Jack had just over a week before he’d start work at the Royal Library. In his previous life, he’d spent virtually all of that time in his room practising his new Novice Scribe skills. He went through a lot of ink and paper copying text and sketching things, hoping to gain even one level before he started work. With so little time, he failed to gain any levels.
He looked at the stew before him. Right now, I’d like to eat this delicious food, he thought while appreciating the aroma of the lightly spiced beef stew. “I plan to practise my scribe skills.” He said. “I thought I’d also spend some time enjoying Lundun before I devote myself to the Royal Library…” Testing the waters, he added, “I was thinking I might do some exercise as well.” This would be a good cover for him, a way to spend more time out of the house to practise his archery skills.
Her spoon froze midair, and then she burst into laughter. “You? Exercise? What happened to my son?” She wiped tears from her eyes, shaking her head in disbelief. “Next, you’ll be hiking with your dad.”
He had to admit what he suggested was out of character for the sixteen-year-old who hadn’t exercised, by choice, a single day in his life. “Dad keeps fit,” he replied. “You’ll see. Next time Dad goes for a hike, I’ll be right alongside him.”
His mom laughed harder. “Well, when your dad drags you out into the woods, don’t forget the mosquito repellent.”
Despite the fact that during his past life, they’d had to literally drag him away from his desk to go for a short walk, he felt insulted. “You’ll see. I’ve even been reading about strength training.”
After calming down and wiping the tears away, his mom said, “You’re going to volunteer to walk miles to be able to appreciate a view? Really? You?” She shook her head in disbelief again. “How hard did that bucket hit you in the head, Jack?” She started laughing again.
His father had always enjoyed nature and would take them on long hikes to appreciate the things they all took for granted. At the time, Jack, and Polly to a lesser extent, hated it. What was there to appreciate in walking up steep hills in the blistering sun to see the same sky he could look at through his bedroom window? That was young Jack’s past attitude. Now, however, he was looking forward to the next time his father suggested they go for a hike.
Jack smiled. “You’ll see… Before you shouted, I was about to do some strength exercises.” He flexed his weak arms. “Having stronger arms should help with my scribe skills.” He took a spoonful of stew like he hadn’t said anything out of character. “Hmm… This is fantastic, Mom.”
His mother laughed again while shaking her head. “I’ll be sure to let your father know you’re looking forward to his next trek through the mosquito-infested woods.” She started eating her own stew while still chuckling.
Jack smiled while he ate the heavenly stew. That should give me some leeway to train in archery. Despite the embarrassment, he considered the conversation a win.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.
After food and chatting with his mom, he headed back to his room.
Time for some exercise. Jack thought about the planking exercise and recalled another great philosopher making the very persuasive argument that you shouldn’t exercise on a full stomach. He patted his soft abdomen. Can’t argue with that great logic.
“I’ll do another spell scroll and then exercise… Yeah, that makes most sense.” He sat at his study area and began working on another [Chronos Sphere] spell scroll. Just over an hour later, as he completed the scroll, his [Inscribe Spell] skill levelled up.
[System Message-Internal View]
[Apprentice Scribe Skill Levelled]
[Inscribe Spell (6)]
Jack stopped in shock. “I got another level.” His [Draughtsmanship] skill had levelled recently. As an Apprentice Scribe, his skills should level over years, not days. “What’s going on?”
His scribe skills list confirmed the change.
[Class Screen-Internal View]
Class: Apprentice Scribe (49)
Compatibility: 70%
…
- Inscribe Spell (6)
…
“I had to be close to a level again…” he mumbled. “That must be it.” The only thing that made sense was that he’d been close to levelling up before he died.
Jack thought about his other skills. “Will they level quickly as well?” He was tempted to start using his other skills. [Copy Text] required him to make verbatim copies of anything containing text; scrolls, books, etc.
“I could spend the day copying a book and then, bind it…” He began to get excited at the thought before recalling his plans. “I have to exercise and earn coin to buy a bow.” He reminded himself, setting his sights on the road ahead.
A little dejected, he put down his scribe pen and started to exercise.
Jack lay on the floor in pain after exercises consisting of six push-ups, nine sit-ups, a couple of minutes twisting his body to exercise his core muscles, and twenty-three seconds of planking hell.
“I wish exercise could level up quickly.” He chuckled at the idea while rubbing his sore abdominal muscles. He looked at the wall clock and groaned. He’d only exercised for a few minutes, and was already tired.
“I’m so weak.” He thought about different ways to kill the Baron to motivate himself. It was how he managed to exercise through the pain in his past life. “I can do this. I have to do this for my family.”
After a few minutes’ rest, he sat back down at his study area, pulled out another blank scroll and started to craft another [Chronos Sphere] spell scroll.
An hour later, he looked at the intricate runes and spell’s text. “That was even faster than before. Just one hour to earn almost 7 silver profit. I’ll have enough for a bow in no time.” He smiled while reading the spell’s text out loud.
“Time is the master of all men. Whether king or pauper, it shows no favour. Unleash what I crave, more time. Chronos Sphere.”
He stroked his finger across the intricate runes. “I wonder what it must feel like for a mage to cast a spell like this?” He imagined himself as a Master Mage blasting out higher-level [Fireball] and [Frost Breath] spells as Baron Greaves and his fellow blood mages ran away in fear.
Jack chuckled at the thought. In truth, the spell, when cast by an Apprentice Mage, would freeze a low-level goblin solid with only minimal impact on the surrounding environment.
Powerful? Yes. Devastating? Not really.
“I have to exercise again.” Sighing, he stored away the [Chronos Sphere] scroll and exercised.
Jack lay on the floor in even more pain after only five push-ups, seven sit-ups, a minute and a half of twisting his body to exercise his core muscles, and eighteen seconds of planking. “Owwww.” He took a deep breath. “Why does it have to get harder before it gets easier?” He tried to stay positive. “At least my skin doesn’t hurt, and I can breathe. I can do this. I have to.”
Almost three hours, two [Chronos Sphere] scrolls, and two sets of planking hell later, Jack heard his father enter the house. He groaned as he stood from his desk after hiding the spell scroll he’d just started working on. “Ow,” he moaned as he headed towards his bedroom door. He looked at the hard boards of his mattress-free bed. “I’m going to ache in the morning. I’m so going to collect a bucket of spider egg sacs.”
Featured Sci-Fi Serial
Sci-Fi LitRPG Adventure Romance Space Opera
Four years ago, the System arrived and rewrote the rules of survival, progress, and technology. Humanity adapted, unlocking passive skills, reshaping society, and reaching for the stars. But with a hard level 60 cap and only TL8 tech, the Solar System has become a cage. Now, for the first time, humanity is stepping beyond it.
Luca Rossi and his young, chaotic crew board the Triumph of Darron, Earth's first FTL survey ship, bound for Alpha Centauri. Their mission? Explore alien worlds, confront the unknown, and uncover what the System hasn't told them. But this is more than just a mission—it's personal. Every thread ties into a central mystery, and the stakes only climb from there.
What to expect
- Pictures!
- Slow Burn
- Romance
- Starship Adventure
- High Stakes
- Sci-Fi Mystery
- Young Heroes
- System Power-Ups
- Emotional Chaos
- Cozy Moments
Starring
- Luca Rossi ? Young captain chasing redemption among the stars.
- Emily Berrow ? His heart, his anchor, his greatest risk.
- Triumph of Darron ? Their ship. Their home. Humanity's leap into the unknown.
Portals Energy Weapons Hard Sci-Fi Elements Starship Combat Daily Updates
They left Earth for the stars and stumbled into a war older than Earth itself.