First Steps
The morning sun barely pierced the misty forest as Kai followed Lira and Dane along the winding path. His muscles still tingled from the previous day's goblin fight, and the blue letters of the System floated faintly in the corner of his vision.
[New Skill Unlocked: Beginner's Insight][Body Level: 1]
Kai swallowed. "So… this is real," he muttered to himself. He flexed his fingers and swung his imaginary sword—just to see if he could feel the difference.
Lira glanced at him, a teasing smirk on her lips. "You're spacing out again, Kai. Stop daydreaming and keep up."
Dane chuckled. "He's still recovering from yesterday. Don't be too hard on him."
Kai nodded, feeling the weight of responsibility. The System didn't just give him power—it gave him choices. And he wasn't ready to misuse it.
[Optional Quest Available: Test Your Limits][Objective: Spar with a companion and reach a Body Level increase.][Reward: Skill – Focused Reflexes]
Kai's heart raced. He could try the quest immediately… but sparring with Dane was no small feat. He glanced at Lira and she gave him a playful wink, as if encouraging him silently.
"Alright, let's see what you've got," Dane said, swinging his hammer with a grin.
Kai's first controlled sparring session began. He stumbled, missed a few blocks, and even fell flat on his face once. Lira couldn't hide her laughter, and even Dane shook his head, smiling.
But slowly, Kai began to feel the System guiding him. Movements became smoother, reactions faster. By the time the session ended, his Body Level had crept up slightly, and he could almost sense the System's subtle suggestions nudging him toward improvement.
Lira patted his shoulder. "Not bad, Kai. Keep practicing and you might actually be able to keep up with us."
Kai smiled, determination shining in his eyes. He was learning, growing… but he knew the real challenges were still ahead.