'Where am I? Ah, my head hurts so much!'
Those were the first words Lucius mumbled as he woke up. He looked around and saw he was in a plain room with just a few basic things—a hard bed, a table, and an old stove. Everything was a mess, nothing special at all.
But how did he end up here? Lucius remembered clearly being trapped in darkness after the Gods defeated him. They joined forces to overthrow him and put someone else in charge of the underworld. Just thinking about it made him furious.
'Why did they do this? We had everything under control for so long!' Lucius thought, clenching his fists.
It was a sad and frustrating reality, but there was still hope. Lucius slowly recalled the memories of the person whose body he now occupied—a poor young man named Lucius who worked in a library.
His magical abilities weren't impressive, and even though he earned some money working there, the school wouldn't let him study. He could still hear the harsh words of one of the evaluators in his mind: 'You should be grateful we let you work and sleep here. If I were in charge, you'd be kicked to the curb, you brat.'
Lucius had no family in that world. He was an orphan, despised by everyone. The former Lucius cared deeply about it, and with all the difficulties, he decided to end his life...
'I don't know you, but I will make those idiots at school pay for all the bullying they caused you!' Lucius promised himself.
He was a cruel person to those who deserved it—and sometimes even to those who didn't—but especially to those who deserved it.
Every day, the former Lucius endured mockery from others at school, and no one did anything! His days were dark, and his future uncertain.
But everything changed! Lucius prepared himself that morning, looking at the small, dirty mirror in his room. His clothes weren't too bad—one of the few things the school did for him—and he looked like a young man of about 17, with short black hair.
His skin was fair, and his eyes were brown. One thing Lucius noticed was the thinness of his body—a result of the poor nutrition the former Lucius had endured.
The first thing Lucius did was fry an egg on his old stove and fill his growling stomach. It wasn't much, but he knew he had to manage his money, at least for now.
As he stepped out of his room, a young man in the hallway looked at him with disgust and said, "Did you know the library books are all dirty because of you? Take a shower before you go to work."
He was just a foolish teenager. Lucius knew they were all between 16 and 18 years old, with some classes even older, reaching a maximum of 20 years. But most of them were fools, considering they came from noble families.
Lucius glanced at him and replied, "Oh, don't even get me started. Every time you step in there, it takes hours to sweep away your trail of filth... I don't understand how this school can tolerate pigs like you. Well, if you'll excuse me, unlike you, I have something important to do. See you later, loser."
The young man was burning inside and wanted to unleash a spell on Lucius right then and there! However, it was strictly forbidden within the Spellbound Institute, the magic academy he attended.
Despite knowing that Lucius was a despised brat, the school director still provided him with some form of assistance. Attacking him could indeed result in expulsion, something no student would want.
Lucius walked through the academy, ignoring the stares of other students who roamed the halls—a small number, as Lucius began his work before classes started for the rest of the students.
'This place is actually quite beautiful,' thought Lucius.
The Spellbound Institute was located in one of the largest cities in the country, Celestia Nova. Although not the capital, Celestia Nova was considered the biggest city for magicians in the country, and the Spellbound Institute was its finest school.
All graduates from there were set for life, securing excellent jobs in various locations. The former Lucius knew that was impossible for him, and the simple job at the library was more than enough.
It was an immense place with over six floors, scattered towers, and, of course, a towering stone wall protected by a magical barrier. The Spellbound Institute was entirely made of stone, and in addition to the main building where students attended classes, there was also an area for sports, leisure, and a vast garden.
Not only that, but the top-performing students had the privilege of residing in a separate courtyard, in houses that had the option of having their own gardens for growing magical herbs, perfect for potion-making.
Although the location was considered part of Celestia Nova, the school itself was situated outside the city, on a nearby mountain. In fact, the school predates the city, and people decided to construct the city a little further away to avoid problems with magic, as it was common for novice mages to cause havoc with their spells.
Lucius followed a stone path to the main building of the school. The library was located on the third floor. The corridors were illuminated by magical chandeliers, and the walls were adorned with paintings, creating a decorative atmosphere. There were also plants and furniture, and everything was free of dust, as if by magic!
After climbing the floors and entering the library, Lucius was greeted by a beautiful blonde lady who said, "Not running late today? What a miracle."
Lucius focused and remembered who she was. Isabella. She was a first-year student at the school and was in charge of the library.
Well, there was a professor behind it all, but he rarely showed up, so the library ended up being taken care of by Lucius and Isabella. Isabella, coming from a noble family and possessing the necessary talent to study at the school, became Lucius' superior. She gave the orders.
But unlike most students, she treated him well. One of the few people in the entire school who did. "I always arrive on time," Lucius said, adjusting his posture. "So, what do we have for today?"
For some reason, Isabella saw Lucius with different eyes. He no longer seemed like that sad person who could barely lift his head or look people in the eye while talking. "Some new books arrived for you to unpack and place on the shelves. They're in the storage room."
Lucius nodded and went to the storage room to begin his tasks for the day. It was at that moment that something pulsed within his body, and a message appeared before him.
'Hey, what's this? This is new even for me! A system? I remember giving some of these when I made pacts with foolish humans. Well, this one seems interesting!' Lucius murmured, a mischievous smile forming on his face.