Some people imagine their death as something dramatic or nobleâsacrificing themselves to save a child, battling against overwhelming odds, or maybe just peacefully drifting away in their sleep. I, however, became the punchline of a cosmic joke.
The day started off normal enough. I was walking home from work, listening to my favorite playlist, and thinking about what to eat for dinner. Then it happened.
It wasn't just the banana peel. No, that would be too simple. It was the chain reaction that followed. I tripped over my shoelace, stumbled into a mime (don't ask why he was there), and we both crashed into a fruit stand. Bananas went flying, and one particularly malevolent peel landed directly under my foot.
I remember the universe slowing down as I slipped, my family heirloom ring glowing faintly on my finger. My last coherent thought was: This cannot be how I die.
Spoiler alert: It was.
When I opened my eyes, I wasn't in a hospital or floating above my own body like they show in the movies. Instead, I was lying on the softest bed I'd ever felt, surrounded by emerald-green curtains that looked like they belonged in a castle.
I sat up, my head spinning. The room was massive, with high vaulted ceilings, walls lined with bookshelves, and a roaring fireplace. Everything screamed "rich wizard aristocrat."
"What theâŚ" I muttered.
That's when I noticed the glowing blue screen hovering in front of me.
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[ Welcome to the Wizarding World! ]
[ Heirloom Activated: SSS Potential System Online ]
[ Skill Rank: None ]
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"What the hell is this?" I whispered, rubbing my eyes.
The words didn't disappear. Instead, the screen changed.
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[ Congratulations! Your family heirloom has activated your hidden potential. Every skill you learn can now be upgraded to SSS rank. ]
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I stared at the screen, then down at the silver ring on my finger. It was the same ring I'd worn every day of my life, passed down through my family for generations. My grandmother had called it "our legacy," but I always thought it was just a cool piece of jewelry.
"Wait a minute," I said slowly. "SSS rank? Like in video games?"
The screen didn't answer, but I wasn't done freaking out yet.
"What do you mean, Wizarding World? Like⌠Harry Potter? That Wizarding World?"
Again, no response.
I stumbled out of bed, catching sight of myself in a full-length mirror. That's when the real shock hit me. The face staring back wasn't mineâor at least, not the face I remembered. My hair was messy but stylish, my skin was pale, and my eyes were the most vivid shade of blue I'd ever seen. I looked like I belonged on the cover of a YA fantasy novel.
"This is either the weirdest dream of my life," I muttered, "or I've officially lost my mind."
Then I noticed something else: a letter on the bedside table with my name on it.
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Felix Blackthorne
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My name wasn't Felix. At least, it hadn't been.
"Alright," I said, taking a deep breath. "Time to figure out what's going on."