Maximilian Kriegswald had always been a figure shrouded in mystery—not because of anything extraordinary, but because he was simply not meant to be special. The orphanage he had called home was a cold, unwelcoming place. The Ember Orphanage was nothing more than a shadow of society—a place where the discarded remnants of a broken world were left to grow.
Yet, despite the oppressive atmosphere of his surroundings, Maximilian was different. Not in a grandiose way, but in the way he carried himself. He was quiet, observant, and carried an innate strength that set him apart from the other children, though he didn't fully understand it.
The city of Kriegsburg stood tall, though its grandeur was a fading memory. Towering spires of broken stone loomed over the city, remnants of a once-great empire long gone. The land had been ravaged by unending conflict, and while it was recovering, the scars were still visible in every corner. Cracked streets and half-destroyed buildings spoke of wars that were now mere whispers in the wind.
Maximilian had lived in the Ember Orphanage since he could remember. It was a cold, institutional place where the future seemed distant. Every child here had a story—a tragic tale of loss, of parents dead in battle, of families torn apart. Yet Maximilian had always stood apart. He had seen the other children awaken their powers, and he had learned to accept that he might never be anything more than average.
A World Governed by the System
In Maximilian's world, the System was everything. On the eve of every child's eighteenth birthday, they were taken to the Awakening Ceremony, where their Talent was revealed. It was here that they would choose their class—each one a reflection of their potential. Some awakened with talents of unimaginable power, while others were left with little more than basic skills.
Maximilian had always known he would likely fall somewhere in the middle. He had no illusions of greatness. He had seen his friends, like Erik Stahl, who had awakened to a talent of unparalleled power. Erik's Path of the Astral Blade granted him control over space itself, enabling him to slash through reality. And then there was Aeliana Voss, whose Path of the Celestial Light allowed her to manipulate gravity and shape the stars themselves. They were destined for greatness, and Maximilian... well, he would be lucky to find a way to carve out a modest life.
The day of his Awakening Ceremony was drawing near, and Maximilian couldn't shake the feeling that his life was about to change—though he had no idea how.
The Awakening Ceremony: A Moment of Truth
The day arrived. Maximilian stood at the entrance of the Awakening Chamber, where the fates of countless children had been decided before him. The chamber was ancient, its stone walls lined with relics of long-dead heroes. Magic pulsed in the air, thick with the energy of the System. This was where everything would be revealed.
Maximilian stood in line with the other orphans, each one nervously awaiting their turn. Some whispered prayers, some fidgeted, others stared ahead, trying to calm their racing hearts. It was impossible to ignore the weight of the moment.
The Receptacle of Ascension, a towering stone altar, loomed before him. This was where the awakening would take place. Each child would choose a relic, each representing a different class.
The first relic appeared before Maximilian, a gleaming sword encased in radiant light. Path of the Astral Blade. The sword radiated an almost divine power, one that would allow its wielder to manipulate space itself. It was a relic that called to the warriors, the conquerors. But Maximilian stepped back, unsure if he was worthy.
The second relic, Path of the Infernal Forge, emerged next. An obsidian orb, glowing with searing heat, pulsed with energy. Those who chose this path would master the art of alchemy, able to bend metals and materials to their will. It was a path of creation and destruction, but Maximilian could not feel the connection. It was not his path.
Then came the third relic, Path of the Celestial Light, a brilliant orb that seemed to pull the very stars from the sky. This relic resonated with Aeliana Voss, who had already awakened and chosen her path. She could manipulate gravitational forces, shaping reality itself with a simple wave of her hand. She was destined for greatness. Maximilian felt the pull of the relic, but again, it was not his path to walk.
Maximilian stepped back, heart racing. He didn't know what to do. But then, as though the System had heard his unspoken thoughts, a fourth relic appeared. It wasn't like the others. It was not a sword, orb, or light. Instead, it was something more, something ancient.
It glowed with an eerie, unknown energy, resonating with a power beyond comprehension.
A Moment of Revelation
The relic hovered before him, and Maximilian reached out instinctively. The moment his fingers brushed against it, a surge of energy shot through him, overwhelming his senses. His vision blurred as his body was flooded with an incomprehensible power.
[Class Sealed] Error: Restricted by System Protocol 66.0.5
Maximilian felt the world around him tremble as a voice echoed in his mind—deep, ancient, reverberating through the very air.
"This power is not for mortals. Are you certain?"
The voice came from the relic itself, resonating in every fiber of his being. Maximilian's heart raced. He wasn't sure what he was doing, but something inside him told him he had no choice.
"Yes."
The Awakening
In an instant, Maximilian felt himself surrounded by a blinding light. The power surged within him, flooding his veins. His body trembled under the immense weight of it. It was unlike anything he had ever felt before. His mind felt as though it were splitting apart, yet the energy coursed through him, binding his body to something greater than himself.
The System's voice returned, but now it was filled with awe.
"Talent Rank: S+ (Concealed). True Talent: SSS+ (Starborne Fragment).
Bloodline Synergy: None.
Class Restrictions: Untraceable.
You are hidden from divine sight."
Maximilian collapsed to his knees, his body shaking. The power inside him was overwhelming, and yet it was a part of him now. It was his, and it was unseen by everyone around him.
The Aftermath
The ceremony came to a close. The other children looked on in awe and confusion, but Maximilian was too caught up in the whirlwind of his own awakening to notice them. His body felt different—changed. The power within him was unlike anything he had ever imagined. The truth was clear now.
He was not ordinary.
He had chosen his path. But this was not just any path. The power that had been awakened within him was beyond the comprehension of any mortal.
He was hidden from the gods, hidden from the System itself.
The future was now his to shape.
End of Chapter 1: The Legacy of the Unseen