"Well, did you get anything good?"
I looked over at my mother, who wore a small, knowing smile, and nodded enthusiastically.
"Really good stuff! But I'm not telling you—I'll show you later!"
Turning my attention back to the panel, I decided I'd check out the Shop and Draw apps later. I was far too excited to try out everything from the starter pack.
I opened the Inventory, scanning in the rewards names a second time with excitement.
____
{Anatomia Transfiguration} - [Unopened]
{Infinite Vending Machine} - [Unopened]
{Eyes of Analysis} - [Unopened]
{Multiversal Energy Circulation Method} - [Unopened]
{Weapon - Yu Namit} - [Unopened]
{Telepathy through Time and Space} - [Unopened]
{Primordial Dark Cold} - [Unopened]
{Settings and System storage app Bundle} - [Unopened]
{Permafrost Bladed Staff} - [Unopened]
{Multiversal Currency Pouch} - [Unopened]
____
"These all sound really awesome… and powerful—especially the Primordial Dark Cold."
I mumbled and nodded to myself, trying to stay calm, but internally I was jumping with joy. Turning to my mother, I asked—
"Where should I go before accepting the gifts? If it's anything like I'm imagining… it might get a little destructive."
"We have a training room you can use to awaken and test your gifts. Fufu, we can head there now, if you're interested."
I nodded, quickly standing from my chair and setting the book aside.
My mother turned and began walking without hesitation.
A spark of anticipation lit in my chest, and I hurried after her, quickening my pace to keep up.
…
After walking for a few minutes from the library—past my room and farther down the hall—we came to a set of massive stone doors.
My mother stepped forward and pushed them open with ease, revealing what lay beyond.
A vast indoor field made of stone stretched out before me, easily surpassing the size of a stadiums from my incubation period.
There were no visible lights in the room, yet it was illuminated by a soft glow that made it feel as though I were standing beneath the sun.
Huge…
There's so much space in here.
I looked from side to side, taking in the vastness of the area.
My mother spoke, snapping me out of my thoughts—
"You can customize the environment but you won't be needing it for now. I'll leave you to it while I go and check on a few things. I'll see you at dinner tonight."
With that, she turned and began walking back down the hall.
I watched her until she disappeared from view, then stepped forward, crossing the threshold and entering the training grounds.
Walking forward, I came to the center of the ground and sat on the stone floor.
Opening my system interface, I navigated to the Inventory and decided to open the Eyes of Analysis first.
——
{Eyes of Analysis}
[Open?] [Yes] [No]
——
Taking a deep breath, I forced my mind to steady, bracing myself for the pain I knew was coming.
"Huuuuu… Here goes nothing. Yes."
——
{Ding! Eyes of Analysis integration initiated!}
——
For a moment—
Nothing.
Then something shifted.
A pressure built behind my eyes. Subtle at first… then rising—fast.
My breath hitched.
It felt like something was pressing outward from inside my skull.
"Ah—"
My breath caught.
The pressure spiked.
And then—
Pop!
It burst.
Pain exploded through my head—sharp and blinding. I clutched at my face with one hand as something wet spilled between my fingers, while my other hand shot down to brace myself, barely stopping me from collapsing.
"ARGHHH!"
The pain was unbelievable as my vision fractured—cracking like glass.
Then it went dark.
Warm liquid streamed down my cheeks, thick and heavy, dripping from my chin onto the stone below.
My hand trembled as it came away, with a slick—dark and sticky feeling.
Fragments.
My eyes… had broken.
My eyes… had been torn out.
A raw, hollow emptiness replaced my sight.
"AHH—!"
The scream tore from my throat as burning agony dug deeper, not fading—changing.
My empty sockets throbbed violently, as if something unseen was forcing them open wider… stretching them beyond what they should be.
I couldn't close them.
I couldn't stop it.
Then—
Something appeared.
Not in front of me…
…but within.
Ancient silver symbols—runes—formed within the darkness of my blood-soaked, hollow sockets, shaping themselves into pupils.
They circled slowly, rotating in perfect symmetry, glowing faintly as if they existed beyond physical space. Each symbol felt… heavy.
Curious.
Watching.
Analyzing.
The pain twisted again. I felt it.
The remains of my destroyed eyes—scattered, broken—began to move.
Not normally.
Something more.
It was as if time itself had been seized and dragged backward.
The blood that had spilled… trembled.
Then rose peeling off my trembling hand.
Droplets lifted from the floor, reversing their fall. The shattered remnants of my eyes pulled together, piece by piece, fiber by fiber—rewinding, reforming.
Rebuilding.
Reclaiming my hollow sockets.
The process was slow.
Deliberate.
Agonizing.
Every fragment that returned burned and buzzed as it reconnected, nerves screaming back to life as if they'd never been meant to feel again.
I gasped, leaning forward and bracing myself on both arms, my body trembling violently as sensation flooded back in relentless waves.
Vision flickered—
Dark.
Light.
Shapes.
Then—clarity.
Relief washed over me, free from pain—like a cool cloth laid over tired eyes—as the force holding my eyes open finally faded.
I blinked… and blinked again.
My eyes felt heavier to open before.
Blurriness slowly started fading away.
And for the first time since it began… I could see.
But—Not the same.
The world looked… different.
Layered.
Deeper.
Foreign motes of light floating through the air.
Within my vision—unknown to me—faint circular patterns remained: ancient runes embedded in my pupils, rotating slowly, almost imperceptibly, casting a subtle silver hue over my natural purple-blue color.
Pulsing with hunger for knowledge and understanding.
I raised a shaking hand to my face, touching just beneath my eyes.
No wounds.
No damage.
Only the faint trace of dried black blood remained.
"… Fuckin hell…"
I closed my eyes and hunched over in silence for a few moments, gathering myself.
Occasional phantom pains throbbed around my eyes, causing small, involuntary twitches.
A few minutes later, I pushed myself back into a sitting position and opened my eyes.
Information flooded my senses, triggering a mind-splitting headache. I quickly shut my throbbing eyes, forcing myself to process the knowledge that had been imprinted into my mind when my eye sockets were hollow.
Mentally turning the Eyes of Analysis off, I slowly peeked my eyes open.
Everything around me still looked different even with the ability turned off.
Different-colored motes of light drifted throughout the training grounds, washing the space in soft, vibrant hues.
"Woahhhh!"
I tracked the floating particles as they drifted through the air—some swirling like water, others darting as fast as light, some flaring brightly before fading, others suspended in place, barely noticeable, and countless more moving in ways I couldn't quite grasp.
Thinking about seeing normally, the motes faded, and my vision shifted—returning to normal.
My vision felt sharper, faster, and clearer—like a veil of fog has been lifted from it.
I stared at my hands and moved them, studying the way my muscles shifted and rippled beneath my skin.
Lifting my gaze, I studied the walls of the training grounds, my eyes catching even the smallest details
Then a ding sound pulled my attention.
——
{Ding! Congratulations for awakening your first ability!}
{Ding! Equipment app has been updated to User Profile}
——
Looking at the notification, my brows raised in surprise.
"Wasn't expecting that."
Opening the system interface, I navigated to the newly updated User Profile app and opened it.
____
User: Vesper Evren
Race: Immortal Empyrean
Rank: Immortal Empyrean
Body age: 2 days 13 hours old. Mental age: 80 years
Bloodline: Evren
[More]
…
[Equipped]
» Fabric of Nothingness
Equipment Rank- Primordial Empyrean
Information: A birth gift to Vesper of Evren by Nothingness for his… [Expand]
- Craft of Style
This is an skill that allows to change the style, texture, weight, size and density of the fabric—ensuring you can be well dressed in any situation you may find yourself in.
- Aegis de Nothingness
Damage? What's that? Can you eat it?
If anyone is trying to look into your existence, all they will see is nothing and naturally hides all energy signatures of Vesper.
[Blank]
[Blank]
[Blank]
…
[Abilities & Talents]
» Eyes of Analysis
- Ocular Understanding
Understanding comes as easy as breathing under your eyes when activated. Reality lifts her skirt to show you her truths.
- Real Eyes see Real Lies
You instinctively know if someone is lying while under your gaze. Only works when staring at the target.
[Locked]
[Locked]
[Locked]
…
[Techniques & Proficiencies]
[None learned]
…
——
"Hmm… pretty empty right now. Let's keep going."
Switching back to Inventory, I moved on to the rest of my options.
I rubbed my chin, weighing my options, and after a moment of debate, I decided to go with the one and only talent I'd been given.
It might hurt… so I might as well get it over with.
Please don't hurt too badly!
——
{Primordial Dark Cold}
[Open?] [Yes] [No]
——
"Well here's to round two. Yes!"
——
{Ding! Primordial Dark Cold talent integration initiated!}
——