Error 404 – System Awakening Failed

Aldric's head throbbed in time with his pulse, a dull ache radiating from the base of his skull. He blinked against the dim torchlight, shadows flickering over stone walls and iron bars. Cold seeped through the uneven stones beneath him, biting through the thin underlayer of his damaged armor.

His wrists were bound with cuffs etched in faintly glowing runes, each one leeching the warmth from his skin and, more importantly, blocking every scrap of mana.

"Perfect," Aldric muttered, flexing his fingers and feeling nothing but emptiness where magic should have been. His cloak and staff were gone, talisman missing, and the weight of exhaustion hung heavy.

Outside the cell, guards stood stoic—armor gleaming, hands resting on swords. The Sun Court's sigil, a golden sunburst, was emblazoned on their breastplates. They didn't glance his way. 

Professional. Inconvenient. 

Aldric closed his eyes, willing the headache to fade. If he could focus—

A flicker of blue broke through the darkness.

[System Awakening…]

His eyes snapped open. A translucent blue screen floated before him, text flickering like a faulty lantern.

[ERROR: Insufficient Mana Detected! Residual Anti-Magic Field Interference.]

[System Startup Delayed – Please Wait…]

Aldric stared. Then blinked. 

Then stared some more. "Great," he muttered. "I'm hallucinating now, and that too on a freaking dungeon cell."

The screen, evidently unimpressed by his skepticism, buzzed with another line of text.

[Emergency Protocol Activated! Temporal Buffer Initiated.]

[Granting Beginner Pack… Error! Anti-Magic Barrier Detected!]

[Beginner Pack delivery failed. Please try again later.]

Aldric's expression flatlined. "You've got to be kidding me. You're like a mage apprentice who forgot their spell components."

The screen jittered, lines of error messages stacking like poorly organized paperwork.

[Quest Unlocked: Escape the Dungeon! Classified as "Tutorial".]

[Reward: 500 XP, Basic Sword, Healing Potion… ERROR: Inventory Access Blocked by Anti-Magic Cuffs!]

Aldric pinched the bridge of his nose. "I'm stuck in a prison cell with no magic, no weapons, and a malfunctioning hallucination. Brilliant."

The system, either out of spite or pure desperation, flickered again:

[Issuing Tutorial Quest: "How to pick a lock with your teeth" … Error! Cuffs Detected!]

[Issuing Voice Command: "Please say magic words" … Error! Cuffs Detected!]

The screen seemed to pause, as if considering its life choices.

[Installing Language Pack: "Common Tongue to Sarcasm" … Error!]

Aldric watched the string of failures pile up with the resigned patience of someone used to disasters. "Are you done yet?" he drawled.

[Please Stand By… System attempting to access "Help Desk"…] the screen replied, with the weary tone of a civil servant one cup of coffee short of quitting.

Fragments of the Past

The screen glitched, light pulsing erratically. As it did, memories splintered through Aldric's mind—sharp, unbidden.

A council chamber, heavy oak doors, the scent of aged wood and political tension, a table lined with cloaked figures, faces shrouded in shadow, their voices hushed but sharp. 

Aldric stood at its centre, back straight, voice steady.

In his previous life, he was a normal office worker from the world called Earth, and just now, he has his memories back.

Then his girlfriend betrayed him and pushed him out of the window, "ARGGGGGHHHHH"

Aldric gasped, vision snapping back to the cell, heart pounding. "Right," he muttered shakily. "Definitely not hallucinating."

'It seems like I have lived a pretty decent life of a healer till now…I just didn't know how to cherish it.'

Keys rattled beyond the bars. Aldric tensed, shoulders drawing back. The guards didn't move, but a new figure approached—robes a size too big, glasses slipping down her nose, eyes wide and curious.

The mage—a girl, barely out of her teens—stared at Aldric with a mix of awe and nerves. "You… you're the holy mage who blew up the temple?"

Aldric raised a brow. "Technically, it was the cultist leader. I just… accelerated the process. You know, like hitting 'refresh' on a dying browser."

She fumbled with her clipboard, cheeks tinting pink. "Um. I'm supposed to… interrogate you? Or, well, ask questions, at least."

The system, sensing an opportunity, buzzed eagerly:

[Emergency Escape Quest: Persuade the Mage! Classified as "Social Interaction".]

[Reward: Lockpick, Mana Recovery Pill… ERROR!]

Aldric bit back a groan.

The mage squinted at him, as if puzzled by his pained expression. "Are you… feeling unwell?"

"Just the aftereffects of dark magic," Aldric lied smoothly. "And a sudden migraine."

She nodded sympathetically. "That makes sense! I don't know about the 'migraine' thing! But, the Sun Court's healers could—"

[Issuing Backup Plan: "Play Dead" … Error!]

[Rebooting System… Please Stand By…]

Aldric swiped a hand through the flickering text, scowling. The mage blinked rapidly, gaze darting between his face and the empty air where the screen hovered.

"Uh… what are you doing?"

"Swatting mosquitoes," he deadpanned. "Aggressive, digital ones."

After several failed attempts at interrogation—most of which involved the mage stammering questions and Aldric dodging them with increasing exasperation—she glanced nervously at the guards and lowered her voice.

"Look," she mumbled, twisting the hem of her sleeve, "the Sun Court is… divided. Some want you executed for dark magic, but others think you might be useful. If you help us—help me—I can… vouch for you. It is just that, some people here, have been acting… strange."

Aldric's eyes narrowed. "Help you with what, exactly?"

She swallowed. "There's a corruption plot. High-ranking mages and knights—people who shouldn't be dealing with dark magic. I need proof, but…"

[Quest Updated: Expose the Corruption! Classified as "Investigation".]

[Reward: Full Mana Access, System Reboot… ERROR!]

Aldric inhaled slowly.

He had no staff, no mana, and a glitching system that seemed seconds from a full shutdown. The options were limited.

'But I will not back down from a cute girl with glasses asking for help!'

"Fine," he said, sighing. "But if this gets me executed faster, I'm haunting you."

[System Rebooting….]

"And I'll make sure to haunt the system programmers too."

She brightened. "R-Really? I mean—thank you!"

The torches beyond the cell flared, armor clanking as a group of knights approached—sun sigils bright, faces grim. At their head, a man in elaborate armor, eyes cold as winter.

The lead knight's gaze swept over Aldric—worn armor, anti-magic cuffs, the faint spark of holy light still clinging to him.

"Prisoner 17," the knight intoned, voice like iron, "you're coming with us. Lord Aurelis demands answers."

"And mage, you had enough time to interrogate him, the captian requests your presence."

The system, apparently revived enough for one last snarky attempt, flickered:

[Installing Language Pack: "Noble to Common" … Error!]

[Rebooting System… Please Stand By…]

Aldric sighed deeply. "Of course."

And as the knights pulled him to his feet, cold iron biting into his wrists, one thought blazed bright in his mind:

'I am going to find the system's off switch and then smack the developer's ass hard...maybe I should give them backshots like they never experienced.'

As they left the cold dungeon and proceeded to the upper platform, the polished marble floors of the Sun Court's citadel gleamed obnoxiously bright, reflecting golden banners that fluttered with every draft. 

Aldric stumbled forward, wrists bound by anti-magic cuffs that faintly pulsed with runes, a constant reminder of his magical impotence. The armored knights flanking him shoved with all the gentleness of a charging bull, their armor clanking like a mobile forge.

"Well, at least the accommodations are fancy," Aldric muttered, glancing at the intricate mosaics depicting valorous battles and beaming saints, all symbols of the Sun Court's power. 

His head still throbbed from the earlier mana suppression, and the echoing clang of boots wasn't helping.

"Silence, heretic," one of the knights growled, tightening his grip.

"Not even a 'welcome to the Sun Court'? Rude," Aldric grumbled. His eyes flickered to the floating blue screen, glitching like a dying firefly.

[System Rebooting… 5% Complete. System attempting to identify "Why am I so broken"…]

[ERROR: Insufficient Mana Detected! Residual Anti-Magic Field Interference.]

[System Startup Delayed – Please Wait…]

Aldric's eyebrow twitched. He just remained silent.

They stopped before a grand door, its wood inlaid with golden vines and a sun emblem that practically screamed 'overcompensation,' a testament to the Sun Court's wealth. With a grunt, the knight shoved Aldric inside, nearly toppling him over. 

The door slammed shut, leaving him face-to-face with a woman who looked like she could bench press a wyvern, a warrior woman who embodied the Sun Court's martial might.

Captain Elara, the name flashed in his mind as he took her in—long crimson hair, gleaming silver armor that hugged dangerous curves a little too well, and eyes that could cut through steel. 

The Sun Court's insignia was etched on her chest plate, right above… Aldric forced his gaze upwards, reminding himself that professional courtesy was key to survival.

The Captain Ellara had great disdain for black magic user and she was the one who arrested Aldric, and had a very bad opinion of him, so she naturally hated this guy a.k.a hero.

Elara's glare sharpened. "You're the one who blew up the temple?" she demanded, tone frosty enough to chill a forge.

Aldric, despite the looming threat of execution, couldn't help himself. "Uh… yes?" His eyes did a quick, totally accidental flicker downwards. 

Not his fault the armor seemed designed by a particularly perverted blacksmith, or that the Sun Court had such a… unique sense of design.

Elara's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Eyes up here, pervert."

"To be fair," Aldric said mildly, "your armor's doing most of the work. And I am simply admiring the craftsmanship."

The sound of a sword slamming onto the table was deafening. Guards outside pretended not to hear.

"I could remove your head right now," Elara seethed.

Aldric sighed. "Can I at least get a blindfold first? Or a pamphlet on Sun Court fashion?"

[System Rebooting… 27% Complete. System attempting to "Charm" Elara… Error!]

[Emergency Protocol Activated! Initiating "Distraction Protocol"…]

[Granting Beginner Pack… Error! Anti-Magic Barrier Detected!]

[Beginner Pack delivery failed. Please try again later.]

Aldric's eye twitched. 'Great. The system is even trying to flirt forme.'

The door creaked open, sparing Aldric from a premature beheading. A junior mage in robes a size too large stumbled in—Lyria, if the name tag was to be believed. 

Short, glasses, cheeks flushed from sprinting, and carrying a stack of scrolls half her height, a symbol of her academic fervor.

"S-Sorry I'm late!" Lyria squeaked, tripping over her robes. The scrolls flew everywhere in a blizzard of parchment, one smacking Aldric right in the face.

"Hi again, Lyria." 

"ha! Hello-! Prisoner…17?"

"My name is Aldric!" Our guy just replied with a face of GTA 6 NPC.

Elara pinched the bridge of her nose. "Why is the apprentice here?"

Lyria scrambled to gather the scrolls, cheeks red. "I-I was told to, um, assist with the interrogation?"

Aldric, parchment still on his face, muffled, "Nice to meet you again. And thank you for the paperweight."

Elara's glare intensified. "Pervert."

[System: Issuing Emergency Escape Skill… Error! System attempting to "Use Sarcasm" … Success!]

[Issuing Anti-Interrogation Protocol… Error! System attempting to "Blame the Armor" … Failure!]

[Backup Plan: Use Lewd Distraction! System attempting to "Explain Anatomy" … Error!]

Aldric's eyes widened. "What—no. Absolutely not. I swear, this system is going to get me killed."

[System: Too Late! System attempting to "Play it Cool" … Loading…]

A sudden surge of mana flared through the cuffs—wild, untamed. Lyria yelped as the backlash sent her stumbling forward, crashing directly into Aldric's chest with a squeak that would've been adorable under different circumstances, if it wasn't for the very angry warrior woman.

Elara's sword was halfway drawn, her face crimson. "Unhand her, degenerate!"

"She fell!" Aldric protested, hands awkwardly outstretched. Lyria's face was somehow even redder, glasses askew as she tried to disentangle herself. In her flailing, one hand slipped and landed somewhere… unfortunate.

Aldric: Internally screaming. 'This is the worst interrogation ever.'

[Achievement Unlocked: "Accidental Harem Protagonist". System attempting to "Explain Gravity" … Error!]

[Charm +5. System attempting to "Use Logic" … Failure!]

"I hate everything about this," Aldric groaned.

Elara's glare could melt glaciers. Lyria, still plastered against his chest, managed a muffled apology.

"So-soory!"

[Emergency Quest: Avoid Execution! Classified as "Survival".]

[Reward: Charm Boost, Escape Route, Mana Potion… ERROR! System attempting to "Blame the Apprentice" … Error!]

"You are really going to die this time around, you heretic!" Captain Ellara approached him ferociously and helped Lyria to stand up again on her feet.

Amid the chaos, Lyria blurted, "T-The Sun Court's hiding a forbidden relic!" Her eyes widened, realizing she'd said that out loud.

Elara's jaw clenched, guilt flickering briefly. Aldric's eyebrow arched. "Well, that's interesting. It seems like you made some progress regarding the deal we did yesterday."

"Yea, it's not just corruption there is something big going on!"

[Quest Updated: Find the Relic! Classified as "Investigation".]

[Reward: Full Mana Access, Skill Unlock, Harem Points… ERROR! System attempting to "Explain Relic" … Loading…]

Aldric paused. 'Harem points? What the hell are those?"'

[System: … Yes. System attempting to "Explain Harem Points" … Error!]

Before he could start bashing his head against a wall, the door swung open, revealing a high-ranking mage whose robes screamed "self-important"—Archmage Varian. His smirk was pure condescension as he leveled a truth spell at Aldric.

The spell hit, and the cuffs sparked—mana flaring wildly.

[System: Issuing Countermeasure… Error! System attempting to "Use Sarcasm" … Failure!]

[Issuing Charm Boost… Success! System attempting to "Explain Charm" … Loading…]

Aldric, "Wait, what?"

Lyria and Elara blinked, eyes softening, cheeks pink. Varian's smirk faltered.

Aldric groaned. "This isn't what it looks like—"

[Charm Boost Activated! System attempting to "Use Poetry" … Error!]

[Harem Points +10. System attempting to "Explain Poetry" … Loading…]

Varian's spell backfired spectacularly, shattering the cuffs. Mana flooded back, wild and uncontrolled. The blue screen flickered wildly.

[System: Reboot Complete! System attempting to "Celebrate" … Loading…]

[Mana Access Restored! System attempting to "Explain Mana" … Loading…]

[Issuing Beginner Pack… Success! System attempting to "Use Sales Pitch" … Loading!]

A sword, a healing potion, and—awkwardly—a Lingerie Catalog with "Harem Expansion Guide" on the cover materialized in midair.

Aldric's deadpan was a masterpiece. "Seriously?"

"Store them in Inventory!"

[Storing them in inventory! Succes!]

[System: Yes. System attempting to "Explain Lingerie" … Error!]

"You don't have to explain it!!"

Alarm bells blared. Doors slammed open, and armored knights rushed in, swords gleaming.

Aldric, twirling his staff with a smirk, immobilized the knights. 

Elara, face red but sword raised, "This doesn't mean I trust you, pervert!"

"Never said you did. And I still want that pamphlet on Sun Court fashion."

[Main Quest Unlocked: Escape the Citadel with Your Harem! Classified as "Survival".]

Reward: Full System Access, Mana Regeneration, and "Mystic Hot Springs Location". System attempting to "Explain Hot Springs" … Loading!]

Aldric's eye twitched. "I'm going to murder whoever programmed you. And then I'm getting a refund."

[System: Good luck, host! System attempting to "Use Encouragement" … Success!]

Torches flared, steel gleamed, and Aldric couldn't help the crooked grin that spread across his face.