Rain drummed on the thin roof of the Shack District as Lyn hid in his corner by the lamplight. He was seventeen, the lowest of the low among mages—if "mage" even existed. Born with a latent affinity for water, his abilities were little more than making wet air on a sultry day. It was pitiful, and he was aware of it. The other Arcanum apprentices, those who curbed fire and stone, lightning and air to their commands, hardly recalled Lyn's surname. They had nicknamed him "Drip."
Magister Havel boomed through the chamber: "Today we perform the Affinity Trials! Come forward, apprentices, and let the elements decide your merit!"
As the selected made their way to the dais, Lyn grasped the shadows, hoping not to be summoned. His hopes were in vain.
"Lyn Kariel!" the magister shouted.
There was laughter as Lyn half-ran forward, palms greasy with sweaty nervousness. He extended them over the ancient crystal, calling up what little trickle he could. For an instant, the orb glowed, and a thin mist swirled inside—like a teapot starting to boil. The judges "hmph"ed in dismay.
"That was. disappointing," spoke Magister Havel. Lyn slunk back to his corner, head hung low, hoping the rain outside would consume him.
That evening, as Lyn shivered in defeat, there flashed before him a cold blue message:
> **[Congratulations, User: Lyn. You have acquired the Waterborne System v1.0.]**
> **Primary Mission: Prove you are not 'Good for Nothing.'
The words hung in the air and a gentle voice resounded in his ears. He blinked frantically—of course he was going crazy. But the words persisted.
> **New Subquest: Dry the Laundry Without a Heat Spell. Reward: System Upgrade.**
Was this a joke? Lyn eyed the soggy pile of apprentices' robes, always relegated to the lowest rank. He tentatively rested his hand on the pile, paying attention to each drop, each thread. Was there something. different? He could feel the water—no, not feel. He could control it, like scores of threads linking to his brain.
With a whispered effort, Lyn coaxed the moisture out of the cloth. Gradually but inevitably, water rose from the fabric and into the air, condensing into droplets that hung before him, shining in the moonlight. The pile was dry.
The system beeped.
> **Achievement Unlocked: Clothes Dryer (Irony)! Water Control +1.**
Stunned, Lyn restrained a gasp. For the first time ever, his magic felt. real.
## Chapter 2: Systemic Changes
By the morning, Lyn's feeling of failure had evolved into careful curiosity. When he shuffled into the shared dining hall, a fresh prompt flashed before his eyes.
> **Daily Quest: Get a rainwater cup without getting wet. Reward: Minor Status Point (Random).**
"Impossible," he grumbled. Then again, what were the chances of randomly summoning a magical system?
Stepping outdoors, Lyn whispered to the clouds, inciting rain to swirl and condense into a floating sphere above the palm of his hand. He concentrated the water into filling an empty mug without a single drop landing on his clothes.
> **Quest Completed! Luck +1.**
Was this actually happening? Lyn looked around sneakily—the system appeared invisible to everyone else.
He whispered, "Status."
A blue window flashed into existence:
**Lyn Kariel: Water Mage (Good-for-Nothing)**
WATER AFFINITY: 3
CONTROL: 2
LUCK: 1
SYSTEM LVL: 1
Achievement slots and mission prompts spun beneath.
Hope danced for the first time. The world was different today. If Lyn could finish up enough of these System missions, even a "Good-for-Nothing" might become something. something better.
## Chapter 3: Ripples in the Water
Word got around of robes perfectly dry on a stormy night and rainwater recovered without a splash. Whispers and glares accompanied Lyn now, curious, not jeering—a perilous distinction.
Some classmates challenged him, testing him in subtle fashions, attempting to reveal a trick. The system complied, providing new quests:
> **Dungeon Quest Available: Cleanse the Well of Drought Spirits.**
Shivering but needing to be free from his previous existence, Lyn accepted. At the deserted village well, he felt evil presences. Power previously out of his control now obeyed him. The water in the ancient stone pulsed as he controlled it, drawing soot and fury from the spirits.
He didn't overwhelm them with brute force but with gentle care—cooling, soothing, slow ripples rather than crashing waves. The spirits, soothed, subsided into tranquility.
> **Dungeon Cleared! WISDOM +2, INT +1.**
Panting, Lyn understood he was among magic said to be only touched by the greatest. All thanks to the System.
The following morning, his status was:
**WATER AFFINITY: 5
CONTROL: 4
LUCK: 1
WISDOM: 2
INTELLIGENCE: 1
System Level: 2**
Magisters called for him with respect now. "What has changed, Lyn Kariel?"
He smiled, for the first time without fear.
"Everything," he answered.
***
## To Be Continued.
Will Lyn overcome his good for nothing? What mysteries is his system keeping? And what does happen when other, stronger mages detect his unexpected upsurge? The adventure as a "Good for Nothing" has only started.