Ken leaned against the cold window of the transport, staring blankly at the blur of the city flashing by. The towering spires of the Crimson Court shrank behind him, swallowed by the mist that curled through the streets like lazy fingers. The whole day felt like a fever dream.
The revelation about his birth.The prophecy whispered in secret halls.The professors' grim faces.The name "Innocent Eclipse" still rang strangely in his ears.
He exhaled slowly, his breath misting the glass. His reflection looked back at him, pale and tired, but something simmered under the surface — a storm not yet unleashed.
He closed his eyes briefly, letting the hum of the vehicle soothe his rattled nerves.
What the hell is happening to me?
As the transport shuddered to a stop, he stepped off into the dusky evening. The skies above churned in restless gray bruised clouds while thin beams of dying sunlight fought to pierce through. The air smelled like iron and smoke,e a city forever caught between ambition and decay.
Walking down the narrow cobbled street towards his district Kenovar couldn't help but replay the events of the Crimson Court.
He remembered standing there under the crystal. Watching others get their power levels revealed one by one. Most scores were unimpressive — 1, 2, maybe a lucky 2.5
But then Jack Spencer stepped up.
Ken clenched his jaw, remembering Jack's face when the number flashed — 3.0 Dusk Class. One of the rarest rankings for a student. The room had fallen dead silent. Even the most cocky upperclassmen had swallowed their pride.
Jack's hands trembled slightly as he stepped away from the crystal. Not from excitement.From fear.
Dusk Class was dangerous. It meant unstable power that drifted close to darkness. Even professors treated Dusk-bearers with caution. Power like that could make you a savior or a monster.
Ken felt no envy. Only a deeper unease twisted in his gut.
He wasn't even given a real number. Just a glitch. An error.
Zero slash Error.
As if the world itself refused to categorize him.
Am I even supposed to exist here?
His mind flashed back to the meeting. After the ceremony, the professors had gathered in the Grand Library, whispering fiercely behind ancient oak doors.
Ken had caught scraps of their conversation while waiting outside.
"He must prove himself..."
"Five months at most..."
"New army needed... chaos magic is stirring again..."
Chaos magic.
He didn't know much about it, but even a child could understand one thing — chaos was bad news. The worst kind. The kind that turned cities to ashes and kings into beggars.
Ken kicked a loose stone along the path. His shoes scuffed against the cracked stones. He reached his small apartment block tucked between leaning buildings like a forgotten memory. As he approached the door he sighed ready to collapse into bed.
That's when it happened.
DING.
A sharp clean sound rang in his mind freezing him mid-step.
Ken blinked then groaned slapping his forehead.
Right. The weird system thing.
The thing that claimed it could teach him magic.
How had he completely forgotten about it today?
The screen bloomed before his eyes again translucent and shifting like smoke.
Analyzing Power Level...
Given: 0/ERROR
Ken watched the lines dance across the air.
Recalibrating.
Analyzing latent potential...
He frowned. His hands were shaking slightly.
The screen shimmered once more.
Query detected. User wishes to know: What is T.G.E?
Ken's heart skipped.
"Yeah..." he whispered aloud. "Tell me."
The system paused for a long breathless moment.
Then words scrolled into view slow and heavy.
T.G.E = The Great Elder.
One of the legendary Starfall Magicians. Power Level: 5.0 (Starfall Class).
Ken staggered back a step. His back hit the door.
The Great Elder.A Starfall Magician. The rarest rank to most people.
Ken had grown up hearing bedtime tales about the Starfall. Heroes who had stood against the old monsters when the sky itself burned. Beings so powerful that kingdoms crumbled at their word.
And now some ancient professor had written a secret letter to one of them... because of him.
Ken's mouth felt dry.
What do they want from me? What do they see that I don't?
He swallowed hard and the system buzzed again.
New Quest Assigned: Eliminate the Rift Ants.
Ken blinked.
"Wait... what?"
Another page scrolled into view filled with jagged sketches.
Rift Ants. Not ordinary bugs.Three feet tall armored chitinous beasts that could rip steel apart with their jaws.
Ken stared at the image in horror.
"You're joking right?" he muttered. "You want me to fight those?"
Quest Rank: D.
Location: Eastern sewer sector breach point.
Time limit: 48 hours.
Ken stared a moment longer then rubbed his temples.
"Well..." he muttered sarcastically. "Sure. With my thin puny magic... piece of cake."
He could almost hear the system laughing at him.
The city lights flickered overhead casting long twitching shadows across the street. Somewhere in the distance sirens wailed. The world around him felt heavier darker like something just beneath the surface was shifting waking up.
Ken finally pushed open his door stepping into his small apartment.
Dusty floor.Broken lamp.A single bed pushed against the wall.
It wasn't much but it was his.
He dropped onto the bed staring up at the cracked ceiling.
Tomorrow he would have to face monsters.
Real ones.
Not just teachers or classmates or shadows of the past.
Real threats.
The Rift Ants were just the beginning. He knew it somehow. Deep down something stirred. A sense that doors long sealed were creaking open again.
The system floated above him, patiently waiting.
Ken sighed.
"If fate wants a fight," he said softly to no one, "then I'll swing first."
He clenched his fists until his knuckles went white.
He didn't know what being the Innocent Eclipse truly meant. He didn't know why T.G.E. cared. He didn't know why the professors were desperate enough to bet on him.
But he was tired of being confused. Tired of being afraid.
If the world wanted him to stand...
Then he would stand.
Ken closed his eyes, letting the hum of the city bleed into his dreams.
Tomorrow, slowly the first ripple would spread.
And eventually... it would become a wave that no one could stop.