---
The next morning, a cool breeze along with the morning sunshine swept into the room through the open windows. The sunray's crept across his face, finally depriving him of his slumber.
Slowly opening his eyes, the first thing he noticed was the unfamiliar ceiling above him.
Confused, he sat up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. The bed beneath him was incredibly soft, an almost unobtainable luxury even in the most expensive 5-star hotels. As he looked around, he realized the room was filled with things that would cost a fortune. The carvings on the walls alone looked like they were done by skilled artisans.
Suddenly, a light headache assaulted him. Slouching, he lay back down on the bed, waiting for the pain to subside. Slowly, the memories of last night came back to him.
"So, it wasn't a dream, huh?" he muttered.
{Yes, host, it was not a dream.}
Startled by the sudden appearance of a semi-transparent screen before him, he threw the pillow next to him at it.
{Calm down, host. The system is an ally.}
"That's what every bad guy says to deceive a naive child," he retorted.
{You may be a child , but you are not naive host.}
{-_-}
"Are you some kind of a phantom?" he asked, still suspicious.
{No, host. The system is a system. Please believe the system.}
{ The system is on your side, always.}
"Well, they did say one should not judge people by their appearance and make their own judgment. In your case, you don't have one but, I will still give you a chance. So, You better behave." he said, weakly lifting a hand and pointing it in the direction of a semi-transparent screen, staring intensely.
Suddenly something went inside his eyes making him rub his eyes with the back of his hand, like a cat.
{ Thank you, host.}
Hearing the system getting flustered while expressing its gratitude made it seem more like a living being than a machine. Its mechanical voice was oddly familiar too.
"Have we met before?" he asked, curious about the familiar feeling.
{Yes, host, we have.}
"Where?"
{Last night.}
-_-
"Huh!?"
{We met last night, host!}
"I heard you the first time around," he said, a deadpan expression on his face. "Just give me a moment to collect my thoughts."
As the memories of last night came back to him, he slowly remembered what had happened. "I apologize, system. It appears my memories from last night are a bit hazy."
{You have no reason to apologize, host. Considering the state your body was in, it is understandable that you would suffer from a mild case of amnesia.}
"Is that also the reason why I can't recall the memories from before last night?"
{That, the system does not know, host.}
He sighed at the system's response. "I see. I will have to find the answer to this question on my own then."
"Right now, my memory is hazy, so I think it's better we start with introductions."
{Glad you asked, host. I am the Interceder System. I'm tasked with providing you support and aid in your future endeavors.}
"And what are those so-called 'endeavors'?" he asked, curiosity piqued.
{Endeavors as in the tasks the system will assign to you.}
"Tasks? What kind of tasks?"
{They will be for your growth, host. These tasks are designed to help you develop your abilities, knowledge, and overall strength.}
"So, you're like a personal trainer?"
{In a way, yes. But the system is more than that. It is also a guide and a mentor. The tasks will vary—some may involve physical training, others might require strategic thinking or problem-solving.}
"And if I don't want to do these tasks?"
{You are free to reject them if you wish. The system will not force you to undertake any task. However, completing them will aid significantly in your growth and development.}
His eyebrow raised in doubt. 'Unsatisfactory answer… but okay for now.'
"So, what can you do for me right now?"
{The system can show you your status and answer any questions you may have… with certain limitations. More functions will be unlocked once you awaken your mana. Would you like to check your current status?}
Scratching his chin, he pondered for a while. 'I vaguely remember seeing it last night. It contained some basic information if I'm not wrong…'
"System, show me my status."
{ As you command, host. }
{ Ding! }
} STATUS {
Name: Axis Archborn.
Race: Human.
Age: 04 years-11 months.
Rank: Unawakened.
Combat Power: G-.
Strength: G-
Agility: G+
Stamina: C-
Perception: C+
Magic Power: C+ [ Sealed ]
Charm: B+
Luck: A+
Stat Points: 2
EXP: 0
Profession: None
=====================
'So, I am 5 years old, or soon to be, at least. Combat power should be my overall CP. Strength should be a type of strength or physical/magical powers. Agility should be speed.'
"System, what is rank and how are they classified?"
{In this world, there are ranks from G-, G , F, E … A, S to EX. There are ranks above it, but you need to be at least S rank to know about those.}
"Since I am unawakened, where does it put me?"
{You are not currently awakened, so you are not classified among them. Normally, children aged 4 to 7 are awakened on their birthday.}
"When will I be awakened then?"
{You will be able to awaken after a month. Until then, you are recommended to rest and recover since your body is currently in extremely weak condition.}
'Hmm, that makes sense.'