Eren Harlow's first thought upon waking was that something was wrong. The bed beneath him was far too luxurious, the ceiling above him unfamiliar, and the scent of cedarwood faintly clinging to the air was entirely out of place. He sat up slowly, the silk sheets slipping off his body, and stared at the grandiose room around him. Ornate furniture, heavy velvet curtains, and a gilded mirror that reflected his—no, someone else's—face back at him.
Panic gripped his chest as he scrambled out of bed and stumbled toward the mirror. The reflection wasn't his own. Gone was his lean, unremarkable figure and the short-cropped hair he'd grown used to. Instead, he saw a tall, broad-shouldered young man with sharp features, raven-black hair, and piercing blue eyes. A face he recognized all too well.
"Raynor Velcroft," he whispered, the name tasting bitter on his tongue.
Raynor was the infamous third-rate villain from The Sovereign Chronicles, the fantasy novel Eren had read countless times. A spoiled noble who was more bark than bite, Raynor's arrogance and entitlement had made him the perfect punching bag for the novel's heroes. His story had ended in disgrace, expelled from the Grand Sovereign Academy and exiled from high society. A humiliating demise that had been both satisfying and tragic to read.
But now Eren was him. Somehow, impossibly, he had been transported into the body of Raynor Velcroft.
"This can't be real," Eren muttered, gripping the edges of the mirror. His reflection stared back at him, mocking his disbelief.
A sharp knock at the door shattered his thoughts. Before he could respond, the door swung open, revealing a stern-faced butler.
"Master Velcroft, the Headmaster has summoned you to his office," the butler announced with a crisp bow.
Eren's stomach sank. This was it. He didn't need to remember every detail of the novel to know what this was about. This was the moment Raynor's downfall began.
The Headmaster's office was as intimidating as Eren had expected. Towering bookshelves lined the walls, filled with ancient tomes and magical artifacts. At the center of the room sat Headmaster Aldric, a silver-haired man whose piercing gaze seemed to see straight through him.
"Raynor Velcroft," the Headmaster began, his voice cold and authoritative. "Your behavior has crossed the line. Harassment of your fellow students will not be tolerated."
Eren's mind raced. He vaguely remembered the original Raynor's actions leading to this moment: a misguided attempt to woo one of the heroines, which had ended in public embarrassment. He clenched his fists, feeling the weight of Raynor's reputation dragging him down.
"I understand," Eren said carefully, keeping his tone neutral. "I apologize for my actions. It won't happen again."
The Headmaster's eyes narrowed. "Apologies are not enough. Effective immediately, you are expelled from the academy dormitories. Consider yourself fortunate that you are still allowed to attend classes."
Eren's heart sank. Expelled from the dormitories? That meant he had nowhere to live. No allies to turn to. No resources to rely on. He was truly on his own.
By the time Eren stepped out of the Headmaster's office, the weight of his predicament was fully sinking in. The other students avoided his gaze as he walked through the hallways, their whispers following him like a shadow.
"Did you hear? Raynor Velcroft got kicked out of the dorms."
"Serves him right. That guy's a menace."
Eren ignored them, keeping his head down. He couldn't blame them for their disdain. Raynor had earned it. But Eren wasn't Raynor. He refused to let this new life spiral into the same disaster as the one in the novel.
When he reached the outskirts of the academy grounds, he paused to take in his surroundings. Beyond the meticulously maintained gardens lay a dense forest, the edges of which were shrouded in mist. It was forbidden territory for students, but Eren had no choice. If he was going to survive, he needed to adapt.
"I'll figure this out," he muttered to himself.
As he stepped into the forest, a strange sensation washed over him. A soft chime echoed in his mind, followed by a series of words appearing in his vision like a holographic display.
Survival System Activated
Welcome, User. Your journey begins now.
Eren stared at the glowing text, his heart pounding. This wasn't part of the original story.
"A system?" he whispered, his voice tinged with disbelief.
A new message appeared:
Tutorial Quest: Establish Shelter
Objective: Construct a basic shelter to protect yourself from the elements.
Reward: Starter Kit (Tools and Supplies)
Eren's lips curved into a faint smile. For the first time since waking up in this world, he felt a glimmer of hope. Maybe, just maybe, he could turn this situation around.
"Alright," he said, determination lighting up his eyes. "Let's do this."
And with that, he ventured deeper into the forest, ready to carve out a new path for himself.