Chapter 1

• The sound of raindrops pattering against the stone orphanage walls was a familiar lullaby to Kael. It had been his home—or prison—for as long as he could remember. Nestled in the shadow of the great city of Everreach, the orphanage was a crumbling relic of a better time. Its halls echoed with the laughter of children too young to know their misfortune and the murmurs of those old enough to understand they were forgotten.
• Kael lay on his thin mattress, staring at the cracks in the ceiling. His 17th birthday had come and gone without fanfare. Most of the other children had been adopted or apprenticed long before reaching his age. The few who remained whispered rumors about Kael. Some said he was cursed, others said he was too strange for a family to take in.
• But Kael didn't care. Or so he told himself.
• Late that night, the attic called to him. He often snuck up there when the weight of the orphanage walls became too much. It was a place of dusty trunks, forgotten trinkets, and silence. This time, however, something was different.
• As Kael climbed the creaky ladder, he felt a strange pull, like invisible hands guiding him. The moment his head peeked above the attic floor, his eyes locked onto something impossible. In the center of the room floated a crystalline orb, glowing faintly with runes that seemed alive, shifting and rearranging themselves in hypnotic patterns.
• His breath hitched as he stepped closer. The air around the orb was warm, tingling with energy. Against all better judgment, Kael reached out and touched it.
• A surge of light engulfed him. His mind filled with voices—some chanting, others whispering. Then, one voice broke through the cacophony, calm and commanding:
• "System Initiating. User: Kael. Designation: Seeker."
• Kael stumbled back, clutching his head. The attic seemed darker now, the only light emanating from his hands. Golden symbols swirled around his fingers before vanishing into his skin.
• "What… what is this?" he whispered.
• The voice answered, echoing in his mind. "You have been chosen. Tasks and knowledge will guide you. Failure leads to erasure. Success… leads to the Nexus."
• Kael awoke the next morning to sunlight streaming through the broken slats of the attic window. For a moment, he thought it had all been a dream—the glowing orb, the strange voice, the swirling symbols. But as he rubbed his face, he noticed something new. A faint, golden shimmer danced along his fingertips, fading into his skin.
• The system's voice startled him.
• "Welcome back, Seeker. First task initiated: ignite the spark. Objective: cast a basic light spell. Reward: system calibration."
• Kael blinked, unsure if he was still dreaming. "Wait… cast a spell? Like magic?" he muttered aloud. The system didn't answer, but a small, glowing rune appeared in his mind, pulsing gently. Instinctively, he knew what it meant. The rune wasn't just a symbol; it was a guide.
• He stood, his palms sweaty. Stretching his hand forward, he focused on the rune. At first, nothing happened. His frustration grew as he muttered every nonsensical phrase he could think of. "Abracadabra? Open sesame? Come on!"
• Then, a spark. A tiny orb of golden light flickered into existence, hovering above his palm. It was no bigger than a firefly, but it burned with a warmth that made his heart race. Kael grinned. "I did it!"
• The light sputtered out a moment later, but the system chimed in.
• "Task complete. Calibration successful. Seeker aptitude: above baseline."
• "Above baseline?" Kael repeated. "I don't even know what I'm doing!"
• The system didn't respond, but a flood of new information filled his mind. Concepts like mana flow, elemental channels, and rune weaving swirled in his thoughts. It was overwhelming but fascinating. Each concept felt both foreign and strangely intuitive, as if the knowledge had always been buried inside him.
• Downstairs, the orphanage's routine continued as if nothing had changed. But Kael knew his life would never be the same. He practiced in secret, honing his light spell until he could sustain it for several minutes. Each success filled him with hope—and questions. What was this system? Why had it chosen him? And what was the Nexus it spoke of?
• As days turned into weeks, Kael's progress didn't go unnoticed. A group of cloaked strangers arrived in Everreach, their presence causing whispers among the townsfolk. They claimed to be Seekers, members of an elite faction dedicated to protecting the realms from dimensional instability. Their arrival would mark the beginning of Kael's true journey.