The dawn light spilled through the stained-glass windows of Solarel Palace, painting the marble floors with patterns of gold and crimson. Outside, the capital pulsed with energy. Trumpets echoed from the towers, and flags bearing the royal emblem—a silver blade wrapped in flame—fluttered above crowded streets. It was the morning of the prince's sixteenth birthday, the day the future of the Solarel bloodline would be revealed.Inside his chamber, Kael Solarel stood by the window, eyes fixed on the sprawling city that awaited his awakening. Beyond the palace walls, he could see the spires of the Awakening Cathedral rising like a monument to destiny itself. Every child in the kingdom dreamed of stepping inside those halls. Few were born into a lineage as revered as his.He ran a gloved hand through his tousled dark hair, heart pounding beneath his ceremonial tunic. For years, he had imagined this moment—the crystal light enveloping him, his soul being judged by the system, his name displayed among the proud knights of Solarel.But beneath that excitement, a quieter fear whispered. What if it fails? What if I'm not the knight they want me to be?"Still staring at the city?" came a familiar voice. Elder Knight Alaric leaned against the doorway, armored chestplate gleaming. His graying hair and easy smile were the only signs of warmth Kael had known since childhood training. "Your people are waiting, Prince. You don't want to look nervous on your awakening day."Kael smiled faintly. "I'll try not to faint in front of the whole royal council, then."Alaric chuckled. "If you do, I'll tell them it's royal tradition."Their laughter fell away as the great bell of the cathedral tolled, deep and powerful. The sound rolled over the city like a heartbeat. Fifteen long chimes—then silence. The next ring would mark his sixteenth year. The moment of truth.The Cathedral of Solarel was carved from shimmering white stone, its ceiling high enough to kiss the clouds. Hundreds had gathered to witness the ceremony. Nobles stood in strict rows, robed priests whispered blessings, and among them, Kael's family observed from ornate thrones—his father, stern and dignified, his mother's gentle eyes proud yet worried.At the center of the chamber stood the Awakening Crystal, a massive gem of translucent blue, glowing faintly with pulsing veins of light. Floating arcane sigils danced around it like stars.As Kael stepped forward, his footsteps echoed through the vast hall. The High Mage's voice rose ceremoniously.
"On this sacred day, the system shall judge and bestow upon Prince Kael Solarel his destined occupation. May it bring glory to Solarel and honor to his bloodline."Kael's hand trembled slightly as he touched the crystal's surface. It was cool at first—then warm, almost alive. Light surged outward, enveloping him in a radiance that forced the crowd to shield their eyes.A hum filled the air. Then, the crystal flickered.Something was wrong.The light turned crimson, its pulse erratic. The sigils around the crystal began distorting, melting into chaos. Murmurs rippled through the audience. The High Mage took a step forward, alarmed.And then, the voice of the system filled the air—cold, mechanical, ancient."System rebooting..."The light vanished for a heartbeat. The hall plunged into silence. Then the crystal erupted in a blinding surge of red and gold."The System Breaker has been awakened."Every voice stopped. The words hung in the air like an unearthly decree. The priests dropped their staffs. The king rose from his throne, disbelief etched across his face.Kael staggered back as pain shot through his palms. Strange markings, thin and luminous, spread across his skin like cracks of light. He tried to speak, but his throat seized. The energy pulsed again, the crystal shattering into hundreds of shards that hung suspended midair before crumbling to dust.Chaos erupted. Guards drew weapons, mages chanted containment spells, and priests screamed prayers to the divine. In the confusion, Kael caught a final glimpse of his father's face—fear, for the first time in his life—before the world tilted and darkness swallowed everything.When Kael woke, the hall was silent. The once-radiant crystal was nothing but ash. He lay at the center of a perfect circle scorched into the marble floor. The air smelled of iron and magic. The system's last words still echoed faintly in his mind—
"System Breaker... System Breaker..."And for the first time, Prince Kael Solarel felt utterly alone.