The first light of morning spread gently over the village of Eldenbrook. A soft mist wrapped the thatched roofs and cobblestone streets in a quiet haze. The cool breeze carried the fresh scent of pine and damp earth, promising a new day. Birds sang softly, their melodies weaving through the stillness.

Kael stood outside his family’s small cottage, stacking firewood. The rough bark pressed into his palms, but his mind was far away, tangled in restless thoughts. The steady rhythm of his work should have been comforting, but today it only reminded him of the life he longed to escape.

His eyes drifted toward the dark forest at the village’s edge. The trees stood like silent sentinels, ancient and mysterious. To most villagers, it was simply the boundary of their world. But to Kael, it was a gateway to everything he dreamed of—adventure, power, and a chance to prove himself.

One day, he thought, I’ll leave this place behind. I’ll find out what lies beyond.

His mother’s voice called softly from the kitchen window. “Kael! Don’t forget to help with the harvest later.”

He forced a smile. “I won’t,” he said, but his heart wasn’t in it. Eldenbrook was home, but it felt too small for the dreams that filled his mind.

The village was full of stories—tales told by elders around fires about heroes who had unlocked secret powers through strange artifacts. These leveling heroes had grown stronger than anyone else. Most said these were just legends, but Kael believed. He dreamed of becoming one of those heroes.

As the sun climbed higher, Kael slipped away from the village square, his footsteps muffled by soft earth. The forest welcomed him with cool shade and the scent of moss and wildflowers. He breathed deeply, feeling the restless knot in his chest loosen just a little.

Suddenly, a faint blue glow flickered beneath the roots of an ancient oak. His heart quickened as he knelt and brushed away dirt and leaves. There, half-buried, lay a small artifact unlike anything he’d ever seen.

It was carved from smooth dark stone, etched with symbols that shimmered as if alive. The glow pulsed softly, like a heartbeat, and when Kael’s fingers touched it, warmth spread through him.

Then, everything changed.

His vision blurred, then sharpened, and before his eyes appeared a translucent panel floating in midair—glowing softly in shades of blue and silver. Numbers ticked upward: Level 1, XP: 0/100. Below, icons formed a grid: Skills, Inventory, and a tab labeled Shop.

Kael blinked, heart pounding. No one else could see this—this glowing interface was his alone.

Tentatively, he reached out with his mind, and the Skills menu expanded, showing branches of powers he had never imagined. His Inventory displayed a simple dagger and a few herbs—items from his village life catalogued in this strange new world. The Shop tab pulsed gently, hinting at secrets to come.

A soft voice echoed in his mind, clear but gentle: “Leveling system activated. Welcome, Kael.”

He swallowed hard, awe and fear swirling inside him. This was no ordinary magic. This was a system—an invisible world inside his mind—and it was his alone to master.

The forest seemed to hold its breath.

From the edge of the trees, a familiar voice broke the silence. “Kael? What are you doing here so early?”

Lira, his childhood friend, stepped into the clearing, eyes wide with surprise.

Kael hesitated but knew he couldn’t keep this secret. “Lira, I found something… incredible.” He held out the artifact.

She reached out, fingers brushing its smooth surface. “It’s beautiful… but it feels strange. Like it’s alive.”

Kael nodded. “When I touched it, this appeared.” He gestured to the floating interface only he could see. “I don’t understand it yet, but I think it’s some kind of power.”

Lira’s brow furrowed. “Power can be dangerous, Kael. Are you sure you want to mess with something like this?”

He looked into her eyes, seeing worry and trust. “I don’t have a choice. This is my chance to change everything—for me, for the village.”

She squeezed his hand. “Then I’ll help you. We’ll figure this out together.”

For the first time in a long while, hope blossomed inside Kael. The path ahead was uncertain and filled with danger, but with Lira by his side, he was ready to face whatever came next.

The forest whispered around them, alive with secrets waiting to be uncovered. And Kael knew his journey was only just beginning.

Kael barely slept that night. The strange glowing interface that had appeared before his eyes—the numbers, the icons, the soft pulse of the artifact in his palm—haunted his thoughts. It was like a secret world had opened inside his mind, one no one else could see or understand.

When dawn broke, he rose quietly and slipped out of the cottage, careful not to wake his family. The village was still wrapped in the soft hush of morning as he made his way back to the forest clearing where he had found the artifact. The faint blue glow pulsed steadily beneath the ancient oak tree, as if waiting for him.

He reached out, and the familiar warmth spread through his fingers, flowing up his arm and settling deep in his chest. Then, as if summoned by his touch, the translucent panel shimmered into view—his personal interface glowing softly in shades of blue and silver.

Before him floated the words Level 1 and XP: 0/100, alongside three clear tabs: Skills, Inventory, and Shop.

Kael’s heart pounded. This was his alone—a secret power no one else could touch or see.

His eyes scanned the Inventory tab first. A grid unfolded, showing a few simple items: his worn leather pouch, a small knife, and some herbs he had gathered. It was like a hidden pocket inside his mind, a place where his belongings were cataloged in perfect detail.

“Kael?” A voice broke through his thoughts.

Lira stepped into the clearing, her eyes wide with curiosity. “You’re here early. What are you doing?”

Kael hesitated, then decided to share what he could. “I found this,” he said, holding up the artifact. “And… something else. A kind of system. It only I can see it.”

Lira frowned, stepping closer. “A system? Like magic?”

Kael nodded. “More than magic, I think. It shows my level, my experience, and even an inventory of what I carry. There’s even a shop I can access.”

“A shop?” Lira’s brow furrowed. “You mean you can buy things through this… thing?”

Kael shrugged, still trying to wrap his mind around it. “I don’t know yet. But it’s real. And it’s mine.”

Lira reached out and squeezed his hand. “You’re not alone in this. We’ll figure it out together.”

Encouraged by her support, Kael decided to test the system. He opened the Skills tab and saw branches of abilities—some locked, some glowing faintly. He tentatively selected a simple skill labeled Basic Attack. A small spark flickered in his palm.

“Try it on something,” Lira suggested, eyes shining with excitement and worry.

Kael’s heart raced. They moved cautiously toward the edge of the forest where a wild boar had been causing trouble. When the boar charged, Kael focused, mentally activating Basic Attack. His knife shimmered briefly as he dodged and struck.

The interface blinked: +5 XP. Damage: Minimal.

Kael gasped. It worked.

As the boar retreated, Kael glanced at his XP bar—it had moved. This system rewarded action, growth, and courage.

A new notification appeared under the Shop tab: Traveling Merchant nearby. New items available.

Kael smiled, the weight of his ordinary life lifting. His journey had truly begun.

The sun was high and warm over Eldenbrook, casting long shadows across the village square. Kael and Lira’s footsteps echoed softly on the cobblestones as they returned from the forest, their minds heavy with the morning’s revelations. The quiet hum of village life felt distant now, as if the world around them had shifted.

Whispers followed them—curious glances from neighbors and merchants who had heard the rumors. In a village this small, news traveled fast, and word of Kael’s discovery had spread like wildfire.

By midday, a stranger arrived.

She stepped into the square with graceful confidence, her dark cloak sweeping the ground behind her. Her sharp eyes scanned the crowd until they locked onto Kael. The villagers instinctively parted, sensing something different about her—something powerful.

Kael’s heart tightened. He had never seen anyone like her before.

The stranger approached him directly, her voice calm but carrying undeniable authority. “You’re the one who found the artifact.”

Kael swallowed, clutching the small stone hidden beneath his cloak. “Yes,” he said cautiously. “How do you know?”

“I’m Mira,” she said, her gaze steady and unwavering. “I’ve been searching for it for a long time.”

Lira stepped protectively beside Kael, her voice steady despite the tension. “What do you want from him?”

Mira’s eyes softened just a fraction. “To train him. To prepare him. The artifact is more than a relic—it’s a key to power, but also to danger. The world is changing, and dark forces are stirring. If Kael doesn’t learn to control what he’s been given, he won’t survive.”

Kael looked down at the artifact in his hand, feeling its faint pulse. The glowing interface flickered in his vision, a reminder of the strange new world he had stepped into.

“I want to learn,” Kael said quietly, meeting Mira’s gaze with newfound determination. “I want to be strong enough to protect those I care about.”

Mira nodded approvingly. “Then you must leave this village behind. The path ahead will be difficult, but it’s the only way.”

The village square fell silent, the weight of her words settling over everyone. Kael’s chest tightened with a mix of fear and resolve.

That evening, under a sky scattered with stars, Kael prepared to leave. The walls of his cottage, once a place of comfort, now felt confining, as if the simple life he had known was slipping away.

His father stood by the door, his usual stern expression softened by worry. The blacksmith’s hands, strong from years of labor, rested heavily on Kael’s shoulders.

“You’re not just leaving the village, Kael,” his father said quietly. “You’re stepping into a world we don’t understand. Promise me you’ll be careful.”

Kael met his father’s gaze, feeling the weight of those words. “I will,” he said firmly. “I have to do this.”

His mother appeared then, carrying a small bundle of herbs. She placed it gently in Kael’s hands. “For when you’re tired or hurt,” she said softly, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “Remember, no matter how far you go, you carry our love with you.”

Kael nodded, swallowing the lump in his throat.

From the corner of the room, his younger sibling peeked out shyly, eyes wide and hopeful. “Come back soon, big brother,” they whispered.

Kael knelt down, pulling them into a tight embrace. “I promise,” he said, his voice thick with emotion.

Outside, Lira waited, her own eyes shining with unshed tears but her smile brave.

“We’ll meet again,” she said firmly.

Kael took a deep breath, feeling the pulse of the artifact in his pocket and the steady hum of his Ascendant Interface in his vision. The forest beyond the village beckoned—dark, unknown, and full of promise.

With one last look at the home he loved, Kael stepped forward, ready to face whatever awaited.