Starfallen: Journey of the Celestial Prodigy

The servants' quarters were quiet, save for the faint whispers of the wind sneaking through the cracked wooden walls. Kael sat on the edge of his small cot, his body still trembling. His shirt was scorched over the chest, showing the pale outline of the star's imprint, a glow just visible beneath the surface. Occasionally it would have a soft pulsation as if alive.

"What… what is this? he muttered to himself, his hand hovering over the mark. The heat coming off of it was reassuring and disturbing at the same time.

He glanced around the room. It was already late, and the rest of the staff were asleep, or just too tired to notice the strange events. Kael brought his head close, resting it in his hands, struggling to understand how things had played out. His mind replayed the scene over and over—the fiery star, the liquid light, the voice in his head.

[Integration complete. System activation in progress.]

Those words echoed in his mind. Integration? System? What did it mean? And why him?

A wispy knock at the door brought Kael out of his reverie. His heart skipped a beat. Who would come here at this hour?

"Kael," Harlan's voice called softly from the other side. "Let me in."

Kael scrambled to his feet and opened the door. Harlan stepped inside quickly, closing it behind him. The steward's face was pinched and grim, eyes darting from head to toe as they observed Kael.

"Are you all right? Harlan asked in a low voice. "Has anything… changed?"

Kael hesitated, then nodded. He pulled the remnants of his shirt aside, revealing the glowing mark on his chest. Harlan's eyes widened, and he took a step back.

"By the gods," Harlan whispered. "What did that star do to you?"

"I don't know," Kael admitted, his voice shaking. "It… it went inside me. And now… I can hear something. A voice. It's like it's in my head."

Harlan frowned, pacing the small room. "A voice? What does it say?"

Kael hesitated again. He didn't want to sound crazy. "It called itself a system. It said something about integration."

The steward stopped pacing, his expression turning grim. "This isn't natural. Whatever that thing is, it's not of this world."

Kael nodded. "I can feel it, Harlan. It's like… it's part of me now."

Harlan exhaled heavily and slumped down onto a stool next to him. "Listen to me, Kael. You can't let anyone know about this. If the king or princes discover, they will exploit you. Or worse, they'll destroy you out of fear."

Kael swallowed hard. He had no reason to doubt Harlan's warning. The king hardly looked at him, and the brothers treated him with contempt. If they discovered he had something this powerful…

"What should I do? Kael asked, desperation creeping into his voice.

For the moment, at least, you'll stay silent," Harlan said decidedly. "Pretend nothing has changed. However, for you to know what this… system is able to achieve, you must learn how this… system works. If it's a weapon, you'll need it to defend yourself".

Kael nodded, though the thought filled him with anxiety. How was he meant to understand anything so strange?

As if in response to his mind, the mark upon his chest glittered for a moment, and Kael's vision swam. A clear display appeared in front of his eyes, with obscure characters and writing.

[System Initialization Complete] Welcome, User. Basic functions unlocked.]

Kael took a step back, reaching the edge of the cot to steady himself. "It's happening again!"

"What is it?" Harlan asked, alarmed.

Kael pointed at the empty space in front of him. "There's… there's something here. I can see it, but it's not really there."

Harlan squinted but saw nothing. "Describe it to me."

"It's a screen," Kael said, his voice trembling. "It says the system is unlocked. And… there are options. Like a menu."

"Can you interact with it?" Harlan asked cautiously.

Kael focused on one of the options that read 'Status.' The moment he thought about selecting it, the screen shifted. 

[User Status] Name: Kael: Physical Strength: Amplified mental ability: Amplified abilities: Locked energy state: stable.]

Kael read the sentences aloud voice trembling sentence by sentence. Harlan listened with rapt attention and the expression on his face grew increasingly grave with each sentence.

This… this system ain't just a tool," Harlan said with deliberation. "It's changing you. Enhancing you."

Kael gripped his fists, the strength of them for the first time. The bruises on his arms no longer ached, and his body felt lighter, stronger. He stared up at Harlan, a determination burning in his gaze.

"Maybe this is my chance," Kael said. "My chance to be more than just a servant."

Harlan placed a hand on Kael's shoulder. "It might be, but you have to be careful. Power like this will attract enemies, and you're not ready for that yet.

Kael nodded. He did know that Harlan was correct, but he realized for the first time in his life that there was a ray of hope. The star had transformed him, and he wasn't about to pass up this opportunity.

"Thank you, Harlan," Kael said. "For everything."

"Just stay safe," Harlan replied. "And remember, no one can know." his life had changed forever.

This time he wasn't going to be taken for granted.