As we stepped outside, the cool breeze hit my face, but it didn't help clear my mind. I was still reeling from everything that had happened—everything that was now happening. The system, the weird prompts, the mysterious abilities. What was going on? Why me?
Nido was chatting away, completely oblivious to the turmoil inside my head. As usual, his jokes and random observations filled the air, making me laugh here and there, but it felt distant, like I was watching someone else's life.
And yet, Nido was sitting right across from me, completely unaffected, completely normal. He didn't seem to notice anything strange. No flickering screens, no strange messages, nothing out of the ordinary. Just me, sitting there, apparently lost in thought.
I confirmed it then. He couldn't see it.
A strange mix of relief and unease twisted in my gut. On one hand, it meant I wasn't about to be thrown into a world of questions I couldn't answer. On the other, it meant whatever this was… it was happening to me alone.
"Hey, Kael, you ever notice how every time we step outside, you always look like you're carrying the weight of the world? Lighten up, man! Life's too short to be so serious all the time. You should try smiling more," Nido grinned, nudging my shoulder with a playful elbow.
"Yeah, I know, I just... got a lot on my mind," I replied, my words coming out more clipped than I intended.
He raised an eyebrow. "A lot on your mind? What is it? Something with your raid? Or is it your crushing inability to beat me at poker? Because honestly, I think we both know I'm the real pro here."
I let out a small laugh, trying to keep the conversation flowing. "Nah, nothing like that. Just... life stuff."
"Uh-huh. Life stuff, my ass." Nido grinned like he had cracked some grand mystery. "Alright, alright, I get it. You're being all mysterious today. But hey, whatever it is, you know I've got your back, right?"
I nodded, appreciating the sentiment, but I couldn't tell him the truth. Not about the system, not about the powers it might give me. I had no idea what this thing even was, let alone how to control it. And I sure as hell wasn't going to drag anyone else into it.
"Yeah, I know," I said quietly.
"Good. So, you coming over to my place later to catch that new anime? Or are you gonna keep sulking like some emo character?" Nido grinned, playfully elbowing me again.
I could feel myself finally relax a little. Nido always knows how to make me forget the weird stuff, at least for a while.
"Sure," I said, forcing a smile. "Sounds good."
We walked for a few more minutes in companionable silence, the sounds of the city filling the air around us. But even as Nido continued to crack jokes, I couldn't shake the feeling that something big was coming—something that would change everything.
The moment we reached his place, Nido swung open the door and flopped down on his couch, grabbing the remote to start the anime. I followed him in, but my mind was still buzzing. Even though Nido was acting like everything was normal, I couldn't help but feel the weight of the screen's message in my mind.
[Would you like to increase your skills?]
Skills... What does that even mean?
What kind of skills could I possibly need? Or was it trying to tell me that I had the potential to grow stronger somehow? The system's vague language only made things more confusing.
Nido didn't seem to notice my distracted state, and I was grateful for that. He probably thought I was just zoned out from the long day. But what was I supposed to do with this power, this strange system that had appeared out of nowhere? And why now?
Was I... chosen for something?
The thought was both terrifying and intriguing.
"Yo, Kael! You with me, or should I start talking to myself about how the main character is totally overpowered?" Nido waved his hand in front of my face, snapping me out of my trance.
"Yeah, sorry," I said, shaking my head. "Just... thinking."
"Well, stop it, man. You're making me look like a fool here! Just relax and enjoy the show."
I sighed, sinking into the couch next to him, trying my best to focus on the anime. But even as the characters on screen argued and laughed, I couldn't ignore the feeling that something was pulling me toward a much darker, much larger destiny.
And if I wasn't careful... it might consume me.
---
The night passed in a blur, and when I finally made my way home, my thoughts kept drifting back to that screen. I couldn't stop wondering:
What kind of skills would I need to survive whatever was coming?
Would it be combat skills? Magic? Something else entirely?
The questions were endless, but the only thing I was sure of was that I had to figure this out. I wasn't sure how to handle it yet, but I couldn't keep ignoring it.
And as I lay in bed that night, the system quietly humming in the back of my mind, I knew my life was about to change in ways I couldn't even imagine.
But I was going to have to face it, whether I was ready or not.