I slowly opened my eyes to a wooden roof and my body nestled in bed. As I rose out of bed, I felt something on my head and torso. I gingerly reached towards the sensation, feeling my head wrapped in some cloth. A quick glance showed the same cloth covering my entire torso as well.

Someone took the time and effort to patch me up…

I felt perfectly fine. No apparent soreness, and some quick upper body movements revealed my body was in working order.

“You’re awake sir?” A masculine voice asked.

I glanced towards the door of the small room noticing a young man posted with a cloth and wash bucket.

“Yeah…where the hell am I?” I responded.

“Telas. A small village outside the Territories.”

“Territories?”

“You must have hit your head badly to ask a question like that. How much do you remember?” The boy chuckled to himself as he entered the room.

He couldn’t have been any older than eighteen years old and had brown hair and plain features. He seemed normal to me, and clearly had my well-being in his best interests. So, I did exactly as he asked and tried to remember something.

I came up mostly blank. The only thing that stayed with me was a…Purpose. The urge to test my strength, to battle against a worthy opponent, to teeter on the border of life and death and come out on top.

Suddenly a giant screen appeared in front of me. I tried moving my head out of the way, yet the screen seemed centered in the middle of my vision.

Class Selection

Fighter

Fighters are fledging combatants trying to discover a suitable fighting style. Initially lacking in raw power, the versatile paths available for this class set up a solid foundation.

Caster

Casters are those who have only tapped into a fraction of their magical potential. The possibilities with magic are endless, and so are the paths available to those who tread this path.

Despite taking in all the information, the screen seemed here to stay.

“Sir, are you alright?” The young man asked.

“Yeah, something talking about classes appeared in front of me, and won’t go away.”

“You haven’t chosen a class yet?” a moment later a shocked look appeared on his face as he spoke. “E-excuse me sir I didn’t mean to pry.”

“So, I just have to pick one of these?” Once the boy nodded for confirmation, I made my choice easily.

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Class Selected

Status Available

New Paths are Available!

How do I see my Status? As soon as I thought the word, another screen was stuck in my view.

Status Screen

Name: ???

Class: Fighter (0/25)

Paths: N/A

Skills: Identify (I)

Traits: Chosen, Battle Maniac, Transmigrator, Superhuman

The boy looked at me oddly for a moment when suddenly his face went through a series of emotions when he realized I was staring at him again.

Weak. He is not worthy.

I shook my head at the boy in disappointment and finally rose out of bed.

“I don’t think you should be moving sir! You were injured pretty badly when my father found you out there!”

“I feel fine though?” I cracked my neck and approached the boy. He grew increasingly more frantic with each step I took near him, and I couldn’t help but revel in his fear for a moment.

“Got any food? I’m starving.” The rumbling of my stomach completely evaporated all of the tension on the boy’s face.

“O-oh where are my manners…follow me sir.”

The boy and I walked out of the room into a small hallway that took us into a large open room. We walked over to the kitchen where the young boy grabbed some bread and gave me an entire roll.

We sat down at the circular table savoring the silence for a moment as we both ate the bread.

I glanced towards the open windows taking in the fresh air. I couldn’t see much except the blue sky and another wooden house across the dirt road.

Villagers occasionally passed by doing whatever villagers normally do.

It was a slow-moving peaceful scenery that would create a sense of ease in anyone’s heart.

The only thing I felt watching it was restlessness.

“What’s your name boy?”

“Zander, sir.”

“Why do you keep calling me sir?”

“You’re an Awakened, while I’m just a normal boy. We live in two different worlds...” There was a look of longing as the boy trailed off and stared out the window.

“Awakened huh…”

“Unless you’re rich or powerful…you’re just a nobody. You don’t have to worry about lacking in either, the opportunities afforded by being Awakened are priceless. Many would kill to be in your position…” There was jealousy in the boy’s eyes as he gazed strongly at me for just a moment. Then he started blushing and apologized before staring back outside the window.

No matter how much the boy tried to hide it, there was something else within his eyes when he stared.

A longing. A desire.

This boy was weak, but he had the spark and hunger to change.

I misjudged him.

We returned to a comfortable silence and while I started eating the soft bread, I thought about my Paths hoping it'd bring up the respective screen.

It did.

Path Selection

Path of the Marksman (0/5)

A Path for those focusing on their skill in ranged combat.

Path of the Warrior (0/5)

A Path for those focusing on their skill in melee combat.

Path of Vitality (0/25)

A Path for those seeking to improve their health and endurance.

Path of Agility (0/25)

A Path for those seeking greater speed and reflexes.

Path of the Worthy (0/?)

What does it mean to be Worthy? Only through countless trials and tribulations will you come to a suitable conclusion.

Ever since I woke up in this strange house, the only thing I had to guide me was this…purpose.

It wanted me to fight to be deemed “worthy”, and while I wasn’t afraid of being harmed that didn’t mean I should go in vulnerable.

You have embarked on the Path of Vitality.

While I processed the simple notification the door to the house opened, where a short muscular man draped in a cloak stood somberly.

“Welcome back father.” A smile grew on Zander’s face, while I gave an appraising look to the man.