I Awakened The Shadow System

Today was Awakening Day. Every child in Valecross would finally discover what power fate had given them.

And yet, in a crooked house by the old smithy, a boy sat motionless, staring at a small, black pendant in his hand.

“Liam!” his father’s voice thundered from the forge. “You’re going to be late to your own awakening!”

“I know,” Liam muttered, shoving the pendant under his shirt.

His father, broad and scarred, wiped sweat from his brow. “You embarrass this family again, I’ll, ”

“I know, Father.”

The older man froze for a heartbeat, that same look in his eyes, disappointment heavy as steel. “Your mother died believing you’d be something,” he said quietly. “Don’t prove her wrong.”

The words hit harder than a hammer’s blow. Liam clenched his jaw, nodded, and left.

Outside, the fog was thick, but the streets were alive. Vendors called, children ran with laughter, banners waved with the crest of Ravenhold Academy. 

Everywhere, there was joy, except inside Liam’s chest. “Liam! Over here!”

He turned to see Dax, his loud-mouthed friend, waving wildly. “You ready to finally stop being the weakest in town?”

Liam smirked faintly. “If I’m lucky.”

“You better be,” Dax grinned, “or Kane’s gonna roast you alive.”

At the name, Liam’s smile faltered. Kane Drayden, son of a noble, born with light in his veins. He’d humiliated Liam more times than he could count.

They reached the ceremony grounds, a vast field lined with marble pillars. At the center stood Headmaster Varian, ancient and composed, his robe fluttering in the wind.

“Children of Valecross,” Varian’s voice boomed, “today, you meet your destiny.”

Hundreds of students cheered. Liam’s heart pounded. He stood beside Dax and Mira, a quiet girl with healing hands and worried eyes.

“Just breathe,” she whispered. “Maybe your power’s just... waiting for the right moment.”

He nodded silently. The first student stepped into the glowing ring. The stone beneath their feet lit up blue. “Elias Renn!” 

A surge of fire exploded from his palms. The crowd roared. Next, water, lightning, wind, one by one, gifts of power filled the air. And then, “Liam Cross.”

The whisper spread instantly. “The smith’s son?”

“The one who failed last year?”

Liam stepped forward. His palms were sweating. The pendant under his shirt grew warm, almost pulsing. “Place your hand on the crystal,” said the Headmaster.

He obeyed. The circle glowed… faintly… then died. Silence. No flame. No spark. Nothing.

The nobles chuckled. Someone laughed outright. “He’s still a Null.”

“Guess weak blood runs deep.”

Liam’s chest tightened. Kane’s voice rose above the noise. “Maybe the gods forgot you exist, Cross!”

A cruel laugh. Liam met his eyes, cold, golden, confident. “I’ll prove you wrong,” Liam said quietly.

Kane tilted his head, mocking. “Oh? With what power?”

Liam said nothing. The laughter followed him as he walked away. Headmaster Varian’s gaze lingered on him, unreadable. He murmured, “The circle flickered. Interesting.”

That evening, Liam sat by the window of his dorm, the sunset bleeding across his face. The world outside was golden and loud. Inside, silence.

He opened his palm. The pendant shimmered faintly. His mother’s voice echoed in his memory, soft, trembling, dying. “When the world turns its back, the shadows will call you, Liam. Listen when they do.”

He clenched the pendant. “You were wrong, Mother. The shadows never called me.”

A knock came at the door. Dax peeked in, holding two bread rolls. “You okay, man?”

Liam forced a smile. “I’m fine.”

“You sure?”

“Yeah. Go eat. I’ll… I’ll catch up.”

When Dax left, the silence returned. Liam pressed the pendant to his chest. “I just wanted a chance… that’s all.”

Thunder rolled outside. The candle flickered. The pendant burned hot against his skin. Liam froze. “What the, ?”

The air thickened. A low hum filled the room. Suddenly, a voice, cold, mechanical, whispered in his mind: [System initializing…]

Liam stumbled back, eyes wide. “Who’s there?”

[Host identified: Liam Cross.]

A black light burst from the pendant, swirling around him. Glowing words appeared mid-air:

[Welcome to the Shadow System]

He stared in disbelief. “A… system?”

The light flickered. [Do you accept?]

Liam hesitated, then whispered, “Yes.”

The pendant pulsed, and pain shot through his veins like fire. He collapsed, gasping. Images flashed before his eyes, monsters, swords, black flames.

When it ended, he was on the floor, drenched in sweat. He crawled to the mirror, and froze.

His reflection looked… different. Sharper eyes. Stronger frame. And for a brief second, black smoke curled from his fingertips.

He whispered, trembling, “What… what are you?”

[I am your shadow, Liam Cross.]

The candle flickered out. The room went black. Outside, lightning struck the academy tower. Inside Liam’s mind, the voice whispered once more: [Tomorrow, your world will change.]