A heavy, overcast sky hung over Tokyo. Humid air seeped through the cracks of the small apartment window on the seventh floor.
Hiroshi Sakamoto sat at his desk, staring blankly at the computer screen filled with the manuscript of his latest novel.
The room was silent, save for the faint sounds of the street below. The intermittent honking of cars seemed to be a constant reminder of the emptiness Hiroshi felt in his life.
"I should be writing a masterpiece," he murmured softly, more to himself than anyone else.
Five years had passed since he had started his career as a writer, but nothing had changed. His manuscripts had never managed to attract the attention of publishers, let alone readers.
"This novel..." He glanced at the screen, staring at the title displayed there, "Light in the Darkness".
His eyes were tired, red from countless sleepless nights, trying to finish a story that seemed to never end in a satisfactory way.
Hiroshi stood up from his chair and walked slowly to the small window in the corner of the room. The Tokyo sky looked gray, full of heavy clouds that seemed ready to pour rain at any moment.
"This novel is about a world where every 15-year-old child receives their Talent," he whispered softly, looking out the window.
"In that world, children learn the basics of magic, strategy, and history from a young age. But when they reach the age of 15, they will know what their true Talent is."
He chuckled bitterly. "A Talent that can determine their entire lives. They can become Knights, Mages, Rogues, Rangers, or even Paladins."
He closed his eyes for a moment, recalling the world he had created.
"That Talent will guide them throughout their lives. They will enter academies to be trained, become adventurers, or even join the royal knights."
He paused, staring at the manuscript lying on the table. A stack of paper that was once full of hope now felt like a heavy burden. He took a step closer and reached for the thick manuscript with both hands.
"But what's the point of all this?" Hiroshi asked himself, but no answer ever came.
His trembling hands squeezed the manuscript slightly, as if trying to find a grip on something that no longer mattered.
With heavy steps, Hiroshi took the manuscript and walked towards the trash can. He stopped there for a moment, staring at his work with an empty gaze. Then, without a second thought, he threw the manuscript into the trash.
"I'm done."
Suddenly, everything changed.
The room, which had been bright, suddenly turned dark.
Hiroshi was startled, his eyes trying to adjust, but the darkness was too thick. He couldn't see anything, not even feel the presence of walls or objects around him. There was only a cold, suffocating silence.
"What's happening?" he thought.
His body felt heavy, as if pulled by a strong gravity. The air became thinner, and the darkness felt more and more suffocating, as if swallowing him whole.
Small points of light began to appear, spreading slowly from within the darkness. The light grew brighter and brighter until Hiroshi had to squint because of the sudden glare. When he opened his eyes again, he was no longer in his apartment.
He was standing in a large hall, a room filled with long rows of chairs. Large stained-glass windows reflected the beautiful sunlight, painting bright colors on the marble floor. Around him, hundreds of people sat wearing formal uniforms with long robes.
"What is this...?" Hiroshi murmured, his voice trembling with confusion.
He looked to the right and left, trying to make sense of what was happening.
At the front of the hall, an old man in a long robe and a large staff stood on a stage. The Headmaster. His deep, authoritative voice filled the room.
"Welcome to the Hero Academy," he said."Here, you will be trained to master your Talent, master magic and strategy. You are the hope for the future of this world."
Hiroshi stared at the man, his heart pounding. This scene... it was too familiar.
"This... this is the academy's acceptance ceremony," he said softly, almost disbelieving. "This is only in my novel..."
He took a step back, his breath caught in his throat. All of this made no sense. How could he be here? This was just a story he wrote that was never supposed to become reality.
However, before he could process what was happening, a transparent window suddenly appeared in front of him, floating in the air like a game interface. Strange but familiar words were written on it.
= SYSTEM WINDOW =
[CHARACTER INFORMATION]
Name: Leonhardt Ainsworth
Age: 15
Talent: Mage
Level: 1
[STATS]
HP: 100
MP: 150
Strength: 10
Agility: 12
Intelligence: 25
Endurance: 15
Luck: 5
[SKILLS]
- Fireball (Level 1): Basic fire magic. Deals 50 fire damage. Costs 10 MP
- Mana Shield (Level 1): Creates a barrier that absorbs 50 physical
damage. Costs 20 MP
- Meditation (Passive): Increases MP regeneration by 5% per minute
[EQUIPMENT]
Weapon: Basic Staff [+5 Intelligence]
Armor: None equipped
Accessories: None equipped
[INVENTORY]
-Basic Potion (3): Restores 50 HP
- Mana Potion (2): Restores 50 MP
- Healing Herb (5): Can be used to craft potions
[SHOP MENU]
- Armor
- Weapon
- Skill
- Item
Special Offer (Available only with Premium Coins)
[COINS]
- Gold Coins: 0
- Premium Coins: 0
"Leonhardt Ainsworth?" Hiroshi gasped.
That name... A name he knew all too well. It was the name of a minor character in his novel, a young Mage who never amounted to much.
A character whose fate was sealed to die in the first arc during a battle against monsters. An insignificant character.
"I'm Leonhardt?" he murmured, his eyes widening in shock.
The body he was inhabiting was different, younger, thinner. The unfamiliar robes, this body felt so different from Hiroshi's.
"It can't be," he whispered, staring at the System Window still floating in front of him.
Status, inventory, and skills, everything was clearly displayed, as if he were inside a game.
But one thing was certain: this was no dream. Hiroshi was now Leonhardt Ainsworth, an extra character who was supposed to die in the story he wrote.
"I have to survive." His mind raced. "I can't just die like that in the story."