I stood in the empty street, staring at nothing, but feeling everything. A thousand points. Skills I didn't understand. And a system in my head calling itself Notice. My heart was pounding, but part of me wanted to jump right in.
"Okay," I muttered to myself. "Let's… let's see what you mean."
"Good. Focus on one skill first. Points can be spent to unlock it, or upgrade it," Notice said.
I took a deep breath. "One skill…" I repeated. I didn't know what I really wanted. Maybe something practical, something that could actually… fix me?
"Try Best Welder. You'll be able to use any tool as if you've always known it. You can manipulate anything with precision."
I frowned. A skill about welding? Sure, I could try it… why not. "Fine. Let's do it."
"Points deducted. Skill unlocked. Observe the object in front of you. What do you wish to do?"
I looked down at an old broken streetlamp. Rust eaten through its edges. Without thinking, I reached toward it. My fingers brushed the metal, and suddenly, it felt like the lamp was an extension of my own hands. I could feel every crack, every bend, every flaw. I twisted a piece of metal, and it snapped perfectly into place. My jaw dropped.
"That… that was… I did that?" I whispered.
"Yes. Best Welder allows mastery without practice. You can now repair or manipulate objects with precision."
I laughed nervously. It felt… surreal. But not as surreal as the next skill I wanted to try. Music had always been a small comfort in my life. Maybe it could be more now.
"Multi-instrumentalist," I said quietly. "Let's see."
"Points deducted. Skill unlocked. Pick an instrument."
I didn't have an instrument, but there was a broken piano on the street corner. Rusted, keys chipped, strings loose. Perfect. I sat down, touching the keys lightly… and a melody poured out. Beautiful, impossible. Moonlight shimmered off the notes as if the night itself was listening. I closed my eyes, letting the music fill the emptiness I'd carried for so long.
"You are learning," Notice said. "Your points can grow with your focus. Your skills will grow with your practice. Choose carefully."
I opened my eyes and looked around. The world hadn't changed. The streetlights still flickered, the air was still cold. But I had changed. For the first time in years, I felt… capable. Maybe even alive.
I wasn't fixed. Not yet. But for the first time, I had tools to try.
And Notice… Notice would make sure I didn't fail completely.