I wake up with my body being shaken. Someone seems to be saying my name, but this bed calls to me far louder. Then the shaking stops. Yet I find myself being dragged out of bed by a very annoyed dragon man.
"It's nearly daybreak, we need to leave." turning up towards him from the floor I go to respond, but my stomach yells at him instead. It feels like I've spent nearly half my time here hungry.
"I am certain the main campus will have food. Now let's go." He brings up an excellent point and I pick my famished body off the ground.
"Goo' mornin" I slur out and my body tries to keep up. Jiang already on his way out of the room. Making my way into the hall I see the stairs. My second greatest foe upon coming to this new world. But today, I shall not be so easily defeated.
Making my way down the stairs with extreme caution I hear the front door open and close. He can't be leaving without me this quickly!
Rushing through the front door after my daring descent I notice him standing against a support beam by the front. He glances over to me then, at the dark path before us.
"Can you produce light?" I wish, honestly that seems like a good place to start my magic adventure.
"I don't." With a grunt he gives off a faint blue glow. I can hear the sound of flowing water.
"Then try not to trip on anything." Pacing forward, I have no choice but to follow my only reliable light source. My hunger driving me forward, only to remember the threat that remains in this forest.
With a shudder I squeak out,"We should be careful. There are wolves in this forest."
"So you do have some observational skills." This guy really is arrogant.
"Uh, yeah, but the wolves are dangerous so we should be on the lookout."
With a scoff bordering a laugh he brags,"Such lowly animals won't even get close to me. They will be able to tell the difference between life and death."
"I'm assuming you're pretty strong then?"
"Indeed, I could be considered 'pretty strong' as you would so eloquently put it."
After that we descend back into awkward silence, luckily the sun rises over the horizon. Its warmth basking the forest in a gentle radiance, causing me to pause my advance. How long has it been since I've actually seen the sun rise?
My many late nights lasting until three in the morning made that impossible.
"You would do best stay close to the only warrior among us." Jiang's harsh words snap me out of my trance. I'm not a warrior, but I sure hope I can become one. I could ask him for more help . . . Nah, I'm at a school. I can just ask a teacher for that.
"Thanks." I mutter out, before jogging back up to him. Guess I might as well make conversation with someone protecting me from this terrible forest.
"So, what brings you to Gravitas?" His fist clenches, as he exhales.
"Honor, and Strength. One I have lost, the other I possess. Yet there is always another mountain to climb." Yeah, you can always be stronger. I wonder how many 'mountains' I'll have to overcome on my journey to becoming a hero.
"What of yourself?"
Huh.
I- I can't really answer that can I.
It's not like I came here by choice. Even I did agree to that shitty god's deal, I got scammed, my regression happened before I was a badass! Though in order for me to go through my awesome adventure the answer is simple.
"I have to get stronger." The sun washes over his back, as he looks at me. The look in his eyes is unreadable, but for a moment I can feel a connection. He sighs and nods his head.
"I shall accept your resolve as my payment for this outing."
Wow, ok. Really gonna have to live up to my goal aren't I then? Don't you know I'm actually not that hard of a worker?
Awkwardly I nod my head, his raised eyebrow making me slightly uncomfortable. Though he shrugs and turns back towards the path. Making his way forward I follow him.
He definitely gives me that warrior culture vibe, so guess I should ask-
"What's your fighting style?" I think he loves talking about himself, so this feels like a good question. Though as a warrior I might have been to open? Ugh, wish I knew the culture here.
He snorts and shakes his head lightly.
"As expected of you. I don't recommend asking that question to most. Though I shall entertain your query. I use a large polearm, involving a version of Dragon Stance." Damn, he's got a move called dragon stance? This guy has got to be important!
"Sounds powerful, and thanks for the advice."
"Scattered in the riverbed." I know that one! "I know that land of which you hail, both nothing more of yourself. You clearly aren't a warrior, but do have drive. I wonder what you did before attending this academy." His inquisitive gaze puts me on the spot, though I didn't do anything in this world.
Nor did I do anything back home. I don't know if I had friends, I can remember my family but- no I shouldn't think about that now. I read a lot. I watched a lot of shows. But, all of them are just a blur.
A memory of a missing memory.
"Apologies. I appear to have overstepped." Rubbing my glassy eyes I turn to him.
But, I can't find the words I want to speak out.
"You said you wish to get stronger, what path do you wish to pursue?" Huh, oh yeah. I gotta get stronger. I know this world has magic but I don't really know how that works do I.
"What paths could I pursue?" He looks at me completely bewildered before his gaze turning solemn.
Clearing his throat he begins as we pace forward.
"Perhaps mastering a weapon to assist your magic? Though I recommend you consult a teacher over I. Any good teacher will resolutely recommend you learn more than magic. Even if you are obscenely talented in one field."
Was that flag that I'm going to have insane magic talent? I sure hope so. Don't want to spend all night hitting the books. Or however magic is learned here.
"Thanks for the advice."
"Certainly." We continue our walk forward settling into an silence.
The sounds of the forest waking up cause my mind to stir as I recognize a familiar, yet unfamiliar scene in front of us. Despite its lack of presence, I recall those memories that severed leg. Wait. Oh, no.
History is just going to repeat itself. I can't let him die.
"H-Hey, mabye should go ahead and grab our dormmates'. We could all walk to school together."
"The Princess and Enomari are already left, though I do not know of the Idja nor R'Vazinian's whereabouts."
Huh?
But, that doesn't make any sense?
He left late. Also if he already left, shouldn't we have seen those rocks? Shouldn't we have seen his-
My breath hitches. Then it pauses as I remember something. He didn't sleep because the princess locked him out right? Our last interaction burned deep into my mind. One I caused.
Ah. I killed him.
"Are you well?" Seeing a hint of softness in the giant's eyes I only shudder more.
No, I'm obviously not.
. . .
B-but he's fine now right? I regressed so its all ok. Didn't happen. I'll just buy him lunch sometime or something like that. Haha. Ha.
"W-well, enough. Uh, sorry about that."
"Perhaps you should see a healer when we arrive at the main campus."
"Uh, yeah."
Descending back into an unpleasant silence we make our way forward.
Moving forward is a blur, but the sight before me manages to snap me out of my stupor.
Three gigantic towers past a the auditorium I'd originally walked out of. It's large doors welcoming despite their stature
A sea of silent buildings to my right, a city without people waiting to be filled an for an economy to flourish.
To my left giant two massive buildings containing boundless knowledge of their fields.
Past them are the three towers, however with my view obscured, I don't know what other secrets this academy could hold.
Two paths go around the auditorium and Jiang's voice calls to me as he takes the right path.
"Our paths split now, I shall see you this night." Walking off I go to follow him, but . . . he clearly wouldn't want a burden like me hanging around.
Alright, Mercury! I gotta sign up for some classes and get a job!
Taking the left path I come into a massive park, looking to the right I can see the hulking figure of Jiang wandering off into the distance. I turn back and I finally get to take in the inner campus properly.
A massive fountain surrounded by different stalls of people with benches, exotic trees, and all sorts of other flowers, and greenery. A humble building, the one closest to me besides the auditorium gently resting near it, with lots of other students going in and out.
Those two massive buildings from earlier still to my left, but another building is connected to it, with one of those towers reaching up from it.
Straight ahead is another tower with a grouping of buildings surrounding it and similar situation is forwards and the the right.
A massive arena like structure is off the right directly, calling for battle, but closer to me is that same silent city of before.
Looking around this massive area it's clear that I should start at that building near me. It's certainly the tutorial zone.
Though as I make my way over an orange haired fellow about mercu-MY age walks up to me with a bag at his side and pulls out a scroll with a smile on his face.
"Care to buy a map?" OH!
"That sounds really useful! Thanks!" His smile gets a bit wider as he speaks its price.
"Five electrum my friend." Taking out one of my electrum cards I nod dumbly as I realize I don't know how to use it.
Taking out a card of his own he sticks it next to mine, a weak pull draws them together and 1/20 of my 100 electrum card's gold strip goes on to his card.
Handing me the map he walks off with a wave.
"Pleasure doing business." What a helpful guy, and now I kind of know how to use these cards!
Looking down at the map it reflects what I've already seen, but names are on each different area. With the building in front of me being the Counselling office. Perfect. Though my growling stomach drifts me away form what can only be my main plot.
Turning towards a stall I see an elf! Fantasy race spotted! Her gold eyes lock with mine as I approach. Different baskets of fruit near her stall. Though I don't seem to recognize any of them. That just means I get to try these new foods!
"Hi! Are you selling these fruits?" With a nod she gestures to her right,"1 electrum" and to her left "3" My starting money is bleeding out slowly but surely, either way I've gotta eat!
"I'll take this one, and this one." Taking a soft purple fruit the size of an apple from her left and a soft green cube like one from her right I realize my hands are full and can't take out my money!
This is what I get for not buying produce before.
Setting down the purple fruit I take out my card, and she does the same. My eyes aren't super accurate, but about 1/20 of my electrum strip goes onto her card. I can only assume it's magic and it just somehow knows.
Though speaking of magic, what kind of trick did she use to get fresh fruit like this? Didn't we just get here?
"Say, how'd you get fresh fruit out here so fast?" With a smirk she supplies an answer that explains everything.
"Magic." Magic is going to be magical I suppose. To think you could use magic to grow plants that fast though! Using your powers to make money as well . . . she thinks fast.
Stuffing my mouth with the green fruit I nod and walk away. It doesn't seem to have juice and has a nice crunch. It's not sweet, and doesn't taste very much but it certainly fills my belly. The purple fruit however has a sweet taste with tons of juice that makes my mouth nearly cry with joy. I don't know if I've ever been more hydrated in my life, I nearly feel better instantly.
Alright! Stomach full, map acquired, and next location found!
Standing before the rotating door of the large, inviting building in front of me I prepare myself.
Taking in a deep breath I focus my thoughts.
This is it. This is where everything truly begins.
Everything up to this point has to have been prologue!
My Reincarnation Fantasy is really starting now!