Morning came slowly in Aetheryn.
Not with alarms. Not with traffic. Not with phones buzzing or news feeds screaming.
Just light.
A soft wash of gold and lavender, painting the broken columns of the ruin in shimmering hues. The air was cold—crisp, clean, wild. Birds Kieran didn't recognize called from the trees. Somewhere, something that sounded like a flute owl sang a haunting note.
Kieran stirred under his long coat, which he had folded over himself like a blanket the night before. The stone floor hadn't been kind to his back, but his body didn't ache. In fact…
He flexed his hands.
No stiffness. No soreness.
"Even sleep feels different," he murmured, rubbing his eyes.
His voice still sounded foreign to him. Young. Clear. Like it belonged to a version of him he barely remembered.
He stood, brushing leaves and moss from his clothes. Then, looking up at the cracked archway above, he whispered:
"System."
[Sovereign Architect System Online]Good morning, Host.
"You don't actually care about the morning."
Correct. But social context increases Host comfort.
Kieran smiled faintly. "You're learning."
I am designed to learn. But your sarcasm continues to skew data.
He chuckled, then stretched—arms overhead, spine popping, legs slightly bent.
The body felt good. Controlled. Almost tuned. Like it had never been weighed down by long hours at a desk, poor posture, or caffeine withdrawals.
This body's a tool, he thought. Efficient. Responsive. Strong.
But it was more than just physical.
He could feel it. In his chest. Beneath the surface of his skin. A kind of quiet hum. Like his blood pulsed with something more than biology. Like magic itself had become part of him.
Not yet overwhelming.
But always there.
"Let's keep learning, then," he muttered.
He stepped into the clearing outside the ruins, boots crunching softly over grass and broken stone. The morning mist lingered low along the ground, clinging to roots and curling around rocks.
Birds scattered when he walked past. A squirrel-like creature with feathers for ears darted up a tree. He took a moment just to watch it.
Everything felt alive.
"System," he said aloud. "List the available functions again."
Available Basic Functions:– Scan: Analyze and display data of nearby objects or beings.– Identify: Determine nature and rarity of items or phenomena.– System Storage: Store collected items in dimensional inventory.– Map: Display current local area (unlocked: 500m radius).– Status (Basic): View Host attributes.– Quest Tracker (Passive): Auto-generates goals based on Host actions.– Crafting: Locked.– Base Building: Locked.– Recruitment: Locked.
Kieran folded his arms.
"Why are so many things locked?"
Progression must be earned. This system does not provide convenience. It provides potential.
Kieran's lips twitched.
"A system with boundaries. I must've drawn the hard-mode card."
Incorrect. You drew the 'Architect' card. Hard mode is optional. You appear to be choosing it regardless.
"Fair."
He knelt beside a patch of grass and flicked his fingers across it.
"Scan."
A flicker of blue light washed over the area.
[Glowroot Fungus]– Low-tier alchemical ingredient– Emits faint mana during lunar phases– Mildly toxic when raw– Value: 1 copper per root
Useful. Not valuable, but useful.
He repeated the process again and again. Scanning leaves. Pebbles. Bark. Strange purple vines that hissed when touched. A shallow pool of shimmering water that turned out to be mildly acidic. A few more mana-rich herbs.
By midmorning, he had collected a decent batch of resources:– 5 Glowroot– 3 Manaroot– 2 Threadcaps– A shiny rock (possibly useless, but he liked it)
Items stored in System Storage. Current capacity used: 4%
Good. Efficient. He liked that.
"Alright," he muttered. "Time to move. Nearest settlement?"
Nearest village: 6.2 kilometres northeastSettlement name: BriarfieldEstimated population: ~300Mana activity: Low to Moderate
"Let's get walking."
The forest surrounding the ruins was denser than it had appeared from inside. Trees rose like ancient towers, some thick enough to hold entire staircases within. The canopy filtered light into green-gold beams, giving everything a dreamlike shimmer.
Animals watched him, but none approached.
He practiced using Map while he walked, opening a simple 2D overlay that hovered in his vision like an AR interface. It outlined terrain, marked the ruins behind him, and placed a glowing dot where Briarfield should be.
But more importantly, he was learning to sync with the system's rhythm. The mental tap needed to activate a command. The subtle shift in perception. It was like learning to use another limb.
This world doesn't feel like a fantasy. It feels like a system I can shape.
At one point, he paused by a small river and tried activating Status.
[Kieran Drayke]– Race: Human (?)– Age: 17 (Reconstructed)– Class: None– Title: Transmigrant, System Bearer
Attributes– Strength: 10– Agility: 12– Intelligence: 15– Perception: 16– Endurance: 11– Willpower: 20
Note: Attributes are calibrated to average human standards (10 = baseline).
"Hmm… I'm skewed toward intellect and perception," he mused. "High willpower too. Makes sense, I guess."
These stats were derived from the Host's original soul resonance.
"So what you're saying is... I'm nerdy, observant, and stubborn."
Affirmative.
Kieran snorted.
"Works for me."
By the time the village came into view, the sun had begun dipping past its midpoint.
Briarfield was modest—wooden buildings with straw roofs, cobblestone paths, and only a handful of people wandering between stalls and wells. A few magical lanterns lined the main road, faintly glowing blue.
He adjusted his coat, brushing off a few stray leaves, and walked toward the entrance with measured steps.
As he passed the first house, a man carrying a basket of firewood gave him a mildly curious glance but said nothing. A few children ran past, chasing something invisible. A tabby-like creature with two tails hissed at him from a rooftop.
No guards. No checkpoints. Just a village.
Good.
He wandered into the market area, stopping at a wooden booth where an older woman in a shawl sold dried herbs and roots.
"Excuse me," he said, adopting a polite tone. "Do you buy ingredients?"
She squinted at him.
"Fresh?"
"Yes. Carefully stored."
She waved him closer.
He pulled up the Storage menu and manifested a handful of the herbs he'd collected earlier. She took them with practiced hands, inspecting each, even biting one gently.
"…You've got a careful hand," she muttered. "Not bad for a city brat."
"I'm from far off," he said smoothly. "Looking to fund my travels."
She grunted. "I'll give you fifteen copper. Don't haggle. That's fair."
He nodded. "Deal."
Currency received: 15 copper coinsFunds added to Personal Inventory.
Kieran thanked her and continued walking, hands in his pockets, eyes scanning everything.
He bought a few pieces of dried bread and cheese with 3 copper. Then, at a tailor's stand, he browsed the racks until he found something resembling his current coat—a long, black one with silver trim.
Familiar. Comfortable.
He purchased a spare shirt and trousers as well, leaving him with 7 copper remaining.
"System," he said softly as he passed into the shade. "Can you scan for nearby information—like news, events?"
Scanning…Local Noticeboard contains relevant information. Displaying condensed data:
– Magic Academy Entrance Trials: Held in 10 days.– Location: City of Valeborne (2 days east)– Open to unaffiliated individuals under 20– Recommendation not required
Kieran stopped walking.
Then slowly smiled.
"Well," he murmured. "That's convenient."