The Morning After
"Don't go too far!"
Hannah's voice echoed from the porch as the two children sprinted down the dusty path, laughter trailing behind them like the morning breeze.
The sun had barely climbed over the rooftops of Wethervore, its light soft and golden. Dew still clung to the grass, and the distant sound of a blacksmith's hammer echoed faintly from the village center.
Grim jogged behind his sister, his small boots thudding quietly against the dirt road. It's been a long time since I saw this street… since I saw them like this.
Before he could let the thought linger, a loud shout cut through the morning air.
"Surprise attack!"
Something — someone — slammed into him from the side. Grim yelped as he tumbled to the ground, pain flashing across his forehead. Above him stood a grinning Luke, arms crossed, orange hair blazing in the sunlight.
"If you're gonna be a Holy Knight like me," Luke declared proudly, "you've gotta stay on alert at all times!"
Mira burst into laughter nearby, her silver hair bouncing as she doubled over. "You're so hopeless, Grim!" she teased, clutching her stomach.
Grim sat up slowly, rubbing the sore spot on his head. His expression flickered — anger, just for a second — but then he saw Luke's wide grin and Mira's bright laughter. The irritation melted away, replaced by something softer. It really has been so long since I saw this…
Luke slapped his hands together, eyes gleaming. "Alright! Let's play Fort Knights! I'll be Captain Blaze again — you be Sir Crybaby!"
"I'm Lady Mira this time!" she shouted, striking a heroic pose.
Grim dusted off his clothes and stood up, shaking his head. "Not today."
"Huh?" Luke frowned. "What do you mean, not today?"
"I… have other things to do," Grim muttered, avoiding their eyes.
Mira tilted her head. "Other things? Like what's more important than Fort Knights?"
He paused, then forced a nervous laugh. "Just… something Mom asked me to do."
The excuse sounded weak even to him, but neither Luke nor Mira pressed further. They just watched as he turned and began walking away, the morning light stretching his small shadow long across the dirt.
I can't tell them.
Not yet.
I don't know how much the future would change if they knew what's coming… and I can't risk it.
Behind him, Luke and Mira exchanged a glance. Their laughter faded, replaced by puzzled, almost suspicious stares.
Luke squinted. "He's acting weird again."
Mira nodded slowly. "Yeah… really weird."
Grim didn't look back. He just kept walking, the distant sound of their voices fading as the world around him — the peaceful, innocent world he was trying to protect — felt heavier than ever.
Grim walked alone along the narrow dirt path, the laughter of his sister and Luke fading behind him until the only sounds left were the rustle of leaves and the steady thump of his own footsteps.
His small hands were balled into fists. I can't stay weak forever… not again.
His thoughts deepened, the air around him heavy with quiet resolve.
Since I was born, my mana's always been abnormally low. Everyone's mana grows as they do — body, mind, and spirit all expanding together. It's like a bowl of water — the bigger the bowl, the more it can hold.
But my bowl… mine can't even hold what a baby's can.
He stopped walking and glanced at his hands — trembling, thin, soft like any child's.
Back then, I accepted it. I told myself I just wasn't meant to be strong.
He grit his teeth, his voice low and firm.
But this time… this time, I'll change it — even if I have to bend the rules of the world itself.
He clenched his fists tighter and turned off the path, heading deeper into the forest.
It was quiet here — too quiet. This was his favorite place, where magical beasts rarely strayed and no one came looking for him. The canopy above filtered sunlight into thin, golden shafts that danced between the trees.
He took off his shirt, the morning air brushing cool against his skin. His small frame was frail, barely any muscle beneath his pale skin.
"I wonder how many push-ups I can do," he muttered to himself.
He dropped to the ground.
"...One, two, three, four—"
With a dull thud, his arms gave out, and he hit the dirt hard, panting. Sweat ran down his forehead, soaking his hair. His body trembled with exhaustion after just a handful of push-ups.
"Damn it…" he whispered, voice shaky. He turned his head to the side, breathing heavily.
Then—
Clink.
A faint metallic sound echoed nearby. Grim froze. Slowly, he lifted his head.
Floating right in front of him — glowing faintly blue — was a translucent screen of light.
His eyes widened. "What… is that?"
For a second, he thought it was a magic beast's trick. Panic surged through him, and he dove into a nearby bush, heart pounding. The branches scratched his arms as he crouched low, watching the glowing object from between the leaves.
But it didn't move. It just… hovered there, pulsing gently, almost like it was waiting.
After a long silence, Grim swallowed hard and slowly crawled back out. He took a hesitant step closer.
The glowing letters came into focus.
[Strength +1]
He blinked. "Woah… that's new."
He'd never seen anything like this — not in his past life, not in any spell, rune, or system he'd ever studied. Carefully, he reached out and tapped the screen with one finger.
Instantly, the display flickered — and changed.
Four glowing tabs appeared before him:
[User Info]
[Pets]
[Inventory]
[Heavenly Store]
The User Info tab was already open. Numbers and labels filled the screen like some strange game interface.
He leaned closer, reading aloud in disbelief.
Strength: 3
Speed: 4
Agility: 2
Stamina: 6
Mana: 2
Luck: 10
Intelligence: 40
Grim stared, his reflection flickering in the glowing light.
Weak in everything… except intelligence and luck.
He laughed quietly — not with joy, but in disbelief. "So even the system agrees I'm hopeless."
But then, his smile faded, and his blue eyes sharpened with determination.
No… this is different. This is something new — something the old me never had.
He clenched his fists again, the faint glow of the blue screen reflecting off his eyes.
And I'll use it… no matter what it takes.
Grim squinted at the glowing blue screen.
Skill? Heavenly crusade?
At the bottom of the tab, two faint lines blinked in gray:
Skill: Locked
Heavenly Crusade: Locked
He frowned. "Locked? Why would it be locked?"
He tapped the word. The screen buzzed faintly, vibrating like a phone on silent mode — then stubbornly refused to open.
Grim groaned and tried again. Tap. Tap. Tap.
The screen flashed red for a split second.
[Access Denied]
"Huh… rude," he muttered. He crossed his arms and sighed. "Fine. Be that way."
He scrolled further. His eyes caught two more lines near the bottom:
Health: 24
EXP: 4
"At least I can track my growth," he said under his breath, smirking. "Now I just need to figure out how to raise these stats…"
Before he could think further, the nearby bushes rustled.
Grim froze, his eyes narrowing. Beast? No… too light.
The sound came again — soft whispers, hushed giggles, then—
"Shh! He'll hear you!"
"I'm trying to be quiet!"
Grim's eyebrow twitched. The voices were unmistakable.
He crept forward and parted the leaves… only to find two familiar faces peeking through a mess of branches — Mira, her hair tangled with twigs, and Luke, who somehow had a leaf sticking straight up from his head like a horn.
"Mira? Luke?" Grim sighed. "Did you two follow me?"
They both froze mid-whisper. Then, in perfect unison:
"No."
Grim stared flatly. "You're literally in the bush behind me."
Mira gasped dramatically, pointing at Luke. "It was his idea!"
Luke threw his hands up. "Liar! You were the one who said, 'Let's spy on Grim, he's acting all weird and suspicious!'"
"I said it jokingly!"
"You brought snacks!"
Grim blinked. "...You brought snacks?"
Mira huffed, crossing her arms. "Stakeouts are boring without snacks."
Luke snorted. "It wasn't a stakeout! I just thought he was gonna cry again and I didn't wanna miss it."
Grim pinched the bridge of his nose. "You two are unbelievable."
Mira grinned. "You're one to talk, sneaking off like some old man with secrets."
Luke nodded eagerly. "Yeah, you always walk off alone! What are you even doing out here? Training to cry louder?"
Grim's deadpan stare could have cut steel. "You want me to demonstrate?"
"Ha! He admits it!" Luke laughed, elbowing Mira. "See? Crybaby confirmed."
Mira giggled, trying to hide it behind her hand.
Grim sighed heavily and started walking past them. "Unbelievable. I'm surrounded by idiots."
"Hey, we're your friends!" Luke called after him.
"Exactly my point."
Mira tilted her head. "So what were you doing, Grim?"
"Push-ups," he said flatly.
Luke blinked. "...That's it?"
"Uh-huh."
Mira frowned. "You came all the way out here to do push-ups?"
Grim shrugged. "Chicken out on everything forever . Gotta build stamina somehow."
Both stared at him for a moment. Then Luke burst out laughing so hard he fell backward into the bush again. Mira sighed but started giggling too.
"Seriously," Luke managed between laughs, "one of these days, your weirdness is gonna rub off on us."
"I don't think you will need my help to get weird ," Grim muttered under his breath, hiding a small smile.
Grim didn't get far before something soft hit the back of his head.
He froze. Slowly, he turned around.
A small pinecone rolled to a stop by his feet.
Luke was standing a few feet away, wearing the most unconvincing innocent face imaginable. "...It slipped."
Grim's expression darkened. "Really."
Mira snickered from behind him. "Yeah, totally slipped. Out of your hand."
Luke pointed dramatically at her. "Traitor!"
Before he could defend himself further, another pinecone sailed through the air and bonked him right on the forehead. Mira blinked, surprised. Grim lowered his arm, smirking.
"Oops," Grim said. "Guess it slipped."
Luke gasped, rubbing his head. "Oh, so that's how it's gonna be, huh?!"
Grim arched an eyebrow. "You started it."
"Then I'll finish it!"
With that, Luke dove for the ground, grabbed two pinecones, and launched them in Grim's direction. Mira screamed and ducked behind a tree, laughing as the two boys started a full-blown pinecone war.
"Hey! No aiming for the face!" Grim shouted, dodging one that flew past his ear.
"All's fair in war and Fort Knights!" Luke yelled back.
"That's not how that saying goes!"
"Too late!" Luke dove behind a bush, cackling maniacally. "Sir Crybaby, prepare for defeat!"
"Stop calling me that!" Grim launched another pinecone, hitting Luke square in the chest. "Ha!"
"Cheap shot!"
"Smart shot," Grim corrected, smirking.
From behind the tree, Mira giggled uncontrollably, trying to breathe. "You two are so childish!"
Splat. A pinecone hit her shoulder.
She froze, blinking slowly. "...Who. Did. That."
Luke and Grim both pointed at each other instantly. "He did!"
"Oh, you're both dead!"
She grabbed a handful of dirt and charged, screaming like a battle cry. "FOR FORT KNIGHTS!"
The next few minutes were chaos — laughter, shouts, and flying pinecones echoing through the quiet forest. Birds scattered from the trees, startled by the racket.
When it finally ended, the three of them were lying on the grass, breathless, covered in dirt and twigs, grinning like idiots.
Luke turned his head lazily toward Grim. "You still sure you didn't wanna play?"
Grim chuckled faintly. "Guess I changed my mind."
Mira sat up, brushing off her skirt. "You're both ridiculous."
Luke smirked. "You mean awesome."
She rolled her eyes. "Sure. Let's go with that."
For a moment, silence settled — warm and calm. The sunlight filtered through the trees, painting golden patterns on the forest floor. Grim looked up at the sky, his expression softening.
I missed this… he thought. Their laughter. The noise. The peace.
Then, quietly, his smile faded.
But peace never lasts.
He sat up, brushing off his shirt. "We should head back before Mom starts yelling."
Mira groaned. "Ugh, she's definitely gonna yell."
Luke winced. "Especially when she sees all this dirt."
The three looked at each other — equally covered in grass, dust, and pine needles — and sighed in perfect unison.
Then Luke grinned. "Race you home?"
"Not fair!" Mira protested. "You always cheat!"
"Do not!"
"Do too!"
Grim smiled faintly as they started bickering again. Then he whispered under his breath — just loud enough for the wind to carry it away:
No matter how far I go… I won't let this world take them from me again.
And with that, he started running after them, laughter echoing through the trees once more.
By the time the trio reached the house, the sun was sinking low, bathing the village in soft orange light. The three of them stopped at the gate, panting and filthy from head to toe.
Luke bent over, hands on his knees. "That… was… awesome."
Mira huffed. "We look like we rolled through the whole forest!"
Grim glanced down at himself — streaks of dirt, grass stains, and a suspicious leaf still stuck in his hair. "You two dragged me into it," he muttered.
Luke grinned. "Yeah, but admit it — it was fun."
Grim didn't answer. He just smirked faintly.
Then the door opened.
Hannah stood there with her hands on her hips, wearing the faintest smile that never reached her eyes. Her tone was sweet — too sweet.
"Oh my, my, my… what happened to my clean little angels?"
The three froze.
Luke leaned close and whispered, "Grim… she sounds calm."
"That's worse," Grim whispered back. "Run."
Too late.
"GRIM. MIRA." Her voice cracked through the air like thunder. "Inside. Now."
The two siblings shuffled forward with identical expressions of doom. Luke tried to sneak away — and Hannah's voice stopped him cold.
"And you, Luke. Since you're part of this 'art project' you three seem to have painted on yourselves, you're helping me clean it off."
Luke whimpered. "Y-yes, ma'am…"
Ten minutes later, the house was full of the sounds of running water, scolding, and children sneezing from soap bubbles.
Hannah scrubbed Mira's hair while Mira protested loudly. "Mom! You're washing my brain!"
"You should have thought of that before rolling in the mud, young lady!"
Meanwhile, Grim sat quietly as Hannah wiped his face with a cloth, shaking her head. "You too, Grim. You're supposed to be the responsible one."
He smiled awkwardly. "Sorry, Mom."
Hannah paused, looking at him. For a moment, her expression softened — seeing something unreadable in her son's eyes. Something old.
Then she smiled again. "Just don't make me have to summon the slipper next time."
Grim chuckled weakly. "Yes, ma'am.
Later that night, silence blanketed the house. The moonlight spilled through the window, pale and cool.
Grim lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling. The room was still, save for the soft creak of the wooden beams and Mira's faint snoring from the next room.
Then — ding.
A faint blue glow shimmered above him. The translucent screen floated quietly in the air, the familiar [User Info] tab flickering open.
User: Grim Halloway
Strength: 4
Speed: 4
Agility: 3
Stamina: 6
Mana: 2
Luck: 10
Intelligence: 40
EXP: 7
Grim sighed softly. "So… just two points total today, huh?"
He turned to his side, resting his head on his arm, eyes reflecting the faint blue light.
Barely anything. Even when I push myself to exhaustion… this is all I get?
He clenched his fist. No. That's not enough. Not nearly enough.
He glanced toward the window — the moonlight falling across the wooden floor. Slowly, he sat up, the bedsheet slipping from his shoulders.
"I didn't train enough during the day," he whispered. "Then I'll make up for it now."
Quietly, he slipped out of bed, careful not to wake his mother or Mira. The floorboards creaked faintly as he moved to the center of the room.
He took a deep breath and dropped down, palms flat against the cold wood.
"Push-ups, sit-ups, squats… whatever it takes."
He began moving — slow at first, his small arms trembling with each repetition. Sweat soon gathered on his forehead. His breaths came short, quiet, determined.
The blue screen followed him, floating beside him like a silent witness. Each time he pushed past his limit, the numbers flickered faintly.
[Strength +1]
[Stamina +1]
His muscles screamed in protest, but he didn't stop.
"I won't be that weakling again," he muttered under his breath. "Not in this life."
He kept going until his arms gave out, collapsing face-first onto the floor. The blue light dimmed slightly as he gasped for breath.
Then he smiled faintly — tired, but satisfied.
The last thing he saw before drifting off to sleep was the faint shimmer of the blue screen fading into the darkness.
EXP: 12