Back in the hut, Lys sank onto the mat. The rough straw prickled through his thin clothes, but it felt better than the mud outside. Mira headed out to fetch oil for the lamp, leaving him alone in the quiet room.

  The day had been a blur. Sara’s touch and the system rewards were still fresh in his mind, but he needed to focus on the numbers. This interface was his only real advantage, and he had to master it.

  He called up the screen with a thought. The blue light flickered into view, showing his new gains.

  << Host: Lysander Veyne >>

  Strength: 18

  Stamina: 19

  Mana: 0

  System Points (SP): 100

  Active Targets:

  [Elara Veyne (Step-Mother)] – Difficulty: SS-Rank | Status: Exhausted from the work all day (Physical contact 0%) | Affection: 87 | Lust: 21%

  -----

  [Sara Thorne (Landowner)] – Difficulty: B-Rank | Status: Overseeing the harvest of the day(Physical contact 0%) | Affection: 19 | Lust: 24%

  -----

  [Mira Veyne (Step-Sister)] - Difficulty: S-Rank | Status: Haggling with a shopkeeper (Physical contact 0%) | Affection: 111 | Lust: 26%

  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

  Passive Targets: [None]

  Skills:

  Basic Mana Breathing (Tier 1): Absorb mana through controlled breathing. Generates 1 mana per minute.

  Basic Hunting (Tier 1): Improves tracking, stealth, and accuracy.

  Lys looked over the stats. The 100 SP from Sara’s quest was a good reward, after all, he got two rewards from it, which he can now actively use. He checked the shop, but anything useful, like Enhanced Strength, cost 500 SP, Advanced Mana Breathing Technique cost 1000 SP. He decided to hold onto his points for now.

  The most interesting thing he noticed is that, for every target he has, he can see their current status. Like, what they were doing, alongside their affection and lust meter. And while he previously thought affection could go upto 100, but seeing that Mira's gone 111, made him realize it might not have any limit.

  Then his eyes moved to the Mana Breathing technique. He realised earlier that Mana must be the fuel for everything. Without it, he was just a boy with a few survival tips. He figured the technique pulled energy from the air to build a reserve. It was a simple foundation he learned in the isekai stories back in his orphanage. So, in other words, he couldn't grow stronger without it.

  He felt a new itch in his muscles from the hunting skill. It was like he suddenly knew how to spot tracks in the dirt and move through the brush without making a sound. It was not overkill, as it is still just a basic hunting skill.

  He wanted to go to the forest right now and test it, but his body still felt too weak to even move a muscle, this moment, given the long walk he had done around the village today. If Mira or Elara caught him trying to leave, they’d lock the door from the outside. For now, he had to stay put.

  He sat cross-legged and straightened his back. The instructions from the mana breathing technique were clear: breathe deep, hold it, and exhale slowly. And the most important factor is, he had to do it under 5 seconds. He had to visualize pulling energy into his chest with every breath.

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  Lys tried it. The first breath felt normal, but as he held it, a faint tingle spread through his ribs. It felt like a cold breeze moving under his skin. He exhaled, and the feeling vanished. He tried again. Inhale, hold, exhale. After a few minutes, a notification popped up.

  << Mana +1. Current: 1/100 >>

  It was working. ‘Is there a special trick to it or not? Isn’t this just normal breathing? How is any different?’

  He had many questions in his mind, for which he had no answer right now. So, he just kept the rhythm going as the sun began to set. The shadows in the hut grew long and thin.

  The sound of the door creaking open made him snap his eyes open and drop his hands. Elara walked in, her clothes were soaked with sweat, and a heavy basket was on her hip. She looked exhausted. Her hair was messy, and her face was pale. He knew the system said she was exhausted, but this was too much.

  Lys stood up, ignoring the ache in his legs, and took the basket from her.

  "Let me take that," he said. He set it on the table. The smell of mint and bitter roots filled the room.

  Elara wiped her forehead with the back of her hand. "Thanks, Lys. It was a long walk today."

  He looked through the herbs. At first glance, anybody could say that most of them were for treating fevers and body aches.

  "Mom, you shouldn't have pushed yourself. I’m feeling better. I’ll be fine in a day or two."

  She sat on a small stool and sighed. "I brought these for you, honey. I couldn't sell them at the market, so I brought them home. It’s better than letting them rot in the woods, right?"

  The room went quiet. Mira was still away, so this was his chance.

  "Mom, about last night. I’m sorry. I shouldn't have done that."

  Elara looked up. Her eyes were soft, but she looked a bit uncomfortable. She started picking at the hem of her shirt. "It’s okay, honey. I’m sorry too. I think I forgot that you aren't a child anymore. You turned eighteen this year. You’re a man now, even if I don't want to admit it. You can't be looking for comfort at your mother's breast like a toddler."

  She gave a small, forced laugh, and her face turned red. "It sounds ridiculous just saying it. But let’s just forget it happened. We’ll move past it, okay?"

  Lys nodded. He felt a mix of relief and a strange tension. "Yeah. It’s forgotten."

  Inside, his perspective shifted. Last night had been an impulse, a raw reaction to the system’s presence. He realized now that he needed to be patient. He had to build her trust and slowly show her that he was the one who was going to provide for this family, and he could be a potential partner for her, too.

  The door swung open again. This time, Mira rushed in with a jar of oil, her face glowing at seeing her mother.

  "Mom! You won't believe what Lys did today. He saved an old woman from a carriage. He literally jumped into the road!"

  Elara’s eyes went wide. "What? Lys, is that true?"

  Mira put the oil down and started moving her arms around to show the story. "I’m serious! The carriage was flying, mud was everywhere, and this old lady was just standing there. Lys dived in, grabbed her, and rolled into the ditch. It was incredible.”

  After a pause, she spoke again, “And the lady? Can you guess who it was? She’s Sara Thorne’s mother.”

  Elara gasped with her right hand on her mouth, “Oh, Sara?”

  Mira confirmed, “Yes, Mom. The same Sara Throne, who owns the big farms. She even fed us lunch. We had real meat, Mom. Actual stew."

  Lys leaned against the wall and smiled. Elara reached out and ruffled his hair. It was a motherly habit, but her hand stayed there a second longer than usual as she looked him over. She was seeing the strength in him.

  Mira kept talking, making the story sound even more dramatic. Laughter filled the small hut, making the place feel warmer despite the cracks in the walls.

  For a moment, they weren't just a poor household in this village. They were a happy family who shared each other’s day, however small or big it was.

  ***

  As the night got cold, Lys lay on his mat and kept his breathing steady to build his mana.

  Suddenly, a new red light appeared in his mind. As he opened his eyes, he saw an unusual quest screen. But it was for sure a quest, and it was coming from the edge of the forest.

  Author note: This is the end of the introductory ark. From now on, the real games begin.

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