The sharp, metallic tang of blood still clung to Leon Aldridge's lips when he opened his eyes. His last memory was supposed to be a bus hurtling toward him at full speed, horns blaring and screams filling the air.

But now, he was lying in an unfamiliar room, his limbs aching and his vision blurry. He blinked, trying to make sense of his surroundings.

Ornate tapestries lined the walls, depicting knights in shining armor locked in battle with monstrous foes. A massive oak desk sat in the corner, piled high with books and parchment. The bed beneath him was too soft, too luxurious, the kind that would have cost a fortune in his previous life.

"What the…?" he muttered, sitting up. That's when he caught his reflection in the full-length mirror across the room.

A stranger stared back at him.

Gone was his average, unremarkable face, replaced by sharp cheekbones, unruly dark hair, and piercing blue eyes. His body felt stronger, leaner, as if it belonged to someone who spent his days training with swords instead of typing on keyboards.

A wave of panic surged through him as fragmented memories that weren't his own began flooding his mind. Memories of noble titles, of family duties, of a prestigious academy...

"No way," Leon whispered, his heart pounding. The details were too vivid, too familiar.

The room. The face. The name etched into his consciousness.

Leon Aldridge.

He wasn't just anyone—he was *that* Leon Aldridge, a minor character from a fantasy novel he'd read countless times.

The Dawn of Heroes.

The story wasn't about him, though. It was about Alaric Wynton, the golden-haired knight destined to save the kingdom and unite its warring factions. Leon Aldridge was nothing more than a background character, a footnote in Alaric's grand tale.

And yet, here he was. Alive, breathing, and inexplicably in Leon's shoes.

The realization brought a mix of emotions—excitement, confusion, and an undercurrent of dread. He had always thought Leon Aldridge was wasted potential. In the story, Leon had the intelligence and resources to succeed but lacked the drive, forever overshadowed by Alaric's brilliance.

Now, the reins were in his hands.

Leon pushed himself out of bed, his bare feet sinking into the plush carpet. He needed answers, and fast. The memories flooding his mind told him that he was at home, in the Aldridge estate, and that he was due to leave for Aurelius Academy soon.

He crossed the room and opened the wardrobe, pulling out a simple but elegant outfit—a white tunic embroidered with silver thread and a dark blue coat bearing the Aldridge family crest. As he dressed, he couldn't help but marvel at the quality of the fabric. Everything here was leagues above what he'd known in his previous life.

But none of it mattered if he couldn't figure out what was going on.

...

The journey to Aurelius Academy was uneventful, giving Leon time to gather his thoughts.

The sprawling campus loomed ahead as the carriage came to a stop. Tall spires of white stone reached for the heavens, their surfaces glowing faintly in the morning light. The gates were made of wrought iron, intricately designed to depict the crest of the kingdom—two lions holding up a shield.

Students of all ages and backgrounds milled about, their chatter filling the air. Some arrived in lavish carriages like his, their noble status evident from the crests adorning their belongings. Others arrived on foot, commoners and scholarship students carrying simple bags and wearing plain uniforms.

Leon stepped out of the carriage, his boots crunching against the gravel path. His heart pounded as he took in the sight.

This was it—the starting point of The Dawn of Heroes.

If memory served him right, Alaric Wynton would soon arrive, dazzling everyone with his charisma and talent. The heroines—each with their unique personalities and quirks—would gradually fall for him over the course of the story.

Leon's job, as far as he was concerned, was to stay out of their way.

He hadn't taken more than a few steps when he heard a commotion nearby. A group of noble boys had cornered someone near the gates, their laughter loud and derisive.

"You should've stayed in whatever hole you crawled out of," one of them sneered, shoving the smaller figure against the stone wall.

Leon frowned and moved closer, his curiosity piqued.

The target of their harassment was a girl, her petite frame trembling slightly under the boys' mocking gazes. She had short auburn hair that framed her delicate face, and her green eyes darted nervously between her tormentors.

Despite her obvious fear, she clutched her bag tightly and stood her ground.

"Leave me alone," she said, her voice firm despite its softness. "I'm not here to cause trouble."

One of the boys laughed. "Not here to cause trouble? Then why are you in *our* academy? Commoners like you don't belong here."

Leon felt a spark of irritation. He hadn't planned to get involved in anything on his first day, but the sight of the girl's defiant expression struck a chord.

Before he could think better of it, he stepped forward.

"That's enough," he said, his voice cutting through the laughter.

The noble boys turned to him, their expressions shifting from amusement to annoyance.

"And who are you supposed to be?" one of them asked, crossing his arms.

Leon straightened his posture, letting the confidence of his new body take over. "Leon Aldridge. And you're embarrassing yourselves."

The name made them pause. While the Aldridge family wasn't as influential as it once was, it still carried weight.

One of the boys scoffed. "Whatever. Let's go."

With a few muttered grumbles, they walked away, leaving Leon and the girl alone.

...

The girl looked up at him, her green eyes wide with surprise.

"Thank you," she said softly, clutching her bag to her chest.

Leon waved a hand dismissively. "Don't mention it. Are you all right?"

She nodded, though her hands still trembled slightly. "I'm fine. They weren't going to hurt me… probably."

He raised an eyebrow. "That's an awfully low bar for gratitude."

A small smile tugged at her lips, and for a moment, the tension in her posture eased.

"I'm Elena Voss," she said, offering a small bow.

Leon's heart skipped a beat. *Elena Voss.* She wasn't part of the main cast in the novel, just an extra mentioned in passing—a quiet, shy girl who faded into the background.

Yet here she was, standing in front of him.

"Leon Aldridge," he replied, though she probably already knew that.

...

As they walked through the gates together, Leon couldn't shake the feeling that something had already shifted.

In the novel, Elena had never been harassed at the gates, nor had she interacted with Leon. Her role had been so minor that her name barely stuck in his memory.

And yet, the way she smiled at him now—the way her presence lingered in his mind—was undeniable.

...

The academy buzzed with activity as students were sorted into their dormitories and assigned their schedules. Leon noted the other major characters arriving in the background, including Alaric Wynton, who immediately drew attention with his golden hair and easy smile.

But for the first time, Leon wasn't focused on Alaric.

His gaze drifted to Elena, who stood quietly at the edge of the crowd, her green eyes scanning the surroundings with a mix of curiosity and apprehension.

He didn't know what role she would play in this new version of the story, but one thing was clear: his presence was already causing ripples.

And ripples had the potential to become waves.