The moment the memories receded, leaving a cold void in their wake, I collapsed onto the bed, my body trembling. My mind was still reeling from the realization that I was no longer Edgar Neal, a man crushed under the weight of his own failures, but now Zephyx, a minor villain in a game I used to play, Dawn of Light.
But before I could process this strange twist of fate, a voice resonated in my mind, calm and mechanical, yet undeniably real.
[Soul merge complete: 100%.]
I flinched, my breath catching in my throat. Then, as if out of nowhere, a glowing screen materialized before me, hovering in the air like something straight out of a sci-fi movie.
"Is it... my system?" he muttered to himself, voice barely above a whisper, yet unmistakably laced with disbelief.
Before he could process any further, the voice responded, smooth and automatic.
[Yes, host.]
"So it's true..." Edgar murmured, his heart pounding in his chest. Everything that had happened, everything that had felt so surreal, now seemed to coalesce into something far more tangible. He could feel his soul, the faint but undeniable connection to this new life of Zephyx, merging with his own, and everything about it felt… wrong, yet familiar.
"System," he tested again, louder this time, still unsure of what kind of existence he had just inherited. "What does this soul merge mean for me?"
[Zephyx's soul was hollow at the center of its core. That is why he experienced excruciating pain when trying to control his Ice affinity. However, with your soul now merged, that hollow space has been filled, and the power within the soul is amplified.]
A weighty silence followed as Edgar tried to understand the magnitude of what he was being told. Zephyx's suffering—his struggle with magic—had all stemmed from a weakness within his very soul. But now, it was whole, strengthened by Edgar's presence, his essence, and as a result, his magic was poised to evolve in ways that were previously impossible.
After a moment of reflection, Edgar clenched his fists, determined to understand more about the system that now had such control over his fate. "What other functions do you have, system?"
The screen blinked momentarily, and new tabs appeared, displaying simple yet intriguing options:
[Status]
[Inventory]
[Quest]
Edgar was still coming to terms with the sheer amount of information flooding his mind, but the urge to explore these tabs took over. He spoke firmly, ordering the system to open the status tab.
[Yes, host.]
The screen shifted and revealed his new identity:
Name: Zephyx / Edgar Neal
Age: 15
Affinity: Ice, Fire, Water, Earth, Wind
Stats:
Strength (Str): 15
Agility (Agi): 20
Stamina (Sta): 10
Intelligence (Int): 25
Bloodline: ??? (Locked)
Trait: [Psycho], [Prodigy]
He squinted at the Affinity section. Ice, Fire, Water, Earth, Wind… All of them? He thought in disbelief. Every single basic affinity, and yet... how? He couldn't even make sense of it. "System," he asked cautiously, his voice cracking with the weight of the question, "Why do I have all these affinities?"
The system responded almost instantly.
[Host, every person possesses the potential for all four basic affinities, but most souls are not strong enough to harness them. Zephyx was able to awaken the Ice affinity despite his hollow soul—a remarkable feat in itself. With your soul now complete and far more powerful, you are able to control all the basic affinities.]
Edgar stood in stunned silence, the full weight of the system's words settling on him.
His gaze then turned to the locked bloodline section, the question mark staring back at him like a riddle. He instinctively understood that the bloodline could be a powerful element within this world, but it was locked for now.
"Why is it locked?" Edgar asked, his curiosity gnawing at him.
[Host needs to update the system to unlock information about the bloodline.]
It made sense, he thought. Like many of the main characters in Dawn of Light, their bloodlines hadn't awakened right away. Perhaps his was similar.
With that, Edgar's attention was drawn to the trait listed under his status: Psycho, Prodigy. His brow furrowed at the word Psycho. It seemed like an odd thing to be tagged with, especially in such a crucial moment of his life. "What does this trait mean? 'Psycho'?"
The system's voice answered, but it was almost cryptic.
[I believe the host will understand this better in the future.]
Edgar's mind reeled at the implications of the system's answer, but there was no time to dwell on it. He forced himself to push forward. "System, show me the quests tab."
The screen shifted once again, and the quest list appeared. The titles of the quests were simple but vital, each one offering a glimpse of what lay ahead for him:
[Learn to control your affinities (Reward: 100 gold)
Establish a connection with Elowen (Reward: ???)]
When my gaze landed on the second quest, my heart raced. The name—Elowen—sent a cascade of emotions surging through me. I felt Zephyx's lingering attachment tugging at my mind, but my own feelings were of disgust and bitterness.
I clenched my fists, my voice low and firm. "System, remove the quest to establish a connection with Elowen."
The system responded immediately.
[Are you sure, host?]
"Yes," Edgar growled, barely able to keep his emotions in check.
[Understood, host.]
With that, the quest vanished from the list, and Edgar felt a slight wave of relief washed over him. But there was still the matter of learning to control his affinities. That would be his focus now.
"System," he said, turning his attention to the next tab, "open my inventory."
The screen flickered and expanded, revealing a glowing inventory interface. Edgar was stunned to see an infinite storage pack, capable of holding items beyond his wildest imagination. And within it lay a beginner's package. His heart quickened as he spoke again.
"System, open the beginner's package."
[Okay, host.]
With a smooth motion, the system revealed the contents of the package:
[ Basic Elemental Manual (For learning to control all basic affinities)
Beginner's Armor Set (Lightweight but durable armor suitable for a novice adventurer)
Starter Weapon: Ice Dagger (A dagger infused with ice magic, enhancing the user's ice abilities)
10 Healing Potions (Restores health upon consumption)
100 Gold Coins ]
Edgar's eyes widened as he scanned the items. The manual, especially, seemed crucial—learning to control all affinities would require careful study and practice. The armor and ice dagger were practical, and the healing potions would certainly come in handy, considering the challenges he would face in this unfamiliar world. The gold coins, which was not a small amount, would be useful for the journey ahead.
He closed his eyes for a moment, taking in the gravity of his situation. This is real. He wasn't just playing a game anymore.
As the system's interface dimmed and the world around him continued to feel more tangible, Edgar—no, Zephyx—understood one thing clearly: his future was no longer bound by fate. He could carve his own path, wielding power far beyond what anyone had ever expected from a mere side character. But first, he would need to control his magic, and confront the tangled emotions he had with Elowen.
No matter how the story played out, it was now his to change.