Chapter 1: Path of the Mage

(MC POV)

*brrring* *brrring* *brrring*

"...Ugh."

The sound of my alarm clock wakes me up to my annoyance. Although it's annoying, it's annoying because it's the only thing that'll wake me up as I'm a heavy sleeper. Sleeping is a great event that should be allowed for a longer duration, it's one of the best things that we as people have.

"Alec! Wake up, it's time for school!"

My little sister's voice rings from down the stairs. Just like every morning, to make sure my lazy ass is actually up.

"I'm up!"

I yell back, to make sure she doesn't try to wake me up in person.

*shiver*

Last time she woke me up in person, she jumped on me like she was cannonballing into a pool. That was not a great way to wake up.

Going to the bathroom across the hall from my room on the second floor, I look into the mirror to get ready for school.

My name is Alec Knight, your average 16 year old Highschool Student. I have a fringe up hairstyle with luscious black hair, and the average brown round eyes. I was also said to have a sharp face, but let's be real, I have no clue what that is supposed to mean.

You could say I am above average in looks, but I still have yet to land a girlfriend. My little sister, the one who called out to me earlier, is Alisa Knight who is just a year younger than me.

After getting ready and dressed in my school uniform, a blue blazer with a white undershirt and a pair of khaki pants. Going down the stairs and into the kitchen, I see my little sister Alisa, with her short shoulder length black hair, with her beautiful almond-like light blue eyes and a cute heart shape face, wearing an apron walking towards the table to set down some food.

"Thanks Alisa."

I say and sit down at the table to eat. Alisa is a great cook, and has been for a while now. She really likes cooking, I just don't know why she always insists on cooking.

"You're welcome~"

She answers me back lightly.

"You know, I could've cooked too? You don't have to cook every time."

I tell her in slight worry. I know she likes to cook but I don't want to bother her with it every time.

"It's fine, I really like cooking for y..."

She replies but she mumbles the last part, making it hard to hear what she said.

After eating, I wash the dishes as always, since Alisa was the one who made the food. After that, the gather our school supplies, and leave out the front door.

On our way to school, I can't help but despise the morning sun, that just sucks away my tiredness forcefully.

Ah, I want to go back to sleep, but I have to persist. School is a must now a days, or so I'm told. If you don't go to school you won't go anywhere in your life, or so I was told. Ah, I just wish I could be lazy for the rest of my life.

"Alllleeeeccc!"

Ah, it's her. The shout of my name does not come from Alisa, but from behind and from my childhood friend, Haru Masa. She's Japanese if her name wasn't a dead give away. Her parents, apparently moved here when she was 5. Her father is half-japanese and her mother is full japanese, which makes her mostly japanese, although she doesn't look it.

Haru has golden blonde hair in a ponytail, unique protruding golden yellow eyes, with a beautiful diamond shaped face. She is a beautiful girl, who has grown to an exceptional 5'8 ft, not to mention that she has grown very well in her chest area. Turning around I prepare myself to see-

"Geh-?"

I was rammed into be Haru, and fall to the ground. I can feel her large soft breasts on my chest.

"Oh, are you thinking of something dirty, Alec~?"

She says in a sultry voice. This idiot, she rams into me and says that?

"Get off, idiot!"

Saying so, I strongly chop her on the head.

"Bwa-? Ow, Alec, how could you?"

She says in mock surprise. Getting up, I wipe the dirt off myself.

"Tch."

Huh, did Alisa just 'tch'? No no, she wouldn't 'tch', I'm probably hearing things. I look back at Alisa and she's currently looking at Haru.

"Tch."

She whips her head away and releases a 'tch'. Alisa, there is no need to 'tch'.

They used to get along, but they suddenly stopped getting along and I wish I knew why.

"Hey, Alec let's go, we'll be late if we stay with the bimbo."

Alisa says and grabs my left arm, forcefully making me walk along.

"Bimbo?! Just because I have bigger breasts I'm a bimbo?!"

Although Haru complains, before catching up to us and grabbing my right arm.

Ah, now that I think about it, it might be because of these 2 that I have yet to get a girlfriend. Not that I'm complaining, since I already have these two to take care of.

***

A public school with a uniform requirement. That's Haven Highschool of Science and Technology, a highschool renowned for it academics regarding science and technology. It's also the school that I go to, which belongs to Haven Town, where I live.

It's always been a Co-Ed school, with higher than average grades, though not by alot. I'm a 3rd year highschool Junior, and my classes are from 7 to 2.

Though it's always been a Co-Ed school, for some reason, there are always more girls than guys in this school, which always gives me a nice view. For the nice view while at school, this is the reason I chose this highschool. Of course the science and technology courses are an extra boon, as I've always been interested in said courses, especially so in the technology department.

I was still naive though, as I thought that since this school had more girls than boys, I would surely get a cute girlfriend, alas, my dreams were not meant to be.

""Grrr!""

Both Alisa and Haru are growling at the girls we walk by while I make a slightly sad but apologetic face to the people we pass by.

"Alec, you don't need any of these hussies, you just have to ask and I'll be your girlfriend!"

Haru says with a supremely confident and expectant face.

"Hmph, he doesn't need to since he already has me!"

Alisa says like it obvious. Oy, that's a dangerous statement right there. I might be dragged to the police if you keep saying that Alisa.

"Anyway, it looks like now is when we go out separate ways."

Saying so, I take my arms out of their grips, and make my way to my classroom.

""Alec!""

They both yell in unison before trying to chase after me.

Fortunately I lost them somehow and made it to my classroom. Sighing to myself I sit down on my chair and get my desk ready for the day.

I wish I had some nice guy friends to chat with at times like this when I'm bored, but they all avoid me like the plague, while the girls always find an excuse to leave when I approach them.

Like this, I spend the day at school listening to my teachers lectures and thinking about what I want to do in the future.

After classes it was the end of the school day, and so I met up with both Alisa and Haru at the school gate.

"Hey, Alec, what did you learn about today?"

Alisa asked me with a gleam in her eyes. She's always eager to learn more than her grade would allow.

"Forget about that Alec, go on a date with me!"

Haru says something really brave non-chalantly. I wonder how are japanese people supposed to be reserved when my only example of one is Haru.

"He can't you idiot, he has to spend his birthday with me at home!"

Alisa snarks at Haru. Ah, right, today is my birthday.

"Then I'm coming too!"

Haru says like her plan was a success.

With the banter between these two and the occasional pitch from me, we make it back home.

After the festivities of my birthday, it was decided that Haru was gonna sleep in the guest room for tonight.

Like this I spent my birthday in a surprisingly normal way. I wonder if my life will always remain this normal though? I wish I was special...

***

"Eh?"

Opening my eyes, the first thing I see is a game-like screen.

[<Status>

Name: Alec Knight

Gender: Male

Race: Human

Level: 0 (6354/1000 Exp)

Occupation: n/a

<Attributes>

Strength: 13

Dexterity: 12

Constitution: 13

Intelligence:15

Wisdom: 16

Charisma:21

Attribute Points: 0

<Skills>

Freedom Lvl MAX: You are free from the conventional standards and limitations of the laws of the universe.

Soul Board Lvl MAX: You are given free reign to manipulate the standards of your soul and body as well as this of your subordinates. You can also peak at the Soul Board of others.

<Explanation>

Name: States the name of the person presented.

Gender: States the gender of the person presented.

Race: States the race of the person presented.

Level: An estimated level of overall strength of the person presented.(Not always precisely accurate)

Occupation: What type of fighter the person presented is identified as.

Strength: Measures your muscle and physical power.

Dexterity: Measures your hand-eye coordination, agility, reflexes, and balance.

Constitution: Measures your bodies health, durability, and stamina.

Intelligence: Measures how well you learn and reason, it also measures your Magic Power.

Wisdom: Measures your willpower, common sense, perception, and intuition.

Charisma: Measures your force of personality, persuasiveness, personal magnetism, ability to lead, and physical attractiveness.

Attribute Points: Available points to disperse to selected attributes.

<Occupations Available>

Fighter: This class usually specializes in melee attacks, whether with weapons or just plain old fists.

Assassin: This class generally has higher skill sets in the areas of stealth, sneaking, and smaller, quicker weapons.

Mage: This class is generally typified by their lack of traditional weaponry, foregoing steel in favor of fire, ice, and other spell use.

Archer: This class is typically skilled with a bow and arrow, dealing massive amounts of damage from long range.

Berserker: This class exists as a behemoth that employs focused rage as a method of delivering devastating blows up close and personal.

Cleric: This class specializes in buffing, de-buffing, cleansing, and in crowd control.]

Although I'm tired since I just woke up, I'm still able to read, since it also happens to be one of my hobbies. Looking through my status I can infer that I won't Level Up until I pick an Occupation. Though the question is, if I pick an Occupation, will I be able to pick a new one if I max out my current Occupation? If not then I have to choose my occupation carefully.

While all the Occupations sound interesting, there is really nothing more interesting than being able to use magic. While I know picking a magic-class in my type of situation is stereotypical and maybe boring for others, but it's not like my life is some story where I need to pander to the wants of outsiders.

Also, while I appear to be too calm in a situation such as mine, I've never been one to panic at the drop of a hat. So I shall experiment with this 'System', and see for myself if what it shows it really true.

With all of that said, I quickly pick the Mage Occupation.

[Occupation 'Mage' Selected. Experience will now be unfrozen. You have Leveled Up, +1 Strength, Dexterity, and Constitution, +3 Intelligence, +2 Wisdom, and Charisma, and +10 Attribute Points. You have Leveled Up, +1 Strength, Dexterity, and Constitution, +3 Intelligence, +2 Wisdom, and Charisma, and +10 Attribute Points.

You have Leveled Up, +1 Strength, Dexterity, and Constitution, +3 Intelligence, +2 Wisdom, and Charisma, and +10 Attribute Points.]

[Skill Magic Sense Lvl 1 obtained. Skill Magic Manipulation Lvl 1 obtained. Skill Magic Skill Creation obtained.]

[<Status>

Name: Alec Knight

Gender: Male

Race: Human

Level: 3 (354/4000 Exp)

Occupation: Mage Lvl 3

<Attributes>

Strength: 16

Dexterity: 15

Constitution: 16

Intelligence:24

Wisdom: 18

Charisma:23

Attribute Points: 30

<Skills>

Freedom Lvl MAX

Soul Board Lvl MAX

Magic Sense Lvl 1 (0/2000 Exp): Grants the ability to actively sense magic at the cost of a little magic power.

Magic Manipulation Lvl 1 (0/2000 Exp): Grants the ability to actively manipulate magic at the cost of magic power depending on what you want to do.

Magic Skill Creation Lvl 1 (0/2000 Exp): Grants the ability to have a small chance at creating magic based skills based on your intentions at the cost of magic power.]

So I was right about leveling up when I select an Occupation, and if what my status shows me is true them my strength increased by about a 4th of what it used to be. I certainly don't feel stronger.

Let's try to lift my bed. As a queen sized bed, it's pretty heavy though it's not unmanageable.

"Hrg!"

I grunt as I lift my bed with surprising ease compared to before. After lifting it up and down a few more times I get a feel for my increase in strength. Just think about how strong I would be had I picked a melee occupation like Berserker or Fighter. They would have increased my strength by a shit ton.

Although I feel somewhat regretful about pick Mage now, I still have plenty of Attribute Points to allocate toy stats. I'll just do what I've read other MC's have done in a situation as mine. I'll see if I can train my attributes, and if not then I'll carefully allocate them.

Looking at the skill section of my status, I see 3 new skills available to me. The one I am most particularly interested in is Magic Spell Creation, though I'll check that out last.

Now the question is, how do I activate a skill? Do I just think about Magic Sense and it'll activate?

"Huh?!"

I suddenly sense little particles all around and inside of me. Looking around, I don't see the little particles, but I can still sense them. I know they're there but I don't see them. I'll probably be able to if I max out the skill, probably...

Now that I think about it, I sense some of the particles that I'll now call Magic Power, inside of me disappearing, which I now reason the cause to be because of my use of the Magic Sense skill.

Now that I can sense Magic Power, it would probably be easier to manipulate it to doy bidding. Thinking about Magic Manipulation, I focus on trying to move the magic power around, which I find to be incredibly difficult. It moves, but at a pace slower than a snail.

I then try to manipulate the Magic Power inside of myself, moving it to my will. Although, it does move, it moves at the rate of a turtle. While faster than the snail-like speed of outside Magic Power, it's still really slow.

Focusing more on my body, I can faintly sense pathways all throughout my body. Like that I come up with what I believe to be a brilliant idea. I circulate the Magic Power within me along the faint pathways that I sense, very slowly, like I was a Chinese Cultivator or something.

[Magic Skill Creation activated... Successful! Skill Magic Circulation created.

Magic Circulation Lvl 1 (0/2000 Exp): By circulating Magic Power through your Magic Pathways, you can permanently but slowly increase the overall Strength and Constitution of your body by 1 each lvl.]

Woah, with this skill alone I can increase my Strength and Constitution by 1 each level. This means that if I max out this skill, I can increase my Strength and Constitution by a factor of at least 7. Not to mention if I steadily level myself up it would also passively increase all my attributes, some more than others.

With this it'll be easier trying to stay as a balanced build while slightly leaning towards magic. Not to mention the 10 Attribute Points that I obtain every lvl. Like this, I probably won't even have to train my attributes and can solely focus on leveling up my skills instead.

Now, how do I gain Exp to level myself up. I know that to level up my skills I just need to use them, but what about my personal level? Where did I get the Exp that allowed me to level up.

[<Quest>

Gaining Exp!

Objective: Figure out one way you have gained Exp to date.

Reward: 1000 Exp, and $10.]

A quest? Have I been passively and unknowingly completed quests to gain Exp?

[<Quest(Completed)>

Gaining Exp!

Objective: Figure out one way you have gained Exp to date.

Reward: 1000 Exp, and $10.]

And just like that I completed it. The hell is this? Am I on easy mode or something? Suddenly, a $10 bill appears in midair. I quickly catch it and examine it.

This, this is actually dangerous. If I gain money like this, will I cause the US's economy to collapse?! Are these bills even usable? Wait, if I was given this as a reward, then it should be usable, right? But where did the 'System' get it from? It's better to not just constantly question it.

Thinking up till this point, I have a sudden premonition. If powers like mine do exist, whose to say that I'm the only one that has an ability like this? What if, there is an actual secrect part of society that I don't know about like in movies and anime? Will they detect me and say, 'You know too much.' or something? Fuck, that's scary.

What if I make a skill that hides my Magic Power? Thinking so, I use all my three base magic skills I focus on stealth and and try to hide(?) my Magic Power.

[Magic Skill Creation activated... Successful! Skill Hide Magic Power created.

Hide Magic Power Lvl 1 (0/2000 Exp): Using your magic power, hide your Magic Power in an invisible veil.]

Holy fuck! There should be no reason for a skill like this to exist unless I need it. And since it does indeed exist, that means I definitely need this. I'll have to first and foremost focus on this skill if I want to avoid the fate of being detected by some strange people.

***

(??? POV)

Hmm? I wake up and use my Magic Power as usual to detect any disturbances and for a split second I detect the use of magic nearby, but it disappears before I can properly examine it.

Hmm, it must have been my imagination. There's no way for magic to just disappear like that anyway, unless it's a god, in which case there's not much I can do. I'll just have to be wary.