Chapter 13: The System Awakens
**Dawnspire, Eldoria – Year 13**
The morning mist floated over Dawnspire Academy, making the cobblestone yard look like a dream world as kids aged 12–13 gathered, their faces full of hope and excitement. Taren, now thirteen, stood with them, feeling the cool mist on his cheeks while a warm feeling grew inside him. The big stone building towered above, its Mana Stone lamps shining softly through the fog, and the yard buzzed with kids' chatter and a gentle hum of mana. Zane Ryde's old life—full of tough business fights and ring wins—seemed like a far-off story, but his smart mind was wide awake and ready. This year, right in the middle of the age of coming (11–13), his power was about to wake up, and he felt something big coming.
Master Veyn took them down to a cavern under the academy, where the walls glowed with pretty runes like tiny stars, his gray beard shining in the dim light, his voice strong but kind. "Today, you'll face your inner test," he said, pointing to a circle of old, mossy stones. "Use your mana core and see what happens." Taren stepped into the circle, his heart beating fast, and closed his eyes. The mana in his chest flared up, warm and strong, rushing through his body. A picture popped into his head—towers falling apart, a shadowy figure saying his name—then a quick sting hit his eyes. A glowing screen popped up in front of him, looking like a magical book with fancy edges.
A *ding* sound rang in his head, clear and happy.
*ding*
- System Unlocked! Yay!
- Goal: Check Your Status – Look at your new status window and get the hang of it.
- Prize: Easy System Guide (C-rank).
- Oops: +10 Profile Points (PP) if you skip it.
The screen was super cool, with golden lines and runes that looked like they came from Eldoria's old stories. It showed his info in a neat way that was easy to read, like a treasure map. Here's what it said:
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**[Taren's Status Window]**
*Marked by the Spark of Awakening*
**Who You Are:**
- **Name:** Taren Etheris
- **Age:** 13
- **Level:** 1
- **Role:** New Explorer
- **Heart:** Balanced
**Your Power:**
- **Health:** 130/130 (How tough you are)
- **Mana:** 90/90 (Your magic energy)
- **Stamina:** 100/100 (How long you can go)
**Your Skills:**
- **Strength:** 13 (Makes you strong in fights)
- **Agility:** 16 (Helps you move fast and dodge)
- **Endurance:** 15 (Keeps you going when tired)
- **Intelligence:** 19 (Boosts your magic and smarts)
- **Charisma:** 11 (Helps you lead and make friends)
**What You Can Do:**
- *Aether Resonance* (E-rank): You can feel mana a little, gets better with practice.
- *Staff Mastery* (F-rank): You're starting to use a staff, improves with training.
**Hidden Powers (Locked):**
- *Perfect Body* (A-rank): Makes training 4 times faster, gives perfect energy, opens at A-rank.
- *All-Seeing Eyes* (C-rank): Sees through tricks and shows people's potential, opens at C-rank.
- *Transformation Skill* (B-rank): Lets you change forms with magic, opens at B-rank.
**Stuff You Have:**
- *Mana Stone* (From the Beast Hunt)
- *Beast Claw* (Proof you're brave)
**Money:**
- **Profile Points (PP):** 0 (You're doing great!)
- **Cosmic Coins:** 0
**Missions:**
- **Now:** Core Combat (14 days left)
- **What to Do:** Use mana to win 3 fights.
- **Prize:** Better Mana Control (C-rank)
- **Uh-oh:** +10 PP if you don't
**Tips:**
- Keep training to unlock your hidden powers!
- Say "Open" in your mind to see this, "Close" to hide it.
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Taren's eyes went wide as the screen showed his stats, its look mixing old Eldorian magic with something new and shiny. He thought "Close," and it shrank to a small rune in the corner, ready to pop up anytime. Kael, standing close, laughed, "What's that silly light, peasant? A kid's toy?" Taren kept quiet, testing the screen by thinking about his skills, which lit up with extra info. Mina peeked over, whispering, "Is that a secret power?" He gave a small nod, his old life's careful ways keeping it safe for now.
After the test, Taren wandered deeper into the cavern. The training yards above boomed with spell fights, their lights flashing like fireworks. The library called him again, its old scrolls whispering secrets, and he heard a kid talk about a mana well hidden in a grove—a clue that got him excited. Gavren's story about a light at his birth tied to the screen's glow popped into his head. The **Dusk Circle**'s scary rumors grew louder, hinting at a bad force waking up, but other mysteries stayed hidden, pulling him in.
That night, Taren sat in his dorm, the candle flickering as he said "Open" to see the status window again, amazed by its details. He focused on the mana in his chest, his body getting tired but pushing hard, the energy feeling steady. A *ding* broke his focus.
*ding*
- System News!
- Your status window is ready! Use it to check your growth, missions, and unlock cool stuff.
- Hint: Meditate more to match your mana with those locked powers.
The next day, Veyn started a new game—making mana shapes. Taren held out his hands, pushing his blue glow to form a wobbly ball that floated for a second, making Veyn smile. Kael's try fizzled out, and Taren showed Mina how to hold her green light steady, their teamwork getting stronger. The cavern's mana hum felt like a friend, helping him focus.
During a break, Taren sat by a rune wall, watching older kids make mana shields, their shapes strong and bright. He wondered if those tricks held old power, adding to his questions. A dark figure stood near the cavern's end, its shape clear for a moment, then gone, giving him that old spooky feeling. No one else saw it, and he kept it to himself, feeling it might be tied to his past.
*ding*
- Watch Out!
- Something strange is near. Stay low to avoid +10 PP.
Taren nodded in his head, going back to the group. The academy's walls felt like a safe place and a puzzle, pushing him to learn more. Lira came by with bread, her worried eyes kind. "Stay safe, Taren," she said, giving him a big hug. Gavren's stories about market rifts, quiet traders, and a singing wind made him curious about Eldoria's secrets.
That night, Taren meditated alone, the status window lighting his way, the mana feeling solid. He pictured leading a team, building a big legacy as the Obsidian Sovereign, the name growing in his heart. A quick vision hit—towers rebuilding, the shadowy figure holding out a sword—then faded, leaving him ready to push on.
The next morning, Veyn added a team shape game, putting Taren with Mina and Ryn. They mixed their mana into a glowing net, catching Veyn's test ball. Kael's group messed up, their teamwork weak, and Taren's team won, their friendship growing. The cavern's hum felt like a heartbeat, lifting them up.
Afterward, Taren sat with Mina and Ryn, sharing berries, talking about the status window. Ryn said there's a locked box in the library with a mana key—a story that got him excited. Mina told of dreams with the shadowy figure giving hints, matching his vision, making them closer. The cracked sky above teased more secrets, its rifts a quiet dare. The dark figure showed up again, standing by the cavern door, its eyes locked on him before vanishing, making him more uneasy.
*ding*
- Mission Update!
- Mission: Core Combat (updated)
- Time Left: 14 days
- Prize: Better Mana Control (C-rank)
- Oops: +10 PP if you don't
Then, a new screen popped up, shiny and inviting:
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**[System Shop]**
*Unlock Treasures with Cosmic Coins!*
**Items for Sale:**
- *Mana Potion* (10 Coins): Heals 50 Mana, quick boost.
- *Stamina Drink* (15 Coins): Restores 50 Stamina, keeps you going.
- *Basic Staff Upgrade* (25 Coins): Makes your staff stronger, better hits.
- *Skill Book: Mana Shield* (50 Coins): Learn to make a magic shield, C-rank.
**Current Balance:** 0 Cosmic Coins
**How to Earn:** Complete missions, help friends, explore secrets!
**Tip:** Say "Shop" to open, "Exit" to close.
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Taren's eyes sparkled at the shop, imagining the cool stuff he could get. As night fell, he looked at the glowing Mana Stones, the cracked sky hinting at big challenges. *This is my road,* he thought, his heart set. He dreamed of standing tall, leading others, the Obsidian Sovereign name his to earn with hard work and quiet steps. The academy's hum, the figure's shadow, and Eldoria's mysteries pushed him to find answers, his new status window and shop a bright guide in the dark.
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