The night passed in a blur for Henry. The soft glow of his phone's interface, the steady ticking of the clock on his wall, and the hum of cars passing outside were all that kept him company as he lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling. The pressure of the day weighed heavily on him, but there was something else, something that gnawed at his gut.
He hadn't told his family about the tryouts. Not yet.
How could he?
What if he failed again? What if this second chance was nothing more than a cruel joke, like the first? He didn't want to burden his mother more than she already was with two jobs, and the last thing he needed was for his father to lose faith in him again.
He rolled over and grabbed his phone, flicking through the glowing interface once more. The system's voice, always so straightforward and blunt, was his only comfort.
"Remember, Henry, there's no such thing as an easy win. Tomorrow will test you in ways you can't even imagine. You think your family doesn't know? They can feel it. They're just waiting for you to prove it."
The words hit harder than he expected. He knew the system was right. His family might not know the specifics of what he was trying to do, but they'd noticed something, his determination, the spark in his eyes that had been missing for years. They could feel it, even if they didn't understand it.
He had to prove to them that he was capable of more than just empty promises.
The next morning, Henry woke up to the familiar sound of his mother's voice downstairs.
"Henry, honey, you up yet?"
"Yeah, I'm up," he called back, rubbing his eyes. The room still felt cold and unfamiliar, the walls too close. He needed to get out, to breathe, to run.
The scent of fresh coffee and pancakes wafted up from below. The usual breakfast routine, one he'd taken for granted his entire life.
But today felt different.
He threw on his academy T-shirt, which felt too tight around his chest, and made his way downstairs. His mother was already at the table, flipping pancakes, her worn fingers moving expertly. His sister was sprawled out on the couch, a tablet in her lap, but her eyes followed him closely, like she could sense something was off.
"Morning," he said, taking a seat at the table.
"Morning, champ," his mother said, placing a stack of pancakes in front of him. "Got big plans today?"
Henry froze. That question. The weight of it hung in the air, but he couldn't bring himself to lie.
"Just… practice," he said quietly, avoiding his mother's eyes.
She smiled, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Well, good luck. You've got this, I know you do."
Henry nodded, forcing a smile. "Thanks, Mom."
As he ate, his mind kept returning to the academy. The pressure was mounting. Today wasn't just about passing a few drills. This was the real deal, the start of something much bigger. He couldn't afford to fail.
When Henry arrived at the academy, it was already swarming with young hopefuls, all of them bustling around, eager to get their turn on the track. He could feel the eyes on him, the silent judgment. He wasn't just a kid from Oklahoma anymore. He was here to prove he belonged.
The system's voice sounded, once again, in his ear.
"Today's tasks will be more complex. A real test of your skill and will. Don't mess this up. If you think this is tough, just wait until the real races start."
Henry's heart thumped in his chest.
"Your daily tasks:
1. First on-track drill: Time attack against three others.
2. Endurance test: 20 laps in a simulation vehicle.
3. Technical Quiz: Advanced Engine Performance and Tuning."
Henry felt a twinge of nervousness at the first task. Time attack against others? He had seen how the other drivers handled their cars, and he was far from ready to compete at that level.
But there was no backing out now.
The first task was grueling. The track, although not the real Formula 1 circuit, was designed to simulate real-world conditions. Henry sat in the car, feeling the weight of the moment settle on his shoulders. This was his chance to prove to himself, to everyone, that he had what it took.
The engine rumbled beneath him as the countdown began.
"Three… two… one… Go!"
The light turned green, and Henry shot off the line. The car's handling was precise, but he still wasn't in tune with it every turn felt like a battle, each corner coming at him too fast. His hands tightened on the wheel, sweat gathering on his forehead as he fought to keep up with the others.
"You're too slow. Don't just drive the car become it."
The system's words burned in his mind. But he had no time to think. A quick glance at the rearview mirror showed two other drivers closing in. Panic surged, but he forced himself to focus.
He needed to push through this.
The final lap arrived faster than expected. With every turn, Henry pushed harder, instinctively finding the rhythm he had been missing. The car responded to his every input, and for the first time, he felt like he was one with it. The others were still ahead, but his time was improving.
As he crossed the finish line, he felt his heart race with adrenaline.
"Task Complete. Time: 5th place. Reaction improved. Reward: +2 Focus Attribute Points."
It wasn't first place, but it was a start. Henry exhaled, his hands still trembling on the steering wheel.
The next challenge was an endurance test, a simulation that required him to complete 20 laps without making any major mistakes. He was already exhausted from the time attack, but there was no choice. He had to keep going.
The system was eerily quiet as he pushed through the laps, each one more grueling than the last. The virtual car responded well, but his body didn't, his arms burned, and his eyes were beginning to blur.
"I see you're struggling. Push past your limits, Henry. You don't get better by staying comfortable."
It was harsh, but the words hit the mark.
By the time he finished the 20th lap, his body felt like it was on fire.
"Task Complete. Stamina improved. +3 Stamina Attribute Points."
The final challenge of the day was the technical quiz. Henry sat in a quiet room, staring at the questions. Engine performance? Tuning? He had some knowledge, but not enough. There were too many technicalities he didn't know, and his mind kept racing, questioning every answer.
He finished with a decent score, but it wasn't perfect.
"Task Complete. Score: 78%. Better than expected. Reward: +1 Strategy Attribute Point."
When he left the academy for the day, his legs ached, and his mind was reeling from the intensity of the tasks. But he had proven something to himself. He could do this.
At home, dinner was quiet, just like every other night. His mother was busy preparing food, and Emily was on her tablet, oblivious to everything around her. Henry felt a pang of guilt, but it was overshadowed by the weight of the day's events.
He still hadn't told them.
But the system's voice broke through the quiet.
"Don't wait too long, Henry. You'll need their support, whether you want to admit it or not."
The words hit him like a brick. He could no longer hide the truth.
He was going to have to tell them eventually.
And when he did, he hoped they would believe in him as much as he was beginning to believe in himself.