On that particular night, Talon Starborn, a towering figure of 195 cm (6.4 ft) with black hair, stood on the sidewalk illuminated by the bright street lamps and neon signs of the nearby shops. His hands moved gracefully, across the strings of his guitar, captivating the audience with his melodic tune that rose above the hustle and bustle of the city. Raindrops glinted off his skin in the light, as he played with a content smile spread across his face.
He strummed away on his guitar, murmuring softly to himself. He was well aware that his singing was off-key, and he felt quite self-conscious about his ability. Although he wasn't sure how well his singing would be received, he decided to focus on his playing instead, and it paid off - although only a few people stopped to take in the music or throw a coin his way, it was enough to put some money in his pocket. He knew that if he wanted to eat that night, he had to make some money.
Several people were strolling by when, accidentally, they kicked the can that he had placed to gather funds from those who heard him play the guitar. The contents of the can spilled out, two coins and a five-dollar bill. He bent down and picked up the money, tucking it into the pocket of his tattered jacket. He adjusted the can's position, smiled, and resumed playing his guitar, knowing that he would have sufficient money for a meal that night.
Talon had spent his entire childhood growing up in an orphanage. Rumors had spread that his parents had abandoned him due to their financial difficulties. As he continued to grow up on the streets, he found interest in music, as it was the only comfort he had, and he learned to play guitar. To make a living, he had no choice but to take on a variety of menial jobs, all while enduring the harsh conditions of life on the streets. By the time he had reached his early twenties, he had experienced every kind of hardship.
As they passed by, someone wondered, "He can play the guitar, but can he sing too? Maybe his voice is just as bad as his looks?"
Was he any good at playing the guitar? Even he wasn't sure. Busking was one way he could make some extra money. If only he had better vocal skills, he could perhaps get a chance to appear on a better stage. He often questioned himself if it was still possible for someone like him to have an experience that would change his life.
Talon kept strumming his guitar, savoring the soothing melody amidst the chill of the evening breeze and the recent rainfall. His gaze drifted to the ground beneath, and he noticed the presence of someone standing not far away, wearing a pair of brown boots.
A faint smile formed on his lips as he lifted his head, revealing the figure of a young woman with straight, blond hair. She was smiling back at him and waving in greeting. He recognized her as the woman who visited him every week, taking the time to listen to him play the guitar. She would always leave some money after one song and then depart. This was now the twelfth time she had come to hear him play.
Talon had initially intended to ask the young woman if she wanted him to play a certain song, but he refrained from doing so. After all, someone of his social standing could not possibly have the boldness to converse with a woman as beautiful as her in a crowd like this. The last time he did something similar, passersby sneered at him and accused him of attempting to tease the woman. People would certainly assume that he had malicious intentions.
Was society really so cruel? He knew all too well how unkind humans could be to those like him who were viewed as nothing more than street rats.
From what Talon saw, the young woman appeared to be around his age, and from her attire, she seemed to be an office worker. Though he would only witness her walking through that street once a week, he could still understand that she was likely the most hospitable and compassionate person he had come across in a while.
The young woman smiled and put the money in the can before giving him a thumbs up.
"Thanks," he said in response.
She nodded, her lips forming a small smile, and said, "Good luck." Then, she walked away.
He was still gazing in the direction of the young woman as she walked away when he suddenly became aware of someone addressing him.
"Thanks for the meal!" Someone had already snatched his money and was making a run for it.
"Damn, sucker!" Talon exclaimed, hastily slinging his guitar onto his back and beginning to pursue the thief.
He attempted to run with agility, doing his utmost to avoid the people on the street. He weaved and zigzagged while the thief ran recklessly, bumping into anyone who happened to be in his way.
"Hey, brat! Stop causing such a commotion!" they shouted at him.
Talon had to recover the money! Thus, he ran as fast as he could, his eyes focusing intently as he followed the thief's every turn. He had to keep up with him, no matter the cost.
This was not the first time something had been taken from him, so he was always on guard with what he possessed. Despite knowing that thieves usually operated in groups, he was not scared of them. After all, fighting was something he was familiar with.
The thief made multiple turns, and finally, Talon lost track of him. He stopped at a street corner in a huff, as he was infuriated that the money he had worked so hard for was now gone. Especially since it was the money from the kind young woman.
"Dammit!"
He shouted, kicking an empty can and then striking a trash bin, which tumbled to the ground and made a noise that reverberated between the two walls.
He suddenly noticed something, and in a flash, he removed his guitar from his back. As he inspected it, he discovered that one of its body parts had a crack, likely the result of his running. His hands were shaking as he delicately ran his fingers along the instrument, and he felt a deep pang of pain in his chest. He was utterly silent, his teeth clenched tightly together.
"I have to figure out how to fix this," he whispered.
He was exhausted, his mind a jumble of incoherent thoughts. He had recently lost his money, and the accident had caused a crack in his beloved guitar, so he rushed home to his small, ten-floor apartment located in a corner of the city.
As Talon stepped into the corridor of the apartment, he noticed a woman standing there. She appeared to be in her mid-twenties, standing at a height of 175 cm (5.75 ft). Her brown hair had been tied up into a neat bun, and she was wearing a pair of red shorts matched with a white T-shirt.
"Talon!" she exclaimed. It was Alice, the landlady.
Talon slowly walked up to her. "Alice, I need more time."
Alice sighed, her expression showing her annoyance.
"Talon, I've already given you three months. You did help to clean the place and fix some of the damaged parts, but that's not enough to pay for your stay here," she said in a loud voice.
"I'm doing something to pay the rent. I'm doing my best, and I'll try to pay it off soon."
"I know you won't be able to pay it. I know you won't."
Talon was quiet, desperately searching in his mind for any possible solution, as the likelihood of him being evicted was high.
Alice then spoke with resolute determination, "Beginning tomorrow, no more guitar playing, and instead, you will work for me as a cleaner and guard in this apartment. I will give you a smaller room and a salary in return."
Alice had proposed this idea to Talon before. However, he hadn't accepted it as he much preferred playing the guitar. But, after his guitar had broken, he began to reconsider the offer.
Talon spoke in a hushed voice, "Thanks for the offer, Alice. I really need to consider this thoughtfully. I'll let you know my response tomorrow."
Alice muttered softly, "Good. I'm waiting for your answer."
"Thanks." He then proceeded to walk past her towards his room.
Alice's gaze moved to his guitar, and she noticed the damage it had sustained. She thought to herself, What happened to his guitar? Wasn't that his favorite one?
"Have you eaten anything for dinner?" she asked.
Talon paused for a moment, glancing over at Alice with a faint smile. He then slowly nodded in response.
"Yes, I have," he replied, before continuing his stride towards his room.
Talon stepped into his room, which contained only a meager bed, a table, and a small cupboard. He plopped himself onto the bed, his expression thoughtful as he gazed at the ceiling. Suddenly, his vision became slightly foggy, and he saw writing materialize before him.
[The System has made a remarkable discovery: a world unlike any other, one in which there is no magic.]
[To ensure its own existence, the System requires a host to inhabit.]
[The System installs itself into a new host.]
Talon's eyes widened in surprise as he watched the strange writing materialize before him. He sat down reflexively, and to his amazement, the writing remained in his line of vision, following him as he moved. He reached out tentatively to touch it, but his hand passed right through as if the writing wasn't truly there. He looked around him, confirming that the writing was indeed only visible to him.
"What is this?" he asked out loud.
[The System has been successfully installed.]
[The System is now searching for the most suitable path that will help you, Host, to reach the summit of success and fame.]
[After an extensive search, the System determined that the path of the superstar is the right choice for you.]
[You possess a slight amount of anxious talent in playing guitar, so the System has come up with an excellent idea as an introductory gift to you: your guitar playing skills have been enhanced to a 21 Expert level!]
[Congratulations, Host! You will become the superstar, the most famous, the biggest, and the greatest in the history of mankind!]