The Extra System: Summoner of Shadows

After their encounter with the priest, the two entered the nearby forest. They were still being monitored by the scouts, but Cedric was more excited about fighting monsters. After some resistance, Ember caved in to Cedric's demands to fight using a short sword that she had. The two of them entered the forest and soon encountered their first monsters.

"At least we didn't encounter goblins," muttered Cedric as he watched the giant rabbit-creature, which was munching on some squirrels. Ember explained that these monsters were called Dire Hares.

These hares are larger than rabbits with bigger ears, slender bodies, powerful hind legs, and razor-sharp teeth. Their fur was mottled with dark patches, providing camouflage in the forest underbrush.

"Be careful, Your Highness. A single kick of theirs can kill a man," warned Ember, her hand resting on her sword. Cedric could tell that she was more nervous than he was.

Rather than fear, Cedric felt excited that he was living the thrills of adventure. He had always been too bored with his previous life. His world was too safe, in his opinion, which he never voiced. After all, even inside his mind, these thoughts seemed lunatic.

Cedric had read many novels where the main character hesitated before killing monsters, since the act of killing itself wasn't justified. However, his mindset was affected by the world he was in. Furthermore, there was the Extra Menu.

[Extra Menu – Cedric Everhart] 

[Story Progress: 0%] 

[Current Arc: Irredeemable Prince (2%)] 

[Story Points: 24] 

[Story Rewards: (Locked)] 

[Active Skills: Observe (X), Forgotten (X), Mimic (X)] 

[Passive Skills: Reader Mindset (X), Blessing of — (?)] 

Cedric didn't have time to realize what this menu was for, since Aric attacked him the moment he obtained it. After his battle, he had to study the menu in order to learn more ways to survive.

In essence, this menu was about his progress in the story and the points he obtained. The more he progressed in the original story, the more he would unlock rewards and obtain more skills as an extra character.

The thing that intrigued him the most were the two passive skills he had. Cedric never thought that the reason behind his calmness and acceptance was the skill Reader Mindset, which had the following description:

[Reader Mindset (X): The world of Elaris is vast and dangerous, making a strong memory and mindset necessary to survive its horrors. The skill boosts memory and mental fortitude. Twice upgradable.]

Cedric received that explanation once he clicked on the skill. However, the other one showed him nothing, becoming the sole ambiguity in his system. In either case, Cedric remained calm even when the Dire Hare turned to face him.

"Careful, Your Highness. The hare is preparing to attack!" warned Ember from behind him, but Cedric already had his Observe skill active. Nothing could escape his sight.

The monster was faster than Cedric imagined, but he dodged its powerful kick in time. Using his Observe Skill gave him a huge advantage, and his Reader Mindset allowed him to remain calm.

As the Dire Hare passed him, it revealed an opening. Cedric slashed with his sword, using his entire strength to strike its neck. The sword met some resistance, but its sharp blade managed to penetrate through the monster's fur. Blue blood gushed out before the monster fell to the ground, twitching.

[You have killed a Dire Hare (Lvl 9)!]

A notification appeared in front of him, making Cedric smile. But since his Observe Skill was still active, he saw Ember's expression. She looked at Cedric as if he was the monster.

"What?"

"…nothing," said Ember as she snapped out of her daze. Cedric did not believe her and activated his expensive narrator ability.

[Ember tried to hide her shock that the once useless prince had turned so capable during their trip. Her heart, however, felt uneasy at the sudden change in the prince, and she began to suspect that he was possessed.]

And that was the end of the narration, which cost Cedric eight points of mana. Once he read her mind, Cedric was sweating bullets. In truth, he didn't know if he was possessing the old body or if he had always been Cedric Everhart.

Cedric decided to tone it down, but the harm was already done. As he crouched next to the beast, he marveled at the blue blood covering its fur. Records of Elaris already explained the reason being mana infiltrating the blood of beasts and changing its color.

"Don't act so surprised that I killed a beast with a lower level than I am. I might get offended," joked Cedric to alleviate the tension, rising from the ground. Monsters would only develop a mana gem above level 10. "Are there any more?"

"…you want to fight more monsters?"

"A weaker monster isn't enough to make me stronger," said Cedric while stretching his arm, which was a little sore after he killed the hare. "Let's go."

Cedric killed three more hares in a similar manner, although the last one was a challenge. It managed to evade his strike before jumping and kicking his shoulder. Cedric staggered back but managed to send the monster flying with a slash.

Ember was about to intervene when Cedric pounced on the monster like a hungry beast, piercing through its neck. The monster bled onto the floor while impaled by the short sword as Cedric collapsed, breathless.

Although he hadn't fought a lot, his stamina wasn't great to begin with. The previous prince had mistreated his body enough for Cedric to feel the burn. But a notification from the system made him ecstatic.

[You have killed a Dire Hare (Lvl 12)] 

[You have leveled up!]

Before Cedric could savor his victory, Ember rushed forward and dropped to her knees beside him. There was already a bottle in her hand, which Cedric realized was a potion that restored health.

"Are you alright, Your Highness?" asked Ember with concern. Cedric wondered if she was just loyal, or if she cared about him. However, he couldn't understand why she would care about someone like the previous prince.

"I'm alright, but I think it dislocated my shoulder. Can you help me put it back in place?" asked Cedric, and Ember nodded without hesitation. In just a few fast movements, she placed his shoulder back in place without him feeling pain.

Cedric knew the procedure had to hurt, but Ember's hands were covered with a layer of blue energy that seemed to invade his unstable joint, healing and manipulating his ligaments.

Once they heard a distinct click, Ember stopped and slowly retracted her hands. Cedric moved his arm and felt no pain, making the knight sigh in relief as she rose from the ground.

"That was quite the scar, Your Highness. If the hare had aimed for your neck or face, this would have been deadly. How about we return to camp?"

Cedric nodded without objection. He wished to tell her that the hare indeed wanted to strike his neck, just like how Cedric aimed at its. However, because of his Observe Skill, Cedric managed to make it miss.

On their way back to camp, Cedric opened his stats menu again.

[Status Menu] 

[Name: Cedric Everhart.] 

[Age: 18] 

[Level: 14] 

[Health: 140/170] 

[Mana: 17/32] 

[Reputation: -393] 

[Class: Summoner] 

[Affinity: None] 

[Physique: None] 

[Titles: Vain Prince, Deadbeat Son] 

[Physical Stats - Allocation Points: 1] 

[Vitality: 17] 

[Strength: 19] 

[Agility: 21] 

[Endurance: 22] 

[Dexterity: 19] 

[Willpower: 13] 

[Intelligence: 32] 

[Charisma: 14] 

[Class Stats – Allocation Points: 1] 

[Attraction: 8] 

[Duration: 2] 

[Projection: 2] 

[Link: 2] 

[Harmony: 3]

Cedric noted three main changes. As the tutorial said, his physical stats rose by one every level. The second was the allocation point he obtained for his class and body. As for the third, it was the rise of his health and mana.

The third change came following his rising vitality and intelligence. The ratio of his health to vitality was ten to one, while his mana to intelligence was one to one. Therefore, his health rose from a maximum of 160 to 170, while his mana rose to 32.