The Forgotten Power

As the light around Alex dimmed, the shop seemed to return to normal, but everything felt different. His heart raced in his chest, the aftershock of whatever had just happened still pulsing through his veins. The once-ordinary room felt unfamiliar, as though he were seeing it through new eyes. Even the air seemed heavier, charged with a latent energy that hadn't been there before.

The book lay open on the counter, its pages no longer glowing, but the symbols still called out to him. They pulsed faintly, like a heartbeat. Alex stepped closer, his mind buzzing with the words he had seen, still etched in his memory: Quest Unlocked. He hadn't imagined it—this was real. The system, the quest, the power of the Forgotten—it was all real.

He stared at the page, trying to make sense of everything. It felt overwhelming. His father had never mentioned any of this, and yet Alex knew deep down that he had been preparing him for something. But why him? What made Alex so special?

The voice from the book echoed in his mind again, soft yet commanding: "The power of the Forgotten is now yours to command."

Alex's fingers trembled as he reached out to touch the page. The moment his skin made contact with the ancient parchment, a surge of energy shot through him. It wasn't painful, but it was intense—like a jolt of electricity that spread through his entire body. His breath caught in his throat as images flashed before his eyes, vivid and overwhelming. He saw glimpses of ancient battles, of towering figures cloaked in shadow and light, wielding powers beyond comprehension.

The images faded as quickly as they had come, leaving Alex standing there, panting, the room spinning slightly. He steadied himself against the counter, trying to regain his composure.

What is happening to me?

The book flipped to another page on its own, the parchment rustling softly in the quiet of the shop. More symbols appeared, rearranging themselves into words he could read:

System Initialized: User: Alex Greyson Race: Human (Unawakened) Class: None Power Level: 1 (Dormant) Abilities Unlocked: None Quest Progress: 0%

The words glowed faintly before settling into place, and Alex blinked, trying to process what he was seeing. This was like something out of the fantasy novels he had read as a child. A system, quests, power levels—this was impossible. And yet, here it was, laid out in front of him.

He could feel the potential inside him, though it was still dormant, waiting for something—waiting for him to unlock it. He thought back to the quest he had seen before: Awaken the Forgotten Power. The system was pushing him toward something, guiding him toward an inevitable path.

Alex took a deep breath, his hands still trembling slightly. He knew what he had to do. He had to follow the quest, to awaken this power. Whatever it was, it had chosen him for a reason. And if his father had known about it, then there was more to this than he could even begin to understand.

But where did he even start?

His eyes scanned the room, searching for answers. The shop was filled with relics and artifacts, many of which his father had collected over the years. Some were mundane, simple items with no real value. Others, however, had always seemed... different. Alex's father had been a collector, but not just of trinkets. He had sought out objects with history, with stories attached to them. Alex had always assumed it was just a hobby, but now he wasn't so sure.

His gaze fell on a small, ornate dagger displayed in a glass case near the back of the shop. He remembered his father telling him that the dagger was from a forgotten era, a relic of a long-lost civilization. It had always intrigued Alex, but his father had been adamant about not touching it. "It's more than just a weapon," he had said. "It holds a story—a power."

With a newfound determination, Alex approached the case. His hand hovered over the glass for a moment, hesitating. Was this part of the quest? Was the dagger the key to awakening the power?

The system didn't offer any hints, but something inside him urged him forward. He unlocked the case and carefully lifted the dagger from its resting place. It was lighter than he had expected, the metal cool against his skin. Intricate carvings adorned the blade, and the hilt felt as though it had been made to fit perfectly in his hand.

As he held it, a familiar sensation washed over him—the same energy he had felt when the book had opened. The dagger seemed to pulse with a quiet, dormant power, as if it, too, was waiting to be awakened.

Suddenly, the symbols on the book flared to life once more, brighter this time, and the room darkened around him. The light from the pages flickered like a beacon, casting eerie shadows on the walls. Alex's heart raced. This was it—something was about to happen.

The voice returned, clearer and stronger than before. "You stand at the threshold of power, Alex Greyson. But power is not given—it is earned. Will you prove yourself worthy of the Forgotten's gift?"

Alex swallowed hard. There was no turning back now. He tightened his grip on the dagger and nodded. "I will."

The voice spoke again, and this time, the words seemed to resonate deep within him, as though they were being etched into his very soul.

Quest Activated: Trial of the Forgotten Objective: Prove your worth by facing the Trial. Reward: Power of the Forgotten (Level 1)

Without warning, the world around him shifted. The shop blurred, dissolving into a swirl of light and shadow. Alex blinked, disoriented, as the ground beneath his feet disappeared, and he found himself standing in a vast, open space—a void of swirling mist and distant echoes.

The air was cold, and the silence was deafening. He was no longer in the shop. Wherever he was, it felt ancient, otherworldly. Before him, a figure began to materialize from the mist, tall and imposing, cloaked in shadow. Its eyes glowed faintly, like embers in the darkness.

"The Trial begins," the figure intoned, its voice deep and resonant. "Prove your strength, or be consumed by the void."

Alex's heart pounded in his chest as he tightened his grip on the dagger. He had no idea what was coming, but he knew he had to be ready. The figure raised its hand, and the mist around them began to writhe, forming into shapes—vague, monstrous forms that moved with eerie, predatory grace.

The first creature lunged at him, its claws extended, teeth bared in a snarl. Alex reacted instinctively, dodging to the side and slashing with the dagger. The blade met the creature's shadowy form, and to his surprise, it cut through it cleanly. The creature dissolved into the mist with a hiss, but more were coming.

Alex's movements were clumsy at first, fueled more by adrenaline than skill, but as he fought, something began to change. His strikes became more precise, his dodges more fluid. It was as if the dagger itself was guiding him, the power within it syncing with his own. The system's words echoed in his mind: Prove your worth.

One by one, he cut down the creatures, their forms evaporating into the mist as they fell. His breathing was ragged, his muscles aching, but he didn't stop. He couldn't stop. Not now.

Finally, as the last creature dissolved into nothing, the figure in the mist stepped forward, its glowing eyes locked onto Alex. "You have faced the Trial," it said, its voice softer now. "The power of the Forgotten is yours."

A surge of energy coursed through Alex, stronger than anything he had felt before. His entire body tingled as the power settled within him, a warm, comforting presence that seemed to pulse in rhythm with his heartbeat.

The figure nodded, satisfied. "Remember, Alex Greyson. Power is a tool, but it is also a burden. You must wield it wisely, or it will consume you."

The world around him began to blur again, the void collapsing in on itself as the mist faded into nothing. Alex blinked, and suddenly, he was back in the shop, the dagger still in his hand, the book closed on the counter.

But everything was different now.

The system's message appeared before his eyes once more, the words glowing faintly in the dim light:

Quest Completed: Trial of the Forgotten Reward: Power of the Forgotten (Level 1) Unlocked New Ability: Spectral Blade (Level 1)

Alex stared at the message, his mind racing. He had done it. He had unlocked the power. But this was only the beginning.

The forgotten power had awakened within him, and now, his journey truly began.