Life in our little corner of Ateheeris was mostly about the simple things. Our village, nestled between the embrace of the whispering woods and the gentle roll of green hills, was a place where everyone knew everyone else's name—and probably their business too.
Growing up here meant your playgrounds were the endless forests and the streams that crisscrossed the landscape like veins of life. My friends and I spent countless hours exploring every nook and cranny we could find. Jax, always the ringleader with a wild streak a mile wide, would dare us to climb the tallest trees or jump across the widest parts of the creek. "Come on, what's the worst that could happen?" he'd say, with that mischievous glint in his eye that promised adventure and a fair chance of scraped knees.
Lena, on the other hand, was the thinker. She had this old, weather-beaten book she'd found in the attic of her house, filled with sketches of plants and notes on their uses. Many of our explorations were missions to find the various flora detailed in its pages. "This one can cure a headache," she'd explain, holding up some leaf or other, her tone full of the wonder of discovery.
And me? I guess I was somewhere in the middle. Not as reckless as Jax, nor as studious as Lena, but I had an insatiable curiosity about the world around us. I loved the stories the elders told, tales of ancient magic and heroes of old, and I'd daydream about uncovering hidden secrets and lost treasures.
Apart from our adventures, life was pretty routine. We'd help out with chores around the village, from tending to the gardens to fixing up whatever needed repairing. It was a community where everyone pitched in, where the fruits of your labor were shared and enjoyed by all.
As the classing ceremony loomed closer, the question of what role I'd assume in the village became a frequent topic of conversation among my family. "You've always been good with animals," my mother would say, pondering the possibility of me becoming a beastmaster or something similar. My father, a man of few words, would simply nod and add, "Or maybe you'll take after your grandfather, who had a knack for crafting he did."
This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.
But deep down, I couldn't shake the feeling that I didn't quite fit into any of the classes we knew of. It was like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. This sense of not belonging, of being different, was something I kept to myself, fearing it would only bring worry or disappointment to those I cared about.
So, as the ceremony approached, I did my best to keep a brave face, to laugh along with Jax's jokes about becoming the village's next great hero, or to listen intently to Lena's aspirations of unlocking the mysteries of the world. But inside, I was a storm of questions with no answers in sight, walking toward a ceremony that was supposed to define my place in the world, yet wondering if there truly was a place for me at all.
Status Screen:
Name: Alex Cross
Class: ???
Level: 1(0/100 Exp)
Health: 100/100 (10/min)
Mana: 200/200 (18/min)
**Stats:**
- Vitality: 10
- Strength: 9
- Agility: 10
- Intelligence: 20
- Defence: 20
- Luck: ???
**Skills:** None
Quest: Seek the dungeon in the Whispering Woods. Your destiny awaits.
So there I was, all hyped up and practically buzzing. The big reveal? Mind-blowing and kinda of like a double shot of espresso to my adventurous spirit. My very own epic quest – no cookie-cutter roles for me, thank you very much. I was all about crafting my own legendary path, thank you very much.
Leaning in, I gave the woods around me a cheeky wink. "Alrighty, dungeon-hunting time it is!" The words tumbled out like a pinky promise with a side of "hold my ale." It was the kind of moment that made you want to high-five a unicorn or something. This whole solo gig was my golden ticket to figuring out why I was the odd one out at the magic shindig, why I was basically the square peg in a world of round holes.
With a deep breath that would've made a yoga instructor proud, I took that first step – the kind that's supposed to be all profound and whatnot. I was jazzed about the whole "System" thing – it was like the ultimate mystery box, and who doesn't love a good surprise? With the great unknown now riding shotgun, I decided to hug it out with the uncertainty. The Whispering Woods beckoned, and I was ready to dance my way through, forging my path with a little bit of sass and a whole lot of hope.