Zane sat at the edge of his bed, staring at the glowing blue screen hovering in his vision. It wasn't a hallucination. He'd tried blinking, closing his eyes, and even waving his hand through it. The text remained as solid and unyielding as the posters on his wall.
"Alright," he muttered, leaning back. "System, huh? Let's see what you can do."
The words shifted, as if responding to his voice.
[Welcome, User]
Commands: Status | Talents | Quests
He hesitated, then said aloud, "Status."
A new screen replaced the welcome text, displaying a series of numbers and labels:
[Status]
Level: 1
XP to Next Level: 100
Attributes:
Strength: 5
Agility: 5
Charisma: 5
Intelligence: 5
Mana: 0**
-Mana Core Level: Unawakened
Zane stared at the last line, his lips curling into a dry smile. "Figures. Can't have magic if I don't have a mana core, huh?"
Still, the rest of it intrigued him. Five points across the board wasn't much, but if this was anything like a game, he could change that. He just needed XP.
"Alright, how do I get XP?"
The system didn't respond, but another command popped into his mind. "Talents," he said, and another screen appeared.
[Talents]
Available Talent Slot: 1
Next Talent Acquisition: 6 days
Do you wish to learn a new talent? [Yes] [No]
Zane's eyebrows shot up. A free talent? No way was he saying no to that. "Yes," he said eagerly.
The screen shimmered, and a new prompt appeared:
Select a Talent:
Basic Swordsmanship
Enhanced Reflexes
Mana Sense
His breath hitched at the last option. "Mana Sense? What's that do?"
A brief description materialized:
[Mana Sense]
Gain the ability to perceive mana in the environment. Useful for detecting magical anomalies, mana beasts, and mana cores.
Zane frowned. He couldn't use magic, but if he could sense mana… that might still be useful. Then again, swordsmanship and reflexes sounded practical too. He tapped his fingers against his leg, weighing the options.
"Mana Sense," he decided after a moment. He figured it was better to play to the world's strengths than to flail around with a sword he barely knew how to hold.
The moment he made his choice, a faint warmth spread through his body, starting at his chest and radiating outward. It wasn't unpleasant, but it was definitely strange.
[Talent Acquired: Mana Sense]
He blinked, and for the first time, the world seemed different. He could feel… something. It was faint, like a distant hum just out of reach. He looked around his room, focusing on the sensation, and his eyes landed on the mana-powered lamp on his desk.
The hum sharpened into a distinct pulse, emanating from the lamp like a heartbeat.
"No way," Zane whispered, stepping closer. The lamp wasn't just a piece of tech anymore—it was alive with mana, a faint glow pulsing around it.
He grinned. Maybe this system wasn't so bad after all.
By the time the sun rose, Zane had tested every corner of his room and a good chunk of his neighborhood. His parents hadn't noticed anything odd when he left for a walk—he'd given the usual excuse of needing fresh air. In reality, he'd just wanted to see how far his new ability extended.
The results were mixed. He could sense mana all around the city, but he couldn't do much with the information. The occasional flash of bright mana—a mage practicing in a courtyard, a mana beast kept as a pet—gave him hope that this ability might come in handy someday.
As he walked back home, his thoughts drifted to the test.
The magic aptitude test was a big deal for every sixteen-year-old. It determined whether you had what it took to attend a magic academy or whether you'd end up on a more conventional path—college, trade school, or straight into the workforce. Zane had bombed the test the first time around. His unawakened mana core meant he couldn't even light the ceremonial candle during the first phase.
This time, though… things might be different.
The aptitude test wasn't just about your mana core. It also evaluated your ability to manipulate mana, your combat instincts, and your potential to grow. If he could use the system to build his stats before the test—especially if he leveled up his talents—he might actually stand a chance.
The thought sent a rush of excitement through him. He'd always regretted choosing college over the magic academy, but with no magic to his name, what choice had he really had? Now, with a second chance and the system on his side, the possibilities seemed endless.
As he reached his front door, another thought struck him.
"What about quests?" he muttered. The command popped up in his vision, bringing a new screen with it.
[Quests]
No active quests.
That was disappointing, but Zane wasn't deterred. He'd figure it out. For now, he had a few weeks before the aptitude test, and he wasn't about to waste them.
"Let's see what happens when I level up," he said, heading inside.
The system, silent but ever-present, seemed to hum in agreement.