Aurora's footsteps echoed softly across the polished marble floor as she followed the grand corridor, her senses still overwhelmed by the surreal beauty of the royal palace. Every wall was etched with golden patterns, and enchanted chandeliers floated above like stars frozen mid-fall.
Yet amidst the wonder, her thoughts were in turmoil.
"Why me?" she whispered under her breath.
She didn't notice the figure walking beside her until he spoke again.
"You're quieter than before," Prince Caelum remarked. "The palace must feel... overwhelming."
She forced a faint smile. "That's an understatement. One minute I was in my bedroom, the next I'm in a magical kingdom and being told I'm some kind of chosen mage queen."
He stopped and turned to face her, eyes searching hers. "Not just any mage. A catalyst. Your presence here awakened ancient runes across the kingdom—some even older than the throne itself."
Aurora blinked. "You really believe that?"
"I've seen it. When you touched the crystal in the garden, it responded to your aura. That hasn't happened in centuries."
The mention of the glowing crystal made her stomach twist. It had burned into her palm like fire and snow at once—blinding and cold, yet intimate.
Caelum resumed walking. "You'll stay in the East Tower. It's the safest place while we investigate your connection to the system."
She followed silently, until a thought struck her. "You called it a 'system'. What kind of system are we talking about here? This isn't a video game, is it?"
Caelum raised an eyebrow. "Video game? I'm not familiar with that term."
Aurora let out a weak laugh. "Right. Never mind."
They reached a spiraling staircase leading to a tall, white tower. Guards in silver armor stood at attention, bowing slightly to Caelum before unlocking the door.
Inside, it was like a dream—or perhaps a cage. Soft velvet curtains lined the windows, and spell-wards glowed faintly across the stone walls. It was clear the room had been prepared with magic in mind.
"Your safety is our priority," Caelum said gently. "And... I know this may feel like imprisonment, but—"
"It's fine," Aurora interrupted, lowering herself onto the edge of a velvet couch. "I get it. I'm a potential bomb that might explode."
He winced at her bluntness but nodded. "We'll send a scholar in the morning. Until then, rest. There's food, enchanted books... anything you might need."
As he turned to leave, Aurora called out, "Wait."
Caelum paused at the door, hand resting on the golden handle.
"You said my aura activated ancient runes. What happens if someone else tries to use them?"
He hesitated. "Then... they die."
The door closed behind him with a soft thud.
That night, Aurora couldn't sleep.
She sat by the window, watching the stars shimmer in constellations unfamiliar to her. The moon was larger, a pale blue pearl hanging in the sky. Her thoughts spiraled like the runes etched into the floor tiles.
Then—
ding!
A soft, chime-like sound echoed in her mind.
[SYSTEM INITIALIZING…]
Welcome, Aurora Solstice.
Your class: Primordial Mage.
Sequence: 10 – Embryo of the Arcane.
Mission: Awaken your bloodline. Time limit: 7 days.
"What the hell?" she muttered aloud.
[Warning: Failing the mission may result in system collapse and host death.]
Her heart pounded. "System collapse? Wait—host? You mean me?!"
The interface hovered in front of her vision, faintly translucent, glowing with violet light. It reminded her of fantasy RPGs she used to play back on Earth—but this was far too vivid to be a hallucination.
She reached out instinctively, and the system responded.
[New Skill Unlocked: Arcane Sense Lv. 1]
Feel the flow of ambient mana within a 10-meter radius.
A pulse of awareness washed over her like a second heartbeat. Suddenly, she could feel the magical threads woven into the room, the barrier spells on the door, even the ancient energy humming beneath the floor.
It was terrifying.
It was exhilarating.
For the first time since arriving in this world, Aurora felt power.
Elsewhere in the palace...
Caelum sat in the War Chamber with two men and a woman seated around a glowing round table. Arcane maps floated above its surface, shifting in real time as enchanted quills scribbled reports.
"She's awakened it," Caelum said, voice low.
General Alric, a scar-faced man in heavy armor, frowned. "The Primordial System? I thought it was just a myth."
"It's real," Caelum replied. "She activated it on her own. And the crystal of Aehl did not reject her."
The woman beside him, High Enchantress Vaelyra, leaned forward. "If she's truly the chosen Primordial Mage, we'll need to protect her from the Council. You know they won't allow an outsider to hold that much power."
Caelum's fists clenched. "If they lay a hand on her, I'll—"
"You'll what, Your Highness?" General Alric asked grimly. "Declare war against your own Council?"
"She saved me," Caelum snapped. "You weren't there. When I was poisoned during the Black Thorn raid, she touched me—and the poison fled. Her aura cleansed me."
The room fell silent.
"Then we train her," Vaelyra said. "Seven days... isn't much time. If she fails, the system collapses—and we lose the only chance we've had in centuries."
Back in the tower...
Aurora sat on the floor, her hands glowing faintly with runes that appeared one by one across her fingers. Her breathing was labored, sweat beading on her forehead.
[Skill Upgrade: Arcane Sense → Mana Perception Lv. 1]
Your affinity with ambient magic deepens.
She closed her eyes. "Seven days... I can do this."
Just then, a voice whispered in her ear—not from the system, but something darker, colder.
"You were never supposed to be here…"
Aurora spun around. No one.
The shadows shifted in the corner of the room, and the torches flickered.