Chapter 24: Rising Stats and Sparring Bonds
The next morning, golden sunlight slipped through the thin curtains of Peterson's bedroom. He stirred, stretched, and cracked his neck with a grunt. Another day.
He made his way to the bathroom, showered quickly, then dressed in his usual school uniform—white shirt, khakis slightly wrinkled, and well-worn sneakers. Breakfast was simple: boiled plantains and eggs, with a splash of hot sauce. Amanda and Miranda argued over who finished the last slice of bread, as usual.
"Don't forget to help me carry the crates," their mother called from outside.
"Coming!" Peterson yelled, grabbing his bag with one hand and a crate of fruits with the other.
They walked through the narrow, bustling streets of Cap-Haïtien, passing familiar vendors and neighbors. Peterson's arms ached slightly, but he didn't complain. His mother looked at him with pride as he placed the crates on her market table.
"Now go. School," she said.
Peterson jogged off. By the time he reached the school gates, he was ten minutes late.
The principal stood near the entrance, arms crossed. He was an older man with kind eyes hidden behind thick glasses.
"You're late again, Mr. Peterson Joseph," he said, deadpan.
Peterson grinned sheepishly. "Sorry, sir. It won't happen again. I'll do my best to come early."
The principal nodded. "Very well. Hurry to class now, will ya?"
As Peterson rushed inside, the principal watched him go and thought, That boy's stronger than he knows.
In class, Peterson slid into his usual seat, slightly sweaty but still grinning. His eyes immediately darted to Naëlle, who sat near the window, doodling in her notebook.
He sighed dreamily, and within seconds, his mind drifted. He imagined them sitting at a beachside restaurant, candlelight flickering, the waves lapping in the background. Naëlle giggled at one of his jokes. He fed her fried conch. They danced barefoot on the sand...
"Mr. Joseph!"
A chalk piece zipped through the air.
Peterson's hand snapped up and caught it mid-flight without even looking.
The entire classroom froze.
Even the teacher blinked. "Huh. Reflexes. Now answer the question I asked."
Peterson paused, replayed the last thing he heard, then launched into a surprisingly detailed answer about the Haitian Revolution.
When he finished, the room was dead silent.
The teacher nodded slowly. "Correct... and impressive."
Whispers rippled through the class.
"Did he just absorb a textbook last night?"
"Was he always that smart?"
"Or is this a clone?"
A translucent blue screen appeared before Peterson.
[SYSTEM NOTICE]
INTELLIGENCE STAT INCREASED!
New Stat Level: 10
Peterson grinned.
From across the room, Jean-Daniel muttered, "Show-off."
Wilkens nodded. "If he starts glowing in class, I'm switching schools."
Naëlle looked at Peterson thoughtfully. I need to talk to him, she thought.
After school, the trio met at a new training spot—a secluded forest clearing far from their usual hangouts. Peterson had chosen it for its isolation.
Wilkens was already there, crouched next to a log, scribbling into his notebook. "Alright," he said, "you've done skeletons and crafting. What's next?"
"Jean-Daniel's turn," Peterson said, cracking his knuckles. "Let's beat some powers out of him."
Jean-Daniel grinned. "Finally! I've been waiting for my anime moment."
They squared off. Wilkens stepped back and shouted, "Sparring round begins now!"
Peterson threw a feint, then pivoted to a kick. Jean-Daniel ducked and jabbed. They traded blows—nothing too serious yet.
"You punch like a mango vendor," Peterson teased.
"You dodge like a drunk chicken," Jean-Daniel shot back.
Wilkens cackled. "This is the dumbest fight commentary ever."
But as the spar intensified, something changed. Jean-Daniel's skin shimmered briefly with green energy. Peterson felt a wave of heat pass by.
Wilkens gasped. "System signature detected?"
Jean-Daniel launched a flurry of punches, faster than usual. Peterson had to use a burst of Veve energy to deflect.
"Okay, yeah, that's not normal," Peterson muttered.
Jean-Daniel's eyes glowed faintly for a second. Then it stopped.
"Was that... it?" he asked.
"No system notification," Wilkens said, disappointed. "But something's definitely awakening."
They cooled off. Peterson leaned against a tree, drenched in sweat. "Man, that was intense."
Jean-Daniel grinned. "Feels like I'm close to unlocking something."
Wilkens was scribbling like mad. "We're gonna need team journals. Maybe a logo."
Peterson snorted. "Don't get ahead of yourself, nerd."
The sun dipped low. Crickets chirped. As the boys laughed and rested, Peterson checked his XP bar.
XP: 940 / 1000
"Almost there," he muttered.
Wilkens overheard. "You better level up soon. I can't wait to see what the skills you'll get , well I mean us. hahaha
Peterson smiled. "Soon, man. Soon