Chapter 1 - The blink

-Alex

*Briiiinnnggg*

The day had only started as students strolled into Artwright academy. its large stone entryway stood as a monument to the school's prestige. Alex a short boy with messy brown hair made his way through the crowds of students that congregated in their cliques along the walkway into Artwrights main building. the swarms of students slowly moved into a mass of people heading into the various rooms around the school.

Alex walked to his locker at a brisk pace wanting to meet up with his friends, they had the first period together and would normally go to class together.

"Hey guys" Alex shouted from a few feet down the hall trying to make his voice heard over the chatter of other students. One of his friends waved back acknowledging him. Making his way through the crowd he met up with his two friends by his locker.

"So what time did you end up getting to sleep last night?" Malcolm asked as he pulled a few books from his back and placed them in his locker, then took another book out and put it in his bag. Alex looked up from his own bag his face an embarrassed expression.

"About three AM" he replied.

"Man you really gotta get a life, you can not keep playing that game that late," Jaxon said poking his head out from behind Malcolm. Jax had walked over from his locker a few feet down the hall his book bag in hand.

"I wasn't playing the game that late, I moved on to reading that book you told me about and got kinda lost in it."

"all students make your way to classes" a voice came over the intercom.

"guess we should head over to class now." Malcolm suggested. The trio grabbed their books and stuff before heading to class.

Miss Cardith waited for her students to file into class. her material for the class was sat upon her desk in a neat pile. Her dark eyes watched as students took their assigned seats before starting her lesson. "Today we will be covering Algebra for the first time this year, take out your textbooks and turn to page two twenty one please," she said he voice echoing a sense of confidence. Alex took out the textbook flipping to the page required. As soon as Miss Cardith actually started to talk, Alex's mind drifted to other things, his eyes fixed on the window and the vibrant world outside. It was summer this time of year, the sky was clear its vibrant blue drawing Alex out of the classroom.

<System has been activated>

<Starting download process 0.012%>

His eyes opened wide at what he was reading, what is the system he thought. His eyes now focusing on the rising number in front of him.

<Download process 25.032%>

Alex looked around the classroom wondering if anyone else was seeing what he was seeing. A few students were looking around confused muttering to each other.

"hey do you see some weird message" whispered a student

"Yeah, what do you think it is" replied the girl next to him. Malcolm looked over to Alex his eyes wide. Alex couldn't see anything in front of Malcolm, but he pointed at the air in front of him. Alex assumed he was seeing what Alex did and shrugged his shoulders in response. Alex had no idea what was going on. Maybe it was some weird prank, but what tech could do this. Looking back at the progress it was speeding up.

<Download process 56.056%>

A student stood to his feet. " who else can see this weird message he screamed, now starting to feel uneasy at the whole situation. the classroom erupted in chatter as students started to reply in acknowledgement.

"Everyone calm down" Miss Cardith interjected, she quickly quieted the classroom asking for an explanation as to why everyone was so rowdy.

<Download process 87.980>

The weird download was getting closer and closer to being finished, Alex wondered what was going to happen when the download was complete.

"Miss cant you see this weird message in your face?" one of the students stood and asked. his face puzzled as to why the teacher wasn't as freaked out as they were. then came the load ding as all the students froze in fear.

<Download Process 100.000%>

<Activating system 100.000%>

<Welcome to the system everyone>

*Kaboom*

The classroom was filled with a blinding light, its searing heat vaporising every person in the room in an instant. Alex screamed into the white void but no sound came out. opening his eyes he was in a black space, it was wet and warm. the light was at the end of his vision, was this his way to heaven he thought. He hadn't been the best person in life so assumed he wouldn't get in, although he wasn't a bad person either. The odds were fifty-fifty he thought. He was being pushed to the light slowly his mind racing thinking of what was to be next and with that last thought he was out.

Aeon (Formally Alex)-

"it is a boy" exclaimed an old man his features warm and kind. He was dressed in a dirty white robe, the front was covered in blood his hands held me in a warm blanket.

Wait! a minute why am I am so small? I pulled my hands up to see myself. My hands are... WHY ARE THEY SO TINY!!!. My exclamation came out in a loud cry as a flailed about. A large muscular man came over into my view. "heya their bud don't cry daddy is here. come on come to papa" he said reaching out to me. He was an older man maybe in his early thirties. he had black hair and piercing silver eyes. his features screamed model but his arms and neck were scarred with cuts and small pieces missing that hadn't healed back properly. who the fuck is this guy I thought, I'm not five. then thinking back to how my hands looked I sighed deeply. My father gave me a weird look as I exhaled loudly. picking me up he gave me a look over.

"He has my eyes!" he exclaimed loudly turning me to face a red-haired woman laying on a small bed. she looked exhausted, her eyes struggling to stay open as she gave me a warm smiled. it filled my heart with warmth. What is this feeling I don't remember feeling anything like this before?

"Calm down honey, you're going to scare the boy," she said weakly. "Could you let me get some rest, 'll come out when I'm a bit more up for your energy".My father gave her a bright smile as he leant down and kissed her on the forehead. Carrying me out of the room I took in my surroundings. I seemed to be in a sort of wooden and stone cottage. The floor and halfway up the walls were stone before transitioning into wood the rest of the way up to the top of the roof.

Outside the room was a larger area that seemed to be a kind of kitchen and lounge room combo. a large iron stove and sink was on one wall while the other side of the room had two comfy looking sofas on a large rug and a fireplace built into it the bottom stone half of the wall. He placed me down on a large pillow in front of the crackling fireplace before going over to sit at a small round table in the centre of the kitchen like part of the room. Picking up some glasses and a small book from the table he began to quietly read, looking over at me every few minutes to check on me. With the excitement dying down I now had some time to think. First, I think I'm dreaming but when over half a day goes by and all my effort to wake up fails I give up that idea. Then my next conclusion is that I have somehow been reborn, maybe it was that explosion or light thing that happened right after those weird messages. But if that was the case, where am I?

It's been a few days, iv discovered a few things and somewhat got accustomed to my new life. Firstly this isn't a dream. I seem to have been transported or reincarnated into a new world. I've read many manga and novels about this stuff so I figured it out quickly after I decided it wasn't a dream. Second fucking magic exist In this world. I figured that little tidbit when my father used some sort of magic spell to light the fire in front of me the other day.

Oh and a little fun fact my name is now Aeon. My new mother gave it to me after she had recovered from the birth and we have been living pretty comfortably. My new parents aren't rich by any means but we live fairly well. My father is a city guard. Our home is located in the farming district around a massive city. Sometimes my mother would take me to the markets and I would get to see the world around me. This world although primitive is a staple of fantasy writing. There are multiple races walking around freely. I have seen elves, Dwarves, Little halflings and some sort of Beast race that has people that match many animals like rabbits and wolves. They look human but have some animal features, Rabbit beastkin have small fluffy tails and ears while wolf beastkin have claws, ears and long bushy tails.

The first few years passed quickly and before I knew it I was coming up on my fifth birthday.

A powerful day for my future.