The morning sun peeked through the window, lighting up a teen boy's face.
He groggily opened his eyes, staring at a strange ceiling. "I don't know this ceiling... This place still feels so strange," he muttered.
He grumbled but couldn't help smirking a bit.
It had been two days since this whole crazy 'reincarnation' thing started.
"I'm not dreaming; this is my new reality!" Alex thought, confirming his reincarnation, just like those characters in webnovels and comics he used to read.
'Well, it's not all bad' he considered, checking out his new, not-so-fragile body. Or maybe not – a sigh escaped him as he gave himself a once-over.
Surveying the old and shabby dorm room he'd been assigned, he let out another sigh.
"It might not be the greatest, but I'm prepared for whatever comes my way!"
It wasn't exactly an auspicious beginning, but he had to work with what was available.
He rose from the bed and proceeded to put on his academy uniform.
But, to truly grasp the sequence of events, let's take a step back and rewind to two days ago.
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In the world Alex had been reincarnated into, it was called Eldoria.
The place he was in now was Ludwig Town, a border town within the Ashkart Kingdom. It was pretty rural even by this world's standards.
At the moment, the person he had taken over was on a break from the academy, visiting his parents' grave.
The body Alex inhabited belonged to parents who died years ago in a monster stampede.
"Yep, this world is brimming with monsters and danger, not to mention magic." It was like the fantasy world he used to daydream about.
This realm was unlike anything he'd known before, with magic, swords, monsters, and mana flowing everywhere.
It was way more expansive and diverse than his old world, with countless fantasy races beyond just humans.
He was currently inhabiting the body of a teenage boy named Alex Blanc.
"This body is a bit better than my old one, at least it's good-looking." he smirked while scrutinizing his reflection.
The mirror showed an unfamiliar face. Pale skin, pitch-black hair like the night, and dull grey eyes that had a certain charm to them.
"To be honest, he's quite handsome." But... he's also frail and skinny, lacking any muscle or strength.
It took him a full day to get accustomed to this body and his new circumstances.
He didn't receive all of this body's memories, just fragmented ones and basic information.
He wasn't planning on acting like his predecessor anyway, and his orphan status worked to his advantage.
At this point, the best step forward was returning to the academy since the vacation period ended today.
He checked the route, but he missed the last train to Lunar City, where the Star Shine Academy was located. The next departure was set for tomorrow.
Absolutely, trains and vehicles were part of this world, although they differed from modern ones. They were powered by something known as mana stones, making them environmentally friendly.
This world wasn't merely set in medieval times with a touch of Renaissance architecture; it was an amalgamation of those eras with a modern influence seamlessly intertwined.
The Star Shine Academy, where he was enrolled, sat on the outskirts of Lunar City.
Founded a thousand years ago by a great mage, it had an inclusive philosophy, welcoming all potential students.
"Though the academy seems open to all, success here isn't a cakewalk."
Competition was fierce, pushing students to showcase their talents. Top performers got perks, fueling their drive to excel.
Fights between students, or duels, were allowed and sanctioned by academy rules.
The academy was divided into two faculties: Knight and Magic. One catered to non-magic users, the other to those with magical abilities.
As the names suggested, this division caused discrimination since magic users had a clear advantage.
"In this world, the ability to use magic is a big deal."
It was a symbol of power and status, highly esteemed.
Being a magic user was mostly hereditary. If a child's parents had magic, they were likely to have it too.
Kids with two magic-wielding parents could even surpass them.
As a result, only a few had magic, widening the gap between the privileged and the rest.
Of course, there were exceptions, like those with magical abilities without the lineage.
At the academy, there was no nobility divide. Discrimination based on social status was forbidden.
Students fell into three main classes: Elite, Advanced, and Intermediate.
Initial placement happened through assessments, and there was room to advance based on performance.
Dissatisfied students could strive for better in quarterly assessments, moving up or down.
But there was an additional class—the one that stuck out like a sore thumb. "Lacking magical prowess was one thing, but this utter jerk found himself in the dreaded 'Failure' class."
And then, they had the Beginner class, colloquially referred to as the 'Failure class'.
It was infamous, full of the least skilled first-years, and even some teachers ridiculed them.
"If things weren't bad enough, my predecessor was a coward who got bullied a lot." Alex sighed, empathizing with the former Alex.
His weakness made him an easy target, not to mention being a commoner.
Thinking of the hurdles even before entering the academy, his heart sank even further.
◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆
The following day, in the evening, Alex reached his destination – Lunar City.
The train journey was a pleasant experience, though it didn't quite match up to the modern high-speed bullet trains.
Since he never got a chance to experience one in his previous life, this turned out to be quite a nice ride.
Lunar City was a bit different from what he had imagined, despite having memories of it courtesy of his predecessor.
Experiencing a place firsthand is always distinct from recalling it from memory.
The streets were well-paved and all-black, constructed from high-grade materials unlike the sandy dirt roads in Ludwig Town.
The city was beautifully lit with magic lamps and the glow of buildings, houses, and shops.
Comparing the town and the city was a challenge.
The city looked no less modern, with high-rise buildings and cars everywhere.
The atmospheric vibe and the aroma of street food in the air made it even more delightful.
After exploring the vicinity to his heart's content, he finally hopped onto a bus headed to the Star Shine Academy.
The academy was a bit far from where he was, so it took some time to get there.
Upon arrival, he stood in awe of the place where he'd be studying for the next three years.
He navigated his way based on memory to the boys' dorm where his room was assigned, where he needed to register and sign in as his new residence.
The academy had various dorms. Everyone was assigned a room based on their ranking and class.
Living in the dorms was a must for first-year students.
So, he headed to the front desk to grab his room key and let them know he was back from his break.
"Sorry, but we've reassigned your room somewhere else," he heard, and it hit him like a shock.
"Where?" Alex inquired, suspicion creeping in, and a sense of dread washing over him.
The manager pointed in a specific direction, and it all became clear - his serious expression and the unease settling within him finally made sense.