Johannes' fingers trembled, as he closed the distance between his body and the mysterious blue screen.
[Walking lvl 1 Has Been Selected]
His eyes twitched. They flicked down to his fragile legs. Stiff from the lack of motion, they had long forgotten the daily strain of standing around. A heat shot into his joints - like they eagerly awaited their time to shine.
How does it feel to just stand around? The weak man attempted to imagine himself standing in his hospital room. But he remained without enlightenment.
I will just have to see it for myself. It's not like I would know it anyways
A barely noticeable sound echoed through his eardrums. He flinched, breath hitching, as his train of thought burst like a bubble.
[Walking lvl 1 Has Been Added To Your Skills]
Dopamine hit his brain. What was going to happen? Was he able to stand again - just like that?
A loud crack split the room. Johannes' hand jumped to his legs, where a sharp pain developed like a knife. What the? Have I been stabbed?
As his stare wandered up and down his leg, he was unable to see anything. No blood. No wound.
While he was searching for blood like a maniac, his limbs were relieved of the urgent pain. It was as if it had never been there in the first place.
Johannes noticed a wet stream flowing down his cheek. Was it a tear? Am I actually crying from this little bit of pain?
His touch wandered yet again, now inspecting his head. If someone else had been in the room, they could have told Johannes about his tears.
Being alone had its downsides, he figured out. Well, maybe it is better if i don't know.
Slow but steady Johannes, come on. His nimble legs gradually left the confinements of his hospital bed.
His breath hitched, as his mouth closed. He chose to acclimate slowly, unlike someone who would dive into the cold water without a care.
First, his right leg was left hanging down the cold metallic framework of his bed. He shivered by the mere thought of being able to stand so soon.
If this really works, I will kiss the system. I should not get ahead of myself - a nice date would suffice for starters.
He was convinced that the system should feel flattered. Yet, the system's reaction was nowhere to be seen. Rude. It's not like I wanted to take you out anyways.
Am I a tsundere?
A wave of sound that could only be heard by Johannes crept up. He averted his gaze from the message. Whatever the system's answer was, he would not want to see it.
… Fine, I will look.
[Yes]
For some reason, Johannes vision faded slightly and he was unable to see what the system's answer was.
It does not matter anyways. He was going to stand again and that was something truly magical. I am not going to let the system destroy that moment.
Yet again, he continued to let his right leg touch the ground. When was the last time, my toes touched the ground without crutches or a wheelchair?
It was as if he stood on a soft cloud, with his feet chopping into the ground. The laws of gravity had been reversed for a second, at least to Johannes.
His feet attracted earth, not earth his feet.
Gazing upon his legs, he had trouble wrapping his head around the newest developments. This was something that neither of his parents had ever seen.
I wish my father could be with me in this moment. How am I allowed to keep standing, just because he has ceased to walk?
Is the only reason I am able to stand, due to my father's death? As I inherited his system, I also gained the power to struggle, thrive and eventually… live.