CH 68

Zel's phone illuminated his face. The screen showed a few details, and it was the only one available to him right now. The good news was, he at least knew what they were. The bad news was that he couldn't do anything anyway, since those functions are still locked.

[Basic Status:

Name: Zel Huertazuela   Gender: Male

Race: Human   Age: 9 Years Old

Time Energy: 10/-    Mana: 11/50

Kingdom Points: 0   Dimension Points: 0

(Synchronization: 1%)]

"There's not a lot I can do with this, but I could at least know when my mana gets filled up. I can also open this without having to be in an isolated space because the initiation process is over." 

Zel carefully placed his knife back inside the box in his cabinet. Afterwards, he took a seat before his computer, feeling exhausted from the pain he experienced earlier. But he had work to do.

'I should write down what I just learned, or I might forget them.'

Sounds of typing sounded out from inside his room, 4 o'clock, 5 o'clock, 6 o'clock, time passed and a knock sounded out from his bedroom door.

" Knock. Knock. Son, dinner's ready. Get something to eat before resting again." Zel's father didn't open the door, only speaking through it. Zel was still writing his thoughts all this time, but he was able to understand his father. Taking a short break should also do him some good.

"I'll be right down." 

Zel quickly saved another page in his journal, one that he had been writing for the week due to his quite adventurous and packed dreams. Now that he had an inkling of the energy inside him, he felt that he might just get a better grasp of what is happening in those sequences.

'After checking it out after three hours, there's now statistical proof of their recovery rate. Time Energy didn't increase at all while Mana increased by three. That should mean that Time Energy isn't that quick to fill up, or that it has certain requirements that I haven't found out yet. Mana seems to be in a one per hour rate of replenishment.'

Zel had already arrived donwstairs before he knew it. He saw his family was already sitting on their chairs while a seat was left beside his mother on one side.

"Sit here, son. I made your favorite so eat a lot!" Mel tapped on the seat beside her as she laid down a ladleful of mashed potatoes on the plate beside her. She was quite worried about her son all day, first he acted astranged to her in the morning and then she heard he passed out while in class. Thankfully he seems fine, though a little distracted.

"Alright, mom." Zel sat before thinking about it. He is still wondering how he would receive a few points. Although he knew that he could spend them later on, he didn't even know how to get them, let alone spend them. There's also the time energy that he remembers from his previous dream.

The voice said that time energy is unique to us, that it forms into a sphere when it fills to the limit. However, Zel doesn't know when that it or how it would happen. Is it something that happens automatically or is it an active process that needs his attention.

"So, what happened to you earlier? We were quite worried about you." Tommy was able to see that his son didn't seem to have an apetite. Since talking can make a person hungry if he does it enough, he wanted to start a conversation with his son.

"Hmm? Oh! I don't really know it myself. I just felt really tired and then fell asleep." Zel knew that telling them about his experience would definitely make them worried. He had enough problems that he needed to deal with, adding more to his plate would just make it harder for him.

"Must be those video games you play so much, maybe we should take away that TV in your room." Mel who was still worried pointed out something that might be the reason for her son's problem in her mind. Though she had no proof, she had read from somewhere that video games were bad for children.

" Sigh . Mom, I told you. I just didn't have enough sleep. I didn't even get to play video games last week. Maybe that's the reason I blacked out in the first place." Zel who was able to sense the direction this conversation was afraid. He quickly turned the conversation to one that would make it be irrelevant.

"Oh? So you're saying that you need to play more?" Melba, Zel's sister, was listening in and gave a comment. She was able to see the sweat building up on her brother's forehead and wanted to help out. If his TV gets taken away, hers would probably taken away as well.

"Exactly! Since we found out the cure, we should do it quickly! Right dad?" Zel put his father in a position to decide. Even though he knew fully well that his proposal would get denied, he went in for it anyway. What's the worst that could happen, right?

"Alright, we'll get you some tomorrow. What about you, Melba? Do you have something you want in mind?" 

" Gasp! Gasp! "

The two children quickly found it hard to believe that their father would actually agree. Even more so when he seemed to be actively asking them for presents. This could only mean one thing. They want something.

"I don't want to move houses!"

"Please! No more added chores!"

Zel and Melba practically pleaded. The jokes were over as they felt that only bad news could come next. But the news they received were the total opposite.

"Haha, see. I told you they'd be suspicious. Just tell them already." Mel who was busy eating mashed potatoes and grilled fish chided her husband. She had probably eaten half of the food that has been consumed here so far.

"I guess I kinda blew it, eh? Well kids, I'm sorry to say this but..." Tommy stood up and went to his wife's side. His face was so serious that the two kids were in complete silence, awaiting his announcement.

"You have to take care of a baby. That's why I'm buying you out early. I'm telling you right now, it's not gon-"

"What! I'm gonna be a big brother!"

"Finally! Took you two long enough!"

Tommy and Mel watched as their children sighed in relief while even lecturing them. Though they only felt happy as the word is finally out. Their family of four will get bigger, expanding to a family of five.

"Good, now little Tonton is going to follow his big brother around!" Zel patted his chest proudly as if he was already guiding the new generation. He was so smug that he didn't see the sour faces of his family from the mention of the name.

"Tonton? Can you not name our baby sibling? Also, it's gonna be a girl! Isn't that right, mom?" Melba took her mother's hand while placing her other one on her mother's stomach. It was too early to feel anything but she couldn't help but try.

"Haha, that's right honey. She's a girl. Also, Tonton? Son, you need better naming skills. If you don't change that, I'm telling your future wife to watch out." Mel who was amused at her children's reactions happily added to the conversation. All this while, Tommy was getting something from their bedroom.

"Look! This is the ultrasound photo of your little sister." Tommy was smiling happily while sharing the picture with his children. He gave it to them before sitting by his wife, giving her a peck on the cheeks before caressing her stomach that only lightly bulged.

"When is mom due?" Mel who was more knowledgeable with this sort of stuff hurriedly asked. She needed to know when because she wanted to be there when it happens. Most likely, her father would be overseas at the time as well. So she would be the oldest one in the house at that time, the oldest one who can take care of her mother.

"December 16! Your little sister will be born on December 16!"