I've always felt broken. Dad was a shadow I never knew, and Mom… she always seemed to have a new man over every other week. Their chaos pressed down on me, like I was walking on glass every single day. Tonight, I needed air. I needed space. So I stepped outside, hoping a walk would clear my head.
The street was quiet. Too quiet. The flicker of the streetlights made the shadows twitch like they were alive. My thoughts spun, twisting tighter with every step. And then I heard it.
A voice. Soft, insistent. Inside my head.
"Notice… Your presence is visible. I'm here to help you grow."
I froze. "My… princess?" I whispered.
"I'm the system," it corrected. "I see everything. You have points, skills, and potential. I'm here to guide you."
My stomach turned. "Points? Skills? Potential? I… I don't get it."
"All will become clear. The arrow will guide you where you need to go. But first… you must understand yourself. Every choice will matter. Every point counts."
I looked around. Empty street. Empty night. My heart was hammering. "Are… are you serious?"
"Deadly serious. You have one thousand points. Not all need to be used here. Some can upgrade yourself. Some can unlock skills. Choose wisely."
Points. Skills. I could feel something twisting in me. A strange mix of fear and… hope? "Skills? Like… what kind of skills?"
"Anything you wish. Best welder, to manipulate tools as if you've always known them. Multi-instrumentalist, to play the piano in the moonlight without practice. The choice is yours."
I swallowed hard. My life… my broken life… had been chaos, pain, and fear. But now, something else stirred. Possibility. A way to piece myself back together.
"I… I think I'm ready," I whispered to no one but myself. "I want to try."
"Then it begins. Welcome, Mizu Zafw. This is the start of your journey."
And for the first time in a long time, I felt… noticed.