Eclipse sat at his desk in the Academy's main lecture hall, a grandiose, domed room that seemed entirely too imposing for a classroom.
Rich tapestries lined the walls, illustrating grand battles between mythical heroes and demons, and golden runes inlaid the floor with light that pulsed softly to the rhythm of spoken words.
Students sat at polished wooden desks, and above each row were floating mana crystals that dimmed and brightened based on the activity level of the class, ensuring that no one ever dozed off undetected.
Despite the setting, Eclipse found it impossible to pay attention.
The instructor, Professor Leora, was well-regarded—someone the students revered with a devotion bordering on fanaticism.
Leora was tall and lean, with striking purple hair streaked with white, his fox-like eyes perpetually half-closed. He rarely raised his voice; he didn't need to.
His reputation was such that even the most unruly students sat upright and attentive, not wanting to miss a word.
But Eclipse, fidgeting with a pen in his hand, wasn't concerned about Leora or his advices about the upcoming trial. He already knew what would happen.
His thoughts were on Caelum, the Hero, to something he didn't know yet.
He had to know which path Caelum was taking in the game.
For all of Eclipse's advantage—his knowledge of future events, key storylines, and power routes—the game wasn't predictable.
It was a choice-based RPG, and player decisions altered the course of events.
That player was Caelum, the destined Hero of this world, and each of his choices had a ripple effect on the lives around him.
Though Eclipse knew many of the game's possible paths, he had no way of knowing which choices Caelum had made.
Two early decisions would reveal a lot about Caelum's route: his weapon choice and, more significantly, the outcome of his decision with Gonna, a young child attacked by demons.
In the game, Caelum had to make a wrenching choice between saving Gonna or sacrificing her to protect a larger group.
The "Gonna Choice" was infamous in the game community, and it was a defining moment for Caelum's character arc, one that determined his approach to leadership and morality.
Eclipse needed to know: had Caelum chosen mercy, or sacrifice?
His eyes drifted to the Hero, seated with a circle of loyal friends a few rows below.
They were an elite squad, each one at least an A-tier character, and two of them—Seraphine and Finnian—were S-tier.
In the game, an S-tier character was nearly unbeatable; it would take at least three A-tier characters to take one of them down.
Eclipse scowled.
Caelum's group was formidable, and their mere presence raised the stakes.
Eclipse's gaze lingered on Caelum, whose calm expression and golden aura made him seem like the picture of an ideal hero.
Seraphine, the group's sharp-tongued mage, noticed Eclipse watching them.
She turned to Caelum, flicking a strand of her blue hair over her shoulder.
Her icy blue eyes shimmered with an inner light, a unique trait marking her as a mage of rare talent.
"Hey, that snotty noble is staring at you," she muttered.
"I know," Caelum replied quietly, eyes fixed on Leora.
The Hero's concentration was unshakable, seemingly oblivious to Eclipse's scrutiny.
Seraphine pouted, her annoyance palpable. "Are you not bothered by him? What if he tries something again?"
Caelum didn't respond, absorbed in the lesson.
Despite his apparent calm, Eclipse sensed an intensity beneath that stoic surface.
If he could understand the Hero's direction, he might find a way to avoid his own inevitable fate.
_____________________
Later in the Cafeteria
The Academy's cafeteria was a sprawling hall with arched ceilings and massive chandeliers casting a warm glow over rows of polished tables and benches.
Students milled about in lively clusters, the air filled with laughter and chatter.
At the back of the hall was a serving counter, manned by kitchen staff who doled out steaming plates of food. The smell of roasted meats, fresh bread, and spiced vegetables filled the room.
Eclipse glanced around, observing the ebb and flow of student groups as they ate, joked, and plotted.
This was the perfect time to approach Caelum, and he spotted an opening.
His maid, Silva, stood beside him, but he gestured for her to go to the counter to collect their meal.
She hesitated, then bowed and went to get his food, leaving him alone.
Taking a deep breath, Eclipse made his way toward Caelum's table.
Caelum's entourage eyed him suspiciously as he approached.
Seraphine, seated directly beside Caelum, shot him a glare so frosty it could've frozen a river.
Finnian, the Hero's strategist, narrowed his eyes with a calculating gaze that matched his reputation as an S-tier tactician.
No one in Caelum's group liked Eclipse, and his reputation as a "villain" didn't help.
They were protective of the Hero, and Eclipse knew that if Caelum gave the order, they'd turn on him in a heartbeat.
But he pressed on.
He couldn't let this opportunity pass.
"Hey, Hero," Eclipse said, fighting to keep his voice steady.
His palms felt clammy, and his Dignity+ trait, as always, loomed over the interaction.
Caelum, who usually wore a friendly, open smile, looked at Eclipse with a more serious expression.
"Everyone here is a hero in training, Eclipse," he replied, voice cool. "I hope you're not bringing me a problem."
Eclipse forced a smile. "I had a few questions for you, Caelum."
Before Caelum could respond, Seraphine scoffed. "And what could you possibly want to know from a commoner? I thought they were beneath your noble standards."
His trait kicked in, and the words slipped out before he could stop them. "Yes, they are," he replied coldly.