Chapter 1: The Day It All Changed

The night was quiet—too quiet, Adam Lee thought as he balanced an oversized package on his moped. The city streets, usually a chaotic mix of honking cars and chattering crowds, were eerily empty. His destination loomed ahead: the Kim Family Manor, an ancient relic in a sea of modern skyscrapers.

Adam shivered as he stopped at the iron gates, the towering structure bathed in the pale light of a flickering streetlamp. "Creepy much?" he muttered, slapping the delivery receipt against his clipboard. A buzz from his phone showed the time: 11:42 PM. Another late-night delivery, another meager paycheck.

The gate creaked open as though summoned, revealing a long, tree-lined driveway. Adam swallowed hard, nerves prickling. "Get in, drop it off, and bounce," he told himself.

The manor door was already ajar when he arrived. The air inside was cold, musty, and filled with the faint scent of incense. His footsteps echoed as he ventured into the grand hallway.

"Hello? Delivery for Mr. Kim!" Adam called out.

No answer.

He placed the package on the floor and scribbled his signature on the receipt. Just as he turned to leave, a strange glint caught his eye—a soft, golden glow emanating from a room to his left. Curiosity tugged at him.

"I shouldn't," he whispered.

But he did.

Pushing the heavy door open, Adam stepped into what looked like a private study. Shelves packed with dusty scrolls and books lined the walls. At the center of the room was a low table adorned with strange trinkets—jade figurines, ancient coins, and an open scroll radiating that eerie golden light.

"Woah," Adam breathed, leaning closer. The scroll's characters shimmered, their shapes shifting like they were alive. Without thinking, his fingers brushed the parchment.

The room exploded with light.

"What the—?" Adam stumbled back, his head spinning. The glowing text floated in the air, bold and clear.

"System? Beginner talismans?" Adam blinked rapidly. "Is this a prank? Where are the cameras?"

But the system message didn't disappear. Instead, his vision filled with a strange overlay—a glowing inventory grid hovering in the corner of his view. Beneath it, a list of materials:

Paper (5 sheets) Ink (Basic-grade) Tiger Fur (0/1)

Adam groaned, rubbing his temples. "This has got to be a stress-induced hallucination. Too many night shifts..."

The system ignored him. A new message appeared:

"Mana? What even is mana?!" Adam shouted.

Before he could piece things together, the ground trembled. A loud crack echoed from above. Adam looked up just in time to see a massive chandelier breaking free from the ceiling, falling straight toward him.

Instinctively, he scrambled for the table. The glowing scroll seemed to pulse, and without thinking, he grabbed a blank sheet of paper and dipped it into the ink well. His hand moved on its own, drawing a pattern he couldn't explain.

The moment he finished, the paper flared with light.

A translucent barrier shimmered to life above Adam just as the chandelier came crashing down. The force rattled the room, but the shield held. Adam sat frozen, heart pounding, as shards of glass and broken metal scattered harmlessly around him.

"What… just happened?" he whispered.

The system responded:

Adam stared at the glowing text, realization dawning. "This... isn't a hallucination."

The study door creaked behind him, and Adam spun to see an elderly man in a crisp black suit, his expression equal parts curious and wary.

"You shouldn't have touched that scroll," the man said, his voice sharp. "Do you have any idea what you've just awakened?"

Adam held up the talisman with a shaky grin. "Uh… free magic lessons?"

The man sighed heavily. "You have no idea what you've gotten yourself into."

The golden text returned, as bold and cryptic as ever:

The lights dimmed, the room falling into an ominous silence.

And Adam knew his life would never be the same.

Cliffhanger: The glowing scroll disintegrates, leaving behind only a single, ominous phrase etched into Adam's vision: