The book lay in my trembling hands, its cover dark and foreboding. Intricate patterns twisted and rippled across its surface, alive with a strange energy that seemed to pull me in. Shadows danced around the edges of the book as though alive, whispering secrets I couldn’t quite hear. The sensation was hypnotic, almost magnetic, and I felt a shiver crawl down my spine.

  This wasn’t an ordinary book. I could feel it in my bones.

  Item Acquired: The Book of Shadows

  Congratulations! You have learned Shadow Magic.

  The words appeared in my vision, clear and crisp as though etched into the air itself. My breath caught.

  Accept Shadow Magic? Y/N

  I didn’t hesitate. I willed the answer in my mind. Yes.

  You have learned Shadow Magic!

  Shadow Magic? My heart raced as I processed the implications. I had always dreamed of power like this, of commanding shadows as if they were an extension of myself. In my daydreams, I’d imagined bending the shadows around me into weapons, creating an army of darkness to fight for me, protect me, or annihilate anyone who dared oppose me.

  And now, standing here with this strange, otherworldly book in my hands, I realized that dream was becoming a reality.

  I flipped open the cover, my fingers shaking with a mix of excitement and fear. As the first page turned, a soft, melodic voice echoed from the book.

  “Hello, Samuel.”

  The voice was feminine, calm, and yet filled with a power that made my skin prickle.

  “You’re probably wondering how this book got here,” it continued. “The answer is simple: I summoned it to you.”

  The words froze me in place. Summoned it? For me?

  “Why?” I managed to whisper, though the voice paid no heed to my interruption.

  “You may be wondering why I chose you,” the voice went on. “It was your desire and will to control the shadows that led to my decision. Your longing has brought this power into your hands. Now, it is yours to command.”

  I blinked, my thoughts spinning. Had my very wishes brought this to me? Could it really be that simple?

  “The Book of Shadows is yours now, Samuel,” the voice continued, growing serious. “Understand this: no one else can see or touch this book. It is bound to you alone. You are the first person in this universe to wield Shadow Magic, and with it, you will find your path to power.”

  The weight of those words pressed down on me. The first to wield this power? What did that mean for me, for this world?

  The voice continued, relentless in its revelations.

  Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

  “By accepting this book, you will notice changes. This power will grow within you. Shadows will respond to your will, becoming tools, weapons, and allies. But that is not all. You now have access to a leveling system, just as you might remember from your previous life. Strength, Agility, Mana—your abilities will evolve with time and experience.”

  I swallowed hard as another screen appeared in my vision.

  Stats Unlocked

  Samuel Raveish

  Title: None

  Class: Shadow Mage (Beginner)

  Level: 1 (EXP: 0/100)

  Health: 100/100

  Mana: 14/14

  Attributes

  Strength: 1

  Agility: 1

  Sense: 3

  Reaction Speed: 10

  Reaction Time: 7

  Intellect: 4

  Perception: 3

  Shadows Fortune: Locked

  The sheer magnitude of the information stunned me.

  The voice interrupted my thoughts. “Your leveling system is tied to your growth. As you gain experience, more stats will unlock, and you will gain access to additional features of this book. But for now, only three abilities are available to you.”

  Known Abilities:

  

• Shadow Sword: Create a blade from surrounding shadows to deal shadowy damage. Consumption: 10 Mana to summon, 1 Mana per second to maintain.
• Shadow Stealth: Cloak yourself in nearby shadows to avoid detection. Consumption: 2 Mana per second.
• Shadow Ball: Form a ball of concentrated shadow energy. Power and size depend on Mana invested.

I scanned the list, excitement bubbling in my chest. A weapon, stealth, and a ranged attack. It was a simple set of abilities, but they were more than enough for now.

  “As you level up, more pages of the book will fill with new abilities,” the voice explained. “You will also gain access to the Shadow Shop—a place where you can exchange resources for items, stat upgrades, and additional techniques. But beware, Samuel. Power always comes with a price.”

  Her voice softened as she spoke her final words. “May the shadows guide you.”

  And just like that, the voice was gone.

  For a moment, I stood there in stunned silence, the book still glowing faintly in my hands. My mind reeled with questions. What was this power? Why had I been chosen? And what price would I have to pay to wield it?

  But beneath the confusion and uncertainty, I felt something else—a spark of exhilaration.

  I was no longer the weak, helpless man I had been in my past life. In this world, I had the potential to become something more.

  I flipped to the next page, eager to see what else the book might reveal. A diagram of shadowy tendrils spread across the page, accompanied by a single line of text:

  Quest Unlocked: First Steps in the Shadows

  Goal: Use your abilities to manipulate shadows in three unique ways. Reward: +10 EXP, +5 Mana.

  A quest? Like in a video game? My excitement surged. This was real. All of it.

  I turned my attention back to the room around me. Shadows pooled in the corners, soft and quiet under the moonlight. I raised my hand, willing them to move.

  For a moment, nothing happened. Then, slowly, the shadows began to shift, curling toward my outstretched fingers. The sensation was indescribable—a connection, a bond, as if the darkness itself recognized me.

  I clenched my hand into a fist, and the shadows responded, twisting into a thin, jagged blade. My first attempt at the Shadow Sword.

  It was crude, unstable, but it was mine.

  Suddenly, a soft creak broke my concentration. I turned to see the door to my room easing open, and Claire stepped in, her eyes sleepy but warm.

  “Samuel,” she murmured, rubbing her eyes. “What are you doing awake so late?”

  I froze, the shadowy blade dissolving into nothingness as if it had never been.

  “Uh… nothing,” I mumbled, trying to sound innocent.

  Claire raised an eyebrow but didn’t press the issue. She walked over, smoothing the blankets around me. “You’re a funny little boy,” she said with a soft laugh. “Get some sleep. Tomorrow’s another big day.”

  She kissed my forehead, her warmth a sharp contrast to the cold shadows I had just been commanding. As she left the room, I lay back, staring at the ceiling.

  The Book of Shadows rested beside me, its cover dark and foreboding once again.

  Tomorrow, I thought. Tomorrow, I would begin to uncover the full extent of this power.

  And the world would learn the name Samuel Raveish.

  The first Shadow Mage.