Lucius—or rather, Marcus, wearing the skin of Lucius—moved cautiously through the mansion, careful not to draw unnecessary attention to himself. Every step he took felt alien, not just because of the body he inhabited, but because of the sheer grandeur of the place. The mansion was massive—almost too massive to be called a house—and the longer he wandered its halls, the more he realized just how foreign this world was.
Futuristic elements stood side by side with traditional architecture. There were floating holographic displays mounted on walls that otherwise looked as though they belonged in a medieval castle. Antique furniture filled the rooms, but each piece had subtle technological modifications—seamlessly integrated as though magic and technology had evolved side by side.
It was bizarre. Magic-powered lamps flickered to life as he passed by, casting long shadows over the polished floors. Arcane symbols were etched into the walls, glowing faintly. He even noticed what looked like small drones, no bigger than a fist, quietly hovering near the ceiling, monitoring… something.
This world really is a fusion of magic and tech, Marcus thought, his stomach twisting into knots. In a way, it was exhilarating. He had always fantasized about being in one of these worlds while reading novels, but living it? That was a whole different story.
Still, for all its technological marvels, he couldn't shake the feeling that he was intruding. He felt like an imposter, a stranger in someone else's life. Though no one seemed to suspect anything, the paranoia gnawed at him. He had to stay alert.
As he rounded the corner of a long corridor, he nearly stumbled into a group of maids. They were arranging a sitting room—plumping pillows, dusting shelves, and tidying up the scattered furniture. Their uniforms were formal and immaculate, their demeanor deferential.
"Young Master Lucius," one of them—a young woman with brown hair tied neatly into a bun—greeted him with a slight bow. Her name tag read Elise.
Marcus froze for a split second before forcing a casual smile. "Elise," he said, trying to match the tone. His voice felt foreign, too. It carried a natural confidence, an authority that he wasn't used to.
"I see you're up early today," Elise continued, glancing up at him with what seemed like familiarity. "Shall I prepare breakfast for you?"
"N-no, I'll manage," Marcus stammered. Crap, he thought. I need more information, fast.
He cleared his throat and tried to play it off. "Actually, I've been thinking a lot about… the academy."
Elise's expression shifted slightly, a smile tugging at the corner of her lips. "Ah, yes. You'll be leaving for the academy soon. We've been preparing for it. Is there anything specific you'd like us to take care of before your departure?"
Marcus's mind raced. The academy? This was news to him. But he had to keep up the act. "No, I'm still figuring out a few things," he said vaguely. "I just wanted to make sure everything's in place."
Elise nodded, but there was a hint of something in her eyes—concern? Curiosity? He couldn't tell, but he didn't like it. He had already made a misstep.
"Thank you, Elise," Marcus said, cutting the conversation short. "That'll be all."
Elise bowed again. "As you wish, Young Master."
As Marcus walked away, he couldn't shake the unease settling in his chest. People expect me to know things—things I have no idea about. He needed answers, fast.
...
After navigating more hallways and rooms, Marcus eventually found a smaller study—likely Lucius's personal space. He shut the door behind him and exhaled, letting his guard down for a moment. The study was filled with books, gadgets, and personal items—finally, a chance to dig into who Lucius Foster really was.
He immediately began rifling through the papers and objects scattered across the desk. There were books on magical theory, notes on the academy, and a few letters that looked like correspondence between noble families.
One particular letter caught his eye—it was half-crumpled and tucked beneath a pile of documents. The seal on the envelope had been hastily broken. Curious, Marcus opened it and scanned the contents.
"Lucius,
You're still as reckless as ever. The other houses are watching you closely, and you've made more enemies than you realize. Don't think your family's name will protect you forever. The academy isn't a playground, and you'd do well to remember that. We won't always be there to clean up your mess."
The letter wasn't signed, but it sent a chill down Marcus's spine. Whoever Lucius was, he wasn't well-liked. And based on the letter's tone, he had enemies—real ones.
Marcus set the letter aside and sifted through the other documents. There were enrollment forms for the academy, with the logo of the institution prominently displayed. He scanned the papers quickly, noting the advanced curriculum—everything from mana manipulation to combat training. But Lucius's name appeared in several places with comments that made Marcus uncomfortable.
"Arrogant." "Difficult to work with." "Tends to isolate himself."
Marcus swallowed hard. Great. I'm stuck in the body of someone who's hated. The tension was building. This wasn't some heroic protagonist's life—this was the life of someone who seemed to be on the verge of making enemies at every turn.
....
Just as Marcus was about to put the papers down, the door creaked open behind him.
"Well, well. Finally decided to show some interest in the family's affairs?"
Marcus's heart skipped a beat. He turned to see a young man standing in the doorway, arms crossed over his chest. The resemblance was undeniable—same dark hair, same piercing eyes—but there was a coldness to him, a sharpness that Lucius didn't seem to have.
"Aiden Foster," Marcus thought, recognizing him from the documents. Lucius's younger brother—or perhaps, more accurately, his rival.
"What are you doing here?" Aiden asked, stepping into the room. His eyes flicked to the papers Marcus had been reading, suspicion clear on his face. "Since when do you care about the family business?"
Marcus fought to keep his expression neutral. "Just… catching up on some things. Thought it was time I took a more active role."
Aiden snorted, his lips curling into a smirk. "Really? That doesn't sound like the Lucius I know."
Marcus clenched his jaw. He needed to tread carefully. "Maybe it's time I changed," he said, trying to sound casual.
Aiden's eyes narrowed. "Don't think people aren't watching you, brother," he said, his voice low. "You've made enough mistakes. One more, and not even the family name will save you."
With that, Aiden turned and left, leaving Marcus standing there with his heart pounding in his chest.
The Watch: Aetheris
After Aiden left, Marcus breathed a sigh of relief. That was too close. He needed to be more careful. But before he could gather his thoughts, his eyes caught sight of something gleaming on the desk—a sleek black watch.
He picked it up, recognizing it immediately. It was called Aetheris, a high-tech watch used by the elite in this world. He had read about it countless times in Decade Long Crusade. The watch could tell time, access the global network, function like a smartphone, and more—powered by both standard energy sources and mana.
Marcus couldn't help but geek out a little. I'm actually wearing it, he thought, sliding the watch onto his wrist. He tapped the screen, bringing up the interface. Navigating the settings was easy—he had memorized how it worked from the novel.
As he fiddled with the controls, setting his preferences, the watch began drawing mana from his body, using it as a secondary power source. He smiled. This world's tech is amazing.
But then something odd happened. The screen flickered once, then again, before going completely black.
Marcus frowned. "Did I just break it?" He tapped the watch, trying to bring it back to life. Aetheris watches were incredibly expensive—Lucius wouldn't be happy if it was broken.
Before he could panic, the watch powered back on. But instead of the usual interface, a holographic screen projected into the air above his wrist, displaying something entirely unexpected.
Name: Lucius Foster
Level: 1
Mana: 10/10
Strength: 4
Agility: 5
Intelligence: 6
Marcus stared, his mind racing. What the hell is this?
He scrolled through the display, and to his disbelief, it showed stats—as if he were in some kind of game. There were tabs for skills, abilities, and equipment.
"This isn't supposed to exist," Marcus whispered. This world doesn't have a system like this. It never did.
His hands trembled as he tapped on the skills section.
Skills:
• Basic Mana Manipulation - Level 1
• Swordsmanship - Novice
Marcus's breath caught in his throat. This was real. The world had changed, and he had no idea why.
Marcus stared at the holographic display, heart pounding in his chest. This world has rules I don't understand. He had thought he knew how things worked here, but this changed everything.