(A few hours prior to the meeting in one of the army's barracks)
As Ophelia lay in the dim barracks, her eyes fixed on the cold stone ceiling, memories from her past life filtered through her mind, piecing together the tragic events leading up to the fortress's fall.
"This Dukedom was never meant to survive…" Ophelia muttered,
…
Ophelia's eyes snapped open as horns blared across the battlefield, waking her from unconsciousness. As her vision cleared, she saw the walls of the Third Great Fortress towering over the blood-soaked plain. This wasn't a drill; it was an all-out assault.
The colonel stood atop the castle wall, pale and shaken, glancing between his soldiers and the oncoming wave of Nessigolopt forces. He barked orders but was already losing control. Unprepared and without a plan, he tried to rally the troops, but the fortress was exposed.
The Great Kingdom of Nessigolopt, controlling the continent's western seafaring routes, had been on pretty bad terms with the Holy Empire but never went too far until recently. After unearthing their ancient protector, Nessi, the Ancient Beast of Coral and Saltwater, they grew bold. With Nessi's backing, Nessigolopt aimed to expand eastward, with the Third Great Fortress of the Black Eagle Dukedom as their first target.
Understanding the Dukedom's defenses, Nessigolopt found a weak link in Baroness Illiana of the Stone Bear Household. After weeks of bribery and coercion, they obtained the fortress's battle plans through her betrayal.
Nessigolopt attacked on a significant day for the Dukedom. The Duke, Duchess, and nobles had gathered to commemorate a century-old battle in which ten thousand soldiers had fallen defending the fortress. This ceremony, meant to honor the fallen and boost troop morale, left the fortress distracted, creating an opening. Using such a flawed day, Nessigolopt forces breached the walls and stormed the fortress.
The Duke and Duchess, proud and overconfident, believed their presence alone would inspire their troops. They hired an Archmage, Jenna Pol, solely for her title, unaware that her skill, Molecular Magic, was useless in combat. It was solely used for support to read the molecular structure and history of anything she used her magic on.
When the attack began, Jenna abandoned her post at the first sign of danger, caring only for her safety. With their supposed magical support gone, the defenders lost what they thought to be a critical asset mid-battle.
The colonel attempted a last-minute defense, but without fortifications or a real strategy, his orders crumbled quickly under pressure. Everybody, unaware of the betrayal by the Stone Bear Household, was overwhelmed as Nessigolopt's forces pressed into the fortress, their every maneuver countered precisely. With each wave, the fortress fell deeper into chaos, and the Dukedom's leaders gathered, suddenly found themselves trapped.
The Duke, Duchess, and other key nobles had little time to flee as the onslaught poured through the fortress. Clinging to whatever defense they could muster, they attempted a retreat. But Nessigolopt's soldiers were relentless, hunting down the Dukedom's leaders through winding halls and bloodstained grounds. Exhausted and with nowhere left to run, the nobles were finally caught. The Duke and Duchess, once-powerful symbols of the Dukedom's pride, fell alongside their loyalists, slain on the spot.
In one brutal stroke, Nessigolopt's conquest had become a declaration of war against the Holy Empire.
…
Ophelia exhaled, her gaze hardening as she processed the implications of the dukedom's survival.
'The butterfly effect will be in full force now,' she thought to herself.
Her knowledge of future events was no longer reliable; the intricate web of cause and effect had shifted beyond her control. The dukedom, which should have been razed to the ground, would now remain—a single ripple with the power to reshape everything she once knew about the timeline.
The sheer weight of its continued existence was highly dangerous. And yet, an idea sparked within her. If she orchestrated the dukedom's destruction now, she might control the flow of consequences, perhaps ease the disruption in the timeline. It wouldn't revert things to her original timeline, but it could reduce the damage.
Her thoughts shifted to Jenna Pol, the so-called Arch Mage whose knowledge and ambition would lead her, five years from now, to expose the dukedom's darkest secrets. The information Jenna would uncover—the corruption, the betrayals, the hidden dealings—would have been her weapon to bring the dukedom's power to its knees. But Ophelia realized that, with Jenna still in the picture, she might accelerate the downfall.
'If I exploit Jenna's loose allegiance, turn her revelations into a weapon sooner…' She mentally tallied the names, the bribes, and the secret dealings that would come to light, plotting how each might help destabilize the dukedom from within.
"No…" She soon stopped her train of thought. "To return to the path where I made the most mistakes would be nothing but another death sentence for me. Instead… I'll do this…" She pondered and pondered and thought and thought and planned and planned until finally muttering, "Okay… this should do. Yeah, this plan should work… and then there is this," She muttered once more, looking up at the panels above her.
.
[Would you like to Evolve or obtain a Class?]
.
'I wonder, will selecting either option block me out from learning about the other option… or maybe…'
Clicking on each capitalized word she was greeted by a new string of panels.
.
[Option - Class]
[Description: Selecting a class allows Ophelia to define her combat style and specializations, solidifying her abilities within a chosen role. Taking on a class will focus her training and natural talents into a particular discipline, such as swordswoman, archer, mage, or other fantasy archetypes, each with unique skill sets, techniques, and strengths that will serve her in battle and beyond. This decision narrows her development into a structured path, enhancing her power and versatility within that chosen field, while also unlocking abilities specific to her class.
Each class comes with unique advantages, from weapon proficiencies and advanced combat maneuvers to specialized magical arts, and will mold her growth toward mastery in that area. However, choosing a class means sacrificing the flexibility and potential physical enhancements offered by evolution, as her skills and abilities will be defined within the boundaries of her chosen class. Whether as a master swordswoman with unparalleled swordsmanship, a mage with access to deep and varied spells, or a sharpshooter with unmatched precision, this decision will be permanent, guiding her development toward becoming an expert in her craft.
Note: By choosing this path, Ophelia will gain access to the training, insights, and tools specific to her class, allowing her to face challenges with the strength and knowledge of a dedicated specialist. However, she will forgo the broader power increases and physical evolution offered by the alternative path.]
.
[Option - Evolve]
[Description: Choosing to evolve grants Ophelia the opportunity to undergo a transformative process that enhances her innate abilities and physical characteristics, allowing her to reach a higher state of existence. This evolution goes beyond mere class selection, focusing on augmenting her strengths and capabilities in a holistic manner. Through this path, she can tap into the latent potential within her, unlocking new powers, increasing her attributes, and enhancing her versatility in combat and other endeavors.
Evolving allows for significant changes in Ophelia's form and abilities, making her stronger, faster, or more resilient, and may even grant her unique traits or skills that set her apart from others. The evolution process can lead to enhanced magical abilities, physical prowess, or even the development of entirely new powers that are not confined to a specific class structure. This option emphasizes broadening her capabilities, enabling her to adapt to various challenges with newfound strength and flexibility.
Note: By choosing to evolve, Ophelia embraces a path of self-discovery and growth, unlocking a range of enhancements that provide her with broader potential across all areas of her abilities. However, she will forgo the focused specialization and skill set associated with obtaining a class, meaning she will not be defined by a single role but rather by her overall enhanced nature.]
.
"Interesting… I'll have to think over this some more."
『Status』
[Name: Ophelia von Aubessec]
[Race: Human]
[Level: 10/10] (MAX LEVEL)
[HP: 10/10 | MP: 0/0 | SP: 5/5]
[Visual Intelligence: 5]
[Linguistic Intelligence: 25]
[Logical Intelligence: 15]
[Kinesthetic Intelligence: 1]
[Musical Intelligence: 3]
[Interpersonal Intelligence: 15]
[Intrapersonal Intelligence: ERROR]
[Naturalistic Intelligence: 3]
[Skills: [Silver Tongue] [Commading Voice]
[Passive Skills: [Regressor's Memory] [Regressor's Active Recall]
.
'This breakdown of my intelligence is intriguing. Especially my intrapersonal intelligence… so how much do I understand myself, judging from the descriptions earlier? But, why is it an error? Is it because I understand myself so much that it can't be scaled in numbers or because of some other reason? I'm more inclined to think it's the former…' Ophelia pondered once more.
"Then, let's start with that…"
Ophelia stepped out from the dim confines of her room, the air within the barracks stale and heavy as she left it behind. Her boots clicked against the cold stone, each step echoing through the quiet halls as she made her way out into the open.
The fortress town sprawled before her, bathed in the gentle glow of dawn light filtering through a sky painted in shades of lavender and blue. The cobbled streets, often bustling with townsfolk at this early hour, were beginning to fill with merchants setting up their stalls, soldiers on patrol, and townspeople greeting one another.
As she walked through the town, her gaze caught glimpses of families sharing breakfasts, craftsmen honing their tools, and children running along the narrow alleyways, their laughter lifting the morning air.
The town was quiet and quite beautiful. The people here were kind, and resilient in their own right. They were blissfully unaware of the shadows that lingered just beyond their walls.
As she walked further, the buildings grew sparser, replaced by fields and small gardens before reaching the outermost edge of the fortress's town. Here, the stone structures gave way to rugged land, and soon, Ophelia stood before the entrance to an abandoned mine.
It was dark, foreboding, carved into the side of the rocky hills that framed the edge of the fortress's borders. The wooden beams around the entrance were worn and cracked, sagging slightly. She hesitated, only briefly, before stepping inside.
The air was thick and stale, each breath carrying the taste of dust and leftover coal. She knew she couldn't linger here as the mine's ventilation had been rendered useless long ago, the air filtration system gutted.
It wasn't long before she caught sight of her destination: a small shack, its walls formed from warped planks torn from the mine's supports. The wood creaked, clearly displaying how old it was, giving the structure a makeshift appearance that looked almost as if a breath could knock it down.
Then, she felt it.
A dark, almost sentient presence within, heavy and looming, permeating the very air around the shack.
Yet, Ophelia's expression remained stoic, unwavering, as she stepped forward, her gaze fixed on the entrance of the shack. Shadows seemed to stretch and flicker around her, but she paid them no mind, her eyes hardening as she then heard a voice speak from within, "What do you want?"
"Jenna Pol. Hiding here is not very befitting of an Archmage."
"Who are you?"
"A lieutenant who has a proposal."
"What can a lieutenant offer me?" The grim voice from inside snarled.
"The method to free you from your angelic chains."
"Say you could do that… what do you want from me?"
"A little assistance."