The Art of Four - Dungeons and Dragoons Book 1

Kaiden Hayward

Age: 26

Class: None

Skills / Abilities

Regeneration: Level 2 (Passive)

Mindforge: Level 1 (Passive)

Arcane Vision: Level 1 (Active)

Attributes

Strength: 0 {0%}

Stamina: 10 {0%}

Constitution: 20 {0%}

Mana: 98 / 100 {0%}

Mana Regeneration: 5 {0%}

He made sure the status screen wasn’t visible to anyone else this time. It would've been nice if Oros had mentioned it sooner—this was a total game-changer.

Kaiden's eyes scanned his attributes first, and the numbers that greeted him weren't exactly encouraging. The first one that stood out was Strength—a flat, humiliating 0. He knew he wasn’t strong, but seeing that number confirmed it in the most frustrating way. Zero strength. It wasn’t just embarrassing, it felt like a massive problem.

His Stamina sat at 5. Was that average? Low? He had no way of knowing, but at least it wasn’t zero like his strength. Constitution was the only stat that gave him any comfort, coming in at 20. It seemed decent, but again, he had no real comparison. Still, it was something—proof he wasn’t completely fragile.

Then there was his Mana at 98 out of 100. That had to be good, right? It felt like a lot, but without knowing how the system worked, it was hard to say. Mana Regeneration was 5, but he wasn’t sure if that was high or low. For now, it was just another number he had to figure out.

Kaiden sighed, frustrated by the uncertainty of it all. Nothing really jumped out as incredible, but at least he had a solid constitution and a decent mana pool. What puzzled him, though, was Recruiter Hales' sudden shift in attitude when he’d seen Kaiden’s status earlier. Nothing on this page seemed powerful enough to warrant that change in tone. There had to be more to it. Could Hales see some kind of potential in him? That had to be it—there was something hidden that even Kaiden didn’t fully understand yet.

Feeling a little more hopeful, Kaiden turned his attention to his abilities next.

The first was Regeneration, sitting at Level 3. He’d already experienced its benefits after the mugging. It wasn’t flashy, but it had kept him on his feet.

Regeneration

Level 2

This advanced healing ability allows the user to recover from all types of damage, both internal and external. Wounds, whether superficial or life-threatening, begin to close immediately. Broken bones, torn muscles, and damaged organs regenerate at an accelerated rate, significantly reducing recovery time. The user’s natural healing is enhanced far beyond normal limits, enabling rapid recovery from even serious injuries. This ability also helps maintain stamina by speeding up recovery between physical exertions, keeping the user in fighting shape longer.

Bonus: At Level 2, this ability grants a +20 to Constitution and +10 to Stamina.

"A-ha!" Kaiden said aloud, clapping a fist into his palm as the realization hit him. That’s where my stamina and constitution numbers came from.

It all made sense now. Without his Regeneration ability, those stats would have been at zero, too. The thought was frustrating—without these abilities, he'd practically be a walking corpse in terms of stats. But then, a new idea sparked.

Unless... those numbers are just flat increases to hidden base values, he mused. That seemed more likely. The game mechanics of this world were starting to line up in his mind. Many games he’d played before had systems like that, with hidden base stats that could be boosted through flat and percentage increases.

It was a working theory, but it fit. Maybe his base values were low, but the abilities he’d been given allowed him to function at a decent level. He’d have to confirm it somehow down the line, but for now, he didn’t worry too much about the glaring zero in his strength.

“Yeah,” he muttered to himself. “I’ll deal with that later.”

Then there was Mindforge, still at Level 1. A useful ability for sure, though not exactly something that screamed combat-ready. It was more of a long-term investment, something that would help him absorb and retain information faster, but it didn’t feel all that powerful at the start. No stat bonuses, unfortunately.

Finally, there was Arcane Vision, also at Level 1. He had already tested it, and it was impressive, but the mana drain was a problem. He'd have to be careful about using it too much. Right now, it was more of a situational tool rather than a go-to ability. He did appreciate the +5 Mana Regeneration, however.

Kaiden exhaled, feeling a mixture of excitement and frustration.

Before he could analyze anything else, someone shouted for attention. The man from earlier took his place back at the podium and spoke loudly. "Thank you all for coming. Our decision has been made. If your name isn’t called, you’re still welcome to try again for the rest of the week."

Murmurs of acknowledgment rippled through the crowd.

The man continued, "If your name is called and you haven’t signed your contract yet—there are a few of you—proceed to these two tents." He motioned to his left, and other military members began dismantling the other tents, clearing the tables away. "Let’s begin."

He first listed off the five recruits chosen for the army, and, as expected, Kaiden wasn’t among them. He already knew that wasn’t happening after signing his contract. Then the names for the Dungeoneer Corps started. Everyone who hadn’t signed a contract yet seemed to be called first, so when Kaiden’s name came up last, it didn’t surprise him. Still, butterflies danced in his stomach. This was a huge step.

The man finished the roll call. "Once you've signed, start loading the wagon. That’s all for today," he said, stepping off the stage.

The crowd buzzed to life—talks of surprise, happiness, disappointment, and excitement all around him. Goodbyes were exchanged, new friendships formed. Kaiden, however, didn’t know anyone. He shrugged, turning to head toward the wagon, when a voice suddenly stopped him.

"Stop right there, you two!" the voice called out.

Kaiden froze, confused. Two? He turned to see one of the recruiters—a middle-aged man with graying hair and a no-nonsense demeanor—walking toward him. The man’s uniform was sharp and crisp, and Kaiden immediately noticed the stripes on his sleeve. Sergeant, he thought. He knew one thing for sure—sergeants always had stripes. To his surprise, the mud-covered man he’d been trying to avoid was also heading toward the wagon.

The recruiter’s frustrated grunt cut through the growing confusion as nearby recruits turned to see who was being addressed.

"Me?" Kaiden asked, gesturing to himself, while a few others mimicked his movement, equally unsure.

The man grunted again, closing the distance. "No, not you lot. I mean you two," he said with unmistakable gestures toward Kaiden and the swamp man. "The mud monster and the pervert. Get your asses over here."

"Mud monster?”

“Pervert?" Kaiden blurted out, taken aback. Was that supposed to be me?

Still, as absurd as it sounded, there was no doubt who the recruiter was talking about. C’mon, that’s uncalled for! Kaiden wanted to yell, but he reluctantly began making his way toward the recruiter.

The sergeant eyed both of them. "Can't have you boys looking like that on your way to training," he said, holding up a hand, palm facing the other recruit. Water gushed from his hand, blasting away the layers of filth.

The recruit screamed, "Ah, it’s so cold!" Clearly taken by surprise by the icy shower, but he didn’t miss a beat, immediately starting to wipe away the mud.

Kaiden, ever curious, saw this as an opportunity to learn something new. He activated his Arcane Vision. Under his magical sight, the water shimmered in vibrant hues, casting an almost hypnotic glow. But something else caught his eye—there were intricate scripts surrounding the recruiter's palm. They shifted and changed as the water flowed, resembling the characters he’d seen in the Mindforge tome when he’d flipped through its pages. Interesting, he thought, unsure what it meant now, but mentally noting to dig into it later.

His chance to study the magic faded as the shower ended, revealing the now soaking wet, but much cleaner, recruit. The sergeant handed him a dry bundle. "We usually don’t give these out now, but you two really need 'em. Go get changed," he said, nodding toward one of the tents now emptied of recruits. He grabbed another bundle and handed it to Kaiden. "You can put these on now—and use those boots as well." He pointed to a pair on the floor nearby.

Kaiden's eyes lit up. Finally! Clothes! "Thank you," he said, and the newly cleaned recruit echoed the sentiment. The recruiter grunted, waving them off before walking away.

The other recruit disappeared into the tent while Kaiden unwrapped the bundle he’d been given. The uniform inside was simple, functional, and loose-fitting—perfect for training. It was made of durable, breathable fabric that felt lightweight but tough, clearly designed to withstand wear and tear. The muted gray trousers were slightly baggy, cinched with a rope belt, while the matching tunic had short sleeves and was roomy enough to allow full movement. It wasn’t flashy, but it felt sturdy. The boots were thick-soled and looked like they’d last through a lot of punishment, offering decent protection without sacrificing flexibility.

Kaiden quickly began putting on the uniform, relieved to finally feel like he was part of something. He finished dressing and made his way toward the wagon, noticing that others had already begun to filter inside. A recruiter stood at the entrance, clipboard in hand, directing the recruits and checking off names as they boarded.

When Kaiden approached, the recruiter glanced up and asked, “Name?”

“Kaiden Hayward,” he replied.

The recruiter nodded and pointed to the last seat on the left side. “Sit here.”

The entire left row was already packed, so Kaiden climbed in and squeezed into the last available seat on the left side. He watched silently as recruits continued to file in, filling the right side from the back forward. One by one, they took their spots, until the last recruit stepped up.

“Davick Forgewell,” the man announced loudly as he boarded the wagon. His booming voice drew the attention of everyone inside.

I’ll remember that name, Kaiden thought. Of course, it had to be him—the mud-covered guy he'd been trying to avoid. And, naturally, fate placed him directly across from himself. If luck were an attribute, he mused bitterly, mine would definitely be negative.

The recruiter, satisfied that the wagon was now full, walked off. Just as things started to settle, a mocking voice from the back of the wagon cut through the air. “Hey, look! It’s the mud monster and the pervert, side-by-side!”

Laughter rippled through the wagon, filling the confined space. Kaiden tried to shrug it off, forcing a chuckle to cover his embarrassment. But Davick, on the other hand, was having none of it.

“Hey, fuck off!” Davick barked, his voice a thunderous explosion of anger. Then, muttering more to himself than anyone else, he added, “It’s all that goddamn horse’s fault…”

Wait, what? Did he say horse? Kaiden blinked in confusion. That can’t possibly be... the same horse, could it? Curiosity overpowered his instinct to stay quiet, and before he knew it, he was speaking directly to Davick.

“Black stallion with wild eyes?” Kaiden asked cautiously.

Davick’s eyes widened with recognition. “Yes!” he shouted, his tone almost jubilant. “You get it! Of course, he got you too! That explains it!”

The intensity of Davick’s reaction was unexpected. Oh shit, Kaiden thought, I wasn’t expecting that kind of reaction. But wait... did Davick just confirm it was the same horse? The one that had yanked the blanket off him?

"Yeah, he got me too," he finally replied

That simple admission caused Davick to burst out laughing. It seemed the idea of someone else sharing his misery with the devilish horse had lightened his mood. His grin wide, he extended a hand. “Name’s Davick Forgewell.”

Kaiden shook his hand. “Kaiden,” he replied with a smile of his own. With the tension broken, others in the wagon began their own side conversations, the spectacle officially over. As the horses started pulling the wagon and the sun began to dip lower in the sky, casting warm orange hues across the landscape, Kaiden found himself talking with Davick and a few others nearby. Maybe, just maybe, he had misjudged Davick after all.

For the first time since arriving in this strange world, he started to feel a sense of belonging. The camaraderie, the casual conversations—this was a nice change. He had spent the last few years on Earth increasingly isolated, but now, it felt like he was emerging from that cocoon. He could feel himself slipping back into his old self, trying to relearn how to be sociable again.

As the ride continued, many recruits drifted off to sleep. Kaiden, though, found his thoughts drifting back to Earth, to his family—especially his parents. Tears welled in his eyes, catching him off guard as they silently slid down his cheeks. Why am I crying? he wondered. He wasn’t exactly sad. It was more of a bittersweet ache he told himself.

He had already made peace with never seeing his family again when he said goodbye to Earth. But that didn’t make the memories any easier. That, he supposed, was the hardest part about life after death. You remember the people you left behind. His chest tightened with a longing for his parents. If they could see me now... he thought, imagining their smiles, how proud they’d be to see him walking, running, living again.

“Look, Ma... I joined the army,” he whispered under his breath, a quiet chuckle escaping through the tears that continued to fall.