Kazuki walked through the narrow streets, the early morning fog clinging to his cloak. His footsteps echoed through the quiet town as he made his way toward the church, the imposing stone structure standing tall in the distance. It was time, the moment he'd been thinking about for some time. Today, he would be baptized.
When Kazuki arrived at the church, the wooden doors were ajar, letting the warm glow of candlelight spill out into the dim street. Inside, the priests were preparing for the ceremony. However, upon seeing Kazuki, their expressions shifted from their usual serene calm to confusion.
"You're... late," one of the priests said, his voice a mix of surprise and skepticism. He looked Kazuki up and down, his gaze lingering on the young boy standing at the threshold.
Kazuki remained silent, his expression neutral as ever. He wasn’t the one to argue or explain. He simply nodded in acknowledgment.
"The ceremony is usually held when a child is five," the priest continued, still puzzled. "You're much older."
Kazuki simply looked at the priest, his face unchanging. "I was... delayed," he replied, his voice calm and emotionless.
The priest sighed but then shrugged, turning to the altar. "I suppose it’s fine. Come. It won't hurt to do it now." He gestured for Kazuki to step forward.
Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.
The other priests murmured among themselves but, seeing no reason to turn him away, began preparing for the ritual. Kazuki stood still, waiting, his cold gaze fixed on the altar. His thoughts wandered, but he didn’t show it on his face. The priests moved with practiced ease, and soon, Kazuki stood before them, ready for the sacred ritual.
The moment came swiftly—a soft chant, the sprinkling of holy water, and the blessing. As the priest muttered the final words, Kazuki felt something stir within him, but it wasn’t the warm, spiritual feeling one might expect. Instead, it was a cold sense of inevitability, a quiet, powerful energy creeping into his awareness.
As the water dried and the priests stepped back, Kazuki could feel the shift. It wasn’t just the ritual that had changed him. Something else had. The feeling lingered for a moment before he felt it completely—his Status Screen.
A soft glow appeared before his eyes, like an ethereal window opening in the air.
---
Status Screen:
Name: Kazuki
Class: ??
Level: 1
Rank: ??
HP: 100
MP: 50
Strength: 12
Intelligence: 16
Agility: 10
Skills: None
--
Kazuki blinked at the screen. It was simple, basic even. His stats were modest—nothing extraordinary, but that was fine. He wasn’t here for the glory; he was here because this was the first step.
The priests, having finished, gave Kazuki a final blessing, though their confusion never fully dissipated. They seemed unsure of what to make of the older child before them.
"Go with the gods’ blessing," the priest said, offering a small smile.
Kazuki nodded, his face as stoic as ever. He turned and exited the church, the cool air hitting his face. He felt nothing special about the ritual, but he was aware that this would mark the beginning of his path forward.
With his new status screen and the world ahead of him, Kazuki headed toward the nearby town. The people bustled around, going about their daily routines, none the wiser to the young boy walking among them. He was a figure in the crowd, someone with a quiet purpose, moving toward a goal unknown.
But Kazuki knew one thing: it was time to start his journey.
