Jake woke to his phone alarm, head pounding. For a few seconds, he didn't remember yesterday. Then it came flooding back. Fired. Dumped. Everything gone.
He groaned and reached for his phone, but his hand froze at the sight before him.
Words appeared in the air. Glowing blue texts, floating two feet from his face.
[DIVINE CHARM SYSTEM INITIALIZING...]
[BONDING WITH HOST: JAKE MORRISON]
Jake yelped and fell out of bed, tangling in his sheets and hitting the floor hard. The words followed him, staying at the same distance.
"What the—"
[INITIALIZATION COMPLETE]
[WELCOME, HOST]
Jake scrambled backward until he hit the wall, heart hammering. This wasn't happening. Couldn't be happening.
The text formed into a status screen.
[DIVINE CHARM SYSTEM ]
[Host: Jake Morrison]
[Level:1]
[Title: None]
[STATS]
Charm: 3/100
Vitality: 12/100
Spirit: 5/100
Wisdom: 15/100
Leadership: 2/100
[Sisterhood Members: 0]
Three charm. Two leadership. Seeing his patheticness quantified somehow made it worse.
"This isn't real. I'm having a mental breakdown."
[HOST is not experiencing psychological breakdown. DIVINE
CHARM SYSTEM is operating as intended.]
[You have been chosen to rebuild the SISTERHOOD OF ETERNAL
GRACE, an ancient organization protecting humanity from supernatural threats.
Your mission: Recruit members and defend humanity.]
Jake laughed, the sound slightly hysterical.
"Supernatural threats. Right. This is a prank."
[This is not a prank. The supernatural world exists alongside reality, hidden by a Veil. You are now Awakened.]
The air shimmered. Suddenly, Jake could see things he hadn't before, sickly green mist seeping through the window, shadow creatures crawling on the ceiling, things that made his skin crawl.
"Holy shit." Jake pressed against the wall.
"What are those things?"
[Minor void entities. They feed on negative emotions. Harmless at this level but can grow stronger. Your apartment has accumulated
many due to your recent emotional state.]
Jake watched a shadow-insect scuttle across his ceiling. He'd been living with these things?
"Okay. Let's say this is real. What am I supposed to do? I'm not a fighter. You saw my.... stats, I'm barely functional."
[That is why the SYSTEM exists. You will grow stronger through quests and recruitment. FIRST QUEST is now available.]
A new screen appeared:
[QUEST: FIRST STEPS]
[Speak to a woman without stuttering or losing composure]
Reward:
[+1 Charm, +1 Wisdom]
[10 XP]
[ANALYZE ability]
[Time Limit: 24 hours]
Jake read it three times. The system's idea of a starting quest was just... talking to a woman. Without stuttering. That's how pathetic he was?.
"This is ridiculous."
[No, This is necessary. You cannot rebuild the Sisterhood if you cannot communicate. Small steps lead to great journeys.]
The system had a point. He'd spent years too anxious to approach women, too insecure to even try, he Last girlfriend was due to extreme luck. If this could help him change that...
What did he have to lose?
"Fine. I'll do your quest."
[Recommended location: Coffee shop within walking distance.]
[Optimal window: Next two hours.]
Jake showered, shaved, and put on his least wrinkled shirt. If he was going to have his first "quest," he might as well not look good doing it.
The pendant felt warm as he walked. The streets looked different now, he could see the glimmer of the Veil, spot shadow creatures in alleys and sense something vast underneath the mundane world.
Brew Haven was a cozy coffee shop he'd passed but never entered. Through the window, he could see it was moderately busy. His hands started sweating. What was he supposed to do, just talk to a random woman? That was creepy.
[HOST is overthinking. Natural conversation is acceptable. Observe. Opportunities will present themselves.]
Jake took a deep breath and entered. The smell of coffee and pastries hit his nose. He got in line, trying not to think about the quest countdown in his vision: 23 hours remaining.
"Excuse me, do you know if they have almond milk? I can't read the menu without my glasses."
Jake turned. The woman was in her early thirties, black hair in a professional bun and wearing a sharp gray pantsuit. She looked at him expectantly.
This was it. His chance.
Jake opened his mouth. But Nothing came out. His brain froze.
[Breathe. Answer simply and directly.]
"I—yes. They do. Almond, oat, and soy."
"Thank God." She smiled, and it transformed her face. "I'm trying to cut dairy. Thank you..."
"Jake. My name's Jake."
"Sarah." She extended her hand, and Jake shook it.
"You're a lifesaver. I swear i'm non-functional before coffee."
She was actually having a conversation with him. Jake felt anxiety trying to claw back, but the system's presence was calming. He could do this.
"I know the feeling," Jake said, managing a smile.
"Coffee's the only reason I'm vertical."
Sarah laughed. "Rough morning?"
"Rough week, honestly. Lost my job yesterday."
"Oh, that's terrible." Genuine sympathy crossed her face. "Tech industry?"
"Yeah. Downsizing."
"Well, if you need employment lawyers, I've got cards." She was already digging in her briefcase. "I'm corporate law. Different firm, but I know people."
She was offering to help. A complete stranger, helping him because he'd managed a normal conversation.
[QUEST COMPLETED!]
[Rewards: +1 Charm, +1 Wisdom, 10 XP]
[ANALYZE ability unlocked!]
Jake felt warmth spread through him subtly.
"Thank you," he said, accepting her card. "I
really appreciate it."
"No problem. Us downtrodden workers stick
together." Sarah smiled, collected her coffee, and waved. "Good luck,
Jake."
"You too. Have a good day."
She left, and Jake stood there holding her card, feeling like he'd won the lottery.
[Would you like to review your updated status?]
Jake found a corner table, sat down and expanded the interface.
[DIVINE CHARM SYSTEM]
[Host: Jake Morrison]
[Level: 1 (10/100 EXP)]
[STATS]
Charm: 4/100 (+1)
Vitality: 12/100
Spirit: 5/100
Wisdom: 16/100 (+1)
Leadership: 2/100
[Abilities: ANALYZE, SIGHT]
[Sisterhood Members: 0]
Minimal changes, but they were there. Real improvement. Jake stared at the screen, then at Sarah's card, then out at the Seattle streets where shadow creatures crawled around.
Yesterday his life was in shambles. Today he had a magic system, could see supernatural shadow creatures and a duty to rebuild an ancient organization.
It was insane. Impossible. Probably a mental breakdown.
But for the first time in years, Jake Morrison felt like his life was about to get interesting.
[Next quest available. Would you like to proceed?]
Jake sipped his coffee and smiled.
"Yeah. Let's see what you've got."
The Sisterhood wasn't going to rebuild itself.