Chapter 12 – Aric
The morning air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of dew from the nearby forest. Aric walked along the cobbled streets of his small village, the quiet sounds of daily life brushing against his senses. Merchants shouted their wares, children laughed as they chased each other, and the occasional magical trinket flickered in the sunlight. To any ordinary eye, it was a mundane morning. But Aric's perception had grown sharper. Every movement, every flicker of energy, every trace of mana called to him like a whisper he could no longer ignore.
It happened suddenly. A soft, almost imperceptible hum resonated in his mind, and a translucent panel of light materialized before his eyes. Lines of text and numbers danced across it, detailing attributes and levels of the people around him. His heart skipped a beat. This was… the System.
He focused on the baker across the street. Status.
The panel sharpened, revealing a neatly formatted list: name, age, magical aptitude, skill level, and more—information that no mortal could normally perceive. Aric's mind raced, processing the data. Some numbers were ordinary; others suggested hidden talents, potential unrecognized even by their bearers.
Daren appeared beside him, silent as a shadow, observing the young boy's reaction. "It's your first time seeing it, isn't it?" he asked calmly.
Aric nodded, his voice barely above a whisper. "I… I can see everything about them. How… how is this possible?"
"The System," Daren said, "is more than just a magical framework. It is the world's will, manifesting itself. Everything, from birth to death, is recorded, measured, and ranked. That panel is not just a tool—it's a reflection of the world's oversight. Taboo knowledge is restricted, but almost everything else can be accessed."
Aric's eyes widened as he turned his attention to other villagers. Status. Each person's data appeared instantly: the blacksmith's incredible physical strength, the herbalist's latent healing potential, the children's unusual aptitude for elemental manipulation. It was a world laid bare in numbers and information.
"Does… does everyone see this?" Aric asked, a mixture of awe and unease in his voice.
Daren shook his head. "No. Only those attuned—or those the System allows. Most mortals live their lives oblivious to these mechanics. It is a blessing and a curse. Knowledge can empower… or it can destroy."
Aric turned to the baker again. He could see the man's basic level, his skill in mundane tasks, even a hidden magical reserve that he had never known how to use. He wondered what it would mean if he could access such knowledge freely in battle—or in negotiation. It was a tool of immense potential.
Suddenly, a memory surfaced in his mind: the stories of Taboo breakers, those few who could defy the System itself. Aric's pulse quickened. If he could understand the System, learn its limits, and perhaps even master it, the possibilities were staggering. But with that came danger. Missteps could alert higher powers—agents of the System, divine enforcers, or worse.
Daren placed a firm hand on his shoulder. "Remember, Aric. Power is meaningless without strategy. Information is not strength—it is only the first step toward understanding. How you act on it, how you integrate it into your actions… that is what will make you formidable."
Aric nodded, feeling the weight of both the opportunity and the responsibility. He had glimpsed a fragment of the world's inner workings, a system that measured, controlled, and guided the flow of magic and life. But now, for the first time, he understood the potential it offered him—and the danger it posed if misused.
"Let's start learning," Daren said, a small, approving smile breaking his usually stoic expression. "We will test your ability to read, analyze, and act upon what you see. Knowledge without practice is nothing."
Aric clenched his fists, feeling the rush of determination surge through him. The System had revealed a secret layer of the world, and he was ready to step into it, to explore, to understand—and ultimately, to surpass the limits imposed upon him.
As the sun climbed higher, Aric began practicing, calling status on every passerby, testing the accuracy of his perception, and observing patterns in their mana flow. The world, once ordinary, now unfolded before him like a vast, intricate tapestry. Every thread was visible, every hidden current detectable, and Aric realized that his journey had taken a decisive step forward.
The path ahead was dangerous. The System was only the beginning.
And he was ready.