"Minor shadow energy, huh? Sounds fancier than it looks," Rowan muttered, a dry smile tugging at his lips. He tapped on the cloak's icon mentally, and a small shimmer of light manifested before him.
In the next instant, a simple, dark gray cloak materialized in his hands. The fabric felt surprisingly light to the touch, yet it radiated a faint, comforting warmth.
Without hesitation, he draped it over his shoulders, letting the cloak settle snugly against his back.
Almost instantly, the lingering sting of sunlight on his skin seemed to fade, a faint sense of relief washing over him.
A notification blinked in his mind, affirming the cloak's effect. Rowan let out a small breath of relief. "Finally, something useful," he muttered, pulling the hood over his head and testing the fit.
Though it wasn't extravagant, the cloak felt like a lifeline. The idea of walking outside without fear of being burned alive gave him a sense of comfort he hadn't realized he needed until now.
As he adjusted the fabric, a thought struck him. "System, does this mean I'll still get weaker in the sun? Or is it completely gone now?"
Rowan rolled his eyes. "Of course, nothing's ever simple, huh?"
The System didn't respond, and he sighed.
Despite his sarcastic remark, the sense of progress, however small, gave him a sliver of hope.
He leaned back on the couch, letting the tension in his muscles ebb away as he allowed himself a moment of rest. The events of the past few hours, no, the past day, felt like an endless whirlwind of confusion and revelations.
But for the first time in what felt like forever, Rowan felt a flicker of control. His life had been flipped upside down, but with the cloak draped around him and the System at his side, maybe, just maybe, he could start piecing things together.
As he closed his eyes, savoring the brief respite, his gaze wandered back to the glowing virtual interface. That's when he noticed an unfamiliar item grayed out in the inventory grid.
It sat there, faint and unassuming, almost hidden in plain sight.
"System," he said, his curiosity piqued.
"What is that grayed-out item in the inventory? If I'm not mistaken, only items I actually own should appear in there, right?"
Rowan frowned, his brows furrowing. "Huh? But I can't recall completing any other quest."
The words sent a jolt of intrigue through him. His mind raced back to the strange events of the previous day, the crack in the wall, the red mist, and the voice that first introduced itself. Was that what the System meant by the "Key"?
"Ugh! Can you explain this in simpler terms?" Rowan said, rubbing his temples in frustration.
"You keep dropping breadcrumbs and expecting me to figure everything out myself."
Rowan groaned, throwing his head back against the couch. "Of course. Why did I even ask?"
The grayed-out item lingered in the corner of his mind, teasing him with its inaccessibility.
What could it be? Why was it locked? And more importantly, what exactly was this 'Key' that had apparently triggered the hidden quest?
As much as he wanted answers, the System's vague replies only fueled his frustration. Still, he couldn't deny the spark of curiosity it ignited.
Sighing, he let his gaze drift back to the ceiling.
"Fine, I'll figure it out myself. But you'd better start making sense sooner or later, System. Otherwise, I'll end up losing my mind before any of this starts to make sense."
The voice, as always, remained silent.
A strange stillness filled the room, the kind that left Rowan with nothing but his own thoughts.
For the first time in hours, he had the space to process everything, the abrupt changes his life had been thrust into and the uncertain path ahead. It was a lot to take in, and the weight of it pressed heavily on his chest.
His mind wandered back to Aunty Verci, to the long months spent battling her illness, only to lose her in the end. That loss had thrown his life completely off track.
For so long, it had felt like he was drifting aimlessly, with only the faint hope of discovering a real magical affinity keeping him tethered to some semblance of sanity.
Now, just as that wish had finally come true, another curveball had been thrown at him, a foreign consciousness or system suddenly taking root in his mind. It almost felt like some cosmic joke, as if the world couldn't resist piling on more chaos.
Yet, despite the absurdity of it all, Rowan couldn't deny the small spark of something new. Something bigger than his original dream.
He realized that his ambitions could go beyond what he'd ever imagined for himself. Maybe he could be more. Maybe he could aspire for greater heights.
Even as weariness about the System lingered, he knew there was no getting rid of it. Not that he was considering that option seriously. No, getting rid of it wasn't the answer. What he needed was control. Control over what was happening to him. Knowledge about what this was and how to move forward.
But that was precisely the problem. The System wasn't offering him clarity, just vague instructions and a series of questions that only added to his stress. For every step forward, it seemed like two more puzzles unfolded before him.
And yet… the potential of the System, the thrill of the quests, the allure of the rewards, it was all too tantalizing to ignore.
The idea of unlocking something greater, of discovering abilities he didn't even know he could have, was a temptation he couldn't deny.
He let out a faint chuckle, the corners of his lips twitching upward. "Maybe the world isn't trying to mess with me after all. Maybe it's trying to reward me for all the struggles I've been through."
The thought lingered, growing stronger as he mulled it over.
"If that's the case," he murmured to himself, his voice steady with a newfound determination, "then why not make proper use of this opportunity? Why not take it all, rise above everything, and rule my own world?"
For the first time in what felt like forever, a sense of purpose began to bloom within him. He didn't have all the answers, still far from it. But he had a starting point, a path to walk, no matter how uncertain or chaotic it might be.
And he was ready to take that first step.