CHAPTER 22 — Epiphany
Ethan's POV
The lake was empty after she left.
Just the quiet ripples on the water and faint breeze of the wind through my hair.
Just a few judgmental ducks, and me.
Sitting on the grass, touching my cheek like an idiot.
I didn't know how long I stayed there. Maybe ten minutes. Maybe thirty. Long enough for every heartbeat to replay Ava collapsing into my chest, every tear she shed, every tiny tremble in her voice when she whispered, Why isn't my best enough?
Long enough for it to hurt.
Not in a bad way.In a way that felt… important.
Finally, I stood, grabbed the picnic basket, and made my way home.
The moment I stepped inside my apartment, the system pulsed.
A soft shimmer of blue light lit the air.
I sighed."Alright, hit me."
The notification revealed itself with a calm, decisive glow:
[Main Quest Completed]
Support Ava at Her Track Meet
Result: Emotional support provided. Ava's trust increased and your bond has deepened.
Reward Granted: EPIPHANY EVENT — "The Perfect Song"
Bonus Reward Available: Spin the Prize Wheel? (Y/N)
I stared at it.
My heart kicked hard—like my body knew something huge was about to hit before my brain did.
"…yes," I whispered.
The world froze.
Not literally, but it felt like it.
Everything around me dimmed like someone had gently lowered the lights. The background noise faded. Even my body felt suspended — like my breath had been placed on pause.
A soft chime rang through the my mind.
A sensation washed over me. Heavy.Electric.
And just like that—
Something burst open in my mind.
Not visually. Not magically. Emotionally.
Lines.Melodies.Chords.Feelings I didn't have words for before suddenly becoming clear.
Like someone had handed me the missing page of a story I'd already been trying to write.
I staggered back onto the couch, breath hitching.
"…holy shit."
I grabbed my guitar without thinking.
My fingers positioned themselves in a progression I didn't consciously know.
C → G → Am → F
Warm.Soft.Hopeful.A little sad.
The kind of chords that came from the heart.
Then the first line fell out of me before I even knew what I was saying, words flowed, and rhymed. As the melody shaped itself naturally, the words unfolded, the song felt as if it wrote itself and I was simply part of the music.
After the song ended I sat there.
I froze..
Swallowed hard. letting it sink in.
I jsut wrote a song. I laughed. "ahahah" it was so funny I used to think I was talentless. no matter what sport I played, soccer baseball, football, basketball, pingpong, to even chess, or professional smash gaming and streaming.
I was jsut another NPC, a background character. I was never "Protagonist" material.... but I jsut wrote a fucking song! even if nobody listens to it, or worse they listen to it and hate it... I made something... I wrote an original song... and it's pretty good if I don't say so myself. kekek
I may have wrote the song but I need to write it down, I write down the song. I'm planning one getting it copyrighted tomorrow.
Then—
DING.
The system reappeared.
[Bonus Reward — Prize Wheel Activated]
Oh yea I forgot about this bonus reward.
the next system panel shows
Spin for a random skill upgrade or new ability.
Potential Rewards: New Skill or Skill Upgrade, Random Trait, Creative Talent Boost
Spin?(Y/N)
"Yes."
A translucent wheel materialized — divided into sections like a digital carnival game. {go into more detail about a spinning wheel with colors and speed and it becoming blur of color}
It spun.
Fast.Too fast.
Then slowed—
Tick…Tick…Tick…
And stopped on:
Congratulations! You unlocked:
"…oh hell," I breathed.
Amazing..
I put the guitar down, leaning back into the couch until my head hit the cushions.
My heart was still beating too fast.
I picked up my phone.
Hovering over her name.
"Ava ☀️"
My thumb hesitated.
I wanted to text her.
I wanted to say something comforting. Something sincere. Something like:
"I'm here."
But she needed rest.And space.And the last thing I wanted was to suffocate her.
So I typed:
Me: I hope your ankle isn't too bad. Text me when you're home, okay? I'm here if you need me.
No hearts.No confessions.Just… stability.
I placed the phone down gently.
Then picked up my guitar again.
Because even though the Perfect Song had formed in my head, something about the melody made me think:
This wasn't just a singular reward. There was something deeper.
Something meant for her. Meant because of her.
And the thought terrified me.
Because for the first time since the accident, since the hospital, since the system appeared—
I realized I didn't want this story to be about the 'system and the rewards.'
I wanted it to be about her.
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A/N: Hey reader, so I'm changing my original story a bit, the MC isn't some pervert creating a harem, (yes there will be multiple girls but that's long term) right now he was so focused on the system and Ava it was hard to balance both (this is my first book, pls bare with me) so i'm going to change this for now. THERE WILL STILL BE SYSTEM QUESTS! but for the next 50-100 chapters the system and skills are going to take more of a backseat while Ethan focuses more on Ava and building the relationship and the plot. Don't worry Ethan isn't going to become some simp either, but he's realized how amazing Ava is and doesn't just see her as a 'tool' to get system rewards.
Anyways let me know if you like or hate the change and why, again this is my first book and it's not even contracted yet so any and all comments welcome.
A/N: Hey guys also sorry for delay, the holidays are coming up and life been keeping me busy, I'll try to post on here tomorrow or double on my other book. Manafall: The Apocalypse Answered my Wish. (dumb title I know) but that one has magic and skills and romance and drama and smut. Thanks if you've read this far adding to your collections or leaving even a 1 star review of what you think would be cool :) thanks!