Chapter 7 "Quest"

 Zaos stood behind Wade, his large hand steadying Wade's trembling arm as he struggled to pull back the string of the bow. The early morning light cast long shadows on their figures, adding to the weight of anticipation in the air. "Raise your elbow," Zaos instructed, his voice gentle but firm. He applied steady pressure on Wade's quivering elbow, guiding it into the correct position.

 "I'm trying, but..." Wade's voice trembled with doubt, his muscles straining against the resistance of the bow. "I don't know if this will work."

 Zaos sighed before taking a step back. He held out his hand and said "Here, let me show you."

 Wade handed over the bow, his arm already throbbing from the effort. He watched as Zaos positioned himself, his demeanor changing almost immediately. The sun bathed them both in its warm embrace, casting a golden halo around Zaos' figure. "Watch closely," Zaos instructed, his voice steady and composed. He took a deep breath, his expression shifting into one of focused concentration. With ease, he pulled back the string, creating the perfect arch. The bow hummed softly as the string tensed, creating a thwack sound.

 Wade's breath caught in his throat as he witnessed the flawless execution. The tranquility of the morning seemed to hold its breath alongside him. Though Zaos didn't hold an arrow, Wade could almost hear the phantom arrow whistling through the air, soaring toward the sun. "Wow..." He whispered, his eyes following the phantom arrow's path.

 Zaos grinned, returning the bow to Wade. "Pretty impressive, huh?"

"I thought you only used a sword," Wade questioned.

"I didn't learn the sword until my mana form manifested," Zaos explained, his voice tinged with nostalgia. "The bow was my first weapon."

Wade looked down at the bow in his hand and then back up at Zaos. "So, what do I do now?"

"Make a perfect arch," Zaos grinned, his tone brimming with encouragement. 

"For how long do I do that?"

 "Until you can make it. We will come here every morning, father and son bonding time," Zaos said, wrapping an arm around Wade's shoulder. "What do you say?" 

 "No, please," Wade muttered quietly under his breath. The weight of his uncertain future settled heavily upon him, but deep down, he wished he could do everything perfectly. "I mean, I would have never done archery back on earth." He wondered. Although he wished he was as impressive as the MCs he read in isekai Mangas, he was just a normal desk worker up until a month ago. 

 One week into the training, Wade's spirits were dwindling. He hadn't made any significant progress, and the only thing he had to show for his efforts was aching muscles and the little change to his stats. His life was now consumed by training, and his schedule had become repetitive, with the ungodly hours he had to wake up - sleep felt like a distant memory.

"Good morning, son," Zaos greeted cheerfully.

 "Good morning," Wade replied weakly, the bags beneath his eyes prominent. He shivered in the cold morning air and dreaded the hike up the forest trail once again. "Are we going up the forest trail again?" Wade asked, his voice tinged with exhaustion.

 "Yes, but we're trying something new," Zaos began, but before he could finish his sentence, a sudden movement in the trees caught his attention. His demeanor shifted almost immediately. Wade's eyes darted around, trying to figure out what was wrong as his father slowly drew out his swords.

 "Zaos, it's me!" a voice called out from the distance, followed by another elf emerging from the trees. This Elf looked like a warrior.

 "Callon?" Zaos called out, sheathing his swords. "What are you doing here so early?" Wade watched the interaction with curiosity, his eyes shifting between his father and the stranger.

"The High Chief has called. We have to go for an expedition," Callon explained.

"When do we leave?" Zaos inquired.

"Today," Callon replied.

 The next moment, Zaos was walking up and down the house and grabbing various items to pack for the expedition.

"What's an expedition?" Wade asked, trailing after his father.

 Zaos paused to look at him. "It's when elven warriors have to go out to protect the forest," he explained. He continued packing while Wade tried to understand the concept.

 "So, like, you're going to battle?" Wade asked. At the same time, Idril entered the room, holding a few items for Zaos to pack.

Idril gently pushed Wade out of the way. "Come on, honey, don't delay your father," she urged.

Wade pressed further. "So, how long are you gone for?" he asked, ducking under Idril's arm.

 Zaos didn't have an exact answer. "I don't know... but I'll be back as soon as I can," he assured while adding a few more items to his luggage. Everything seemed to happen quickly, and within minutes, Zaos was ready. "Stay safe," Idril whispered, kissing Zaos on the lips.

 "I'll be back before you know it," Zaos replied, planting a kiss on her forehead. He then turned his attention to Wade, placing a hand on his shoulder. "You're the man of the house now. Protect your mom," Zaos told him, maintaining eye contact. "I'll be back before you know it, and keep training. I'll test your progress when I get back." With a nod, he left the house.

 Wade and his mom waved Zaos goodbye from the doorway, watching as he disappeared from view. "I'll go prepare breakfast," Idril said, walking away, her steps quick but with a hint of sadness in her eyes. Wade watched the path that Zaos had taken for a few seconds, feeling a strange sense of attachment to his father. Back on earth, he was an orphan, and now he was feeling the absence of someone he had just met. He wasn't sure when Zaos would return, and that made him feel strange. After a moment, he closed the door and headed to his room.

***

Wade sat up in bed, his eyes fixed on the holographic screen in front of him.

[CIRDAN]

>LEVEL: 0<

>RACE: FOREST ELF<

>AFFILIATION: NONE<

>TITLE: NONE<

[STATS]

/STRENGTH: 4(+2)/

/HP: 3(+2)/

/AGILITY: 3(+2)/

/INTELLIGENCE: 2(+2)/

/LUCK: 0(+3)/

/TALENT: 2(+3)/

/MANA: 1(+2)/

 His physical body was still a mess, and he felt far weaker than he desired. "Is there no way to get stronger with the help of the system?" he mumbled to himself. 

Suddenly, the holographic screen flickered, and the words on the screen changed. 

There is a way

"You could talk?!" Wade exclaimed, standing up in the middle of the bed. 

You never asked me anything

Wade's curiosity was piqued. "What the - wait, wait, who are you exactly?" 

I am the Adventure Guild System 1.0 I'm the early version of the system. But once you unlock other conditions, you'll be able to use all functions and skills of the updated version. 

Wade couldn't believe his luck. "So, I can ask you anything?" 

With the points collected so far, you can only ask five… four questions

Wade pondered for a moment, his mind racing with numerous questions. But there was one thing he needed to know first. "Then why was I brought here?" he questioned.

Because you begged for it-

Wade interrupted, "When did I?!" A sudden flashback of his last moments on Earth crashed through his mind, and he remembered the last words he had uttered. "Well, I didn't actually beg for it." He replied, clearing his throat. "But how come I was given crappy stats from the get-go? I mean, if I was brought here, shouldn't I have been given better stats and a skill condition that makes sense?" Wade argued.

According to the Adventure Guild system, everything you asked for was given. You have – 

· parents, 

· a good appearance, 

· and another chance at life.

You HAD nothing in your former life. 

Although Wade didn't like it, he had to admit that the holograph's words were convincing. There was just something about the tone of the system, that made him want to bash the screen. "So, who's behind the system?"

Error… Error…. Your points are not enough to get an answer

Wade continued, "Then how do I get points?" 

Before you can fulfill the conditions to unlock your skills, the system provides quests to earn points. Those points can be distributed to any stats you want to increase, and they can also be used to ask specific question.

Wade's heart raced with a burning desire to get stronger. "What's the first quest?" he asked

Point System

Climb the forest trail: 0.5 pts

Hundred push-ups : 0.5pts

Hundred Sit-ups: 0.5 pts

Giving your mom a kiss: 2 pts

(Time limit : 24hours)

Wade eyed the holographic screen, his muscles aching just reading it. He was fully aware that taking on this quest would push him to the brink of death, but he currently felt a surge of determination. The desire to shed his weak physical form and become stronger burned within him like a fierce, unquenchable fire. He understood that this quest was a pivotal step on his journey to self-improvement, and he was willing to face the most daunting challenges to achieve it. "I might as well, start with the last one." He grumbled.