Skepticism warred with a desperate yearning for change within Nat. The Elemental Evolution
System, as it called itself, remained a bewildering mystery, yet its promise of unlocking his "full
potential" was too enticing to ignore. Tentatively, he began to explore the holographic interface,
navigating the menus with a mixture of apprehension and curiosity.
The 'Status' screen displayed his current information: Name: Nat; Affinity: Fire (F+); Level: 1;
Experience: 0/100. Other statistics like Strength, Agility, and Elemental Control were listed as
abysmal '1's across the board. It was a stark, digital confirmation of his perceived weakness.
The 'Quests' tab presented a single, rudimentary task: "Daily Quest: Channel your Fire Affinity
for 10 minutes. Reward: 10 Experience Points." It seemed simple enough, yet the memory of his
futile attempts in his dorm room filled him with doubt.
Taking a deep breath, Nat sat cross-legged on his bed, focusing his will. He closed his eyes,
recalling the faint warmth he had sometimes felt, the almost imperceptible flicker of red the
Affinity Crystal had registered. He pictured a tiny ember, a fragile spark, clinging to existence.
Minutes ticked by, the silence broken only by the frantic beating of his own heart. Frustration
mounted, the familiar feeling of helplessness creeping in.
Just as he was about to give up, a faint warmth bloomed in his chest, spreading to his fingertips.
He opened his eyes, and there it was – a minuscule spark of red light dancing on the tip of his
index finger. It was barely the size of a pinhead, fragile and flickering, but undeniably real. A
wave of exhilaration washed over him, a feeling he hadn't experienced since receiving his
acceptance letter to Aethel.
He held the tiny flame, focusing on maintaining it, willing it to grow. It sputtered and threatened
to extinguish several times, but he persisted, his concentration unwavering. Ten minutes
stretched into an eternity, his brow furrowed with effort. Finally, the system notification chimed in
his mind:
[Quest Completed! Reward: 10 Experience Points.]
The holographic screen flashed, and his 'Status' now read: Level: 1; Experience: 10/100. It was
a small step, almost insignificant, but it was progress. For the first time since the disastrous
entrance ceremony, Nat felt a flicker of hope that wasn't immediately extinguished by the harsh
reality of his F+ affinity.
Over the next few days, Nat dedicated himself to the system's daily quests. Channeling his
meager fire for increasing durations, attempting to manipulate its shape (with little initial
success), and even trying to heat small objects (again, with minimal effect). Each completed
quest granted him a small amount of experience, the bar slowly inching towards the next level.
He also cautiously explored the 'Shop' feature. It displayed a vast array of items, skills, and
even elemental enhancements, all priced in a currency called 'System Points,' which he
currently had zero of. The descriptions of powerful abilities and potent artifacts only served to
highlight the immense gap between his current weakness and the potential that lay tantalizingly
out of reach.
The initial excitement began to wane as the repetitive nature of the quests set in. Progress was
slow, agonizingly so. Yet, the small, tangible improvements – the slightly brighter flame, the
ability to sustain it for a few seconds longer – kept him going. He knew he was starting at the
very bottom, but the system offered a path, however arduous, to climb his way up. The grind
had begun, a solitary and secret struggle against the overwhelming odds stacked against him.