The System

A familiar, cold feeling settled in his chest. It was the emptiness left by their deaths—a void he had long since learned to live with. But it was also a driving force. The memory of that night, when everything had been taken from him, burned brightly in his mind. The pain, the rage, the desire for revenge.

He needed answers. And the Phoenix Academy was the key. He couldn't shake the feeling that this was more than just fate. His bloodline, his parents—there had to be something more.

Suddenly, a ripple in the air caught his attention. His steps faltered as the world around him seemed to twist, as though the very fabric of reality was bending. It was subtle, almost imperceptible, but Lucian felt it—a weight, pressing down on him, as if the shadows themselves were reaching for him.

Before he could react, an unfamiliar voice cut through his thoughts.

"System integration complete."

Lucian's heart skipped a beat. The voice was not spoken—it echoed deep in his mind, a strange resonance that vibrated through his very soul. He froze. His gaze darted around. There was no one here. And yet—this voice, this presence, was all-encompassing. It was as if the air itself had become alive.

"Welcome, Lucian Vail. You have been chosen to inherit the power of the Prince of Darkness. Your path will be long, fraught with shadows and unknowns."

The words sent a chill down his spine. Prince of Darkness? The very title sounded like something out of a legend. But why him? Why now?

Lucian's head spun, trying to process the information. This couldn't be real. No one had ever heard of a "Prince of Darkness"—at least not in the context of real life. It was a name used in stories of forgotten gods, myths, and ancient powers. And yet... here he was, being tied to something that felt far more dangerous and real than any myth.

The voice continued, calm, unfathomable:

**"Class: Shadow Tamer

Rank: SSS (Unique)

Attribute: Shadow

Skills:

Shadow Binding: [Initial level unlocked]

Shadow Step: [Unreachable at current level]

Tame Shadows: [Unlocks with growth]

Prince of Darkness: [Hidden Skill—Unknown]**

Status:

Name: Lucian Vail

Race: Half-Elf

Age15

Level: 1 (0/1000)

Mana: 100/100

Stamina: 150/150

Strength: 10

Agility: 12

Intelligence: 8

Charm: 15

Luck: 10

Spirit: 3

Darkness Affinity: 100%

Skills:

Shadow Binding: [Level 1]

Shadow Step: [Level 0]

Tame Shadows: [Level 0]

Prince of Darkness: [Unknown]

Shop: [Available at Level 10]Quests: [None]Inventory: [Empty]

"Caution: This is the first stage of your journey. The system is bound to you, but your growth will determine the power of your new abilities."

As the words appeared before his eyes, Lucian staggered back in disbelief. The system screen was now floating in his mind, clear and vivid. It appeared as a black screen with bold, red letters etched across it—like a dark, foreboding interface that matched the eerie sensation in the air. He felt a sudden, inexplicable urge to reach out and touch it, but his hands passed through the glowing red text as though it were nothing more than a phantom.

He couldn't explain why, but he could feel each word as if they were inscribed directly into his very soul. This wasn't just some passive notification—it was a connection, a binding force that had become part of him. His heart pounded as he carefully read the details.

His Charm stood at 15—still higher than most, but not enough to be overwhelming at his current level. He knew this would grow with time. His mother, the renowned assassin, had always been able to manipulate her presence, to charm and twist the will of others. And his father, with his elven beauty and noble heritage, had always attracted attention without ever trying. The two combined created a being whose presence naturally drew people in, even if it was something Lucian himself had rarely noticed.

The screen's interface remained static in front of him. He felt the urge to keep exploring it, but there was something intimidating about its silence. The darkness affinity was another striking point. Was it this affinity that had summoned the system? Was it the reason why his path seemed destined for something darker than he'd imagined?

Then, a series of options materialized in his mind, popping up like new tabs in an open browser.

System Shop—currently locked until he reached level 10.Inventory—empty for now, though he felt it might fill up soon.Skills—the initial skills were unlocked, but the higher-level ones were locked.

The screen was eerily quiet again, but Lucian could feel the system's presence, a constant hum just beneath his thoughts.

"Tread carefully, Lucian," the voice echoed again. "The darkness is not easily controlled. It is both a gift and a curse. Embrace it, and it will make you powerful. But be warned: it is a dangerous path."

His mind raced with more questions than he could handle. The Prince of Darkness? The Shadow Tamer? Was this power a sign of things to come? Or was it an inheritance from his parents, an ancient and forbidden legacy that he'd been thrust into without choice?

Lucian clenched his fists. He wouldn't let this system control him. The journey ahead was uncertain, but he wasn't about to back down. He would master the darkness, uncover the truth about his parents' deaths, and reclaim what was taken from him.

The Phoenix Academy awaited. Lucian turned and headed towards it. The path to answers was just beginning.