Three weeks had passed since the beast tide ended, and the village was now nearly restored to its former state. The days had been long, but the work was progressing faster than anyone had expected. The air, once thick with the tension of battle, now hummed with the sound of people using their abilities to rebuild. Everywhere I looked, people were working, not only with their hands but also with the elemental and physical powers that had made them capable of defending the village in the first place.
As I walked through the village, my eyes were drawn to a group of air manipulators working near the central square. Their powers were a spectacle to behold. Air swirled around them, flowing effortlessly in controlled gusts as they used their abilities to carry large, heavy tarps over the newly rebuilt walls. The tarps were designed to shield the walls from wind and rain, ensuring they stayed intact during the rebuilding process. The air manipulators guided the fabric in mid-air, lifting it with almost no effort. They looked like they were floating, their bodies swaying gently with the wind as they glided effortlessly across the top of the wall.
It was mesmerizing. They seemed to be part of the wind itself, like the air was an extension of their very being. The precision with which they controlled the flow of air was unlike anything I had ever seen. It wasn't just raw power; it was an art form. The way they manipulated the air so gracefully made it look effortless, as if flying was the most natural thing in the world. I couldn't help but stare, wide-eyed, as they moved with such fluidity and control.
A sense of awe washed over me. Air manipulators had always fascinated me, but seeing them work like this—so effortlessly—left me speechless. I had always thought of my own abilities with some curiosity, but tomorrow, I would awaken mine. The thought filled me with both excitement and nervousness. Would I be able to control my ability with such precision? Would it come as naturally to me as it did to them?
I clenched my fists, feeling a wave of determination rise inside me. The coming days would be pivotal, and tomorrow would be the start of something new. My ability would finally awaken, and I couldn't afford to be intimidated by the prospect of failure. I had seen people use their powers to rebuild, protect, and heal. They were strong, not because of their abilities alone, but because of how they controlled them.
The wind swept past me, and for a moment, I closed my eyes, imagining what it would be like to bend it to my will. To make the wind carry me, to soar above the village like the air manipulators. I could feel the pull, the weightlessness, even in my thoughts. Maybe, just maybe, I would be able to fly, too.
But I knew that I had to focus. Tomorrow, I would awaken my ability, and whether it was air, earth, or something else, I needed to master it.
After observing the villagers for some time, I made my way home. The sun had already dipped low, casting long shadows across the village as I walked through the familiar streets. The day was winding down, and I couldn't help but feel the weight of anticipation settling on me.
Upon entering the house, I saw Emily and James sitting in the living room, waiting for me. They looked up as I stepped inside, both of them clearly expecting my return.
"Why are you late?" James asked, his voice laced with curiosity.
"I was watching the villagers and their abilities," I replied, trying to sound casual, though I knew they could sense the restlessness in my tone.
Emily raised an eyebrow but didn't comment on my hesitation. It was James who spoke next, his voice soft but steady.
"Eno, tomorrow you're going to awaken your ability. I know you're anxious and excited, but let me tell you something important. You can't control what ability you're going to awaken. If it's powerful, then consider it a gift. If it's a normal ability, well, that's still part of who you are. It's still yours to shape, just like you are.**"
I nodded, trying to reassure him. "I understand, Father. Don't worry. I won't get discouraged no matter what ability I get."
James gave me a small, approving nod. "Good."
Emily, always the practical one, added, "Let's eat early tonight. We've got a long day ahead tomorrow. And don't stay awake all night stressing over it."
"Okay," I mumbled, though the thought of sleeping peacefully still seemed distant.
After dinner, the three of us went to bed. I lay in my bed, trying to quiet my mind, but the thoughts kept swirling.
An hour passed, and still, I couldn't sleep. The excitement, the uncertainty, the fear—all of it gnawed at me. I tossed and turned, the weight of the night pressing down on me. As the minutes dragged on.
I don't know when but I have fallen asleep.
In the middle of the night, while the house was quiet and the soft sounds of breathing filled the room, a faint light seeped through the cracks in the bedroom window. It was almost imperceptible at first, a subtle glow that drifted silently across the room. The light moved closer to the sleeping form of Eno and, without causing a stir, entered his body.
No one in the room noticed. James, Emily, or even Eno himself, remained oblivious to the presence of the light. It moved swiftly, almost as if it were one with the shadows, slipping unnoticed into Eno's chest, where it began to settle.
Eno felt an unusual sensation in his eyes. It was as if light had entered his vision, gently seeping through his eyelids. At first, he tried to ignore it, but the glow was persistent. He covered his eyes with his hands, hoping to block it out, but it wasn't going away. It was almost as though the light was part of him now, constantly pulsing against the darkness of his closed eyelids.
He tossed and turned, trying to settle back into sleep, but the strange disturbance continued to plague him. He sighed in frustration and finally opened his eyes, determined to find the source of the light.
What he saw stunned him.
In front of his eyes, glowing faintly in the dim room, were words. Words that he had learned to read in this world. He blinked in disbelief, his expression shifting through a range of emotions as he tried to process what he was seeing. His heart began to race.
System bonding with the soul: 1%.
[Estimated time to finish the bonding process: 1 hour 39 minutes]
Eno's mouth went dry. He stared at the words, disbelief giving way to excitement. He had dreamed about this for years, after being reincarnated into this world. He had heard stories of people gaining powers and abilities, but he had long since given up hope that anything like that would happen to him. Now, as he was about to awaken his own ability, he had received a system. It was like some kind of cheat, a tool he never expected.
He couldn't help it. A laugh bubbled up from deep within him. He tried to stifle it, pressing his hand to his mouth to keep quiet, but the amusement couldn't be contained. It was almost absurd—after all this time, after all the waiting, he now had a system of his own.
Curious, he lifted his hands to see if he could interact with the words. But to his surprise, his hands passed straight through the glowing text, as if it wasn't even there. He blinked again, trying to make sense of it, but nothing changed. The words stayed floating in front of him, unaffected.
Looking over at his parents, James and Emily, he saw they were both sound asleep. They hadn't noticed a thing.
Is the system only here with me now, awakening alongside my ability? Or has it been here all along, quietly waiting? He wasn't sure. But for now, he had more questions than answers.
Silently, he slipped out of bed and walked quietly out of the room, careful not to disturb anyone. He moved through the dark house and stepped out into the night, his bare feet making soft contact with the cool ground. The village was still and peaceful, the only sound being the distant hum of wind through the trees.
He searched around for any anomalies, hoping to find something that might explain what was happening. But there was nothing—everything seemed normal, just like any other night in the village. After a few minutes of walking, he reluctantly returned to the house, feeling no different.
Back in the bedroom, he lay down again, still shaken by what had just happened. He glanced at the words once more.
System bonding with the soul: 17%.
[Estimated time: 1 hour 23 minutes.]
The words had changed. It was progressing, the bonding process inching forward. His eyes narrowed in thought. Is it because the system isn't fully bonded yet? He wondered. Why isn't it calling me 'host'? Is that reserved for after the bonding process is complete?
As he pondered these questions, he felt the weight of the night slowly return, the exhaustion from the long day catching up with him. He had no answers yet, only more mysteries. But one thing was clear: his life was about to change, and he had no idea what the future held.