"The senses given to us by the gods are equally infallible and fallible."
Theology had never been Nick's forte, but he was sure he could spot a glaring problem with that statement. Still, he kept his mouth shut. He had learned to avoid outright antagonizing vicar Alexander. The man could be surprisingly vindictive, and his mother hadn't been moved by his complaints about having to spend hours gardening. Bad behavior had to be punished.
That's the problem with a society that regularly produces monsters capable of wiping out towns like Floria in an afternoon. They consider child-rearing to be a sacred duty and accept no misbehavior. Even if that misbehavior is a grown-ass man explaining his objections to propaganda.
A long moment of silence passed until the priest was satisfied that the classroom of children was following along—and that Nick wouldn't interrupt, going by his intense stare.
"While this may seem like an easily confutable statement at first glance, it is something passed down by Lady Sashara. Thus, we must look for wisdom beyond what we can see with our eyes."
Ah, so that's what he meant. Not as clever as he thinks, but I suppose it's enough for a classroom of preteens.
A couple of kids made noises of realization, understanding where Alexander was going from just that little hint, but most others remained oblivious and probably not that interested. This wasn't the most riveting lesson, after all.
"Can somebody tell me why this is the case?" Alexander asked, warning Nick with his eyes to keep his mouth shut. He had demonstrated his superior deductive abilities well enough, apparently.
"Yes, Elia?" He pointed to the foxgirl, delighted that someone else would speak.
"It's a reference to the hidden stats, right?" She replied, hesitantly at first and then with more confidence once the priest started nodding. "The stats on our sheets are only one part of the System. They interact with each other and make more stats, like the one that governs our senses."
Only half-right, but it's better than I would have expected from anyone else.
"That is mostly right!" Alexander beamed, looking genuinely happy that Elia had deduced as much. "It is indeed true that that verse is considered one of the most important proofs of the existence of hidden stats. Scholars often still reference it as the statement that ended the debate. But what it actually does that still helps us today is offer us a path beyond the System. It reassures us that some things are unknowable to mortals and thus out of our control. It frees us from the burden of infinite knowledge!"
That might have been the worst sermon Nick had ever heard, and his grandfather had forced him to listen to Father Amorth give one of his exorcism-ridden lectures.
He's not always this bad. Really, Alexander is an intelligent person most of the time. The most learned man in Floria, for sure. But he's still decently up the ladder of a religious organization. It was to be expected that he'd have such a weakness.
The lesson continued much in the same vein for the following hour. Nick forced himself to keep listening, as once in a while, valuable information was dropped, such as the existence of a specific stat that guided proprioception, which mainly depended on DEX but also on other things such as Class and Traits. It didn't exactly fit with his build beyond being affected by self-enhancements, and he wasn't about to waste too much time on it, but it made him wonder if there were hidden stats that dealt with magical affinity.
Oh, who am I kidding? Of course, there are. There must be. The System's mania for categorization means nothing else can be.
Nick wasn't usually this snarky. He'd even go so far as to say he'd been positively chipper after waking up to his second chance. But having to listen to religious propaganda that didn't even have the benefit of helping him on his path didn't help his mood.
At least the vicar and he had a sort of arrangement. As long as Nick kept silent and didn't interrupt the sermons, he was allowed to scribble down all his observations in peace. It had only taken one time that the priest tried to confiscate his parchment roll to learn that it was a red line no one wanted to cross. Threats of punishment only worked on those who cared, after all.
Nick's fingers itched to reach for his notes, but he restrained himself. Not yet. The vicar still had his eyes on him, and he didn't want to give him an excuse to launch into another one of his reprimands. It was a delicate balance between showing enough respect to avoid punishment and staying detached enough to maintain his sanity. He glanced out the window, where the late morning light filtered through the trees, already planning how he'd spend his afternoon. Anything was better than this.
"Nicholas, would you care to answer?" The vicar's voice snapped him back to the present.
Nick blinked, realizing the room had gone silent. Alexander was staring at him with the kind of patient authority that demanded participation.
Glancing at the blackboard and recalling the last few words he had heard, he put together the question. Something about the mathematics of the System's attributes. Easy enough. "It's a simple addition," Nick replied, keeping to the basics he should know and away from his speculations. "Racial bonuses, like the Human race's +1 to all stats, are just added on top of whatever base stats we're given at birth. Classes usually give more varied bonuses that depend on their focus. For example, Knights might get extra Strength and Constitution, while someone with a more scholarly focus, like Mages, would receive boosts to Intelligence or Wisdom."
The vicar raised an eyebrow, his lips curving into a faint smile. "Good. I'm glad you know that, Nick. But remember, it's not just about knowing—it's about understanding the deeper meaning behind what we're given. Always pay attention to how these gifts interact."
Nick swallowed the retort that threatened to escape. He knew he could have explained it better, could have delved into his suspicions about hidden attributes or the way Class and Race bonuses likely worked in unexpected ways after a certain level had been reached—it was the only thing that made sense, considering what he had seen his mother do. But he didn't. It wasn't worth it, not here.
He nodded instead, keeping his expression as neutral as possible. "Yes, Vicar."
The man held his gaze for a few more seconds before continuing the lesson, seemingly satisfied. Nick exhaled slowly, relieved that the spotlight had moved on. Half an hour later, the temple bell rang, signaling the end of the session. The sound was a blessing.
The vicar closed his book and sighed but didn't ask anyone to stay behind for supplemental lessons as he did occasionally, giving unspoken permission to leave.
The children erupted from their benches, eager to be free. They streamed out of the temple in a blur of color and laughter, making a beeline for the fields behind the building. Nick waited until the rush had passed before following at a slower pace, giving the bald man a respectful nod—he might not like him, but he respected his dedication.
The day was warm but not too hot, and he headed toward a shaded corner where he could think without being disturbed.
He found a spot beneath an ancient oak, its broad branches offering cool shade. Pulling out his parchment and charcoal, he began jotting down notes on his latest hypothesis. He was still thinking about the hidden stats the vicar had introduced and his mother had told him about—specifically, what kind of attributes his Class, rather than hers, might have that weren't immediately obvious. There had to be more to his abilities than just the ones listed on his sheet. The System was complex, layered with secrets that he doubted had been fully plundered, as evidenced by the weird skills he had received that no one thought to mention as a possibility, and he was determined to uncover them.
For a while, he lost himself in his thoughts. The quiet of the grove was soothing, broken only by the distant shouts of the other children playing in the fields.
I'm still not sure of my decision not to pursue advanced rituals. It's what grandpa would have done until he was sure he had the hang of how things worked, but I keep thinking that I'm wasting valuable time I should use to get ahead of my peers. Not the kids here, of course. They are destined to be farmers, shopkeepers, and occasionally soldiers. But there must be others out there who are racing ahead. Be it because they have more resources than I do, better teachers, or even greater Classes, every second I waste is one they use to leave me behind and grab everything they can.
Competition for resources was the bane of his last life. Then, a few powerful people had amassed everything they could get their hands on and left nothing but scraps for the rest. There was so much here that he didn't know where to start.
Thus, his decision to wait before starting on the greater works he knew of. Rituals and spells he wouldn't have dared to cast as old Nick were now at his fingertips with a leyline so close, but his instincts told him it couldn't be free to take as it appeared. As far as he knew, nothing had staked its claim, and even a few careful questions to his parents hadn't revealed anything, but he had learned to trust his instincts and wouldn't risk it until he was ready.
The peace didn't last much longer. "Nick! Come on, Nick! Play with me!" Elia's voice broke through his concentration like a sharp crack. He looked up to see the foxgirl bounding toward him, her orange tail swishing excitedly behind her. She skidded to a halt in front of him, amber eyes bright with mischief.
"Elia, I'm kind of busy right now," Nick said, trying to sound as patient as possible. He held up his parchment as if it were some kind of shield against her boundless energy.
She pouted, folding her arms across her chest. "You're always busy. Come on, just for a little while? You're the only one that can keep up with me."
That was true, though Nick wasn't sure if it was a blessing or a curse. Elia had a class that was anything but ordinary—something he hadn't quite figured out yet, but it clearly set her apart from the rest of the village kids. She was faster, stronger, and more agile than anyone her age had any right to be. Nick might have found it fascinating in another moment and even worth studying, but right now, it just made her a persistent distraction.
"Elia, I'm serious," he said, though his tone lacked real force. It was hard to stay irritated with her when she looked at him with those big, pleading eyes. She reminded him of his mother's dog. Equally annoying but also funny and joyful.
She stepped closer, lowering her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. "I'll race you. If I win, you have to play with me. If you win, I'll leave you alone for the rest of the day."
Nick considered it. On the one hand, he could try to keep working, but experience had taught him that Elia was nothing if not relentless. On the other hand, a quick race might be the fastest way to get her off his back.
"Fine," he sighed, standing up and dusting off his pants. "But just one race. After that, you're on your own."
Elia grinned, her earlier pout vanishing as quickly as it had appeared. She bounced on her toes, clearly excited. "Deal! I'll even let you pick the course."
Nick scanned the landscape, searching for a route that would give him a slight edge. The fields behind the temple were wide and open, ideal for a straight sprint, but that would favor Elia's agility. He needed something with a bit more complexity—something that would let him use his wits to make up for any difference in raw physical stats.
His eyes settled on the treeline just beyond the fields. A tall, gnarled coniferous tree stood a little way into the forest, its branches stretching high above the canopy. Perfect. The path to the tree was narrow and winding, weaving between undergrowth and roots. It would require quick thinking and nimble movement, but more importantly, it was less likely to be interrupted by the other kids playing nearby.
Nick pointed it out. "See that one? First to touch it and then back here wins."
Elia glanced at the tree and then back at Nick, a gleam of excitement in her eyes. "Deal. Get ready to lose, though!" She positioned herself at the starting line, already poised to dash off at full speed.
Nick rolled his eyes but smiled despite himself. "We'll see about that. Ready?"
"Ready!" Elia practically vibrated with anticipation.