Kairo stood at the edge of Harven Town, the sunlight blazing directly overhead as if the sun itself had chosen this moment to shine brightest. He shaded his eyes and took a slow breath, letting the warmth soak into his skin. The town lay sprawled before him like something from a storybook—a quaint, peaceful place that seemed to promise nothing more than simple beginnings.
From afar, Harven could easily be mistaken for just another RPG starter village: cobblestone streets winding lazily between timber-framed houses with slanted roofs, smoke curling gently from chimneys, and flower boxes blooming bright in window sills. At the heart of the town, a modest plaza bustled with activity. Merchants hawked their wares, children darted between stalls, and travellers in worn cloaks passed through, some stopping to exchange hurried greetings.
A fountain gurgled cheerfully in the centre, its crystal-clear water sparkling under the sun. Nearby, a large stone building loomed, its heavy oak doors framed by tall banners embroidered with the fiery crest of a stylised flame. The unmistakable symbol of a guild branch, likely the local hub for adventurers seeking their fortunes.
Kairo's system chimed softly in his mind.
『Quest Complete: Reach Harven Town』
+100 EXP
+10 Silver Jewels
Reward Unlocked: Basic Status Function—Magic Affinity Scan Available.
A crisp, digital Ding! Echoed quietly.
『New Feature Unlocked: Magic Scan』
Would you like to assess your natural magical affinity?
[Y/N]
Without hesitation, Kairo selected [Yes].
Time seemed to slow. The bustling sounds of the town dimmed as a gentle, emerald-green light enveloped his form. He felt a peculiar warmth radiate from his chest—not painful, but profound, like a forgotten ember stirring back to life within him.
『Scanning…』
『Affinity Detected: Shadowflame Magic (Locked)』
『Sub-Type: Hybrid Elemental—Darkness/Fire』
『Potential: High』
『Skill Tree Unlocked: Shadowflame Magic』
『Note: The first spell unlocks at the next level.』
His breath caught. Shadowflame. The word alone thrummed with dangerous promise—an unusual, rare elemental combination blending fire's fierce heat with the enigmatic chill of shadows.
Curious, he tapped the glowing skill tree interface that had appeared before his eyes, and a detailed layout unfolded:
[Shadowflame Magic—Tree Overview]
– Locked Tier 1 Spell: Flicker Spark
– Locked Passive: Elemental Resistance +5% (Fire/Dark)
– Tier 2 (Unknown)
– Tier 3 (Unknown)
Kairo exhaled slowly, the weight of this newfound power settling on his shoulders. "So, I need to level up again," he murmured to himself.
He swiped to his status menu for a better look.
Status
Name: Kairo Dusk
Class: [Unassigned]
Level: 2 (EXP: 250/400)
HP: 120/120
MP: 70/70
STR: 10
AGI: 12
INT: 14
WIS: 12
LCK: 5
Stat Points Available: 0
Title: [Reincarnated One]
Magic Affinity: Shadowflame (Locked)
His stomach growled loudly, reminding him of the long journey and lack of food. His legs ached, tired from travel and anticipation. He stepped off the grassy outskirts and into the thick of the town.
The air here was alive with scent—the mingling of freshly baked bread, the salty sweat of labourers, and a faint but unmistakable trace of smouldering embers. It was a scent that somehow fit perfectly with his new magic affinity.
Kairo muttered under his breath, "Alright, first things first... I have to find a job board or maybe a quest hub."
His footsteps carried him toward the plaza, but before he could get very far, a loud commotion cut through the afternoon chatter.
"—I told you, I'm not paying for the damn roof! It collapsed because the sandwich was too spicy!"
A deep, exasperated sigh followed. "Natsu, you burnt down the stand again."
Kairo whipped his head around, eyes sharp.
Across the plaza stood a teenage boy with spiky pink hair and a bright scarf wrapped around his neck. His eyes burnt with fierce determination, and literal flames curled around his clenched fists, flickering in the warm sunlight. A small blue cat hovered near him, flapping tiny wings frantically as it argued.
People around them kept their distance, clearly wary of the volatile duo.
"No way…" Kairo breathed.
"That's Natsu Dragneel. The legendary Dragon Slayer of Fairy Tail."
His gamer system chimed a warning.
『Random Encounter Triggered: Natsu Dragneel – Level ???』
Warning: Power levels vastly outclass player.
"Yeah, no thanks," Kairo muttered, stepping back. "Not a fight I want."
But curiosity gnawed at him. If Natsu were here, then Fairy Tail's guildhall couldn't be far away. Maybe this town was more than just a quiet stop.
Suddenly, a different commotion caught his eye—near the guild building's heavy doors. Two cloaked men roughly yanked a small boy by the collar, their faces obscured beneath dark hoods.
"Let me go! That's my money!" The boy cried desperately.
One of the men sneered. "Noisy brat." A sharp slap landed across the boy's cheek.
Kairo's body reacted before his mind could catch up.
Ding!
『Side Quest: Local Hero』
Objective: Save the boy.
Rewards: +200 EXP, +5 Reputation (Harven Town), Possible Item Drop.
"Hey!" Kairo shouted, stepping forward. "Let him go!"
The thugs turned, eyes narrowing. One cracked his knuckles with a sinister grin. "You want to die, punk?"
The other drew a short, wicked blade and lunged at him.
『Combat Mode Activated』
Kairo barely dodged the swift slash, spinning to deliver a solid kick to the man's knee. The second thug raised a heavy wooden club, swinging wildly.
『Combat Skill Activated: Improvised Manoeuvre – Lv. 1』
Kairo dropped low, narrowly avoiding the club's crushing arc. In one fluid motion, he thrust his dagger into the attacker's ribs and twisted sharply.
『17 Damage Dealt.』
The man collapsed, groaning in pain.
But before Kairo could relax, the first thug yanked the boy back, pressing a knife to his throat. "One more step, and he dies."
Kairo froze. His heart pounded violently in his chest.
Then, without warning, fire.
A blazing fist erupted behind him, flaming red and golden, and slammed into the thug's face with a thunderous crack. The man flew backwards, crashing to the cobblestones, unconscious.
Natsu stood there, cracking his knuckles and flashing a cocky grin.
"Messing with kids?" he growled. "Not cool."
Kairo blinked, still breathless.
『Enemy Defeated – Assist Credit: +50 EXP』
『Side Quest Completed: Local Hero』
+200 EXP
+5 Reputation (Harven Town)
+1 Minor Healing Potion
『Level Up! You are now Level 3!』
Stat Points +5
New Skill Unlocked: Shadowflame—Flicker Spark (Lv. 1)
Windows and menus popped up around Kairo's vision, each glowing with fresh opportunity.
He turned to Natsu, words barely out. "Uh—thanks."
Natsu shrugged with that trademark grin. "No problem! You held your own pretty well, though. What guild are you from?"
Kairo hesitated. "Uh… I'm not part of any guild yet. Just arrived."
Natsu raised a sceptical eyebrow. "No guild, huh? You should drop by Fairy Tail sometime. You might like it."
With a quick thumbs-up, Natsu spun on his heel and vanished into the crowd as effortlessly as he'd arrived.
Kairo stood frozen for a moment, stunned by the encounter.
A soft chirp pulled his attention.
"You're lucky. He usually punches first and asks questions later."
The blue cat from earlier hovered beside him, wings fluttering eagerly.
Kairo blinked. "You're… happy?"
"Aye, sir! Happy to meet you!"
A small smile cracked Kairo's serious expression. "Okay… this is happening."
⟡
Night fell over Harven Town like a velvet curtain, the streets now bathed in the gentle glow of lanterns and the murmur of nighttime life. After exchanging his new reputation points for a modest reward and securing a free stay at the local inn thanks to a grateful barkeep, Kairo finally sank onto the creaky wooden bed in his room.
The day's events swirled in his mind—his first taste of real danger, an unexpected ally in Natsu, and the awakening of something deep inside him.
He opened his system menu one last time before sleep.
『Shadowflame Spell Unlocked: Flicker Spark (Lv. 1)』
Type: Offensive
Effect: Launch a fast spark of Shadowflame dealing (INT × 1.5) damage with a small chance to burn.
Cost: 10 MP
Cooldown: 5 seconds
Carefully, he distributed his freshly earned stat points.
+2 INT → 16
+2 AGI → 14
+1 WIS → 13
"Getting stronger," he whispered to himself. "And Fairy Tail… that's where I need to go."
Outside the window, the stars blinked softly like distant fireflies, illuminating the path ahead—wild, uncertain, but promising.
Kairo's fingers clenched into fists. This wasn't just survival anymore. This was his journey. His destiny. One level at a time.