When Samuel was walking towards the weak light in the garden, he was thinking deeply. "How could I get admitted there? It is a place where geniuses gather. It's not like I will get strong in one month or get admitted into Zenith Academy without having mana or aura. I need a miracle." The pressure felt heavy on his shoulders, heavier than the rain from his past life. He looked at his hands, pale and slender, wondering if they could ever hold a sword or cast a spell.
There were many different flowers in the gardens. There were different things carved out of the plants, and the different blooms gave it a look of heaven on earth. The air smelled sweet, like honey and magic mixed together. He had never seen a garden like this in his previous life. It felt alive, breathing softly in the night. The moonlight touched the petals, making them glow with a faint silver hue. It was beautiful, but it also felt cold, like a paradise he was not allowed to enter.
There were gardeners giving water and fertilizer, cutting overgrown plants in the gardens. A middle-aged man with hair mixed with white and black spoke to Sam. "Young Master Samuel, are you here to see the garden as you used to do?"
The gardener was polite, but his eyes did not show any warmth. Sam thought he knew him from the original body's memories. This man had been here for years, watching the family rise and fall. But Sam's heart was racing. He needed to hide his confusion.
"I need to get out of here quick, or they will catch something wrong with me",Sam thought. He forced a smile onto his face.
"Yes, I am here to see the gardens. You can go back to work. I can see it myself," Sam replied, trying to keep his voice steady.
"Yes, Young Master Samuel. I will go and do my work." After saying that, the gardener left Sam to his solitude. The sound of his footsteps faded into the night.
When Sam came to the place where the weak light was glowing, the light moved suddenly. It sank into his chest. He did not feel anything at first, just slight discomfort from the light sinking into his chest. It felt like swallowing a cold stone that froze his veins. He stopped breathing for a moment, waiting for something to happen.
"What was that just now? That light sinking into my chest... and why did no one see the light?"Sam looked around wildly. The gardeners were working in the garden like the light did not exist in the world. Seeing Samuel's shocked look, one gardener asked. She was a woman looking like she was in her twenties. "Young Master Samuel, is there anything that shocked you? Can I help Young Master if he wants to know something about the garden?"
Sam replied quickly, "I was just shocked by the fact that the garden is truly beautiful. Even after seeing it so many times, it always shocks me. And can you tell me where I can find a lone place to rest here?"
"Young Master Samuel, you can go to the back side of the mansion. There you can find peace alone. No one goes there at this time. But do not go too deep. There are rumours of a beast living there, so please take care of yourself." Her voice dropped to a whisper, as if the walls had ears.
Sam walked toward the backside of the mansion. The mansion was quite big for only eight people to live in. He also had an aunt and uncle, but they did not talk to him as they looked down on him from the start. They treated him like a stain on the family name. The grass grew taller here, untamed and wild.
Sam came near an apple tree and sat there. He did not know that in this world he could also find an apple tree here. It reminded him of the tree in his old backyard. It gave him a small comfort in this strange land. He touched the rough bark, feeling a connection to the earth.
Just as Sam was thinking about how to enroll into the Zenith Imperial Academy, a mechanical ding sound echoed in his mind.
[DING]
[System Activated ,Condition Met ]
[1. No Mana Detected ]
[2. No Aura Detected ]
[System Integration Starting. It Might Hurt a Little, Host ]
After that message, a blue screen with bold text appeared in front of Sam. Before he could think, a terrifying shock entered his body. He fell down on the ground. His hands clasped tightly, and his mouth shut tightly so that the sound would not alert anyone and get him caught in things he would not be able to explain to anyone. He bit his lip until it bled.
Cold sweat beads fell from his head. Veins near his forehead were bulging, and nails dug into the ground. Blood came out from his mouth. It felt like his bones were breaking all over again. The pain was sharp, like electricity running through his blood.
"System, is this what you call little? It hurt like hell. I never felt such terrifying pain, not even when I was hit by a car in my previous life",Sam thought, his mind screaming. He curled into a ball, waiting for it to end. Then, darkness took him.
After some time had passed, Sam woke up. He heard that cold, mechanical voice in his head once again.
[ System Integration Completed ]
So, it was not a dream that I got a System. And that pain... I don't even want to think about it.
"You didn't even ask for yes or no. You integrated on your own. How can you work like this, System?" Sam wiped the blood from his chin. His hands were shaking. "You might be the most aggressive system in the world."
[ Host, Refrain Yourself, or You Will Be Shocked One More Time for Speaking Ill of the System ]
Sam froze. He could not risk that pain again. He took a deep breath, calming his heart.
[ I Am the Spirit Bonding System. I Will Help You Get Admitted Into the Academy ]
Sam got on his feet, blood still leaking from his mouth. He spoke softly, "Looks like I do not have any other choice here."
"System, what can you do? Can you tell me? And I will refrain myself from speaking ill of you. And do not give me such shocks without any warning."
[ As Host Heard, I Am Spirit Bonding System. You Can Make Contracts with Spirits, and You Can Use Their Powers ]
[ Some Spirits Are Even at a Level That Gods and Demons Greatly Fear Them ]
Sam's eyes widened in the darkness. Gods fear them? He remembered the statue in the white space. The God who sent him here had said he controlled destiny. But this System claimed power over things gods feared. Was this System connected to that God? Or was it something else entirely? A rival? A weapon? Sam looked up at the moon. He realized his journey was not just about surviving the academy. It was about uncovering the truth behind the powers waking up inside him. He wiped the last drop of blood from his lip and stood tall. He would use this System, no matter where it came from.
The night air was getting colder. The gardener's warning about the beast echoed in his mind.
I should return to the house first, Sam thought, turning back toward the mansion. It's getting darker now.