Thirteen years old.
That was the age when everything was supposed to change.
At least, that's what the teachers said. The system unlock. The start of your real life. The moment you stopped being "just a kid" and became someone who mattered.
I didn't feel like someone who mattered.
"Eli, you're staring again."
I snapped out of it and looked at the front of the classroom. Ms. Halden was pointing at the massive hologram floating above us, four glowing spheres slowly rotating in the air.
Right. The worlds. Again.
Everyone knew them. We'd been taught about them since we were old enough to read.
**Terra Prime**, our home world. Cities, forests, dungeons, and monsters weak enough for beginners but dangerous enough to kill you if you were stupid.
**Aetherion**, the sky world. Floating islands, wind beasts, and system users who liked pretending gravity was a suggestion.
**Cryovale**, endless ice and snow. Cold-resistant monsters, brutal survival quests, and people who smiled while freezing.
And **Infernia**, the volcanic world. Fire creatures, molten land, and the kind of place where heroes were born… or cremated.
"By now," Ms. Halden continued, "you should all understand that these four worlds are the foundation of our civilization."
Kyle, sitting next to me, leaned over and whispered, "Translation: don't die on your first quest."
I snorted before I could stop myself.
The class laughed. Ms. Halden sighed.
"Eli, Kyle. Since you're clearly awake, perhaps you can tell us who the Top Three System Users are."
Great. Public execution.
I stood up anyway. "Uh… right. The Top Three."
Everyone knew them. The legends. The people whose names were spoken with admiration, envy, and way too much fanboy energy.
"First is **Aurelion Blaze**," I said. "Fire element. Total mastery. The guy who cleared an Infernia raid solo."
A few students nodded proudly.
"Second, **Nyx Aeris**. Wind and shadow. From Aetherion. Can literally walk on air and disappear whenever she wants."
Someone in the back sighed dreamily.
"And third," I finished, "**Valen Frostborne**. Cryovale's strongest. Ice element, absolute control. Cold enough to freeze monsters mid-scream."
Ms. Halden gestured for me to sit. "At least you pay attention."
That was debatable.
The bell rang soon after, and just like that, it was over. System Unlock Day.
Kyle slapped me on the back. "Today's the day, man. You nervous?"
"Nope," I said instantly. "Not at all."
That was a lie. A very confident lie.
When I got home, the apartment was quiet except for the sound of something frying in the kitchen.
"Eli?" my mom called. "You're back already?"
"Yeah."
My mom, **Mara**, poked her head out, smiling like she always did when she was pretending not to worry. She wasn't my biological mom, at least not completely. She'd raised me, though. That mattered more.
She set a plate down and looked at me carefully. "So. Today's the day."
I swallowed. "Guess so."
We sat in my room. The air felt heavy, like the world itself was holding its breath.
Then it happened.
A sharp pulse ran through my chest. The room blurred. Light cracked through the air like shattered glass.
A translucent screen appeared in front of me.
**SYSTEM UNLOCKED**
I stared.
**Name:** Eli
**Age:** 13
**Level:** 0
Oh. That was… reassuring.
Stats began to populate.
**Strength:** 1
**Agility:** 2
**Intelligence:** 3
**Mana:** 0
**Luck:** 5
"…Luck?" I muttered. "That's what I get?"
Mara laughed softly. "Could be worse."
Another window appeared.
**Milestone Reached: Choose Initial Class**
Available Options:
– Assassin
– Warrior
– Mage
My heart sped up. This was it. The choice everyone talked about.
Assassin felt… right. Fast. Clever. Dangerous in a quiet way.
Before I could decide, another notification slammed into view.
**Quest Received**
**Quest:** First Monster Encounter
**Target:** Slime
**Location:** Backyard
**Reward:** 10 EXP, 5 Gold
I stared at it.
"…A slime?"
Mara tried not to laugh. She failed.
"I face gods," I said weakly. "Legends. World-ending threats. And my first enemy is jelly."
I stepped outside anyway.
The slime wobbled in the grass, completely unaware it was about to become the first victim of my legendary rise.
I took a step forward.
Tripped.
Face-first into dirt.
The slime bounced.
I groaned. "Level 0," I muttered. "Don't disappoint me now."
Somewhere deep in my mind, a strange feeling stirred. Like something was watching. Like this system… wasn't as simple as everyone said.
And for the first time, I wondered about the man I barely remembered. The one who wasn't there. The one whose face appeared only in fading fragments of memory.
Who was my father?
I didn't know yet.
But something told me… I would.