Bran stared at the flickering screen, fingers hovering above the keyboard, hesitant. The glow from the monitor painted his tired face in shades of blue and silver. For most people, Runic System was just a game—a distraction from the monotony of a world rebuilt on the ruins of the old. But tonight, it felt… different.
He leaned back in his chair, recalling what little he knew about the game's origins.
The Runic System had been created just after the war ended, when humanity was staggering under the weight of loss. The nuclear winter had left cities buried in ash and despair, and the survivors were desperate for anything that could distract them from grief and fear. Governments and corporations—working together under the banner of "recovery programs"—had developed it as a form of controlled escapism. At first, it was simple: a fantasy world where people could wield powers, explore lands untouched by war, and escape the harsh realities of survival. But it didn't stay simple for long.
The game spread like wildfire. Young and old alike became enthralled by the way words themselves could bend reality—within the game, at least. Ignis for fire, Ventus for wind, Corpus for strengthening the body… players experimented endlessly, combining words into impossible abilities and creating legends within the system. It became more than entertainment; it became a lifeline, a spark of hope in a gray and dying world.
Yet beneath the excitement was an undercurrent of caution. Rumors began to circulate: glitches that felt too real, symbols appearing where they shouldn't, players claiming they could feel the power in their bones. Most dismissed it as hysteria, the result of too many sleepless nights staring at the screen. But some said the system was… more.
Bran didn't know what to make of it. He had only ever played for fun, for escape. But when he reached for the new floating rune hovering above his console, the metal of his chair cold beneath his palms, he felt it—a pulse, sharp and electrifying, running through his entire body. His vision blurred, the runes spinning in front of his eyes.
A message appeared in glowing letters:
"Runic Interface Activated. Player anomaly detected. Quest system online."
Bran's fingers trembled. He whispered the rune's name aloud:
"Ignis."
A spark leapt from the screen into his palm, hotter than he imagined, and the world tilted. The room seemed to expand, then collapse, and everything went white.