Locking In With My Life System

No sooner had Aiden’s intent tugged on the ⸢FAQ⸥ function, a new panel phased into place.

-

Can a skill’s proficiency be advanced using Life Points?

└ Yes. Upgrade per advancement is dependent on skill type.

-

’Hmmm,’ Aiden mused to himself, curious about something else as he sat upright on the bed.

’That can’t be the only way to improve a skill, right?’ he mused to himself, a thoughtful expression on his features as he focused on the function again.

Instantly, it reacted.

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How else can a skill’s proficiency be improved?

└ Through frequent skill utilization.

-

’That’s good to know. Might be able to save me a whole lot of Life Points,’ he nodded satisfactorily... only for another curious thought to surface.

’Wait, what about my stats?’

The answer came just as quickly.

-

Can stats be improved without using Life Points?

└ Yes.

-

Aiden blinked.

Then,

”What?” he remarked, clearly taken aback by the curt answer.

”How???” he demanded of no one in particular.

As if waiting on that very word,

-

[Ding!]

[Daily quests updated!]

⸢Daily Quests

› Road to College.

└ Read and assimilate a page from next year’s curriculum – [0.01 LP Claimed].

› Eat Your Broccolis, Champ.

└ Eat a healthy meal within the first half of the day – [0.01 LP Claimed].

› Wakey wakey!

└ Log 7 to 8 hours of sleep from dusk till dawn – [0.01 LP].

› How To Be Strong.

└ 10 push-ups! 10 pull-ups! 10 sit-ups! 10 squats! 5km run! – [0.01 LP].

-

”Now you’re just trolling me.” Aiden gestured exasperatedly, his arms dropping to his sides.

Then, letting out a resigned sigh, he toggled the panel away and moved back to his desk in the corner.

Checking to see if he’d received any responses to his offers, the youth couldn’t help but shrug indifferently at the lack of none.

As for his posts, they’d gotten a couple views in the lower digits, though it didn’t seem they’d be gaining any traction, anytime soon.

Not that Aiden was bothered by the abysmally low turnout. Searching for a couple other posts he could engage with tomorrow, he simply bookmarked them.

Then, hibernating the device, he proceeded to make his way downstairs.

It was already 7:30 pm, and though he could have very well gone to bed, he figured spending an hour or two with his Pops wouldn’t hurt.

So he did, watching the football game with the man and bidding him farewell and a good night’s rest two hours later.

Stepping out the shower a couple minutes after, Aiden dried up and proceeded to slump onto his bed.

Today had been extremely eventful, to say the least... and that was putting it very mildly.

Reaching for his phone on the bedside table, Aiden retrieved it and set an alarm for 4:30 am and 5:00 am.

Returning it immediately after, he finally settled into the comfort of his bed, and dozed off in less than a minute.

The hours passed quickly, and the slumber that took a hold of him was one for the ages.

In fact, judging by how tightly he clutched his pillows, one might have well assumed he was sleeping on the clouds above.

Unfortunately for him,

-

[Ding!]

[Daily Quest Failed!]

› Wakey wakey!

└ Log 7 to 8 hours of sleep from dusk till dawn – [0.01 LP Lost].

-

He overslept.

Like a wraith coming back to life, his eyes suddenly snapped open, the notification ringing within the confines of his skull.

Letting out a groggy groan of disappointment, he slowly rose into a seating position, his bleary eyes blinking in slight annoyance.

He quite looked like he’d fought someone in his sleep, his shoulder-length hair disheveled and sticking out in all the wrong ways.

He was not, a morning person to say the least.

Seated for a hot minute, Aiden contemplated his life choices, a deep frown on his features. Then those memories from the future flashed in his mind.

Without so much as another groan, he slowly got off the bed, and seamlessly slipped into a push-up form a moment after.

Then, with a deep exhale, he doubled down on his new daily quest.

Given how shitty Aiden’s stamina was, it didn’t take long before he was sprawled on the floor after just ten push-ups, his chest heaving slightly.

Yet, roughly a minute after, he began his sit-ups, his expression a mix between weary and determined.

Just like that, he went through the other two, pushing through each with sheer grit even despite the screaming complaints of his lazy muscles.

Soon after, roughly after a five-minute break comprised of him heaving wearily, Aiden retrieved some casual clothes from his wardrobe and slipped into an old, peeling sneaker he hadn’t worn in months.

Ready to tick off the last exercise for the day, he slowly made his way downstairs, his leg practically feeling like jello with every step.

It was already 8 am in the morning, and Richard was equally awake as he groggily shuffled his way into the kitchen.

No sooner had Aiden seen him though, he greeted with a warm smile;

”Morning, Pops. Trust you had a good night’s rest?”

”Morning, Champ. Yeah. I did,” the man turned around, ready to reciprocate with a warm smile and a ruffle of his son’s hair, only to be taken aback.

”Where are you headed out to so early?” he asked, clearly confused by his son’s get-up.

”Just going for a run,” Aiden replied curtly, gave his father a brief hug and then made his way out the door.

Watching it play out in a matter of seconds, Richard chose not to be surprised this time. Instead, he simply blinked, and then made his way towards the cabinet.

He’d seen enough changes just yesterday alone than to be bothered by a new habit his son wanted to pick up. The only thing he hoped for, was that Aiden would stick to them as they were all good ones.

”Don’t you dare open that cupboard, Pops.” Aiden suddenly popped back in through the door, a pointed finger angled in the father’s direction and his olive-green irises trained on him like a hawk.

Instantly, the man’s hand froze on the knob of the cabinet, his expression guilty.

Then, reluctantly removing his hands from the knob and picking up the jar of coffee instead, he gestured to his son with the jar in his hands and a resigned sigh;

”Coffee it is,”

”Love you, Pops. I’ll see you soon.” Aiden reciprocated with crinkling eyes, flashing the man a smile so genuine and a dimple so deep, Richard’s mood couldn’t help but skyrocket to new highs.

Suddenly, he didn’t feel as opposed to taking coffee as he previously was.

Settling into a steady rhythm though, the gentle breeze caressing his face, Aiden began his run.

Though he didn’t bother researching how long it would take him to run 5km, he was certain his system would notify him once he had hit the mark.

To that effect, he chose to circle around the neighborhood, his chest rising and falling in deep, tired breaths as his clothes soon became drenched in sweat.

Then, roughly forty minutes later...

-

[Quest completed!]

⸢Daily Quests

› How To Be Strong.

└ 10 push-ups! 10 pull-ups! 10 sit-ups! 10 squats! 5km run! – [0.01 LP Awarded!].

-

Heaving tiredly, his breaths more spirit than they were steam, Aiden clutched at his knees.

It had had taken him three runs around the neighborhood to hit that mark. Not that he cared at the moment. His muscles felt like they’d been replaced with seaweed.

Letting out a deep exhale, he rose to his full height and began the walk back home, his movements akin to a zombie on strings.

Walking through the front door a couple minutes later, he greeted his dad whom was already making bacon and eggs with whilst sautéing the vegetables on the side.

”Healthy meals, right?” Richard smiled at him to which Aiden appreciatively nodded in gratitude;

”Thanks, Pops. Truly, thank you.”

Having to cook healthy meals on the regular amidst accomplishing his other daily quests was something he was going to have to get used to.

However, giving how tired he was at the moment, coming back home to see that it had already been sorted out gave him a huge sense of relief.

Making his way up the stairs, Aiden chucked all his sweaty clothes in the washer-dryer and made his way into the bathroom.

Stepping out a couple minutes after and freshening up, he then made his way downstairs for breakfast.

Simply eating in a comfortable, shared silence with his Pops, it didn’t take long before he and the man finished their meals.

-

[Quest Completed!]

⸢Daily Quests

› Eat Your Broccolis, Champ.

└ Eat a healthy meal within the first half of the day – [0.01 LP Awarded!].

-

Clearing up their dishes just after, his father settling on the couch and picking up his Sunday newspaper to read, Aiden soon made his way back to his room.

Without thinking twice, he cleared the desk, pulled out his mathematics textbook and began studying. Roughly an hour later, he got yet another notification.

-

[Quest Completed!]

⸢Daily Quests

› Road to College.

└ Read and assimilate a page from next year’s curriculum – [0.01 LP Awarded!].

-

Returning the books into one of the desk’s drawer and retrieving his laptop, Aiden pivoted, his attention shifting.

Checking the social media platforms, he pulled up each post he’d bookmarked and then repeated what he’d done the day before by interacting with them with an illustration of his own.

Having sorted that out, he switched over to the NovelFire site to see if he’d gotten any response from the authors he’d messaged.

Sure enough, upon seeing his notification icon with a superscript of single digit numbers, Aiden’s face lit up like lights on a Christmas tree.

Upon opening the messages however,

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Caeruleum: Ah, yes. The obligatory bot spams.

Gooner4Life: Fuck off, bot!

Courting Death: Toad wanting to eat swan meat! Is Mount Tai far from your eyes?!

Tomato_Pelter: Dang it. I thought I got a Magic Castle.

WhereAreMyStones: I will stone your algorithmic codes to oblivion you dastardly clanking piece of crap.

Black Snape: Wingardium glockiosa, clanker!!

-

”The hell is wrong with these people?!” Aiden muttered to himself in concern, clearly taken aback.

Nevertheless, he sucked in a breath and proceeded to ignore their messages.

As annoying, and as equally concerning their responses were, he chose to see the brighter side of things.

The fact that six out of the ten he’d messaged responded to him was a good indicator that he wouldn’t be ghosted at least.

With that mindset, he simply went through the site, read a few more blurbs that caught his interest and messaged their authors.

Having sorted all that out, Aiden put the device in hibernation and then leaned back into his chair.

Currently in his field of vision, was the system interface, his gaze trained on a single quest.

-

⸢Time-limited Quests

› Hot diggity dog!

└ Make $5000 before the end of the summer break – [1 LP]

-

Clenching his fists slightly, his gaze burning with determination, Aiden muttered to himself in affirmation;

”I can. I will. I must.”

Given how much he needed to make those funds, not just for the sake of completing the quest, but also to take his very first steps towards financial freedom, Aiden was really looking forward to his very first job.

To that effect, he decided to search up Haute Cuisine. Afterall, there was no harm in getting to know where he would be resuming at tomorrow.