"ALEX GET UP IT'S SYSTEM DAY", I heard faintly as I rolled over to try and cover my ears.

The sun was already peaking through my small window jarring me awake

At this rate I'll never get any more sleep.

"NOW ALEX" screamed Sister Ana from downstairs. "IM UP" I managed to respond groggily as I sat on the side of my beat up bed. 

Today was the day, the first day of the rest of my life... at least that's what everyone has been saying since I could remember. The first System Day after turning 16 was the day you got to choose your first skill and get access to the System for the first time. In reality though you don't really choose. People like me get to "choose" from a shit list of shit skills and are forever destined to live in the dirt. 

The way it works is all of your life experiences, better known as achievements, up until your first official System Day at 16 are judged by the gods and they provide you with the skills which fit most naturally with them, your personality, and your fate. For example, someone who  has always grown up farming, loves nature, and is destined to be a farmer for the rest of his life, would get options for a skill having to do with that. Things like Farming Mastery, or Bountiful Harvest. 

Each aspect of the skill determination recommends 1 skill, meaning everyone gets 3 options. Yeah it may seem fair in theory but nobles are able to stack the deck using the achievement aspect. Exposing kids to different scenarios and environments growing up almost always leads to a great choice in the first aspect, not to mention their fate is usually a lot more influential than someone like me. 

Shaking myself out of my thoughts I start to get ready for the long day I'm about to have as I can hear some of the other kids start to move around outside my door. Eventually I found a somewhat clean shirt and pair of pants and threw them on. 

If I had to describe myself in one word it would be aggressively average, well that's 2 words but you get the point. I was 5'10", shoulder length dark brown hair, and not a lick of muscle on my thin wiry frame, my only redeeming qualities were my emerald green eyes but even those were ringed with a dark storm gray circle that seemed to suck the life out of them. 

I tried to tame the mop of bed head the best I could, dragging my fingers through all the knots and clumps attempting to be somewhat presentable.

That'll have to do.

Rushing past the kids shuffling around I made my way downstairs to find Sister Ana.

"Finally gracing me with your presence I see" teased Sister Ana, " Are you excited for System Day? You will finally be an Adult!"

"Yeah I know I know, "find my purpose" you've been saying it all month." I grumbled desperately tired of all the excitement. "It's not like I'm going to get any good options, I mean look at me."

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Sister Ana gave me a dejected look, "Come on now Alex you never know, maybe you will get a rare skill and get accepted to an Academy. You have to learn to be positive."

So about Skill Rankings. Every skill in existence has a different system ranking depending on scarcity and overall power. Usually the higher the ranking the better the skill but some newly created skills are marked differently until they are better understood as well as how they relate to the current state of the system. Take the skill Fireball. It's an Uncommon ranked skill that lets you convert Mana into a fireball and launch it out of your hand. When the system was first introduced and Mana skills were extremely rare this skill had a much higher ranking than the Uncommon one it does now. Some people think with the new academies and their dedication to pass on skill knowledge and proficiency that Fireball may even become Common ranked in the future. 

Finally there are things called Unique skills. These are skills created by someone that no one else has in the world and therefore the system has not yet been able to accurately rank them. They can range from all powerful world altering skills, to a proficiency at a new sport just created. Unless the skill name is very deliberate in what these skills do most are just overlooked until more people learn them and a more telling ranking is assigned. 

Someone like me, a kid from nothing, getting anything higher than an Uncommon would be like me winning the kings tournament with nothing but a tree branch, practically impossible. I know Sister Ana is just trying to help but odds are I'll be back in the Church by tomorrow looking for someone to take me on as an apprentice with whatever skill I end up with.

"I'll try Sister I promise." I lied as I reached for the warm bread she had set out on the table.

"Did you wake up Kaley on your way down?"

"No I forg-EGH" I let out as I felt little arms wrap around my neck and latch onto me pulling me off the stool I had sat on. 

I reached behind my head and flipped over the devious and giggling little girl into my lap. "Well good morning to you too Kaley."

"Morning Alex!!!" she said while giving me a hug.

Kaley was one of the other kids Sister Ana was taking care of here at the Church. Ever since I had found her a few years ago trying to steal food in the market and brought her back here she had been attached to my hip. In her own words I was her "newest bestest brother" and that meant no more peace and quiet for me. Not that I miss the peace and quiet but don't tell her that.

I gave her a big hug back, "Did you get all dressed up for me today?" She had put on her favorite cleanest dress and was now twirling around the kitchen, much to Sister Ana's amusement.

"YESS it's your big day!!" stopping herself and looking at me with her big brown eyes "and I'm coming with you to The Choosing......right.....?"

"Hmm I don't know, I was thinking of taking Erika with me instead she is so much more quiet"

Now stomping her little feet, " N-NO I GET TO G-GO" she stammered " Or no more hugs." punctuating her demand with a final stomp.

After letting her sweat for a second I give in, "Fine I guess you can come with me. Now go finish getting ready and I'll meet you at the doors in a minute."

"You really shouldn't tease her like that, she almost burst into tears" Sister Ana chuckled while cleaning up the kitchen.

"Now where is the fun in that?"

"Really though Alex, try to be positive at The Choosing you never know what might happen. If anything, do it for Kaley. You know how she gets if she thinks you are upset."

 "Ok Ok." I groaned

"Remember, try to be back by sundown so we can celebrate, I have a surprise for you later." She grinned as  stood up making my way to the door where Kaley was now bouncing impatiently as if she was screaming at me to hurry up.

"I will, don't worry. See you tonight." I called over my shoulder as I took Kaley's hand.

"You ready?"

"Yeah let's go!" 

This was going to be a long day....