My Astrid System

In a world at war with the dark and powerful Shadow Mages, magic decides your worth—and Zarik has none. A 19-year-old scavenger in the neon slums of the Freeholds, Zarik survives on grit alone—until a run-in with a mysterious relic unlocks the Astrid System, a forbidden power tied to the enemy.



Now wielding control over the elements, Zarik is no longer powerless—but every use of the Astrid System comes with a price: the Shadow Mark, a growing curse that threatens to consume him. As Zarik rises from nobody to key player in the war, he uncovers secrets about the Astrid System, the legendary First Flame, and his own role in the fate of the world.



With the help of Lira, his clever best friend, and uneasy allies, Zarik must navigate betrayal, ancient powers, and the whispers of a system that may destroy him. When the system demands he “Claim the Flame or lose everything,” Zarik must choose: save humanity or save himself.



The war is far from over—and the First Flame is watching.