Chapter Two: The Mirror of Fate
Morning arrived far sooner than Ryan wished.
He had barely slept. Every time he closed his eyes, the blue windows flashed behind his eyelids—the system's voice echoing in his mind, the mission he didn't understand, and the fate he was supposed to break. By the time the first rays of sunlight crept over Astra City, he still wasn't sure whether last night had been real… or a nightmare he hadn't escaped.
But the countdown floating in the corner of his vision left no room for doubt:
[23:12:09]
Ticking down.
Relentless.
Ryan stepped outside, pulling his worn cloak tighter around himself. The streets were already alive—families walking together, teenagers buzzing with nervous excitement, merchants calling out about charms and talismans for good luck.
Everyone was eager for the Day of Revelation.
Everyone except him.
As he approached the central plaza, the Hall of Fates rose before him—massive marble pillars, ancient carvings, and at its heart, the legendary Mirror of Fate. A towering oval of silver, shimmering with a light that didn't belong to this world.
Ryan swallowed hard.
He wasn't afraid of seeing nothing.
He was afraid of what the system wanted him to do.
"Ryan!"
He turned just in time to see Liana jogging toward him, her long brown hair tied back, her smile bright despite the tension in the air. She was one of the few people who treated him like he mattered.
"You look awful," she said, stopping beside him. "Did you stay up all night again?"
He forced a weak smile. "Something like that."
She nudged him lightly. "Relax. Fate or no fate, you'll be fine. I'll make sure of it."
Her words hit him harder than she realized.
Because above her head, faint and visible only to him, floated a glowing line:
[Fate: Betrayal]
His stomach twisted.
He didn't want to believe it. Liana would never betray him. She was the only person who had stood by him since childhood.
But the system's warning echoed in his mind:
[Her fate leads to your death.]
The hall doors opened with a deep rumble, and the crowd began to move inside. Liana grabbed his wrist.
"Come on. Let's get this over with."
He followed her, heart pounding.
Inside, the hall was filled with a soft, humming magic. One by one, the sixteen‑year‑olds stepped before the Mirror. Each time, the silver surface rippled and revealed glowing words—Warrior, Healer, Scholar, Guardian…
Cheers erupted. Parents cried. Futures were sealed.
Then it was Liana's turn.
She stepped forward confidently, her reflection shimmering in the mirror's surface. The silver ripples brightened, forming letters.
Ryan held his breath.
But before the words fully appeared, a blue window flashed before his eyes:
[Warning: Fate Activation Imminent]
[Break or Observe?]
His pulse spiked.
Break her fate now…
or watch it unfold?
He stared at Liana, who stood unaware, waiting for her destiny to be revealed.
The system chimed again:
[Time Remaining: 21:47:33]
Ryan exhaled shakily.
Whatever he chose next…
would change everything.
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