Waking up after unlocking forbidden magic feels like getting hit by a truck.
Twice.
When I opened my eyes, the first thing I noticed was how sore I felt. Every muscle in my body screamed in protest, and my ribs felt like they'd been stomped on.
I rolled over with a groan, trying to figure out why my mattress felt even more terrible than usual.
Oh, right… because I was lying on the floor.
I must've passed out mid-shadow-magic training. My lightbulb was still dead, and the room was coated in thick, inky darkness. The shadows weren't threatening, though. They felt… neutral, like they were waiting for me to do something.
[Good morning, Host.]
The System's voice in my head jolted me awake faster than any alarm clock.
"Morning? What time is it?"
I asked groggily, squinting at the corner of my vision. Sure enough, a little display popped up: 7:42 a.m.
Great. Another day of being broke, hunted, and probably late on rent.
[Host's energy has replenished to 50%. Injuries are healing at an accelerated rate due to Shadow Affinity.]
"Shadow Affinity? What's that?" I sat up, rubbing my sore ribs. They still hurt, but the sharp pain from last night was gone.
[Shadow Affinity measures your compatibility with Shadow Magic. Higher affinity allows faster recovery, better control, and stronger abilities.]
[Current affinity: 28%. Potential: Unknown.]
"Unknown? That's comforting."
My apartment looked even worse in the faint light seeping through the blinds and piles of laundry, takeout boxes, and a general vibe of don't touch anything without gloves. But hey, at least I wasn't dead.
Yet.
"Alright."
I said, pacing back and forth.
"Let's talk about this 'dangerous path' you mentioned last night. If I'm supposed to 'ascend' or whatever, what's the plan here? Do I just fight more fire-throwing maniacs until I level up?"
[That would be unwise. Your current combat capabilities are insufficient for most Gifted opponents.]
"Yeah, no kidding. So what do I do?"
[Shadow Magic is not a brute-force tool. It is a resource, a system of manipulation and strategy. Survival depends on mastering its subtleties. You must learn to think like the shadows: unseen, patient, and adaptable.]
I frowned, leaning against the wall.
"Okay, but like… how? I'm not exactly the sneaky ninja type."
[Training is required. Would you like to begin now?]
Training sounded smart, but I had bigger concerns. Like the fact that some enforcer nearly barbequed me last night.
"Hang on. Before we do anything else, let's talk about that guy. The Gifted enforcer. Why was he hunting me? Is it just because I used Shadow Magic?"
[Correct. Shadow Magic is classified as forbidden within the current magical hierarchy. Its reappearance will be perceived as a threat to the established order. Host is now marked as a target.]
"Marked? You mean there's more of them coming?"
[Highly likely. Enforcers operate under the Arcanum Council, the ruling authority of the Gifted elite. They will not tolerate a Mundane wielding forbidden magic.]
"So what, they'll just keep sending fire-happy thugs after me until one of them finishes the job?"
[Unless you grow stronger, yes.]
I stopped pacing, my jaw tightening. I wasn't exactly a stranger to bad luck, but this? This was next-level. I'd spent my whole life trying to avoid trouble, keep my head down, and survive. And now trouble had found me anyway.
I glanced down at my hand, where faint tendrils of shadow flickered around my fingers.
"Alright. Let's do this. Teach me what I need to know."
[Acknowledged. Initiating training protocol.]
Before I could ask what that meant, the shadows around me came alive. They surged upward, curling into walls and shapes that swallowed my crappy apartment. Suddenly, I wasn't in my room anymore.
I was standing in a vast, empty void.
"Uh, System? Where am I?"
[This is a simulated training space. It will allow you to practice without risk of external interference.]
"Cool," I said, turning in a slow circle. "Also terrifying. But cool."
The darkness shifted, forming a humanoid figure in front of me. It was featureless and black as ink, like someone had sculpted a shadow into a person.
"What's that supposed to be?"
[A target. Begin.]
The shadow figure lunged at me without warning, and I yelped, stumbling backward. Its movements were quick and fluid, more like a wild animal than a person. I swung my arm instinctively, and a shadow tendril lashed out, colliding with its chest. The impact sent it skidding back, but it didn't go down.
"Okay, okay!" I said, holding up my hands. "Let me figure this out!"
The shadow figure didn't care. It charged again, and I barely dodged, feeling the rush of air as it swiped at me.
[Focus, Host. Shadows are an extension of your will. They respond to intent.]
"Intent? What does that even mean?"
[Stop reacting. Start commanding.]
Easy for the System to say. I ducked another swing, frustration bubbling in my chest. The figure was relentless, forcing me to stay on the defensive.
Finally, something snapped.
"Enough!" I shouted, and the shadows around me surged. This time, they didn't just lash out as they wrapped around the figure's arms and legs, pinning it in place.
The figure struggled, but the shadows held firm, coiling tighter like living ropes. I stared, breathing hard.
"Did I… do that?"
[Correct. Command achieved through focused intent. Note that prolonged control will drain energy rapidly.]
Sure enough, I could already feel the strain creeping in like a headache pressing against the back of my skull. I released the shadows, and the figure dissolved into the void.
"Okay," I said, wiping sweat from my forehead. "That was… a lot."
[You are improving. However, you remain inefficient. Further practice is necessary.]
"Yeah, no kidding."
The void shifted again, and three more shadow figures appeared. Great. Just what I needed.
"Alright, fine. "Round two."
---
By the time the System ended the session, I was on the floor, panting and drenched in sweat. My arms felt like jelly, and my legs weren't much better.
[Session complete. Host performance: marginally acceptable.]
I glared at the invisible voice.
"Marginally? I didn't die, did I?"
[A low bar for success.]
"Gee, thanks."
The void dissolved around me, and I found myself back in my apartment. The shadows receded, slinking back to the corners of the room like obedient pets.
I dragged myself to the fridge, grabbed a half-empty bottle of water, and collapsed onto the mattress.
"Should I hope for— Nevermind."