I woke up to my phone buzzing angrily on the floor next to my mattress.
For a split second, I thought I was back in that shadowy training void, with shadow figures lunging at me.
But no. It was just my crappy apartment, still lit only by the faint gray of early morning through the blinds.
I groaned and reached for the phone, squinting at the cracked screen.
8 missed calls: Max.
Oh, crap.
Max was my boss at the pizza shop. Scratch that—he was technically my boss.
In reality, he was a forty-something burnout with a permanent scowl and a nicotine addiction that made him smell like a walking ashtray.
"Shiiiit," I muttered, unlocking the phone. I was about to call him back when it rang again.
I answered.
"Hey, Max, listen—"
"Rivers, where the hell are you?"
Max's voice exploded from the speaker.
"You think you can just skip out on your shift without telling anyone? We're drowning in orders here!"
"I—uh—had a family emergency."
I lied, because the truth ("Sorry, I got hunted by a magical enforcer and then spent the night learning how to weaponize shadows") wasn't exactly workplace-friendly.
"Yeah, well, unless your emergency involves you being dead, I don't care. Get your ass down here. Now."
The line went dead.
I threw the phone onto the mattress and ran a hand through my hair.
"Family emergency," I muttered to myself. "Real original, Kai."
The System decided to chime in at that exact moment.
[This distraction is unwise. Training is your priority.]
"Yeah, well, rent's my priority too, and last time I checked, shadow magic doesn't pay the bills."
[Short-term survival is irrelevant without long-term preparation.]
"Cool, thanks for the motivational speech."
I said, pulling on a hoodie and my least-destroyed pair of sneakers.
"I'll work on the whole 'long-term survival' thing after I deliver some pepperoni pizzas, okay?"
The System didn't reply, but I could feel its disapproval radiating in the back of my head. Whatever. I had bigger things to worry about.
---
The pizza shop was its usual chaos when I arrived—loud, sweaty, and reeking of grease. Max was behind the counter, his stained polo shirt stretched tight over his gut. He glared at me as I walked in.
"About time."
He shoved a stack of delivery bags into my arms.
"You've got three orders. Go."
"No problem."
I said, forcing a smile. I wasn't in the mood to argue. The faster I got through this shift, the faster I could get back to… whatever my life had turned into now.
I loaded the bags onto my bike and checked the addresses. The first two were local, easy enough to knock out.
The third? That one sent me straight into the heart of the city—Shard Tower.
Shard Tower wasn't just another office building. It was the office building, a skyscraper owned by the Arcanum Council itself.
You didn't just deliver pizzas to Shard Tower; you delivered pizzas to the kind of people who could ruin your life with a single phone call.
As I pedaled through the city streets, weaving around traffic and dodging potholes, my stomach twisted with unease.
What if someone in Shard Tower sensed my shadow magic? What if this was a trap?
The System's voice interrupted my spiraling thoughts.
[Paranoia is unproductive. Focus on the task at hand.]
"Oh, good, you're back. I was worried you'd gone silent on me."
[Host's sarcasm is noted but unnecessary. Shard Tower poses minimal risk if Host remains undetected.]
"Minimal risk? Great. Love that for me."
Shard Tower loomed ahead, its sleek black glass reflecting the cloudy sky. The entrance was guarded by two hulking figures in dark suits, both of them radiating that faint hum of magical energy.
I swallowed hard and approached, trying to look like a normal, non-magical delivery guy.
"Pizza for… uh… Suite 812," I said, holding up the delivery bag.
One of the guards stepped forward, his glowing blue eyes boring into me. A Gifted, for sure.
"Step forward.x
Crap. Crap, crap, crap.
I did as he said, clutching the bag like it was a shield. The guard reached out, his hand glowing faintly, and I felt a strange tingle as he waved it over me.
He stepped back.
"You're clear. Proceed."
I exhaled, my heart hammering in my chest, and hurried inside.
The lobby of Shard Tower was all marble and gold, with holographic displays floating in midair. I barely had time to gawk before a receptionist waved me toward the elevators.
Suite 812 was on the eighth floor. I rode the elevator up in silence, my mind racing.
"System. That guard didn't sense anything, right?"
[Correct. Your shadow aura remains undetectable at low energy levels. However, further exposure to Gifted individuals increases the risk of discovery.]
"Awesome. So I'm basically playing Russian roulette every time I leave my apartment."
The elevator dinged, and the doors slid open. I stepped out into a pristine hallway lined with glowing runes. Suite 812 was at the end, its door marked with an ornate silver sigil.
I knocked, my palms sweating.
A moment later, the door opened, and a woman with sharp features and a perfectly tailored suit stood there. Her eyes, a piercing shade of green, narrowed as she looked me over.
"Pizza delivery?"
I said, holding up the bag with a nervous grin.
She didn't respond right away. Her gaze lingered on me, and for a terrifying moment, I thought she could see the shadows swirling under my skin.
Finally, she nodded.
"Set it on the table."
I stepped inside, trying not to look too much like a deer in headlights. The suite was massive, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city.
A group of people in similar suits sat around a sleek conference table, their voices low and serious.
I set the bag on a side table and turned to leave, but before I could make it to the door, the woman's voice stopped me.
"Wait."
I froze, my heart pounding.
She walked over, her green eyes locked on mine.
"You're not Gifted, are you?"
"No."
I said quickly. Too quickly.
"Just a regular guy. Mundane, you know? Totally boring."
Her lips curved into a faint smile.
"Is that so?"
I forced myself to nod, even as the shadows inside me stirred, like they could sense the tension in the air.
"Well… you'd better get going. Busy night, I'm sure."
"Y-Yeah. Thanks."
I practically bolted out of the suite, my hands shaking.
The elevator ride down felt like the longest of my life. By the time I made it back to my bike, I was drenched in sweat.
"System. Who the hell was that?"
[Unknown. However, her aura suggests she is highly Gifted. Caution is advised.]
"Caution? …I think we're past that."