Aldric was sitting on his cot, idly running his fingers over the scar on his neck. A reminder of unsolved questions that only seemed to grow in number with time. Tonight, as silence filled the room, those questions seemed more pressing than ever .

"Sigh... Let's not go any deeper into this; it will only cause more headaches. There are more important things to focus on."

Clearing his throat, Aldric spoke into the stillness. "System." His voice was hesitant, almost a whisper.

Nothing happened.

"System open," he tried again, louder this time, though his confidence wavered.

Still nothing.

"Tsk". He got annoyed and clenched his fists. For a moment, he closed his eyes, forcing his focus into sharp clarity. With sudden determination, he commanded, "Status Window!"

A soft glow appeared before him, flickering into the shape of a translucent blue screen. Aldric blinked, leaning back in surprise as the faint hum of energy filled the air.

[System Interface Activated]Name: AldricLevel: 1Status: Quasi-Warrior

Attributes:

Strength: 12

Agility: 11

Intelligence: 9

Vitality: 10

Skills:

Willpower (Passive): Increases resilience under mental strain and boosts determination during crises.

Combat Efficiency (Level 1): Enhances stamina use and sharpens reaction times in combat.

Menu Options:

Quest: Unlocked

Shop: Locked

Chat: Inactive

Inventory

Aldric pauses for a moment, staring at the floating blue screen. He lets out a laugh, shaking his head.

"Hahaha... It's really like a video game panel, isn't it?"

He taps the screen, scrolling through the items that appear.

"LET'S see what it has to offer."

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

Inventory:

Health Potion x2

Stamina Elixir x1

Ration Pack x1

Aldric's eyes scan over the list, and when they land on the ration Pack, a bitter laugh escapes him. The memory of hunger gnaws at him, twisting his gut.

[If only I had this earlier,] he thought, remembering the events from a few days ago.

"Could've saved me a lot of pain," he muttered under his breath, shaking his head.

He tapped the screen once more, dismissing the inventory. The moment passed, but the bitterness lingered. Despite the locked options and the many questions still unanswered, the fact that it existed at all gave him a strange sense of reassurance.

The following morning, Aldric fell into his usual routine. Breakfast was simple but filling, shared with a few friendly faces. The quiet friendly townsfolk was comforting, even if his thoughts kept drifting back to the system.

By noon, he was in the training yard. The clash of swords rang out as others sparred, the rhythmic sound grounding him. Torvin, the gruff but experienced soldier who had taken him under his wing, called out to him.

"Back for more punishment, white-hair?" Torvin teased, a grin tugging at the corner of his mouth.

"Only if you can land a hit," Aldric shot back, his smirk confident.

The two sparred intensely, each movement pushing Aldric to his limits. By the time Torvin called for a break, his body ached, and sweat poured down his face.

"Not bad," Torvin said, tossing him a water skin. "You're getting quicker. But don't let it go to your head—you've still got a long way to go."

Aldric took a long drink before glancing at Torvin. "I've been hearing a lot about warriors—masters, grand masters. Where do I fit into all that?"

Torvin chuckled, his expression softening. "Ah, the hierarchy. Let me break it down for you." He knelt and began drawing in the dirt with the tip of his blade.

"At the bottom, we've got quasi-warriors. That's you. You've got the raw ability, but it's unrefined. Next come full warriors—fighters who've trained hard and mastered control over their skills. After that, you've got the masters. These are folks who've turned combat into an art form, their power unmatched. And at the top?" Torvin paused, his eyes gleaming. "The grand masters. They're more myth than men, capable of feats most people wouldn't believe."

"And the town protector?" Aldric asked, leaning forward.

"High-level warrior," Torvin replied with a nod. "Strong, disciplined, and the reason this town hasn't been wiped off the map."

Aldric absorbed the information, the weight of it sinking in. [I'm starting at the bottom,] he thought. [But at least now I know what I'm working toward.

That evening, Aldric had barely finished his meal when a guard approached. "The captain wants to see you," the man said, his tone brisk but polite.

Aldric followed him to Captain Halvek quarters, where the stout, sharp-eyed man waited behind a sturdy desk.

"Have a seat," Halvek said, motioning to a chair.

"How are you settling in?" the captain asked, his voice steady but with an undertone of curiosity.

"Better than before," Aldric replied, keeping his tone even.

Halvek nodded, studying him for a moment before leaning forward. "I've got a task for you. It's dangerous, but it's important. Think you're up for it?"

Aldric hesitated, his mind racing. The system's warning was fresh in his memory: Failure will result in deactivation. He couldn't afford to lose it now—not when he'd barely begun to understand its potential.

"What's the job?" he asked, keeping his voice steady.

"A scouting mission," Halvek explained. "There's been movement near the eastern woods. Could be nothing, could be trouble. Either way, we need eyes out there."

Aldric's hesitation was brief. "I'll do it," he said firmly.

Halvek's lips curled into a faint smile. "Good. You'll leave at first light. Be prepared."

As Aldric left the captain's quarters, the weight of the mission settled over him. He couldn't help but feel like this was more than a simple task. It felt like a test—not just from the captain, but from the system itself.

That night, as he lay staring at the ceiling, his mind raced with possibilities. The stakes had never felt higher, but one thing was certain: he didn't have the luxury to fail.