A couple of years later,
Darell burst through the heavy wooden door of his father's office, his eyes wide with excitement.
"Dad! Dad! Dad!" he exclaimed, barely able to contain his enthusiasm.
Ralph Rogers, a Baron presiding over the Barony of Xena, was buried in a mountain of paperwork. He was startled by his son's sudden appearance which almost made him fall off his chair.
"What? Why are you yelling so much? Can't you see I have to finish all this paperwork by tomorrow?" he regained his balance and scolded, clearly annoyed.
"But dad, come on! You have to see this!" Darell insisted.
"See what? What the hell is so important that you have to yell at me and interrupt my work?", Ralph asked him.
"I swear, you'll love it!", Darell grinned and said.
"Ugh, fine." Ralph leaned back on his chair and asked, "So, what is it?"
Darell couldn't control his happiness and exclaimed, "I did it! Dad!"
"Did what?", Ralph raised his eyebrows and asked.
"I got invited to enter the Varona Royal Academy. They will hold a special test for me!", Darell exclaimed.
Ralph stared at his son in disbelief, his eyes widening to the size of the coffee cup placed on the table. "What?"
"It's true, dad! It's a big honor, really!" Darell said, grinning.
"Wha–? How? They don't hold a special test for anybody. Boy! Are you lying to me?" Ralph stared at his son suspiciously.
"No, I'm not!", Darell shook his head with a smile on his face, clearly enjoying his father's reaction.
"Then, where's the invitation letter?", Ralph demanded.
"Dad! You know I have exceeded your expectations from birth. Of course, I have an invitation letter with me," he said confidently, taking out an envelope from his pocket.
Ralph snatched it and tore it open. His eyes grew wide again as he read its contents. He settled himself into his comfortable leather chair after reading the letter and took a long, cool sip of his coffee, trying his best to maintain his composure despite the surprise news his son had just delivered to him.
"So, the reason for the special test they mentioned is your innate ability. Well, what is it?", he asked.
Darell, with a sly smile and a flip of his hair, replied confidently, "Space!"
The Baron's eyes widened, and he choked on his coffee, coughing loudly as he struggled to catch his breath.
"Cough...cough...cough...boy! Show me or else!" he managed to say between coughs, his face turning red with a mixture of surprise and disbelief.
Darell reached over to his father's desk and picked up a pen. He held it in the palm of his hand, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath. When he opened his eyes again, they were completely black, and small white orbs of light twinkled like stars in the darkness.
Ralph felt a shiver run down his spine as he watched in disbelief as the pen vanished from Darell's palm, only to reappear a moment later in the same spot. He couldn't even bring himself to blink as he continued to watch in amazement, his eyes fixed on the pen that had just materialized out of thin air.
Darell closed his eyes again, and when he reopened them, they were back to their normal azure hue, and the pen had once again disappeared.
Ralph was speechless, his mind racing as he struggled to comprehend what he had just witnessed.
"You see now?" Darell asked, grinning with triumph.
He was still young, only eighteen years old, one year older than his sister, Lilith, yet his innate ability, Space, was already far beyond anything his father had ever expected of him.
His father, Ralph Rogers, was a middle-aged man with brown hair and sharp, hawk-like eyes.
"Son," he finally managed to say, after struggling to find the right words for some time, "I don't know what to say..."
He took another sip of his coffee and let out a deep sigh, struggling to comprehend what his son had just shown him.
"To think my son possesses the space ability that has been lost for ten thousand years!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with pride and satisfaction. "I am truly blessed."
Darell beamed at his father's words, and Ralph smiled back, feeling deeply grateful toward his son.
A sense of vindication washed over Ralph as he thought about all the snobbish nobles who had looked down on him and his family, boasting about their own children's achievements. But now that he had a child with a space ability, they would all fall silent. He was the only Baron to have such a son, and soon, he would be the only Baron to ever have one. He relished the idea of seeing the shock and envy on their faces when they heard the news. He couldn't wait to rub it in their faces.
"Come to think of it," he said, breaking into a sly grin, "this is a great chance for you, too, boy."
"Really, Dad? How so?", Darell asked.
Ralph leaned back on his chair and rested his arms behind his head.
"This is the perfect opportunity to showcase your abilities. You can use this chance to show everyone that you have what it takes to be a great Baron someday," he explained, his grin growing wider.
"I see... I can definitely do that!" Darell said, beaming with excitement at the thought of showing off his abilities.
Ralph turned silent with a thoughtful expression on his face. He envisioned a future filled with proposals and alliances from the Viscounts, Counts, and Dukes who had once looked down on him. He sneered inwardly, already plotting his next move to ensure that he would obtain the maximum benefit from his newfound status.
Darell left his father to his thoughts and rose from his chair, and made his way to the door. Just as he was about to step out, he heard his father call out to him, "Wait, Darell!"
"Yes, Dad?", Darell turned back to face his father.
"Tomorrow, it's your eighteenth birthday, is it not?" Ralph asked, a hint of excitement creeping into his voice. "We had already sent out invitation letters to the nobles from the surrounding territories weeks ago but this time, we will hold a grand one in your honor. It will be the perfect opportunity to announce your remarkable innate ability to the world."
"Great! That's just what I was thinking.", Darell replied.
Ralph grinned back at him. "Yes, it is, indeed. I can already see the shock on those smug nobles' faces when they hear about your innate ability," he said, a hint of satisfaction in his voice.
"You're right, Dad. I can't wait to see the looks on their faces," he said, chuckling softly to himself.
"Well, then. I'll see you tomorrow," Darell said and exited Ralph's office.
Darell, then made his way towards his room. As he reached for the doorknob, he hesitated, a sudden feeling of unease washing over him. Instinctively, he placed his ear against the wooden surface, listening intently for any sounds of movement from within. His suspicions were confirmed when he heard the telltale rustling of fabric, and he knew that his unique ability had already drawn unwanted attention. His blood ran cold as he realized what this meant. His body tensed, and a feeling of dread washed over him as he thought about what could happen to him if he were to go in there.
Yet, he withdrew a small dagger from his boot, silently preparing himself for what he knew he must do. After a moment of hesitation, he slowly pushed the door open, his entire body tense and ready for the attack. He looked at a figure hunched over his bed and lunged at it.
"What the–" the figure exclaimed.
But before he could attack, he heard a familiar voice scream, "Kyaaa! Stop, Big Brother! It's me!"
His heart leapt into his throat as he realized his mistake.
"Darell, what the hell are you doing?" Lilith screamed again, her voice laced with anger and shock.
"Lilith?" he muttered, lowering the knife.
She took a deep breath, calming herself, and sat on the edge of his bed. Darell's expression softened, and he put the knife away.
"I'm sorry, Lilith," he said, taking a seat beside her. "I didn't know it was you. Your scream startled me."
"Of course it startled you! I thought somebody attacked me and that somebody was you!" she retorted, her voice trembling with anger.
"Look, Lilith. It's not what you think," he explained. "I thought someone was hiding in my room and assumed it was an intruder."
"But that's..." she started, then trailed off. "I'm sorry for yelling at you, Darell."
"It's alright. What were you doing in my room, anyway?", he asked.
"Nothing," she answered, a faint blush creeping up her cheeks.
He knew that it was impossible for her to hide anything from him, so he asked again, "Come on, Lilith. You know we don't lie or hide anything from each other. Tell me what you were doing in my room."
"Alright, alright. You really want to know, don't you?", she asked him.
"Yes."
"Fine. I was looking for something," she finally confessed.
"Looking for something? What were you looking for?", he asked her curiously.
Lilith turned her face away from her brother's gaze. "You know, the same thing as you."
He asked, "What do you mean?"
"My innate ability," she said.
He nodded, realizing what she meant and asked, "So, what did you find?"
"I don't know. Sometimes, when I wake up, my room is covered with ice. Or the other time, I shouted for your help and you came into my room. You saw how I was floating in the air along with the furniture, right?", she told him.
"I remember," he said.
"Well... I think I may have already awakened it.", Lilith finally, told the truth.
"What?!", Darell shouted in shock.
"Yes. That's why I'm here.", she nodded and said.
He stared at her in silence for a few moments before asking, "Are you sure? You haven't undergone a preliminary test, like me, today. How would you find out?"
She sighed and revealed the reason for her being in his room, "I was hoping to test whether I have an innate ability or not through an Insight Orb."
Darell rubbed his chin and said, "But... we only have a low-grade one."
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
"Yes, but it's better than nothing, right? Preliminary tests are only held once a year. If I have already awakened my innate ability, I don't want to waste a whole year. I want to know for sure," she explained.
He nodded in agreement. Then, he got up from the bed and walked to his huge drawer. Opening it, his eyes fell on the small orb at the top and took it out. He walked back to her and gave it.
"Okay, Lilith. Let's use it."
They sat side-by-side in silence for some time, staring at the Orb.
He was the first to break the silence. "Are you ready?"
Lilith nodded and replied, "Yeah, I'm ready."
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, reaching out with her senses. Just as she did, she felt a small surge of mana flow through his body. Her eyes snapped open and her gaze fell on the Orb in his hands, which was starting to glow with a gentle light blue hue.
"Lilith, I think you have an innate ability, too," Darell said, his voice filled with wonder and excitement as he stared at the Insight Orb.
"What?" Lilith exclaimed, staring at him in shock.
"Yes, of course!", he nodded excitedly and continued, "The Insight Orb is glowing with a light blue hue and according to the Royal Knight at the Preliminary Test, it indicates the Mist ability."
"Mist? Oh, my God!" she exclaimed, her eyes growing wide with shock. "I have Mist?"
Darell nodded, still grinning widely. "Yes, Lilith. You have an Acquired ability as Innate! You are even more exceptional than me!"
Lilith stared at him for a moment, speechless. Then, a huge smile broke across her face.
"I can't believe it! I have a Mist ability!" she said, her voice filled with awe and excitement.
However, as realization dawned, her excitement turned into fear. Of course, having an Acquired ability as Innate was something to be excited and proud of but that also meant attracting the wrong kind of people. People who would try to kidnap, kill, or cripple her. Her body trembled at that thought. She had heard and seen such things happen. Being the first and only person in the world to be so unique is like a double edged sword. She would be treated like a royal in her kingdom but as she would step foot outside it, she would be a huge target. Also, who's to say that she would be safe within her kingdom?
She felt a hand on her shoulder and turned her gaze to her brother.
"Lilith, don't worry. I know what you're thinking. I also thought the same way. But, the best way to get out of this predicament is to follow me to the Varona Royal Academy. Being a student there, you would be protected until you would learn to protect yourself."
Lilith's eyes lit up with excitement and joy. "Really? But... how would I enter it? I'm only seventeen years old. The minimum age requirement is eighteen years old, the age at which people awaken their innate ability."
"Yeah, that's true," he said, nodding in agreement. "However, I have a plan. Everybody knows that I'm going to turn eighteen and Dad would hold a banquet. The Viscounts, Counts, and Dukes would flock over to see me. This could be used as an opportunity to announce your innate ability. After that, as word of your uniqueness spreads, the academy would surely, send Dad an invitation letter lest, somebody else does it before them."
"Wow, I didn't think of that," she said, staring at her brother in awe. "That's a great plan, Darell. I think we can do it!"
Darell beamed back at her, his eyes filled with excitement. Lilith hugged Darell, her face brimming with gratitude. "Thank you so much! I feel much better now."
He hugged her back and said, "I'm glad to hear that. We should start preparing for the banquet and our journey to the academy."
"Yes, I agree."
They let go of each other and rose from the bed, both feeling elated by the unexpected turn of events.
Lilith happily said, "I'll go tell Dad and Mom about our plan and the results of the Insight Orb test."
Darell smiled and said, "Sounds good!"
She waved him goodbye before walking over to the door. But, Darell stopped Lilith as she was about to leave his room said, "Lilith, can you please do me a favor?"
"What is it?" she asked.
"Just a simple one," he said. "Inform Mom, I'd be skipping dinner tonight."
"Why?", she asked, confused.
"Because I've been having a headache from the morning and I really want to sleep."
"Oh, okay," she replied, understanding. "I'll tell Mom you're sleeping."
"Thank you, Lilith."
She gave him another smile and nodded before exiting his room.
'I'm feeling unusually exhausted. Maybe, it's because I awakened my innate ability today. I don't know. Hopefully, after a good night's sleep, the pain in my head and the exhaustion goes away,' he thought and switched the lights off. He sighed and laid down on his bed. He instantly fell asleep after closing his eyes.
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Meanwhile, Lilith made her way to her mother's chambers.
She knocked on the door softly and her mother said, "Come in!"
She pushed the door open and walked in.
"H-H-Hello, Mom! I was looking for you.", Lilith said nervously.
"Hello, sweetie. What is it?", A mature woman with beautiful brown hair and eyes which was an older version of Lilith's face replied.
"Umm..." she hesitated. "You know how Darell awakened his innate ability today, right?"
"Yes, so what?", Isabella replied.
"Umm.." Lilith twirled her fingers nervously and finally, with confidence, she said, "I've already awakened mine."
Her mother's eyes grew wide as she stared at her, not quite believing what she had heard. Lilith noticed her mother's shocked reaction and explained, "Darell had an Insight Orb in his room and tested me. I have Mist as an Innate!"
"What?! Are you serious?", Isabella asked with a shocked expression on her face while she stood from her desk and walked toward her.
Lilith nodded. "Yes. I know that it is hard to believe, but I'm telling you the truth. You can go and see the Orb if you want."
"I don't need to do that. If you're telling the truth, I'll trust you.", Isabella replied.
Lilith felt relieved at her mother's words. She wasn't sure how long her mother would believe her. She was relieved that her mother did.
Isabella smiled and caressed her daughter's face lovingly. "I didn't know my daughter was going to be so unique. This... is shocking news. Although, I was calm about it."
She grinned and continued, "Let's see how your father reacts to it."
Lilith chuckled. "He'll probably burst out laughing like a madman."
Her mother burst out into a laugh and said, "You're right."
With that, the mother-daughter duo walked to Ralph's office.
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Hours later, in Darell's room, as the clock struck midnight, a sudden chime broke the silence of the room.
DING
Darell was sound asleep, snoring softly, when the sound of the chiming broke his slumber. A strange voice echoed in his head, startling him from his sleep.
WELCOME TO THE CURSED IMMORTALITY SYSTEM!!
"Huh? What was that?", he murmured groggily, rubbing his eyes. He froze as a wave of nausea and dizziness washed over him. The voice seemed to come from nowhere, and the message was bizarre. The dizziness slowly dissipated, and he began to feel a bit better.
"What is this?" he muttered to himself. "A system? Immortality? Cursed?"
His vision cleared and he saw a message in bold letters floating in air in front of him. When he saw it, his heart skipped a beat.
'Could it be?!', he grew excited and thought.
He cleared his throat and said, "System, show me my stats."
He crossed his fingers and repeated in his mind, 'Please, don't let this be a dream. Please, don't let this be a dream. Please, don't let this be a dream. Ple–' His mental ramblings stopped when he saw a status interface in front of him.
Name Darell Rogers Race *** Level 01 XP 00/20 HP 100/100 MP 50/50 Strength 10 Agility 10 Stamina 10 Vitality 10 Defense 10 Intellect 10 Ability Space Skills Space Arsenal
His eyes widened and he couldn't help but scream out in joy, "Yesss!! Fuck yesss! Fuccck! Hahaha!"
Thankfully, the mansion he lived in was quite huge and his screams didn't wake up the servants or his family, although, some might hear distant screaming.
"Hahaha!", he was laughing madly while jumping in joy. "I got a system! I got a fucking system!", he exclaimed as he continued jumping. He couldn't believe that he had stumbled upon a system similar to those in his favorite novels at the library. He loved reading novels with systems. It intrigued him so much and he always hoped for a system. He used to spend so much time reading the novels that he roped even Lilith and made her join him on his system madness.
A commoner writer introduced a system-like story and it instantly became popular in the kingdom. From then on, everybody jumped on the trend bandwagon and wrote and distributed the system novels to the kids like they were distributing free candy. And, why wouldn't they? The kids loved reading them. Especially, commoners. They self-inserted themselves as the main characters in the stories and dreamt of becoming the strongest warrior, mage or whatever. They wanted to escape their harsh reality where less than 20 percent of the population of the whole world were able to awaken their innate ability to wield magic.
And, Darell was like them. Yes, he wasn't a commoner but a noble. A lower noble, in fact. He wanted to become not just one of the greats, he wanted to be the greatest of the greats. He wanted to be someone the kids looked up to and dreamt of becoming. He wanted to be their role model. But, he knew that it wasn't possible since the system was merely fiction.
But, now, the only thing was, this wasn't fiction. It was real.
He continued jumping around for several minutes until he was exhausted.
'Okay, I think I'm calm now,' he thought and composed himself. He then realized that his room was a mess. His shirt was ripped off, his bed was a mess, and the pillows were scattered on the floor. He had even kicked his pants off and was left with only his boxers. He didn't care about the mess right now. He shook his head and turned his attention to the status interface. A smile stretched across his lips and his eyes glittered with excitement when he saw it.
He looked at the status interface and read every single thing on it. But, the one thing his head couldn't wrap around was the fact that his race was hidden. He was supposed to be human, but why couldn't he see it on his stats. He thought about the hidden race and a small window popped up in the interface.
CURRENT RACE UNKNOWN
'System, why can't I see my race?', he asked in his mind.
Yes, you are correct. Your race is not visible. It's just hidden. As to why it is hidden, I have no answer. Perhaps, it is a result of your current condition.
'Condition?', he thought.
Yes. The reason why your race is hidden is because of your condition.
'What condition?', he asked.
I'm afraid I can't say anything more than that.
'Then, how would I see my race?', he asked.
You need to be at least level 50 to unlock your race and other hidden features of the system.
He let out a frustrated sigh. "Ughh..o-okay. It's weird that I have to level up to see my race but I don't want to question the system too much. What if it is one of those types of system which randomly issues a difficult quest to punish it's host when they are annoying the system too much?"
If I were one of those, then I would've sent a quest to the host, asking if he wanted to die.
'Oh, okay,' he replied sheepishly.
He asked, 'System, what do I benefit from leveling up?'
Apart from seeing your race, the benefits are the following.
'I'm listening,' Darell said.
Your HP and MP will increase as well as your basic stats. Also, you can unlock special skills when you are at a certain level.
'Which ones? Skills other than my innate ones?,' he asked.
Yes.
"Okay, I think I get it. But, the benefits of leveling up are still amazing. I have a system. My HP and MP will increase. Not only that, I'll be able to unlock special skills. This is the best situation for me!", he said excitedly. He couldn't wait to start leveling up and unlocking new skills.
'Well then my lovely system, show me the path to greatness,' he said.
You wish to start leveling up?
He nodded and replied confidently, 'Yes, I do.'
Quest Kill a rank 01 beast NOTE WITHOUT ANY WEAPONS Reward 10 XP Accept? YES/NO
'Yes, I accept the quest,' he replied.
Understood. It is done
"I just received a quest," Darell muttered to himself. This was it, the first quest on his journey to greatness. But as he read the details, his excitement began to fade. Kill a rank 01 beast? Without any weapons? Was the system crazy?
'System, can't I receive a different quest? One where I would get to use a weapon, maybe?,' he asked.
Unfortunately, no. You have to kill the beast with your bare hands.
"Well, that sucks," he said and sighed.
He glanced at the clock and realized it was still midnight. He stretched his arms and thought, 'Well, I would think about it in the morning.'
With a smile on his face, he settled back into bed, determined to get some rest before the big day ahead.