Time continued its relentless march. Zephyr, now three years old, was no longer the helpless infant. He could crawl, walk unsteadily, and even utter a few simple words. But his true development was happening within, guided by the constant presence of the System.
He had learned to navigate the System's interface with ease. He meticulously tracked his stats, completed daily "quests" like "Basic Movement" and "Vocal Exercises," steadily accumulating System Points. He even experimented with the Shop, purchasing minor stat boosts and a few basic skill books that focused on mental discipline and focus, further enhancing his already impressive Wisdom stat.
"System, remind me again why I can't just awaken all my elements at once?" Zephyr thought one afternoon, as he practiced walking in the garden, his nurse trailing close behind.
[Awakening multiple elements simultaneously at a young age places an immense strain on the developing body and magical pathways. It is highly likely to result in permanent damage, or even death. The generally accepted practice is to begin awakening one's primary element around the age of thirteen, when the body is more prepared to handle the influx of magical energy.]
"But I have the System," Zephyr argued mentally. "Can't you mitigate the risk?"
[The System can provide support and guidance during the awakening process, minimizing the risk of complications. However, it cannot completely negate the inherent strain. A gradual approach is still recommended for optimal results.]
"So, I can awaken one element now?"
[Yes. The System can facilitate a controlled awakening of one element at a time, starting with the most stable affinity based on your current stats. In your case, it is your Darkness affinity.]
"And what about people seeing my elements? I don't want to draw unnecessary attention."
[The System can generate a passive concealment field that masks your elemental signatures from external detection. This field will remain active until you choose to deactivate it.]
"Activate the concealment field," Zephyr commanded.
[Concealment Field Activated.]
A subtle shift occurred within him, a barely perceptible ripple of energy that settled beneath his skin. Now, even the most skilled mages would struggle to detect his elemental affinities.
"Alright then," Zephyr thought, a thrill of anticipation coursing through him. "Let's awaken Darkness."
[Beginning Darkness Affinity Awakening Sequence…]
A wave of coldness washed over him, not an unpleasant chill, but a deep, internal sensation that resonated with a primal part of him. The world around him seemed to dim slightly, as if a veil had been drawn over his vision.
[Darkness Affinity Awakening in Progress…]
The System guided him through the process, providing precise instructions on how to focus his mind and channel the nascent energy within him. It was a strange and disorienting experience, like navigating a labyrinth blindfolded, but the System's steady guidance kept him on track.
After what felt like an eternity, but was likely only a few minutes, the process concluded.
[Darkness Affinity Awakening Complete!]
[You have gained the Skill: Shadow Cloak (Level 1)]
[You have gained the Skill: Minor Dark Manipulation (Level 1)]
[Elemental Affinities: Darkness (Awakened), Chaos (Nascent), Space (Nascent), Void (Nascent), Wind (Nascent)]
[MP: 50/50]
Zephyr felt a surge of power within him, a tangible presence that hadn't been there before. He focused his mind, and a wisp of dark energy materialized in his palm, flickering like a dying flame.
"I… I did it," he thought, a sense of awe washing over him.
[Congratulations, Host. You have successfully awakened your Darkness affinity.] the System responded.
"Show me the descriptions of those skills."
[Skill:
Shadow Cloak (Level 1): Envelops the user in a cloak of shadows, providing minor concealment and increasing stealth. MP Cost: 10 per minute.
Minor Dark Manipulation (Level 1): Allows the user to manipulate small amounts of dark energy. Can be used to create minor illusions, extinguish small flames, or create small areas of darkness. MP Cost: Varies depending on usage.]
Zephyr experimented with the skills, creating a small sphere of darkness that hovered in the air before him, then dissipating it with a thought. He then attempted to activate Shadow Cloak, feeling a subtle shift in the light around him, though it was barely noticeable.
"System, why is the effect of Shadow Cloak so subtle?"
[The skill is currently at Level 1. Its effects will become more pronounced as you increase its level through practice and usage.]
"How do I do that?"
[By actively using the skill, you will gain experience towards leveling it up. You can also purchase skill books from the Shop to accelerate the process.]
Zephyr nodded, understanding. He spent the next few days practicing his newfound abilities, creating small illusions, manipulating wisps of darkness, and activating Shadow Cloak for extended periods. He noticed a gradual improvement in his control and the potency of his magic.
His progress didn't go unnoticed. His mother, Lady Aeliana, often commented on his unusually calm demeanor and his seemingly heightened senses. She attributed it to his growing maturity, unaware of the magical awakening happening within him.
One evening, as Zephyr sat in his room, practicing his Dark Manipulation, he had a thought. "System, can I use System Points to increase my stats directly?"
[Yes. You can allocate System Points to permanently increase your base stats.]
"Show me the interface."
A new screen appeared in his mind, displaying his current stats and the cost to increase each one.
[Stat Upgrade Interface]
[Strength: 1 (Cost: 10 SP per point)]
[Agility: 1 (Cost: 10 SP per point)]
[Vitality: 10 (Cost: 10 SP per point)]
[Intelligence: 10 (Cost: 10 SP per point)]
[Wisdom: 15 (Cost: 10 SP per point)]
[Luck: 5 (Cost: 10 SP per point)]
Zephyr considered his options. He had accumulated a decent amount of System Points through daily quests and skill practice.
"Increase my Intelligence by five points," he commanded.
[Confirm purchase? Cost: 50 SP. Current SP: 57.]
"Confirm."
[Intelligence increased to 15.]
He felt a subtle sharpening of his mind, his thoughts becoming clearer and more focused.
Suddenly, a new notification appeared.
[New Quest Available:
Inner Darkness: Seek a method to cultivate your mana and strengthen your connection to your Darkness affinity.
Reward: Unique Cultivation Manual: 'Elemental Codex', 100 System Points, Increased MP Regeneration.]
A cultivation manual? Zephyr thought, intrigued. "What's that?"
[Cultivation manuals are specialized texts that provide techniques for drawing ambient magical energy, known as mana, into the body and refining it. They are essential for increasing one's magical power and expanding their mana reserves.]
"But aren't those usually taught by mages?"
[Traditional cultivation methods are often taught by experienced mages, but this quest offers a unique manual tailored to your specific elemental affinities and compatible with the System. The 'Elemental Codex' is a vital manual for practitioners of elemental magic, guiding those rare individuals who wield the complex powers of Dark, Space, Void, Chaos, and Wind.]
"Accept the quest," Zephyr commanded without hesitation.
[Quest Accepted: Inner Darkness.]
[Objective: Locate a suitable location for cultivation and meditate according to the principles outlined in the 'Elemental Codex'.]
"System, where am I supposed to find this manual?"
[The 'Elemental Codex' will be granted upon successful completion of the cultivation process in a suitable location. A location with a high concentration of ambient magical energy is recommended.]
Zephyr pondered this. The Aurion estate was a large and ancient place. There had to be somewhere with a higher concentration of magical energy. He recalled hearing whispers from the servants about an old, abandoned tower on the far side of the estate, said to be a place of strange occurrences.
"System, scan the estate for areas with high concentrations of ambient magical energy," he requested.
[Scanning…]
[Analysis Complete. The highest concentration of ambient magical energy is located within the abandoned West Tower.]
The West Tower it is, Zephyr decided.
Over the next few days, Zephyr made careful preparations. He feigned illness to avoid suspicion and used his growing stealth abilities to slip away from his nurse undetected. Finally, under the cover of a moonless night, he made his way to the West Tower.
The tower was a crumbling ruin, shrouded in shadows and overgrown with vines. It exuded an aura of ancient power, a palpable hum of magical energy that resonated with Zephyr's own awakened Darkness affinity.