Time passed quickly at preschool. Arin, Lyra, and Kai grew closer as friends, always sitting together in class, sharing snacks, and walking home as a little trio.
One day, their teacher clapped her hands and announced with excitement:
"Children! Next week, we will have our very first Sports Fest! There will be races, ball games, and team events. Practice well, because your parents will be coming to cheer you on!"
The room exploded with cheers and giggles.
Kai immediately pumped his fists in the air. "Yes! I'm going to win everything!" His boundless energy seemed to spill out of him.
Lyra smiled shyly but looked determined. "I… I want to do well too."
Arin simply nodded, already thinking ahead. Sports… another chance to test growth, and maybe talents.
Over the next days, practice filled every afternoon.
Kai was unstoppable—he ran faster than most kids, jumped higher, and never seemed to get tired. His energy was infectious, and even teachers praised him.
Ding!
[Talent Level Up]
Talent: Physical Vitality → Physical Vitality (Level 2) – Endurance, stamina, and recovery improved.
Arin's eyes narrowed as he watched. So even a natural talent can grow stronger with use… fascinating.
Lyra, though less confident, showed surprising growth in rhythm-based activities. During a rope-jumping exercise, she was able to keep perfect timing, adjusting her steps almost like she was moving with music.
Ding!
[New Talent Awakened]
Talent: Rhythm Sense (Basic) – Naturally attuned to patterns and timing, excels in music, dance, and coordination-based activities.
Arin smiled slightly. So she gained a new talent just by effort and exposure. That means…
That evening, as the three of them rested under the shade of a tree near the playground, Arin thought deeply.
He had used Observation (Mastery) countless times during practice. He had seen talents flicker, grow brighter, or even appear where there was none before.
Kai had leveled up.
Lyra had awakened something new.
And the other children, too—even those who seemed ordinary—were showing faint sparks.
Arin clenched his small hand. This proves it. Talents aren't fixed from birth. If someone puts in effort, trains consistently, and faces challenges, even they can awaken something. Maybe it's basic at first, maybe small… but it's still a talent.
The thought stirred something powerful inside him.
In his first life, he had believed that hard work was the only path, that talent was a wall he could never climb. But now, with the system in his hands, he could see the truth clearly.
Talent was not a wall. It was a seed.And with effort, anyone could make it grow.
As the sun set, Kai stood up and stretched. "I'll win the races for sure!" he said, his grin wide.
Lyra giggled softly. "Then I'll win something too… maybe the skipping contest."
Arin looked at them both, his lips curving slightly. He didn't need to say it aloud, but inside, he made a quiet vow:
This time… I'll make sure not just me, but all of us grow. I'll help them, guide them, and prove that effort shapes destiny.
The Sports Fest was only a few days away.
But for Arin, it was more than just games.
It was another step in his reborn journey—
to uncover the truth of talent, effort, and destiny.