Chapter 3:
"Where am I?"
I scanned the room, taking in the opulence around me. Everything was extravagant, from the heavy velvet curtains to the richly embroidered carpets. It was a far cry from the dingy, but comfortable apartment I had come to know as home.
Even my clothes felt alien. Like luxurious fabrics tailored perfectly to fit a noble.
"Valerian…"
I muttered under my breath, trying to dredge up any memory of this name. But it was as foreign to me as this room. It wasn't a family name that rang any bells.
I suppose this was a new addition.
The patch altering and adding things wasn't exactly in my favor, but given the quest message had the same ultimate goal, it shouldn't have changed the story or other information too drastically.
At least, that's what I had hoped for now.
"…I'll have to think about it later."
I muttered, though the unease didn't leave me.
Then a thought struck me.
"Do I have a system?"
In the game, only the main character had access to the system, so it was unlikely. Still, it didn't hurt to try.
"Hoo…" I breathed in. "Open System Window."
Silence.
Dead, painful silence. Nothing happened.
"As expected," I thought, shaking off the embarrassment. "Then, Status?"
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ㄴPersonal
Name : Eldrinn Valerian
Title : Extra // Fate Club Apostle // ???
Age : 17
Class: ???
Health : A +
Mana : D+
Agility : D +
Endurance : D +
Intelligence : A +
Luck : D +
Charm : S +
Willpower : A +
ㄴQuests
Main Quest: See this world to its desired ending.
Reward: ???
Failure: World destruction
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Looking through my stat window, I could tell that I'm truly blessed. Those aren't beginner stats.
As expected, I had no skills under my arsenal, but it was interesting to see my Mana at D +. It wasn't anything amazing, but it was better than having nothing at all.
"Does that mean Eldrinn was a mage?"
I thought out loud, but then realized the 'Class' section was just question marks to denote they were empty.
"He clearly has good base stats…"
I muttered. But my eyes kept drifting back to one particular title.
"Fate Club…Apostle?"
Fate Club.
Was this related to those masked individuals?
An 'Apostle'? Was that some kind of rank?
How had someone like Eldrinn, just seventeen, become involved with them? The people I saw back in that place seemed more like hardened adults, experienced and unyielding.
"Eldrinn…Eldrinn…"
Interesting.
There's a lot more I need to uncover about him.
But.
"Why can't I remember anything about this body?"
According to the novels I've read, don't the characters who reincarnate usually receive a user manual?
It's been around an hour since I woke up, but I still haven't gotten anything, like a memory, of this person.
"I suppose it'll come by when it's triggered at one point."
Just then, the door knocked.
"Young Master Eldrinn," a rough, male voice called from the other side of the door.
There was a strange mix of respect and indifference in the tone. Like they were addressing me out of obligation rather than genuine regard.
I cleared my throat, trying to steady my voice.
"Yes?"
There was a pause before the voice responded.
"The Duke requests your presence in the main hall. Immediately."
The Duke. Was he referring to Eldrinn's father? My new father?
Ba dump!
My chest tightened at the thought. My real father—he… he had killed me. I still couldn't fully grasp it, and the thought of confronting another father figure right now...
"Haa…"
I shook off the hesitation.
I shouldn't be acting like this.
I needed to understand my place in this world, even if it meant facing this man.
"I'll be right there," I replied, keeping my tone as neutral as possible.
This would be my first interaction with someone from Eldrinn's life. The thought of meeting this Duke without any knowledge of Eldrinn's relationship with him made me nervous.
What if I messed up and blew my cover immediately?
The footsteps outside the door retreated, leaving me alone with my thoughts once again.
I glanced at the status window, still hovering in front of me.
"Close," I muttered, watching it blink out of existence.
As I walked through the corridor, my mind raced with the possibilities.
How would he react to me? Could he sense a change in his son?
I had to act like I belonged here, even though every part of me screamed otherwise. This wasn't just about fooling the Duke; it was about surviving in this world.
Walking to the door, I caught a glimpse of myself in a tall, gilded mirror again.
The face that stared back was unfamiliar, yet it was now mine. Dark hair fell in loose waves around a sharp, defined face. Eyes that held a coldness I didn't recognize stared back at me. The clothes, too, were finely made, tailored to fit perfectly.
I looked every bit the noble, but inside, I felt like a fraud.
"Alright," I muttered to myself. "Let's go meet the Duke."
I stepped out into the corridor. The hallways were just as grand as the room I'd woken up in, lined with intricate tapestries and paintings.
A servant was waiting just outside, bowing slightly as I approached.
"This way, Young Master."
I nodded, falling into step behind him.
The walk to the main hall was both short and eternal. Every step was a reminder of how out of place I was.
Yet, somehow, the body seemed to move on its own, carrying me with a confidence that I didn't feel inside.
Perhaps some muscle memory was kicking in, guiding me through these unfamiliar surroundings.
The servant stopped before a large set of double doors, pushing them open to reveal an expansive hall. My eyes were immediately drawn to the figure seated on a raised dais at the end of the room.
The Duke.
He exuded an aura of authority, even from a distance. His hair was streaked with gray, but there was a strength in his posture and the set of his jaw that spoke of power and control. His green eyes, sharp and calculating, locked onto me the moment I entered the room.
"Approach," he commanded, his voice carrying a weight that made it clear he was not used to being disobeyed.
I walked forward, forcing my steps to remain steady and sure. My mind was screaming at me to figure out how I was supposed to interact with this man, but I forced myself to stay calm. I had to play this right.
"Eldrinn," the Duke said as I came to a stop a few paces away from him. There was a coldness in his voice, a lack of warmth that made my skin crawl. "I trust you slept well."
I nodded, keeping my gaze steady.
"Yes…Father," The word tasted foreign, like poison on my tongue, but I forced it out, keeping my face impassive. "I did."
"Good."
His eyes bore into me, searching for something.
Doubt? Deception?
I couldn't tell.
"There are matters we need to discuss. Important matters."
I kept silent, waiting for him to continue. If I said too much, I risked giving myself away. But saying too little could also raise suspicions. It was a delicate balance.
"You are of age now," he said, his tone measured. "It's time you take on your responsibilities as a member of this family."
Responsibilities?
"You have a duty," the Duke continued, "not just to this household, but to the Valerian name. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Father," I replied, hoping my voice didn't betray the anxiety I felt.
"Good," he said again, though there was no approval in his gaze. "You will begin your training immediately. We have been... lenient with you up to this point. That leniency ends today."
I nodded once more. "I understand."
Just then, the quest window popped up, half-surprising me.
「 Side Quest 1: Enroll in Arkanos Academy 」
「 Reward: None 」
「 Penalty: Thunderbolt Strike (fulfilled once host is in manless location)
Wha…where did this come from?
But, more importantly—
"Arkanos Academy," the Duke said, "The recommendation letter that I had sent has been accepted. Tomorrow, you'll be leaving for the Empire."
"Yes…Father."
"You need to bring honor to the Valerian name," the Duke continued. "Arkanos Academy is not just any institution. It is a place where the finest minds and talents are honed. You will be expected to excel."
I nodded, my mind still reeling from the sudden quest notification.
"I will follow suit with your expectations."
"See that you do," he said, a finality in his tone that left no room for argument. "You are dismissed."
I turned and walked out of the hall, feeling his gaze burn into my back the entire way. My mind was reeling with questions, but I forced myself to stay composed until I was back in the corridor.
"Haa…"
That was tough, and short.
Was the Duke a man of few words, or was his relationship with Eldrinn nothing note-worthy? I didn't even get to know his name.
My eyes returned back to the quest window.
「 Side Quest 1: Enroll in Arkanos Academy 」
Arkanos Academy.
The prestigious academy in the City of Elorand, where the first quarter of the main story happens, the route where some of the side characters start at.
"Not a bad start point…"
At least it was a place I was familiar with. It was better than being thrown straight into a battlefield or right in front of the protagonist.
"Ah..."
A memory surfaced, an unpleasant one.
It wasn't the worst place to begin, definitely. And with Eldrinn's stats, his acceptance was reasonable. The Academy was known for its rigorous standards, only admitting those with high potential for growth. They had excellent resources for both theory and practical training.
And, most importantly, there were cheats.
Well, from my perspective, they were cheats. To the average person here, they were just 'hidden opportunities.' I'd have to get my hands on them.
My line of thinking was simple.
I had three immediate goals in this world.
First, I needed to uncover more about 'Eldrinn Valerian' and his association with the Fate Club. There was something off about that title, and I needed to understand what I was getting into.
Second, I needed to become stronger.
This was something I had been pushing to the back of my mind since arriving here, but it was a crucial step. In this world, power was everything. Eldrinn's stats were promising but they were raw, and unpolished. The Academy would provide the training I needed to hone them.
Third, I needed to see this world to its desired ending.
The quest was clear, and while I had no reason to fulfill it at first due to my confusion, things were different now that I had experienced death, undeservedly so.
That feeling of powerlessness as death crept in... No, I can't dwell on that now.
I was a coward. I didn't want to face death again. If that meant fighting to live, then so be it.