The Dark Ascendant

Morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow over the room. Raj woke up feeling refreshed, his mind buzzing with clarity. He sat up, stretching his arms before glancing at the table where the Scholar Gem once lay.

But something caught his attention. A translucent window hovered in front of him, faintly glowing.

[Status Window]

For a moment, Raj froze, his eyes scanning the strange display.

"Is this… a game interface?" he murmured.

The words seemed to adjust themselves, becoming clearer as his mind processed them.

[Status Window]

Name: Raj Darkthrone

Level: 1

Age: 15 (56)

Class: Scholar

Gem Path: Scholar Path (Common)

Abilities:

Memory Seal: Grants perfect recall of any information read or experienced. Essential for mastering complex subjects and ancient texts.

Quick Analysis: Enables rapid comprehension and analysis of written documents, deciphering hidden meanings and patterns.

Minor Rune Crafting: Basic understanding and creation of low-level runes for simple enchantments or temporary enhancements.

Physical State: Normal

Soul State: Stable

Raj leaned forward, his curiosity piqued. This wasn't something he had ever encountered in his old world—or even during his short time in Eryndral.

The window flickered slightly, as if responding to his thoughts.

Suddenly, a faint memory surfaced—a passage he had read in the ancient library of Ravendale. The World Will, as it was known, occasionally provided status windows to help individuals monitor their progress. This system was designed as a guide, not a gift.

It didn't offer any power or assistance in combat. It merely displayed one's current state—a visual representation of their growth and abilities.

"So, this is the World Will's way of keeping track of progress," Raj muttered. "A tool for reflection, not a shortcut."

He examined the window more closely. There was no option to interact with it—no menus, no prompts. It was purely informational. Still, the possibilities intrigued him.

"If this updates as I grow, it could be useful for keeping track of my progress," he thought.

Raj's eyes lingered on the word Common. He had intentionally chosen a common-level Scholar Gem, knowing that blending in was more important than standing out.

"There's no need to attract unnecessary attention," Raj reminded himself. "Power can come later. For now, knowledge is the key."

The status window flickered again before disappearing entirely, leaving Raj alone with his thoughts.

He stood up and began pacing the room. The Scholar Path was vast, and his options were limitless. But he needed to proceed with caution. His first goal was to unlock the basic abilities of the Scholar Path—abilities that would help him survive and thrive in this world.

"Time to start planning," Raj said, his eyes gleaming with determination.

The journey ahead would be long and challenging, but Raj had always thrived in the face of adversity. With the Scholar Gem fused and the status window as a guide, he was ready to take his first real steps into the unknown.

The world of Eryndral awaited him, and Raj Darkthrone was more than ready for the challenge.