Chapter 139: Chapter 139: System's New Beginning

Milo awoke to the soft glow of his mother's salamander.

The tiny fire creature was curled up on the windowsill, its muted light illuminating the room in the pre-dawn gloom.

Today was the day.

His eighteenth birthday. The day he would finally come of age and face the challenges of the System Book.

He rose silently, careful not to wake his younger siblings, Asha and Nilo, who slept soundly at the other end of the small room.

His mother, Lyra, would already be awake, preparing breakfast with their meager resources.

As he dressed, Milo couldn't help but reflect on how much had changed in recent weeks. The new regime had ushered in a wave of changes he was still struggling to comprehend.

He stepped out of the bedroom and found his mother in the kitchen, busy preparing a modest meal.

"Good morning, my future summoner," Lyra greeted him with a warm smile.

Milo couldn't help but grin. Ever since his mother had received her salamander, her mood had improved considerably.

"Morning, Mom. Or should I say 'Von Mother'?" he teased, recalling the brief period when his mother had insisted on the title.

Lyra let out a hearty laugh.

"Oh, hush. You know that was just a passing fancy. Though I must admit, Von Lyra does have a nice ring to it."

They sat at the table, and Milo noticed the food seemed a bit more plentiful than usual. "Celebrating something?" he asked, already knowing the answer.

"Of course," Lyra replied, her eyes shining with pride. "It's not every day my eldest son becomes a man and prepares to get his own book."

"Who knows," Lyra replied with a hopeful smile. "With all these changes, maybe it's possible. Your aunt mentioned that the new regime is reviewing family separation policies."

Milo fell silent for a moment, pondering. "It's strange to think they separated us from the section just because the family was too big. Why do you think they did it?"

Lyra sighed. "I suppose the previous regime feared that large families would accumulate too much power. But now, with invocations distributed to everyone... I guess that fear no longer makes sense. Everyone has too much power now."

Milo nodded, understanding dawning on his face.

"Still," Lyra said, worry evident in her voice, "be careful, son. And remember to visit us every year during your week off. Just because you have to serve in the army for 10 years doesn't mean you can forget about us for that time... It would be perfect if it wasn't so long."

Milo felt a twinge of anxiety at the thought. Ten years was a long time, but it was also an opportunity to secure a better future for his family.

"It would be. But think of the benefits. With the extra mana I'll earn, we can live better."

Lyra smiled sadly. "Your father used to say the same thing. Always thinking of the family."

♢♢♢♢

The rest of breakfast passed in comfortable silence. When they finished, Lyra took Milo's hands in hers.

"I'm proud of you, my son," she said, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Whatever happens today, remember that I love you and believe in you."

Milo felt a lump in his throat. "Thanks, Mom. I promise I'll do everything I can to make you even prouder."

As he prepared to leave and face his challenge, Milo couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and nervousness. The world he knew was changing rapidly, and today he would take his first step as an adult in this new world.

He looked at the salamander, now resting comfortably on his mother's shoulder, and smiled. Soon, very soon, he too would have his own invocation. Perhaps soon he could help make his family's life even better too.

With a final hug for his mother and a gentle caress for his still-sleeping siblings, Milo left the small house. The sun was just beginning to peek over the city walls, promising a new day full of possibilities.

As he walked towards the city center, where he would face his challenge, Milo couldn't help but feel he was on the brink of something big. Not just for him, but for the entire city. The future, for the first time in a long time, seemed bright and full of hope.