Leon sat cross-legged in a void of pure darkness.
A voice echoed around him—distant, yet everywhere at once. It shifted direction, as if floating freely in the endless dark.
"Focus. Look for light in this darkness. Hope for it. Believe in it. Will it into existence."
Hope.
Of all things, hope was the one thing Leon had never let go of. Not when his mother died. Not when his father passed away. Not even when the doctors told him he had cancer. Somewhere, tucked deep inside him, a small part had always believed—believed in a better tomorrow, a brighter future.
And so, once again, he hoped.
He believed there was light hidden behind the curtain of darkness.
He willed it—desperately, fiercely—into existence.
And then… he saw it.
A single, tiny mote of light, drifting up from the depths.
Then another.
And then a few more.
Soon, hundreds of glimmering specks emerged from the void, swirling around him like fireflies in an eternal night.
"Now accept them," the voice spoke again, calm and steady. "Think of them as part of your body—a third limb, a sixth sense."
Leon obeyed. He imagined the lights not as something separate, but as fragments of himself. Extensions of his being. Pieces of his soul.
A strange sensation welled up within him.
A powerful suction force emerged from his core—drawing the motes of light toward him. One by one, they touched his skin, melting into him like drops of warm light.
The center of Leon's stomach began to glow, a gentle warmth radiating from within. As more motes merged, the pull grew stronger, drawing in every last speck of light around him.
And then—
The final mote entered his body.
__
It was late evening .
Outside, the shift of life continued. Some workers were heading out for the night shift, others were returning from the day's labor. All of them walked the same way—backs hunched, shoulders slouched, faces blank. The muddy road swallowed their footsteps, mixing the stench of sweat with the ever-present rot in the air.
Then, for just a moment—a faint flash of light.
It sparked somewhere in the distance, no more than a fraction of a second. But none of the workers even blinked. They just kept walking, as if even curiosity had long died inside them.
Inside the dormitory, in the dim room that had become home, Leon stirred.
His eyes opened slowly. The room was still cloaked in shadows, the dying light of the evening sun barely managing to sneak through the cracks in the wooden boards. But strangely, Leon could see everything—clearly.
He didn't know how, but the darkness didn't feel dark anymore.
In the far corner of the room, Roan slept curled against a wall, his soft breathing the only sound in the stillness. Leon could hear it—every inhale, every exhale—like it was right beside his ear.
His own body felt… different.
Light. Unburdened. The tightness in his chest that had become all too familiar was gone. His thoughts, which usually buzzed like a swarm of bees, were quiet. Calm. Clear.
He sat up slowly, feeling the rough floor beneath his fingers. For the first time in what felt like forever, his mind wasn't clouded.
"System "
Leon whispered,
And a familiar screen appeared before his eyes.
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Ding*Phase 1: ApprenticeAssignment 1.36: Meditate for 1 hour with...
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Then the screen changed rapidly.
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Ding*Phase 1: Apprentice (Complete)Congratulations! Host has become an Apprentice Mage.
Rewards:
Improved Senses
Strong Body
45 Spells Unlocked: Nature's Touch, Fireball, Spring, Boulder, Swift...
(Note: Host can currently learn only 3 spells.)
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Leon read each and every word carefully.
"I can feel the improved senses. My body feels tougher and lighter than before... this must be due to 'Strong Body.' I've unlocked 45 spells, but can learn only three? What a bullshit restriction."
"Nature's Touch," Leon whispered.
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Spell: Nature's TouchRank: Apprentice
Description: Allows the user to exert force on objects (living or non-living) within a certain distance.(Note: This is an evolutionary spell. It evolves based on the user's application and proficiency.)
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"Evolutionary spell? It says it evolves with usage and application…" Leon thought to himself.
He began whispering the spells one by one.
"Fireball."
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Spell: FireballRank: Apprentice
Description: Allows the user to cast a fireball.(Note: This is an evolutionary spell. It evolves based on the user's application and proficiency.)
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"Spring."
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Spell: SpringRank: Apprentice
Description: Creates a small amount of clean water.(Note: This is an evolutionary spell. It evolves based on the user's application and proficiency.)
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"Boulder."
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Spell: BoulderRank: Apprentice
Description: Creates a small boulder.(Note: This is an evolutionary spell. It evolves based on the user's application and proficiency.)
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"Swift."
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Spell: SwiftRank: Apprentice
Description: Creates a strong gust of wind that propels objects forward with speed.(Note: This is an evolutionary spell. It evolves based on the user's application and proficiency.)
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It took quite a bit of time to read all 45 spells. Each had its own perks and uses, but he could only choose three. That put him in a dilemma about which to pick.
Knock. Knock.
A light knock on the door.
Leon stood up and walked over. He saw Lisa and Mira standing there, each holding a bag full of groceries and essentials.
"Leon, it's so dark in here. Go light the oil lamp," Lisa said as she placed the bags on the floor.
Leon gave a small nod and turned back inside. His steps felt light—almost noiseless. He crossed the room in a few breaths and reached the old wooden shelf near the window. There sat a dusty oil lamp, blackened from years of smoke and soot.
He struck the flint.
Click. Click.
A small spark flickered.
Click. Click. Fwoosh—
The flame caught.
A soft orange glow filled the room, shadows dancing gently on the walls. Mira and Lisa were already unpacking the bags—some bread, a sack of grain, dried meat, soap, and a small packet of salt. Nothing luxurious, but compared to the Cradle, it felt like a feast.
Leon sat down by the lamp again. The system screen still floated before his eyes, faint and translucent in the warm light.
He scrolled through the list once more. His fingers hovered over the spell names.
So many choices. So little room to choose.
"Only 3, huh…" he thought, a small frown on his lips.
Nature's Touch — versatile. Could be used for pushing, pulling, maybe even disarming enemies if used cleverly.
Fireball — classic offense. Risky in close spaces, but deadly when used right.
Spring — water. Always useful. But was it worth using one of his three slots?
Swift — movement or force. Could boost his speed or launch objects.
Boulder — solid defense. A shield, a barricade, a weapon.
He leaned back, rubbing his temple. Every spell had potential… especially if they evolved like the system hinted.
Behind him, Lisa was muttering something about missing utensils, and Mira was already boiling water in a small dented pot they'd found near the sink.
Leon exhaled slowly.
He had made a choice.
He whispered in a barely audible voice,
"System, I want to learn Nature's Touch, Fireball, and Swift."
A familiar window materialized before him.
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Host's choice has been confirmed.Ding*All related information and knowledge will be directly transferred to the host's brain.(Note: During transfer, the host will enter a six-hour-long deep sleep.)Say Transfer when ready.
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Looking at the window, Leon finally felt like he had a real system.
It had been nearly a month since he received it. His only assignment until now had been to meditate for one hour. He had even begun doubting whether this was really a magic system at all.
He still harbored doubt. No matter how convincing the sequence of events had been, it still felt unreal. Casting fireballs out of thin air was not something his mind could easily accept.
He needed proof. Hopefully, tomorrow, he would get it.
Leon felt butterflies in his stomach just thinking about it—all the magical stuff he had read in novels.
Tomorrow, he would be able to do the same.