I didn't sleep well that night.
Every time I closed my eyes, I felt it—warmth against my chest, faint and steady, like a second heartbeat.
The book.
Morning came slowly. Too slowly.
"Eat," Mother said, sliding a bowl toward me.
"I am," I replied, poking at it.
Father eyed me. "You look tired."
"City," Uncle Garen said immediately, taking a long drink. "Does that to people."
Mother hummed, unconvinced.
I stayed quiet.
he day dragged on.
I helped with chores. Chopped wood. Fed the animals. Did everything I was supposed to do, all while being painfully aware of the weight hidden inside my coat.
It wasn't heavy.
Just… present.
By afternoon, I couldn't take it anymore.
"I'm going to the shed," I called.
"Don't wander," Mother replied automatically.
I didn't.
I closed the door behind me and finally pulled the book out.
t was thinner than I remembered, its cover a deep blue with faint silver lines etched across it. They didn't form words—more like flowing paths, intersecting and diverging.
I opened it.
The pages were blank.
"…That figures."
I flipped a few more pages. Nothing. No ink. No symbols. Just clean parchment that felt faintly warm under my fingers.
"Is this a joke?" I muttered.
Then the air shifted.
Not dramatically.
Just enough.
The System Speaks
[Skill Detected]Name: Wind Slash
Compatibility: Confirmed
Status: Available to Learn
Rank:C
I froze.
"…What?"
The words hung in the air, pale blue and unmistakably mine.
I looked down at the page.
A line of text slowly appeared, as if written by an invisible hand.
Not instructions.
Not yet.
Just the idea of motion.
Pressure.
Release.
I swallowed.
"So this book…" I whispered, "it's a catalyst?"
The system didn't answer.
It never did.
But I knew one thing for certain:
This wasn't something I was supposed to have.
And in one week—
I was supposed to meet the girl who gave it to me.
I closed the book carefully and hid it away.
My heart wouldn't slow down.
Another line appeared.
Warning: Learning without guidance may cause mental fatigue or mana strain.
I swallowed.
Then nodded to myself.
"Accept."
The moment I accepted, pressure crashed down on me.
Not just physical.
but Mental.
Like trying to hold onto a thought while someone pulled it apart.
My head throbbed. My chest tightened. The air around me felt heavy, unresponsive.
I tried to imagine it—movement, pressure, release.
Nothing happened.
Instead, pain spiked behind my eyes.
I gasped, stumbling back and nearly dropping the book.
"…Too much."
My hands shook.
My vision blurred.
I sat down hard against the wall, breathing heavily.
For a long moment, I thought that was it.
but it appeared
Failed To Learn Skill:4 tries available
I laughed weakly.
"Figures I'd fail first."
I closed my eyes.
Slowed my breathing.
Didn't force it this time.
I listened.
The air moved.
Barely.
I guided it—not with strength, but intent.
A faint resistance answered.
My head still hurt.
My body still protested.
But this time, something clicked.
A soft whoosh cut through the shed.
A thin line carved across the dirt floor, stopping inches from the wall.
I stared.
"…I did it."
My knees buckled.
Exhaustion slammed into me, heavier than before. I collapsed, chest heaving, sweat soaking my clothes.
But I was smiling.
[Skill Learned]Wind Slash — Rank C Status: Spark I (Practice Required)
I closed the book with trembling hands.
"Spark I?, Are there tiers to each rank.I thought to myself
"I'll ask uncle Garen tomorrow"
A few miles away, a small group of adventurers paused mid-step.
"…You feel that?" one asked.
The leader frowned, scanning the trees. "Yeah."
The air was unsettled.
Like something had changed.
"…Strange place for a mana fluctuation," another muttered.
They moved on—but slower now.
More cautious.