The Empire's Imperial Academy had a very long history. It was the best academy in the Peltas Continent where students from all over the continent came, be it commoners or nobles. It was an organization established by the Royal Family at the foundation of the Empire, to strengthen the new generation. With young students coming from nearby Kingdoms, it also helped in prospering peace and alliance between the Kingdoms.
I stood up from the bed and made my way toward the glass window. Outside, a soft chilly gale was blowing, with white sheets of snow covering the landscape. Some of the Knights were shoving snow out of the way, while others were chatting in groups - it was a relaxed atmosphere.
The streets appeared mostly deserted from up here. The snowfall and chilly winds have made farming and hunting a difficult task, giving people no reason to go outside.
I stood there silently, like a statue, without saying anything and thought about the situation. I had attended high school and a college in the past, but it was as a student and not a teacher. There was a major difference between standing on the podium and sitting on the benches. One's role was to impart knowledge and the other's to gain.
It would have been easy if I was on the receiving end, it would have made it much easier. But to impart knowledge to students? This was something I hadn't done before and I couldn't access Aamon's memories either to experience his past.
"This is going to be difficult," I murmured to myself.
Magic. All the knowledge I had about magic came from the game. And it was extremely limited in scope.
Having a 20% synchronization was a great help as it would definitely help me with dealing with the students. Seeing how a bigger part of my mind was unfazed at the thought of teaching and it was just 'my self' overthinking it, it was quite obvious that it had grown accustomed to it. Now, all that's left for me was to get some knowledge about magic here.
An [Auror Knight] was a Spellsword. A Spellsword is more agile and athletic compared to a mage while also better suited for spell-casting than a knight, making his attacks erratic. A Spellsword excel at both combat and magic, by learning both the art of war and the ephemeral ways of mana.
'Hmmm. Since I excel in both 'combat' and 'magic', it must mean I have a good mental power. Going by common sense, someone who is good at both combat and magic should be very rare.' A smile formed on my lips as I thought about this.
It was then that my attention was to a decorated carriage approaching in the distance. At first glance, it stood out from the worn-out carriages that were commonplace in the empire's streets.
Seeing the carriage, I felt a strange sense of trepidation and it proved true when I spotted the insignia at the front - the Royal Insignia.
'...Haah. I want to go back.'
Even after a week had passed, that was my only thought. I don't belong here in this world, in this body. I was sent here at the whims of those white bastards, forced to live a life I don't want to.
And as the assimilation continues, I am afraid of what's to come. By the time it all ends, will there be any semblance of 'my self' left? What if after fully assimilating, 'my self' ceases to exists and a 'new self' is created - a mix of both of our consciousness?
"I am a character who is fated to die."
I was a villain who was destined to die for the story to progress - be it at the hands of the protagonists, the heroines or anyone else.
However, I can't go back anymore. I am supposed to stay here only, sharing this body. And I have to survive. I can't die like this. Not after what I had to go through.
As I thought so, my gaze came to a halt at a particular point while the hologram screen flickered in front of my eyes
[Main Quest: Become The Creator Of Your Own Destiny]
[Result of Failure: Death]
"That's right. I have yet to create my own destiny.]
* * *
The County of Luvia was situated at the Northern border of the Empire - an abandoned land, acting as a shield against the monsters and demons of the North. The last time it fell was many generations before, and it stood tall ever since then.
Since it acted as a defense shield to reduce the brunt of monster waves, it never had any commercial value and thus it never developed in return.
An unstable archway decorated the southern entrance to the County of Luvia. It had stood tall for centuries, withstanding both time and destruction. A cobblestone road paved the pathway inside the county. Near the archway stood two watchtowers on both side, guarding the town. Groups of soldiers stood there, alert to any possible threat.
A carriage appeared on the horizon, heading for Luvia. The Royal Insignia distinguished it from other carriages. The coachman whipped his horses and the carriage moved forward, leaving a clear trail of hoofprints behind, gradually fading from the view of the soldiers atop the city watchtowers.
The soldiers guarding the archway took a sigh of relief. A carriage having the Royal Insignia wasn't something they wanted to displease.
The carriage's wheels made light noises as it passed through the archway and moved along the cobblestone road. A few playful children stopped what they were doing outside, watching with interest as this carriage passed them, heading towards the castle in the middle, where their Lord resided.
"Why do I have to come to this godforsaken place in this winter?" a man sitting inside the carriage complained to himself. This short and small-statured, slender-faced man's appearance wasn't all that astonishing. If not for him sitting in a Imperial carriage, he would be mistaken for a mere capital folk.
However, this middle-aged man had a frown on his face. He exhaled, trying to calm himself down as he was approaching his destination.
"If not for the Imperial Order and Duke Aamon, I would have never come here."
His complains continued as the carriage made its way towards the castle.