! I'm done now it's your turn! And don't laugh! I shouted, wiped the sweat from my forehead, slung the axe over my shoulder, walked up to Julius, threw the heavy axe to the ground and lay down next to Julius when he got up and picked up his axe from the ground.
—Yes, I know, you don't have to tell me, — he turned around and said with a teasing grin.
I clicked my tongue, unable to find the words to answer him, but in the end it wasn't necessary because I heard the rustle of leaves nearby, which means it's time for lunch.
— Guys! We're here! — a girl's voice rang out in a small clearing near a dark tree. I expectantly turned my head towards the spring, and Yuli, in turn, dropped the axe and sat back against the trunk of a tree, grinning and spreading his arms with a helpless look as if to say, "I'm sorry."
— hello! — Julius was the first to start a conversation and waved at the newcomers before they came into my line of sight.
— Frey Julius! We've brought you some food! — A girl our age with wheat-gold hair and bright green eyes shouted. If I had to compare, I would have thought she was related to Julius, but unfortunately, she wasn't.
Amelia Valerion – is our adopted older sister and childhood friend.
As they walked, I noticed a basket filled with food and a white, time-worn tablecloth in her hands.
Behind her was a tall enough for his age boy with short red hair and fiery orange eyes.
Richard Bronernol – the son of Beren Bronernol the village's best blacksmith and another of our childhood friends.
— Gods! — He mockingly saluted the two of us with a grin as the two boys came closer to us.
— Ha-ha... — more irritated than amused by his antics, I muttered calmly, showing no emotion. I simply lay there with a stone-faced expression, basking in the warm summer breeze.
— Come on, Frey, get up! — Amelia barked, her voice tinged with slight annoyance. She spread out a tablecloth on the ground, likely stolen from the house, to set out the food.
— I'm coming, — I said as I stood up and walked over to them. I sat down next to Julius, waiting for Amelia to finish setting the table with a cloth and placing several sandwiches and a jug of cold milk on it. It was the perfect way to cool off on a hot summer day.
Soon, Amelia and Richard sat down on either side of us, and we began eating and chatting about everyday topics.
After about half an hour, our short lunch break ended, Amelia and Richard left, saying goodbye to us one last time, and we were completely alone again.
— Huh... well, how long do we have to plow here, Yuli? — I asked my foster brother, walking up to the tree and running two fingers through the air. The tips of my fingers lit up with a dim blue light as I started moving, soon forming a single «S» symbol - status.
A dark window appeared in front of my face, displaying the health of the tree and much more.
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Object: Black Oak - the Tree of Evil.
Class: None
Durability/Life: 567,345/784,249.
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— Ha, when do you think we'll be done? Even our ancestors couldn't do it in five hundred years — I sat down on the ground and exhaled in frustration.
— I don't think we'll be able to do that, Frey... in all the five hundred years, our ancestors have only been able to make a small cut in the trunk, — said Julius, lying on the ground and pointing at the cut behind me.
Turning around, I looked at the tree and saw that the cut in its trunk was only a few centimeters deep.
I turned back, frustrated by the harsh reality.
Then I extended my left hand and made the familiar gesture with my right hand, this time over my own hand. And a moment later, my stats appeared in front of my face.
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Frey Valerion [Alternative Soul].
Status/Title: —
Age: 6 years old.
Achievements: —
Life: 5,567/5,567.
Profession: [Woodcutter], [Knight (Inactive)], [??? (Inactive)].
Weapon Style: —
System Adaptation: 0/10.
Sacred Arts: Level 7.
Object Control: Level 21.
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The biggest problem is my status. I'm just an ordinary village boy with a knight's profession.
And I have three professions, which is rare among ordinary people. The last one has a specific name, but I'm glad I have it.
But the truth is... I can't use real weapons, and I can't even hold a wooden sword properly.
«What kind of knight am I when I'm weaker than a baby?» — I thought, sighing wearily and grabbing the heavy axe in both hands again.
«Well, it doesn't matter if I'm a knight, a woodcutter, or someone else. As long as I can live a peaceful life, that's all I need» — I thought, striking the tree trunk with the axe, not stopping for a second.
«To hell with all these professions if I can't live the way I want. I can't even read my statistics properly, you useless idiots!» — I hit a few more times. This time, I hit harder.
Every time I look at these useless «divine windows», I'm filled with rage at the mockery of the gods who have given me such a useless purpose in life.