Rin's dreams were a kaleidoscope of memories from a world far removed from this one—a life where she had been a writer, not a warrior, and her only battles were with deadlines and her own self-doubt.
She was a child again, standing in the sprawling estate where she grew up. Her parents, immaculate in appearance and always slightly distant, smiled down at her as though she were a precious doll. The opulent halls echoed with silence, their beauty a gilded cage that kept her safe but alone.
Even as a child, Rin was aware of the strings attached to every interaction. Adults praised her intelligence, beauty, and poise, but she could see their eyes calculating the worth of her family's wealth. Other children kept their distance, jealous or wary of her advantages, Others tried to form connections out of self-interest.
Her parents, despite their affection, were often preoccupied with their own affairs. They loved her, she knew, but their world didn't leave room for quiet evenings or shared laughter. The only comfort Rin found was in books—worlds of magic, adventure, and freedom that existed far from her reality.
Then, at the age of ten, her parents died in a car accident. The gilded cage shattered, leaving Rin with nothing but the cold weight of responsibility. Under the guardianship of a distant uncle, she learned to navigate the ruthless world of business and power. By fifteen, she was managing her family's affairs, outmaneuvering adults twice her age with a sharp intellect and a heart numbed by loss.
But the burden grew heavier with each passing year. By the time she graduated from university, Rin was exhausted. She had secured her family's legacy, but the price was her own happiness.
Writing as an Escape
Seeking solace, Rin turned to writing. It started as a quiet rebellion against the world that had shaped her—a way to explore lives unshackled by duty. She poured her soul into her stories, creating characters who could face their demons and find freedom.
Her first novel achieved modest success, and her subsequent works quickly gained popularity. Her last, Bound by Resonance, explored themes of connection and sacrifice, centering on Evelyn, a brilliant Guide, and Caius, her troubled Esper partner. Together, they navigated a world where their bond was both their greatest strength and a source of unrelenting danger.
Readers adored the book, lauding its intricate world-building and emotional depth.
By the time she was 25, she was preparing to rewrite the novel's ending, one she had loved but the editor's find the happy ending too much, because tragic ending became the trend. The weight of expectations pressed heavily as she tirelessly revisited the story she had once considered complete.
On the night of her birthday, Rin sat in her dimly lit studio, hunched over her desk. The room was cluttered with notes and drafts, the air heavy with the scent of coffee. Her laptop screen cast a cold blue glow as she replays the words she had rewritten for the fifth time in her mind.
The story wasn't flowing. Every attempt to change the ending felt wrong, a betrayal of Evelyn and Caius's journey. Frustration gnawed at her as she paced the room, muttering to herself.
"Just one more draft," she whispered, determined to find the perfect balance.
But before she could write another word, the world shifted. Her vision blurred, and her body felt weightless. Then, darkness.
When Rin opened her eyes again, she was no longer in her studio. Gone were the familiar clutter and the soft hum of her laptop. Instead, she was in a damp, shadowy dungeon, her body foreign and unfamiliar.
The voice of the System rang cold and unfeeling in her mind:
"Survive."
Awakening in the Present
Rin jolted awake, gasping for breath. Her body ached, and the familiar sterility of the hospital surrounded her. The beeping of monitors filled the silence.
She blinked, disoriented, until her gaze landed on Evelyn. The stoic Esper sat slumped in a chair beside her bed, her head resting awkwardly on folded arms. Her brown hair gleamed faintly in the morning light, and her expression was softened in sleep.
Rin's lips curved into a faint smile. For all her sharpness, Evelyn had stayed by her side—just as she had when Rin first woke up in this world's hospital. Back then, she was a stranger. I couldn't understand her obsession or her connection to Aria. Now I know the relation but not the reason of obsession. But nonetheless.
"Thank you," Rin whispered, her voice barely audible.
But Evelyn didn't stir, and Rin let her gaze linger. The sight of Evelyn's quiet presence gave her the courage to confront the whirlwind of memories and emotions that had brought her here.
Recounting Her life events as Aria
When Rin first woke up as Aria Felstone, she had no choice but to survive. The System's voice offered no comfort, only commands. It had dragged her into a dungeon where death seemed inevitable, yet it gave her no tools to fight back.
"I was too close to dying there," Rin whispered to herself, recalling the terror of those moments. But she didn't. With sheer determination, she had clawed her way through the dungeon's trials and, against all odds, "I guess the System found it amusing and, for my bravery, granted me the Beast Tamer skill to pass the dungeon." tamed its boss—a Shadow Wolf she named Onyx.
That victory wasn't the end. Taking up Aria's mission, Rin helped the orphaned children Aria had promised to protect. But the weight of survival and kindness had its cost—she collapsed soon after, exhausted and overwhelmed.
Confronting the System
When Rin regained consciousness, her anger burned brighter than her fear. She challenged the System, threatening her own life for answers. It was then she learned that she wasn't just dropped into this world without purpose.
The Gate Anomaly was the reason for her presence here. To return to her old life, she needed to fix it—a task that felt insurmountable.
As if her life weren't complicated enough, a girl named Lila visited her in the dead of night. Lila's words were cryptic and unnerving:
"Don't trust anything or anyone. But if you want to fix the anomaly, I can help you."
Before Rin could utter another word, Lila vanished like a wisp of smoke, leaving behind only questions and an unsettling sense of foreboding.
Joining the Silver Phoenix Guild
Determined to find a path forward, Rin followed Evelyn out of the hospital. She decided to take the Hunter Class Retest, hoping for clarity. Instead, she became an S-class Guide—a role she never anticipated. Rare and a dangerous role. I was drowning in my own sorrow and confusion.
The System decided to push my buttons even more. Almost immediately, it assigned her another quest: join a guild. Reluctantly, she accepted Evelyn's invitation to join the Silver Phoenix Guild.
At first, she kept her distance, wary of her new teammates: the calm and capable Mira, the mischievous Kael, the stoic Garret, and the innocent Finn. Over time, their camaraderie chipped away at her walls.
Her decision to join wasn't without reward. The System unveiled her Status Windows, revealing her classes and a startling anomaly. Classes were Beast Tamer, Guide, Author Rewrite. Of course, the beast tamer class was obviously an anomaly since two classes can't coexist a Beast Tamer or Guide. Her Beast Tamer skill started to merge with her Guide class, and in between I find Evelyn was her protagonist Guide of this world but now was an Esper due to the System rewrite.
The Yellow Gate and Guiding Evelyn
Her next quest came swiftly: enter a Yellow Gate and survive with the team. At first, the mission seemed manageable. But at the end before destroying the core, a dungeon shift scattered them, throwing everything into chaos increasing the level of danger.
Rin ended up with Evelyn, whose condition was worse than she'd realized fought to the end of last floor of dungeon. After finding others collapse on last floor and hearing Mira's words, Evelyn had been operating without a Guide, and her corruption rate was dangerously high.
Evelyn, was a stubborn character she writes, she would refuse help. But Rin knew the cost of pushing further could destroy her. Knowing how much Evelyn cared for Aria, Rin staged a small deception by playing being hurt, making Evelyn unconscious.
For the first time, Rin guided her. It was a delicate balance, one that pushed Rin to her limits, but it worked. Evelyn emerged stronger; her corruption rate stabilized.
As the dungeon's final boss loomed, Rin used her anomaly skill, formed through a class merge, powerful but unstable Beast Resonance, to tame a second boss monster—a chimera turned into fox, she named Aurelis. With Aurelis and Onyx at her side, she takes the team to the dungeon core, destroyed it, and brought everyone out alive.
Reflection and Resolve
The cost of her efforts had been high. Using Beast Resonance had pushed Rin beyond her limits, and the neural backlash left her unconscious.
Now, resting in the quiet hospital room, Rin couldn't help but laugh bitterly. "My life really is a roller coaster cliché."
Her gaze fell on Evelyn again. The Esper, despite her own struggles, had stayed by Rin's side through it all. It was a bond she hadn't expected but one she was deeply grateful for.
She thought back to her dream—the life she had left behind as Rin, the writer. That life had been safe and predictable, but it had also been stifling.
In my stories, I had always been the unseen hand guiding my characters. Here, I was both creator and participant, bound to the whims of a world that didn't play fair. Yet, for all its terror and chaos, this world was full of possibilities.
"I wasn't just Rin or Aria anymore," she murmured. "I'm both, and I'll find a way to make this world my own."
Evelyn stirred at the sound, her eyes fluttering open. She blinked, disoriented, until her gaze landed on Rin. Relief softened her expression.
"You're awake," Evelyn said, her voice rough with sleep.
"And you look like you haven't slept in days," Rin teased lightly.
Evelyn's lips twitched, but her eyes were still filled with exhaustion and relief. "Don't scare me like that again," she said firmly, though her tone was warm.
"I'll try my best," Rin promised with a faint smile.
As sunlight spilled into the room, Rin felt a renewed sense of purpose. She wasn't sure what lay ahead, but she was no longer afraid to face it.