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(Location: Johannesburg, South Africa | Time: Mid-Late 1995)
Mastery breeds ambition. Having conquered the basic operation of his red bicycle, three-year-old Tom Richard, armed with Durability 5, Stamina 4, Reflexes 2, and the subtle assistance of his Basic Balance Boost skill, felt an innate urge to push the envelope. The training wheels, once a necessary scaffold, were beginning to feel like limiters, guardrails on a track he desperately wanted to race freely.
His practice sessions in the driveway and garden evolved from cautious navigation to tentative speed runs. He'd push off hard, legs pumping, feeling the familiar Johannesburg dust kicked up slightly by his passage. The world compressed into a focused tunnel of movement – the concrete rushing beneath, the garden fence blurring at the edges of his vision.
[Speed Analysis: Peak 7 km/h. Average Lap Speed (Driveway Circuit): 5.5 km/h.]
[Stamina Depletion Rate: Moderate. Estimated Range at Current Pace: 15 minutes.]
The numbers flashed by his System interface. Faster than the tricycle, undeniably, but still frustratingly slow compared to the speeds he craved, remembered from another life. He leaned into the turns around the chalk oval James sometimes refreshed for him. Here, the limitation became obvious. Lean too far, and the inside training wheel lifted, creating a disconcerting wobble. Lean less, and the turn was wide and slow, scrubbing off precious momentum. The training wheels scraped loudly against the concrete if he tried to tighten the radius.
[Warning: Lateral Force Exceeding Training Wheel Stability Threshold.]
[System Recommendation: Reduce Lean Angle or Entry Speed.]
Exactly, Tom thought with frustration. The stabilisers are the bottleneck.
James, perhaps sensing his son's need for a new challenge beyond flat-ground speed, decided to introduce topographical variation. He acquired a short, sturdy wooden plank and propped one end securely on a low garden brick, creating a gentle ramp perhaps ten centimetres high.
"Right then, champ," James said, positioning the ramp on the lawn. "Think you can handle a little hill?"
Tom eyed the ramp with intense focus. It wasn't steep, but it represented a change in elevation, a dynamic shift. The System immediately provided analysis: [Obstacle Profile: Ramp. Incline: ~6 degrees. Apex Height: 10cm. Surface: Wood (Moderate Grip).]
He approached it slowly on his bike first. Pedalling up the slight incline required a noticeable increase in effort, testing his Stamina 4. Cresting the top gave a brief moment of lightness before the short descent on the other side. He rolled down smoothly, the bike picking up a little speed, landing back on the grass with a soft thump easily absorbed by his Durability 5 tyres and frame (and body).
[Objective Logged: Controlled Ramp Ascent/Descent (Low).]
[Physics Data Acquired: Gravity Assist on Descent, Increased Effort on Ascent.]
He did it again, faster this time, enjoying the brief surge of acceleration on the way down. It wasn't exactly Eau Rouge, but it was the first time he'd intentionally used gravity to gain speed on his bike.
Building on this, James and Elena helped him set up a simple 'obstacle course' on the patio. A few upturned plastic flowerpots served as cones to weave between, followed by a chalk box he had to stop inside, then a short sprint to a finish line drawn near the back door.
[New Objective: Navigate Simple Obstacle Course (Bicycle - Assisted)] - Reward: 0.8 SP
Tom tackled it with seriousness. He pedalled towards the first 'cone', instinctively looking ahead, planning his path. He realised that taking a wider entry allowed for a smoother turn around the pot, preserving more speed for the next one – a basic racing line. The System seemed to validate this: [Course Segment 1 Analysis: Wide Entry, Late Apex. Line Choice: Efficient. Time Delta: -0.2s (vs. previous attempt).] He weaved through the pots, applied the coaster brake carefully to stop within the chalk box ([Braking Point Accuracy: Good]), then pedalled as hard as he could to the finish line. Completing the course successfully multiple times, focusing on smoothness and 'line choice', eventually netted him the SP reward.
His growing confidence led him to experiment with the handbrake again. He remembered the System's caution but reasoned that understanding all control inputs was crucial. While coasting at a moderate speed on the driveway, he gently squeezed the small lever on the right handlebar. The bike slowed noticeably faster, more abruptly, than with the coaster brake. He felt the front end dip slightly. He tried squeezing a fraction harder – the front tyre chirped, almost locking up, and the bike gave a worrying sideways shimmy.
[Warning: Front Wheel Traction Limit Approached! High Risk of Instability/Over-the-Bars Incident! Modulate Input!]
He immediately released the lever, his heart thumping slightly. Okay, lesson learned. The front brake offered more stopping power but required far more finesse. He practiced applying it very gently, just feathering it, learning the bite point, until the System registered [Objective Complete: Handbrake Application (Basic - Low Speed Controlled Stop)] along with a 0.3 SP reward. He decided he'd stick primarily to the reliable coaster brake for now.
His verbal communication continued to blossom, moving beyond simple requests into more complex expressions and questions reflecting his analytical nature. Helping Elena in the garden, he asked, "Why water make plants grow bigger?" When James explained computer code, Tom listened intently before asking, "So… code is like… rules for the game?" His ability to grasp abstract concepts was developing rapidly. He also started picking up on emotional nuances in his parents' voices. He could tell Elena's genuinely happy laugh from her slightly strained 'patience' voice when he asked "Why?" for the tenth time. The System logged progress under [Auditory Analysis: Emotional Tone Recognition (Intermediate)].
Through mastering the ramp, navigating the obstacle course, cautious brake testing, and demonstrating more complex language and understanding, his SP pool grew steadily. He completed the major bike objectives, earning significant points. Cognitive and social tasks added smaller increments. Checking his internal tally, he found he had accumulated roughly 2.6 SP since the last upgrade, bringing his total to 1.0 (start) + 0.4 (birthday) + 1.8 (initial bike obj) + 2.6 (recent obj) = 5.8 SP. He immediately spent 2.0 SP on Durability 5 in the last chapter, leaving him with 3.8 SP at the start of this chapter's activities based on revised calculations. Adding the 2.6 SP earned here: 3.8 + 2.6 = 6.4 SP total.
He reviewed his stats: Durability 5, Stamina 4, Reflexes 2. Skill: Basic Balance Boost. He had 6.4 SP. The next Reflex upgrade likely cost 5.0 or 6.0 SP (guessing the cost increases significantly). He checked the Skills tab again.
[Skill: Enhanced Spatial Awareness (Passive)]
[Effect: Improves perception of object positions and trajectories in immediate vicinity. Aids hazard avoidance and navigation in complex environments.]
[Cost: 8.0 SP]
[Requirements: Reflexes Lvl 3, Cognition Lvl ???]
[Stat: Reflexes Lvl 3]
[Effect: Further improves reaction time and sensory processing speed.]
[Cost: 6.0 SP]
[Requirements: Reflexes Lvl 2 (Met)]
Six points for Reflexes 3! He had enough! The lure of enhanced spatial awareness was strong, but it required Reflexes 3 first, and he couldn't afford both yet. Upgrading the core stat felt like the priority. The frustration with the training wheels, the desire for more speed and control – it all pointed towards needing faster reactions.
[Allocate 6.0 SP to Reflexes? Confirm Y/N]
Y.
[Allocation Confirmed. Reflexes Increased: 2 -> 3]
[System Note: Significant Improvement in Reaction Time. Neural Processing Speed Enhanced. Sensory Input Bandwidth Increased.]
[Current SP: 6.4 - 6.0 = 0.4]
This time, the internal shift felt more profound than the last Reflex upgrade. The world seemed to snap into slightly sharper focus, sounds fractionally clearer. He felt a heightened sense of awareness of his own body's position, of the objects around him. It was like upgrading the processor and the graphics card simultaneously. He looked at his bicycle, then at the training wheels. They felt more like an insult now than ever before. With Reflexes 3 online, surely, surely, it was time for them to come off? The thought was both terrifying and exhilarating.