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System:
Elijah Noe Shahrazad.
Mahika rank: F
Unique Skill: None.
Special Status:
(Curse by the Benevolent)
The user will experience a time loop until he finishes the prologue, they must satisfy their first viewer in order to finish the prologue.
[ Prologue will start in 11 hours. ]
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Elijah stared at the glowing blue hologram interface hovering in front of him.
"Woah... It really is the typical system straight out of web novels and manhwa," he muttered softly.
But something felt off. Normally, transmigrated protagonists have overpowered skills or unique abilities from the start.
He squinted at the line: Unique Skill: None.
"Seriously? Nothing at all?" he groaned, already feeling cheated.
And then there was his Mahika Rank: F—the lowest possible grade.
Elijah had written the magic system in this world himself: Mahika determined the strength of one's mana. With a rank like that, he might as well be powerless.
"This is beyond insulting..."
His gaze drifted lower, landing on the Special Status section.
"AH WHAT THE-...A curse?!"
Elijah's jaw dropped as he reread the words. "Why the hell do I immediately have a curse slapped on me?! Who starts off with a curse?!"
The fine print only made his frustration grow: time loop until the prologue is completed and satisfies the first viewer.
He buried his face in his hands. "This has got to be the devil's doing," he mumbled bitterly.
As he tried to piece things together, Elijah took a deep breath to calm himself. "Okay, okay... Maybe it's not so bad. If I finish the prologue, the curse will go away... right?"
His eyes darted to the clock beside his bed. It was exactly 7:00.
"Sounds like easier to say than to do..."
With a resigned sigh, he stood up, dusted himself off, and made his way to the hallway, after all, there was a promise he made with his supposed to be... new 'sister'.
****
Inside the dining room...
Elijah sat at one end of the table, gripping his fork and knife like he was holding alien artifacts. Honestly, he missed chopsticks. But at least, they didn't judge him for his lack of coordination.
Beside him, Aliyah fidgeted with her spoon, stealing glances at their father seated at the head of the table. Elijah noticed her untouched plate and decided to join her in the "let's-not-make-this-more-awkward" club.
His gaze flicked to their father — The baron. Floating above the man's head was the familiar hologram:
[Elke Shahrazad || Side Character]
'Damn, everyone here is at least a side character while I'm apparently the unimportant NPC,' Elijah thought dryly.
The silence in the room was so heavy, it felt like it had a seat at the table. The only sound was the clinking of cutlery from the kitchen staff, which somehow made things even worse.
Finally, the baron spoke breaking the silence.
"Have you decided who you want to marry?"
The words were aimed at Aliyah, who practically jumped out of her seat.
"Father!" she exclaimed. "I told you, I'm not interested in marriage."
'Of course, you're not,' Elijah thought, stabbing a piece of cauliflower with unnecessary force. 'You're secretly in love with the MC anyway.'
"You're already of age," The baron replied coldly. "Marriage is necessary for women without talent."
'Ooooh, that's a low blow,' Elijah winced, stuffing the cauliflower into his mouth to mask his grimace. 'Sounded like an Asian parents insult...'
"I—please give me some time to think about it, Father..."
"Decide as soon as possible."
Elijah's gaze flicked between the two of them.
'Do they not get along?' he wondered.
He recalled how, in the original plot, the Baron mourned Aliyah's death so deeply that he tried dabbling in forbidden magic to bring her back. Of course, it was all just setup for Elijah to make the MC forgive and recruit the Baron for his talent on black magic.
But this... this was unexpected. He didn't remember writing about any of this strained father-daughter dynamic.
And the whole marriage talk? Not in his notes.
Before Elijah could spiral further, the baron turned his gaze towards him.
"I heard you've lost your memories."
Elijah felt the sweat bead on his forehead. "I... uh..."
"You should do your best to regain them," The baron continued, not even waiting for Elijah to stammer out a response. "You'll need them for the White Tower Academy. You're going tomorrow."
The words hit Elijah like a slap to the face. He dropped his knife in shock, the clang echoing ominously.
"Pardon?" he blurted.
"I said you are going tomorrow for the admission" The baron replied. "As the heir of this family, I'm expecting good news from you."
'No. Freaking. Way,' Elijah's mind screamed as his sweat levels hit a critical high.
The White Tower Academy. The elite institution for the magically gifted, where only those with at least a Rank B Mahika were accepted. And here he was, with his measly F rank.
He couldn't even dream of at least admitting successfully... much worst to aim for good grades or something.
He barely suppressed a laugh. 'You might as well just tell me to jump off a cliff and try flying.'
"Can this... be rescheduled?"
"No."
'Oh great. Guess I'm officially doomed,'