Chapter 19: A Spark in the Shadows

The infirmary was quiet, the faint hum of enchanted healing wards filling the air. Axton sat on the edge of the bed, his ribs sore but manageable. The battle from the trial still played on repeat in his mind—the monstrous beast, the chaos, the way he'd almost failed.

And then there was the voice. The strange, emotionless voice that had appeared in his moment of desperation.

"Good morning, Host," it chimed, pulling him out of his thoughts. "Status: Recovery at 85%. Physical condition stable. Energy reserves replenished."

Axton's breath hitched, the reality of the situation settling in. The system—it wasn't a dream. It was real. The translucent screen that appeared in front of him during the trial had been his lifeline, guiding him when he had no other options. And now, it was here, speaking again as though it had always been part of his life.

"What… what are you?" he whispered, glancing around to make sure no one else was in the room.

"I am an integrated support mechanism designed to assist you in growth and survival. Would you like to access your status screen?"

He hesitated, unsure of what he'd see. But curiosity got the better of him. "Fine. Show me."

A faint glow filled his vision as the translucent screen materialized in front of him.

Host: Axton Backwoods

• Level: 1

• Strength: 6

• Agility: 8

• Endurance: 5

• Perception: 2

• Dexterity: 4

• Vitality: 4

• Wisdom: LOCKED

• Intelligence: 8

• Charm: LOCKED

• Mana: LOCKED

• Control: 3

• Affinity: LOCKED (Lightning, others locked)

Axton's eyes widened as he read the screen. His gaze locked on "Lightning" under Affinity, his heart racing. Lightning? That made no sense. He'd never shown any sign of elemental power, let alone something as rare as lightning.

"What does this mean?" he asked. "Locked? How do I unlock it?"

"Host's affinity is dormant. The first spark has been detected, but further progress is required to unlock control. Continue completing objectives to grow your power."

Axton groaned, running a hand through his hair. "So, I have something, but I can't use it yet. Great."

The system didn't respond, its silence almost mocking. He swiped the screen away, leaning back against the bed. His mind swirled with questions. Why did this system choose him? How had it even appeared in the first place? And what did it mean by "the first spark"?

"Would you like to access additional system features?" the voice prompted, breaking the silence.

"Additional features?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. "Like what?"

The screen shifted, revealing a new menu:

System Features:

1. Status Screen - View current stats and abilities.

2. Quest Log - Track active and completed quests.

3. Inventory - Manage items obtained during trials.

4. Shop - Exchange points for upgrades, items, and abilities.

Axton's eyes lit up at the word Shop. "A shop? What can I even buy?"

"Points can be earned through completing quests, defeating enemies, and demonstrating exceptional performance. Current balance: 0 points."

"Figures," he muttered. Still, the idea intrigued him. If he could earn points, maybe he could unlock his lightning power—or at least find a way to survive the next trial. He made a mental note to explore the shop later. For now, he needed to focus on what was in front of him.

The morning sun cast a warm glow over the academy grounds as Axton made his way to the cafeteria. His body still ached, but the system's assurance that his recovery was nearly complete gave him some comfort.

The cafeteria was packed with students, their voices a chaotic blend of excitement and nervous energy. Everyone was speculating about the second trial, their words only adding to the knot of anxiety in Axton's stomach.

He spotted Elias at a table near the back, waving him over. Sitting beside him was their other teammate, Lira

, her auburn hair pulled into a loose braid.

"Axton!" Elias called out, grinning. "I thought you were dead for sure."

"Not yet," Axton said, sliding into the seat across from them. His ribs protested the movement, but he ignored the pain. "Barely made it, though."

Lira gave him a once-over, her expression skeptical. "You look like you got hit by a cart."

"Feels like it, too," Axton admitted. He grabbed a slice of bread from the tray in the middle of the table, chewing slowly as he listened to their conversation.

"Any idea what the next trial will be?" Elias asked, glancing between them.

"No clue," Lira said, shaking her head. "But if it's anything like the first one, we'll need to stay sharp. That thing in the forest wasn't a coincidence."

Axton stayed quiet, his thoughts drifting back to the system. Should he tell them about it? The idea was tempting—having someone else to help him figure it out might make things easier. But Elias's words from earlier echoed in his mind: People would kill for something like that.

He couldn't risk it. Not yet.

Before they could continue their discussion, a loud voice boomed across the cafeteria. An instructor stood near the entrance, their commanding presence silencing the room.

"Attention, all participants! The second trial will commence in two hours. Report to the coliseum for further instructions. Prepare yourselves for the next trial.

The room erupted into whispers, students scrambling to finish their meals and gather their gear. Axton felt a familiar knot of dread tighten in his stomach. He barely survived the first trial—what chance did he have in the next one?

"You good?" Elias asked, nudging him.

"Yeah," Axton lied, forcing a small smile. "I'll be fine."

But as they left the cafeteria, his mind was racing. He needed an edge—something to give him even the slightest advantage.

As they walked toward the coliseum, Axton opened the system's Quest Log, the glowing text catching his eye.

Active Quest:

• Survive the second trial and earn 50 points.

It wasn't much, but it was enough to ignite a flicker of determination in his chest. He didn't know what the trial would bring, but he wasn't going to face it unprepared. The system was his secret weapon, and he was determined to make it count.