"Lu... Lucien... Lucien!! Wake up!"
'Lucien?' What is that noise? And who the hell is Lucien?
Am I hearing strange things in my room just now? Probably just a lack of sleep. I should have gone to bed early yesterday.
Now hearing a strange female voice calling someone outside my room. I swear this apartment is haunted. Could that agent have lied to me about this place not being haunted ? Come to think of it, the rent was cheap when I browsed through their contract. Still, I can't just move out after being here for only a week.
[Bang! Bang!]
Now it's banging on the door. Should I respond to the voice?
Back when I was a kid, the old folks in my hometown always said never to engage with spirits. If you do, they'll start haunting you the moment you answer.
"LUCIEN!"
[Gasp!]
A chill ran down my spine as the voice grew louder, calling that name with irritation.
[Crack!]
The sound of the door opening echoed through the room.
How is that possible? I always lock my door before going to bed.
"Lucien, wake up! Are you planning on skipping school today?!"
The voice drew closer. My confusion deepened, and I kept my eyes shut—who would want to see a ghost? I tried to calm myself until a soft, warm hand touched my forehead. Without thinking, I opened my eyes and grabbed it quickly.
"Wake up! You're going to be late for school!"
"Sc... school?"
I was bewildered as I looked at the woman in front of me. She appeared to be in her late thirties, hands on her hips, staring at me as if I was the strange one. She wore a simple dress with an apron over it. It looked like she had just finished cooking—there were damp spots on the apron, and the smell of food wafted in from the hallway.
I quickly glanced around and realized this wasn't my room. The room was small, plain, with no decorations or proper paint. There was a wooden closet, a desk and chair, and a bed beside an open window. The room had a mix of modern and old-fashioned design, like something out of a film I'd seen before.
While I was lost in my surroundings, a cold morning breeze blew in from the window, making me feel a mix of nostalgia and refreshment. It oddly soothed my mind, like I was in a different world.
Wait... a different world!?
"Lucien, why are you acting so strange? Are you sick or something?"
"...Umm .. sorry but where am I ?"
"Heh … why are you asking this, stop joking around and go wash your face."
She just said that and left the room.
I quickly got out of bed, feeling an odd sensation as I moved. My body felt lighter, almost toned, yet strangely unfamiliar. I glanced down at my arms—my muscles were gone, replaced by a leaner frame. What happened to me?
Slowly, I walked to the window, tilting my head outside to get a better view of the surroundings.
"What the hell is going on?" I muttered to myself, taking in the unexpected sight.
The scene outside was a bizarre mix of countryside and industry. To the left, a sprawling field stretched into the distance, dotted with massive factory buildings clustered together. Smoke billowed from their chimneys, rising in lazy curls into the sky. The fields were covered with glass domes, each protecting a hectare of land. Through the transparent glass, I could see rows of crops—wheat and various other vegetables—being meticulously tended by farmers. There were also sections for livestock, with cows and other animals grazing peacefully.
To the right, I saw many three-story buildings that looked like old apartments built next to each other. They were plain and worn, with weathered paint and cracks running down the sides. They reminded me of something I saw from somewhere. That's right !
It was a scene from a popular RPG game I played during my college years. The game was called "Chains of Destiny: The End of the Oracle." I started playing it after joining the Computer Club during my freshman year, and I managed to finish everything just before my graduation. It has become very popular because of its immersive, real-life mechanics, featuring realistic battles and beautifully detailed scenery inspired by locations around the world. It was a challenging game—time-consuming and demanding in both strategy and storytelling. I still play it nowaday whenever I get bored.
The game followed the journey of a hero and their companions to seal the Oracle's Gate, a demonic portal that appeared a thousand years ago at the North Pole of Earth. The gate's sudden arrival had a catastrophic impact—it altered Earth's magnetic field and reshaped the planet's geography and landscape. Entire continents were lost or drastically changed, giving rise to a fractured new world. Over time, humanity adapted and reorganized itself into two powerful sectors: The Eastern Dominion and The Western Federation.
The Eastern Dominion emerged from the remains of Asia and the eastern parts of Europe. It is a centralized, authoritarian society led by the Council of Elders, prioritizing technological and militaristic advancements to ensure order and survival. Known for its sprawling mega-cities and advanced infrasutures, the Dominion maintains strict control over its population, enforcing loyalty to the state and culture. Their goal is to seal the Oracle's Gate and harness its power to rebuild the world under a unified rule, believing that only through their leadership can humanity thrive.
The Western Federation is a collection of independent starters formed from North and South America, along with parts of Western Europe and Africa. Unlike the Dominion, the Federation values freedom, autonomy and collective decision making. Despite their decentralized nature, they are technologically and magically more advanced than the Eastern Dominion, using both innovation and collaboration to thrive. The Federation's goal is to seal the Oracle's Gate and prevent its power from falling into the wrong hands, especially the Domino's. They emphasize diversity, adaptability and sustainability, using superior technology and tactics to protect their independence from Domino control.
This was the world-building in the game. I knew all this because I had played through both sectors—one of the first choices every player makes. After that, you select your main character: Wade, the male lead, or Fiona, the female lead, depending on your preference. The game then begins with the chosen character and sector, transitioning into an introduction that sets the stage for the story and the unfolding events.
Players could choose to follow the main storyline or explore freely. While roaming aimlessly was an option, it felt pointless compared to the depth the story offered. The side quests, character arcs, and layered events all worked together to create a narrative that made each choice feel meaningful, encouraging players to fully immerse themselves in the journey.
"Wait a minute, who the hell is Lucien?!"
I snapped back to reality, my confusion deepening. Why was my name Lucien, and who exactly was Lucien? I had played this game extensively, but I had never come across anyone named Lucien before. I was supposed to be Wade, the main character of the story but why Lucien.
"Nooo !!"
I screamed out the window, my voice echoing into the fields beyond. The realization was starting to sink in. I wasn't Wade nor was I Fiona, I was just a random NPC in this world.
Taking a deep breath, I glanced out at the view again. It matched the beginning of the game, set in The Eastern Dominion, specifically in the northern part of Thaidia, the capital city of the Dominion. This area was called The Fraction—a lower-class district where the poor and common folk lived. Despite the advances of the Eastern Dominion, nobility still held power here, with sharp divisions between classes. It was the place where, in the game, you'd expect to find the commoners struggling to survive while the wealthy thrived in comfort.
Luckily, this was the same place where the story began for Wade or Fiona. If I remember correctly, the woman mentioned "school"—she said I would be late for school.
If this really was the beginning of the game, then perhaps things hadn't gone completely off the rails yet. I needed to find out whether Wade or Fiona existed in this world—they were the protagonists, after all.
"LUCIEN, GET YOUR ASS DOWN HERE !"
A man's voice, deep, echoed up the hallway. He sounded like he was in his late thirties.
I quickly left my bedroom and stepped into the hallway, looking for the bathroom. I paused for a moment, taking in my surroundings. It seemed like this apartment had three bedrooms, a storage room, a bathroom, and a living room that was connected to the kitchen. Everything was worn out but livable. The paint on the walls was faded, and there were scratches on the wooden floor, but it still had a sense of warmth to it.
I made my way to the bathroom and washed my face while looking at my reflection in the mirror.
"Who is this ? Is this … Lucien?"
The face staring back at me was that of an average boy, around 16 years old. Lucien seemed to be a mixed descent, likely half Asian and half European, with slightly tanned skin. What stood out about him was his black hair, and brown eyes. Despite the ordinary features, there were some things about this reflection that felt almost unreal, as if it wasn't entirely my own.
I left the bathroom and headed to the living room, where I saw unfamiliar people sitting around the dining table, plates of food spread out in front of them.
"Why are you standing there, your food is gonna get cold ? Come and eat quickly."
The same woman who came to wake me up called me to join the table.
"Why are you standing there? Your food is going to get cold. Come and eat quickly."
The same woman who came to wake me up earlier called out, urging me to join them at the table.
"Why do you always make things so difficult for your mother? Just come and eat already. I know you don't listen to your stepfather, but at least listen to your mother."
"Dear, don't say that!"
The man who had called me earlier put down his newspaper, his brow furrowed as he looked at me. His gaze was stern but not entirely unkind, like he was used to dealing with trouble but still cared.
It seemed these two were Lucien's parents. The man had mentioned "stepfather," so the woman must be Lucien's mother, and the man his stepfather. I didn't know the story behind their family situation, but it was clear that his mother had remarried at some point. On top of that, it seemed like I—Lucien had become a troublesome kid after he started living with the new family.
"Oh, sorry for causing trouble first thing in the morning !"
I apologized to them, then slowly took a seat at the table.
The food was similar to a traditional Japanese breakfast—there was a bowl of rice, some miso soup, and a single fried egg. It seemed like this was typical for lower-class people or commoners here. It looked kind of plain.
I picked up my chopsticks and began eating my serving slowly, trying to adjust to this new reality.
Somehow, the flavors of the food were unexpectedly out of this world. The rice had a subtle sweetness that I hadn't tasted before, while the miso soup was perfectly savory, the flavors blending harmoniously. It all paired together so well, and even the egg had a richness that made it more flavorful than I ever remembered.
I couldn't believe how simple yet delicious the food in this world was—big thumbs up to the developers of this game for getting even the little details like this right.
As I continued eating, I noticed an empty seat next to me, with a serving of food left untouched.
"Good morning !"
A soft, gentle voice greeted everyone from behind me. I quickly glanced over my shoulder to see the source of the sound while sipping on my miso soup.
"Li… sa… Lisa !"
I muttered the girl's name under my breath. Lisa. The reason I knew her was because she was one of the hero's party companions in the game. Lisa was an archmage and a noble. In this world, noble bloodlines could inherit powerful abilities from their family lineage, and Lisa was no exception—her magic was among the strongest in the hero's party as the story progressed.
Wait, in the game, when the protagonist began interacting with her, there was an event that delved deeply into her family affairs. The protagonist helped her regain her family household and reunite with her legitimate parents. I remember now—Lisa had mentioned she was living with her uncle during that storyline. So, that man must be her uncle. It made sense why no one knew about her true origins—she quietly lived here, hidden away with a fake family.
But then... What is Lucien's role in all of this? Now I'm a bit confused.
Lucein was never heard or had any interaction back in the game even though he was living with Lisa.
Oh, wait. Now I remember—there was a dialogue in the game where Lisa mentioned to the protagonist that she hated someone in her family for being weak. This came up when the protagonist grew closer to her and learned more about her personal struggles, but she never revealed who that person was. Could it be... Lucien?
Based on Lucien's appearance, he was tall and toned but had an introverted demeanor, with a certain timidness that could easily be perceived as weakness. It made sense—if Lisa was forced to live with him, it could explain her resentment toward him.
Lisa didn't even glance at me as she took her seat and started eating her breakfast. There was a certain coldness in the air between us.
Not to mention, she was already dressed in her school uniform, while I was still sitting there in my pajamas.
"Thanks for the meal. I'll be leaving for school now!"
Lisa said, standing up from the table, her tone polite but distant as she grabbed her bag and headed towards the door and left.
It was odd how she seemed so nice and gentle to my mother and her uncle, yet her demeanor changed completely when it came to me.
I didn't bother about it, when I'm done with the food I return to my place to change my clothes.
To my surprise, I have the same uniform as Lisa too, meaning I will go the same as her and the protagonist.
In this world, after the Oracle's Gate appeared, dungeons began emerging all over the globe. Monsters and demonic beasts poured out from these dungeons, scattering across the land and threatening anyone who dared to venture too close.
To prevent the spread of monsters, The Eastern Dominion formed the Adventurer Academy and established these institutions across the sector. Their goal was to train and identify highly capable adventurers who could help combat the threats from the dungeons and stop further catastrophes.
The Adventurer Academy was structured similarly to real-world educational standards, with divisions equivalent to primary, elementary, and high school levels.
Career paths are assigned based on students' performance and potential upon graduation from the high school level.
"Hahaa... it's so ridiculous that I have to go back to high school,"
I muttered to myself as I dressed in my school uniform. I slowly walked to my desk to grab my school bag, but something caught my eye—a strange watch lying there.
Oh right, people in this world have these watches. It was like a magical device that could do all sorts of things—like tracking personal stats, accessing maps, and even communicating with others. It was essential for adventurers and students alike, blending magic and technology into a practical tool for survival and daily life.
I strapped on the watch and tapped the screen. It lit up, projecting a hologram that displayed information about me—my name, age, and some basic stats.
Name: Lucien
Age: 16
Level: 2
HP: 120/120 MP: 30/30
Strength: 5
Agility: 5
Endurance: 3
Intelligence: 16
Charisma: 2
I stared at the stats, trying to digest the information in front of me. Strength and Agility were low, which probably meant I wouldn't stand a chance in physical combat. Endurance was even worse, no wonder I felt so scrawny. The only redeeming stat was my Intelligence, which was above average, but I had no idea how I could use that effectively in this world.
Charisma being so low made sense now, considering Lisa's cold attitude towards me. I sighed, realizing that Lucien wasn't built to be a fighter or a charismatic hero. He seemed more like an extra, a character meant to stay in the background.
If I was going to survive and perhaps become more than just a background character, I'd need to figure out how to raise these stats and become stronger.