The following morning, Elias awoke to the shrill ring of the Academy's morning bell echoing through the dormitory halls. He groaned, rubbing his eyes. Kane's body still felt unfamiliar—gangly and weaker than Elias was used to in his previous life. He sat up, stretching and wincing as a dull ache radiated through his back.
First mission: survive another day without drawing attention.
A soft chime echoed in his mind as he opened the system interface.
Elias sighed. It seemed the system shared his goal of living a low-profile life, but he had a feeling this objective wasn't as simple as it sounded. The protagonists are bound to stumble into my path sooner or later, he thought grimly.
After a quick breakfast of tasteless porridge in the cafeteria, Elias trudged toward his first class: Fundamentals of Combat Magic. The lecture hall was spacious, its walls adorned with banners of past Academy champions. Students milled about, chatting or hurriedly scribbling down last-minute notes.
Elias chose a seat in the back corner of the room, far from prying eyes. He pulled out his notebook and pretended to review the contents, though his attention wandered to the classroom entrance. Each time a student walked in, he scanned their face, half-dreading the arrival of someone important.
And then, it happened.
The doors swung open with a dramatic flair, and two figures strode in, radiating an aura of importance. One was a tall boy with jet-black hair and piercing blue eyes, his demeanor confident and regal. Beside him was a fiery-haired girl, her sharp green eyes scanning the room as if daring anyone to challenge her.
Leon Hartwright and Aria Valford.
Elias's stomach sank. He didn't need Kane's memories to know who they were—the main protagonist and his closest ally. Leon was the hero destined to save the kingdom, and Aria was the fiery swordswoman who stood by his side through thick and thin.
Stay calm. Stay invisible, Elias told himself, ducking his head. He scribbled nonsense into his notebook, hoping to look too preoccupied to notice them. But as fate would have it, Leon's sharp eyes scanned the room—and landed directly on him.
"You," Leon said, his voice cutting through the chatter like a blade. The room fell silent as every student turned to stare at Elias.
Elias froze. Why me?
Leon approached, his footsteps echoing in the quiet room. "You're Kane Elgard, right?"
Elias looked up, forcing a neutral expression. "Yes?" he said, though it came out more like a question.
Leon smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "I hear you're from House Elgard. My father once did business with your family."
Elias blinked, trying to recall any memory of this from Kane's mind. Nothing came up. "Uh, I wouldn't know," he said honestly.
Leon's smile widened, and something about it sent a chill down Elias's spine. "No matter. I need someone for today's training exercise, and you look like you could use the experience."
Training exercise? Elias's mind raced. This wasn't part of the plan. He opened his mouth to decline, but Aria cut him off with a sharp laugh.
"I hope you're not planning to drag down our team," she said, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "Leon, you'd better hope he can at least swing a sword."
You've got to be kidding me, Elias thought, his jaw tightening. The system's idea of survival seemed to involve throwing him into exactly the kind of situations he wanted to avoid.
He stood reluctantly, forcing a strained smile. "I'll do my best," he said, his voice barely audible.
The training exercise took place in the Academy's expansive outdoor arena, a sprawling field bordered by towering stone walls. Targets, dummies, and magical wards were scattered across the area, creating a simulated battlefield.
Leon, Aria, and Elias were grouped together against another team of three students. The instructor's voice boomed across the field as he explained the rules:
"Your objective is to capture the enemy team's flag while defending your own. Use any means necessary, but injuries will result in disqualification. Understood?"
The teams nodded. Elias, however, felt like his heart was lodged in his throat. He had no idea how to fight in this world, let alone use magic effectively.
"Stick close to me," Leon said, clapping a hand on Elias's shoulder. "And don't get in the way."
Elias resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Easier said than done.
As the exercise began, Leon and Aria charged forward with practiced ease, their movements fluid and coordinated. Elias lagged behind, his mind racing. The system's interface flickered to life, offering him a skill suggestion:
Without hesitation, Elias selected the skill. A faint warmth spread through his body as the knowledge of how to form a barrier clicked into place.
He raised his hand, focusing on the incoming attack from an opposing team member. A shimmering blue shield appeared just in time to deflect a fireball, sending sparks flying.
"Not bad," Aria muttered as she sliced through another opponent with her sword. "Maybe you're not completely useless after all."
Elias bit back a retort, focusing instead on keeping up with the duo. As chaotic as the exercise was, he managed to hold his ground, relying on the system's guidance to avoid disaster.
By the time the flag was captured and the exercise ended, Elias was drenched in sweat but miraculously unscathed. Leon clapped him on the back, grinning. "You're not as hopeless as you look, Elgard. I might just keep you around."
Elias forced a smile, his mind already plotting how to ensure this never happened again. Staying invisible just got a lot harder.