Common Goal!

After a few more minutes, Link decided today was still not the day he could advance his fire element, it got way harder to advance since reaching 5 EP (Elemental points) .

He then took a large branch from the nearby trees and started to swing it. He continued swinging the branch as if it were a sword, he did this a lot, this was his routine ever since he got permission to play outside. With his knowledge of the system from his previous world, doing that has gained Link a new skill.

Sword mastery.

He has been doing his routine for a while now, gaining level after level.

He managed to get the chore magic skills, which were taught in the school. They were given books containing all the chore magic skills, which were as good as nothing for combat but link learned them anyway.

While link was practicing his swordsmanship, he heard footsteps. Someone was approaching him, and the only person aside from him that knew about the spot was his neighbor and classmate Samuel. he was a year older than link. Link liked him, Samuel reminded him of his best friend sam. It wasn't just the name resemblance, Samuel and Sam had habits that were oddly alike, from his constant dad jokes to his cheerful personality.

The village was small, and most of the young adults left to seek their fortune elsewhere, which left only a few kids in the village, There were 10 of them. One was a baby and the only two kids that were a year younger than Link were twins.

When Samuel saw link practicing his swings, the little boy with red hair and blue eyes like sapphire smiled. He then picked up a random twig he found on the ground and joined him.

"Hey Link, why do you keep practicing everyday?" asked Samuel "Are you trying to become a hero too? that's my dream as well." Samuel was happily imagining himself as a hero, fighting monsters and mutated beasts, saving kingdoms.

Link on the other hand just smiled "How is he so like Sam." link thought to himself "How is sam doing nowadays? is he ok?"

Seeing link not answering him, he remembered the other day when he spoke about being a hero, but link laughed and patted his shoulder then walked away. Now that Samuel remembered this, he wanted to ask Link something.

"Hey link, remember when you laughed at the idea of becoming a hero?" he asked "A hero is someone that people lookup to, count on and can help others" he stopped for a bit "Why did you laugh?"

Link tried to remember if he did do that, after a short pause he did remember, at the time he saw and still kind of do, those dreams as childish.

"Yeah, i do remember" the two were still swinging the branches as they were talking "I just thought it was kind of a childish dream back then, and no offense but i still kind of do."

Samuel frowned, he stopped practicing. "I'm not childish, I will become a hero and you'll see." said Samuel as he turned around and started walking away.

Link reached out and grabbed his arm "I'm not calling you childish samuel, i'm calling the title itself" said link "You can become a hero, but i think it's not worth it"

"Then what is your dream?" Samuel stopped and turned around to look at him, a curious expression was on his face.

link never hung out with the kids much, he was always either practicing or studying, Samuel looked up to link and wanted to know what his dream was that encouraged him to be working that hard.

"My dream?" link paused "My dream is to become someone strong enough to control my own fate"

"Isn't a hero the strongest, that's the same thing." he said smiling like he got Link.

"Hmph, a hero isn't the strongest, there are many things stronger. plus a hero doesn't control his own faith. He's bound by his responsibilities, his duty to save and protect. i don't want to serve nobody, i do not care about others." said link with a cold and murderous look.

None of them noticed, but the birds, and some small animals around them ran away at that moment. a small thread of mana seeped out of link, creating little killing intent which was sensed by the animals.

"But the old man said, the hero is the strongest. He can beat anyone, the champion of the people, even the king bows down to him. and everyone deserves to be saved and protected." said Samuel with a confused expression. ever since he had heard the stories from the village elder, he kept dreaming of adventures and destined encounters like the heroes told in the stories.

"Those are just tales Samuel, stories changed by many to appear wondrous and attractive, to trick simple minded people" link stopped for a second, he looked at Samuel and saw a sad expression.

"I'm not calling you simple minded Samuel, you're still a kid, you'll grow up and see the true side of humans, some might be worthy of as you said saving and protecting, but some don't even deserve to be treated as humans. dream bigger, a hero is a title given to the ignorant ones." said link, patting his shoulder again.

"Hey link" samuel had a look of admiration "How come you know a bunch of stuff, not even the old man knows of?"

"Um...It's... It's nothing to be impressed by, we're still kids, i don't think the old man would tell us stuff like this." link stopped for a bit, forgetting he was speaking to a 6 year old and regretting what he said. "Samuel, dreams and goals come and go. becoming stronger is never the wrong thing to do, for now becoming a hero is not a bad dream, practice and train. when the time comes that you grow up and understand things yourself, your training would still pay off."

"Heh, sometimes you say some weird things, link. But everyone keeps calling you a genius so i believe you. my new dream is to control my own faith, just like you." said Samuel, grabbing the stick he dropped and going back to swinging it.

Link stopped for a bit, a genuine smile appeared on his face. with a firm stance, he went back to swinging the twig as well.