Skill Forge: Broken Extra Character

"Jett, what happened? Are you okay?" Eva asked urgently, scanning the room for any threats.

The guard and maid exchanged worried glances, both on high alert. The guard's posture was tense, prepared for an intruder that might still be lurking.

"I swear I'm fine. I just woke up and thought I saw a spider over there," Jett lied, pointing to the far side of the room and waving them off with a forced smile.

They all followed his gesture, thoroughly inspecting the area. The maid moved some furniture while the guard checked the corners.

"There's nothing here," the guard concluded, his shoulders relaxing.

"Maybe sleeping for a whole day really messed with your head," Nerissa said as she walked in, taking a bite from a cookie. She savored the taste, squinting with pleasure. "Yum."

'I slept through a whole day? That [Regeneration] skill must really take a lot out of the user,' Jett thought, glancing at his stats. "I'm fine, really. You guys can leave now," he insisted, trying unsuccessfully to herd them toward the door.

"Already eight years old and now you're embarrassed to be with your mother? That's so hurtful," Eva teased, pretending to be wounded.

'She's playing the victim card. Think, Jett, think,' he told himself, searching for an excuse. "A… Apple pie!"

"Apple pie?" Eva echoed, her curiosity piqued.

"Yeah, I think I've worked up an appetite. I'm craving some apple pie and some curry," Jett responded quickly, hoping to divert their attention. 'Quick thinking, me,' he thought, mentally patting himself on the back.

"Curry?" Eva repeated.

"What's that?" Nerissa asked.

Realization finally hit Jett. 'Curry doesn't exist here? I never really thought about it, but this isn't my old world. There are a lot of things that don't exist here.'

"It's a new dish I created. Just forget it," he replied quickly, now feeling a bit nervous.

"Oh? Can you show me how to make it?" Eva's eyes glowed with excitement. 'Hehe, you're not escaping that easily. I haven't been able to spend quality time with you.'

'This woman really doesn't want to back down,' Jett thought, forcing a smile while trying to hide his displeasure. "I just remembered I have some training to complete, so there's no need."

"You don't need to; you're still recovering, aren't you?" Eva responded, grabbing him by the arm.

Nerissa watched them with a look of contempt, crossing her arms. The maid and the guard glanced at each other nervously, feeling the tension in the room. The guard shifted uneasily, his fingers tapping on his sword hilt, while the maid fidgeted with the hem of her apron, both unsure of how to intervene.

"Give it up, Jett. She's obviously not going to stop until you agree. Sheesh, it's like a battlefield in here," Nerissa finally interrupted.

'I thought it was just me,' the guard and the maid both thought, sighing in unison.

"Alright, I'm coming. Just give me 10 minutes," Jett finally conceded, managing to get them all out of the room.

"Yay, he finally gave in. Why can't you be as thoughtful as your little brother, huh, Nerissa?" Eva teased, trying to hug her daughter.

'Yeah, let's forget who actually convinced him,' Nerissa thought, feeling annoyed as she tried to push her mother away. "Too tight, I can't breathe, Mom."

Jett, meanwhile, was deep in thought. 'Four more years till it hatches? There must have been a glitch in the system. Damn it, I was planning on training my pet before I got into the academy. Now I'm going to be the only one in the group with a late-blooming pet.' He found himself sulking.

'I really hope this has nothing to do with what Aurelia said.' His mind flashed back to what Aurelia had told him.

*****

Jett stood in the kitchen, memories of his previous life flooding back as he prepared to teach his mother how to make curry. He missed the taste of the dish and felt a pang of nostalgia as he gathered the ingredients.

"First, we need to sauté the onions until they're golden brown," he instructed, showing Eva the precise technique.

Eva watched intently, mimicking his movements. "This smells amazing already," she said, excitement in her voice.

Next, Jett added the spices, carefully measuring each one. "The secret is in the balance of the spices," he explained, feeling a sense of satisfaction as the familiar aroma filled the kitchen.

As the curry simmered, Eva marveled at the process. "You really are full of surprises, Jett. I had no idea you could cook like this."

Jett smiled, but his mind was elsewhere, missing the taste of curry from his previous life. "It's just something I picked up," he said modestly.

Once the curry was ready, it was time to taste it. Jett turned to Nerissa, who eyed the dish suspiciously. "You're the guinea pig, Nerissa," he said with a grin, holding out a spoonful.

"I don't know about this," Nerissa said, reluctant.

"Come on, just try it," Jett urged, forcing the spoon into her mouth.

Nerissa's eyes widened as she tasted the curry. "Oh my, it's super tasty. Give me that." She grabbed the plate and proceeded to finish it all before asking for more.

Jett laughed, finding an excuse to run back to his room. "I'll leave you to enjoy it. I need to check something," he said, making a quick exit.

Back in his room, he checked his stats again:

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Class: Magic Swordsman

Level: 35

HP: 70

MP: 70

Strength: 70

Agility: 83

Intelligence:70

Perception: 69

Luck: 1000

Undistributed Points: 400

See more v

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"As of this moment, I'm way stronger than everyone around my age or even a bit older. Getting into the academy will be a breeze, and I'll be sure to avoid my impending death." He jumped on his bed and stretched with satisfaction.

"I've more or less gotten everything I could from this place, even if it wasn't part of the story I know. Now the only thing I'll be focusing on would be my Aura, Mana, and Lumix." He then turned to the egg, feeling disappointed.

"Damn it, why did your incubation period suddenly increase? And what's with all these notifications?" he wondered.

[A new catalyst has been forcefully added.]

[The new Catalyst is clashing with the old one, and ownership is shaking.]

[Data has been Adjusted]

[Duration: 4 years]

"I thought my luck was unbreakable." He sighed, looking upwards. "I guess I shouldn't be greedy. Too many good things happening at once is never a good sign in this world."

*****

Miles away from Lagia, Jerry and Cormac arrived at a well-maintained temple. The ancient structure stood tall, its stone walls covered in intricate carvings that depicted forgotten legends. The air was thick with the scent of incense, and the quiet hum of nature seemed to honor the sanctity of the place.

As they walked inside, a grim sight met their eyes. The once sacred ground was now stained with blood. Soldiers and mages lay dead, thirteen in total, their lifeless bodies scattered across the temple floor. The serene atmosphere was shattered by the brutality of the scene.

"Who could've done this?" Cormac asked, gritting his teeth as he recognized the fallen. He clenched his spear tighter, the familiar faces fueling his anger.

"I knew something was wrong. If only I had gotten here sooner," Jerry sobbed, punching the wall in frustration. "This is no time to let our emotions get the best of us. Let's focus on the mission at hand."

"Right," Cormac replied, his voice steady but laced with sorrow.

Jerry inspected the scene meticulously while Cormac examined the corpses for clues. The stench of death was overpowering, but they pressed on, determined to uncover the truth.

"Thirteen? I sent seven mages and seven soldiers to guard this place, but I only count thirteen," Jerry said in disbelief, recounting the bodies.

"Sir, they all seem to have died in the same manner. They were stabbed in the neck from behind before getting stabbed in the heart," Cormac added, continuing his inspection.

"Then it's safe to assume we had a traitor in our ranks—a very strong one at that. The missing person is likely the traitor," Jerry paused, a cold realization dawning on him.

"What's wrong, my Lord?" Cormac asked, concern etched on his face.

"Nothing seems to be out of place. The platform still looks unused, not a trace of blood on it. I think I vaguely understand what's going on now," Jerry said, letting out a faint sigh.

"Huh?" Cormac was a bit confused.

"It was those bastards that tried to kidnap Lady Freya at the capital," Jerry said, punching the wall again in frustration.

"The Crimson Hounds? Then it makes sense now," Cormac replied, pondering the situation.

"They used the monster attack as a distraction. Their main objective was the platform in this temple. The fact that they enacted this plan successfully means they got their hands on her blood and were planning to use it while we were distracted," Jerry explained.

"But then why hasn't anything happened yet?" Cormac asked, scanning the surroundings for any irregularities.

"Something must have foiled their plan. Perhaps an unknown warrior managed to steal or even waste the blood, foiling their plans. I can't imagine them being careless enough to waste it themselves. This would have been the perfect time to use it," Jerry continued, his mind racing.

"It's too close to be seen as a coincidence," Cormac added, nodding in agreement.

"Yeah, let's take care of this before leaving," Jerry said.

As they were all people of Lagia, Jerry and Cormac paid their respects by giving a salute and preparing to give the fallen a proper burial. They both stood solemnly at the front of the temple, their hearts heavy with the loss of their comrades.

"This is the least we can do for them," Jerry said quietly, beginning the preparations for the burial.

Cormac nodded, helping to gather the bodies with reverence. "They deserve to rest in peace."

Together, they worked in silence, honoring the fallen soldiers and mages with a respectful burial. The temple, once a place of tranquility, now held the weight of their sacrifice. As they finished, Jerry and Cormac stood before the newly made graves, offering a final salute.

"May they find peace in the afterlife," Jerry said softly.

"May their spirits guide us," Cormac added, his voice firm with resolve.

"I guess we got lucky. I wonder who the mysterious warrior could be," Cormac said, his voice tinged with curiosity.

"Same here. It's time to head back," Jerry replied.

They both set off back to Lagia, the weight of their discoveries and the fallen comrades heavy on their minds.

*****

In a dimly lit room where mysterious men gathered, the atmosphere was thick with tension. A body hung in the center of the room, swaying slightly. The sight was gruesome, a stark reminder of the consequences of failure.

"Let this be a lesson to you all. No more disappointments," the leader spoke coldly, his eyes sweeping over the assembled men. The silence was oppressive, no one daring to utter a word.

The leader turned and left the room, leaving the others in a heavy silence. They had just executed the one who had proposed the plan two years ago. Fear and uncertainty lingered in the air, each man wondering if he would be the next to face the leader's wrath.

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What are your thoughts? I decided not to show the skill section till I sort them out here.

My apologies in advance if you found some mistakes.