The smell of sizzling bacon and fresh toast filled the air as Magnus was awakened by the sound of birds chirping outside. He blinked the sleep from his eyes and sat up, momentarily disoriented before remembering his new reality. A knock on his door startled him.
"Magnus! Breakfast is ready!" a voice called.
Magnus stood up and took a deep breath before making his way downstairs. As he descended, he found himself stepping into a warm and lively kitchen where a woman with gentle eyes and an air of grace stood at the stove, flipping pancakes. Helen Pevensie—his adoptive mother. Sitting at the table were his adoptive siblings: Peter, Susan, Edmund, Lucy, and his little sister, Matilda.
His heart clenched slightly. The Pevensies. From Narnia. And Matilda, the young girl with telekinetic abilities.
"Good morning, Magnus," Helen greeted him with a smile. "Take a seat, dear."
He sat next to Matilda, who gave him a bright grin. "Morning, Magnus! Did you sleep well?"
Before he could answer, a familiar voice echoed in his mind.
[System Activated: Interaction with the Pevensie Family Detected.]
[500 EXP Gained.]
Magnus blinked, momentarily stunned. He could level up his skills. This world truly was like a game. His mind swirled with possibilities as he silently accepted the points, waiting for an opportunity to allocate them later.
As breakfast continued, Helen packed her things for work, kissing each child on the forehead before leaving for the day. Magnus watched her go, feeling an odd sense of security he had never experienced before.
"You're unusually quiet this morning," Susan commented as she sipped her tea.
Magnus shrugged. "Just thinking."
Susan arched an eyebrow. "About what?"
"About how different this world is," Magnus murmured, almost to himself.
Susan gave him a curious look but said nothing more as Lucy and Matilda ran around the living room, giggling as they played their games.
Magnus knew he had work to do. He had to prepare for what was to come, and more importantly, he had to change the world around him to his advantage.
And he had the system to help him do just that.