Eren sat by the campfire outside his forest shelter, the soft crackle of flames filling the cool night air. The day's events played over and over in his mind, but one detail refused to let him rest: Cassian Alden's piercing gaze during the lecture. It wasn't just curiosity or casual interest. There was something sharper in it, something personal.
"Why does he hate me?" Eren muttered, poking at the fire with a stick. "I haven't done anything to him."
But then, it wasn't Eren he hated. It was Raynor Velcroft, the body Eren now inhabited. Somewhere in the original story, the two had crossed paths, and Eren needed to figure out what had happened before Cassian's disdain turned into outright hostility. The problem was, his memory of the novel wasn't perfect, and he hadn't paid much attention to Raynor's subplot beyond his eventual downfall.
The Survival System chimed softly, breaking his train of thought.
Optional Quest: Investigate the Past
Objective: Uncover the details of the incident that caused animosity between Raynor Velcroft and Cassian Alden.
Rewards: Relationship Insight Skill (Basic), 20 Experience Points.
"Looks like even the system thinks this is important," Eren said. With a sigh, he stood and began pacing. The quest provided no specific guidance, but he knew where to start. The academy's library held records on almost everything that happened within its walls. If the incident had been significant enough to sour their relationship, there might be something about it there.
The next morning, Eren donned his cloak and made his way to the library. He kept his head low, avoiding eye contact with the other students. Thankfully, the library—a grand, cathedral-like building filled with endless rows of books—was relatively quiet. Most students preferred the training grounds or social spaces, leaving the library to the dedicated scholars.
Instead of speaking to the librarian, Eren bypassed the desk entirely, heading for the historical records section. Drawing attention was the last thing he wanted. After scanning through various shelves, he found a collection of ledgers detailing disciplinary actions and notable incidents at the academy. He pulled out the volume covering the year the story began.
Incident Report: Raynor Velcroft and Cassian Alden
Date: 3rd Month, Year 1125
Summary: During a training exercise, Raynor Velcroft sabotaged Cassian Alden's assigned equipment, resulting in a malfunction that caused minor injuries. Velcroft claimed it was an accident, but several witnesses reported seeing him tamper with the equipment beforehand. Velcroft received a formal reprimand and was temporarily suspended from combat training.
Eren leaned back in his chair, his brow furrowing. "Sabotage? No wonder Cassian hates me… him."
The incident painted Raynor in the worst possible light: petty, vindictive, and willing to harm others to gain an edge. It fit the character's original portrayal, but it couldn't have been further from Eren's own personality. Worse, Cassian was the type of protagonist who valued honor and justice above all else. An act like this would have been an unforgivable betrayal in his eyes.
"But why would Raynor even do that?" Eren wondered aloud. The report didn't explain the motive, and without context, it was hard to tell if the sabotage had been deliberate or if something else had been at play. Either way, the damage was done. To Cassian, Raynor would always be the arrogant noble who'd tried to undermine him.
As Eren closed the ledger and returned it to the shelf, he felt a wave of unease. There was no way he could confront Cassian about this—not without risking suspicion or worse. Instead, he needed to focus on his original goal: staying out of the main characters' paths entirely.
Back at his shelter, Eren paced around the clearing. If he couldn't directly address the issue, he'd have to work around it. Perhaps actions would speak louder than words. He'd need to lay low, avoid drawing attention, and slowly demonstrate through his behavior that he wasn't the same person as the old Raynor.
The Survival System chimed softly again, as if sensing his resolve.
Quest Update: Investigate the Past
Progress: 70%
Hint: Observe Cassian Alden's behavior and actions to uncover any lingering consequences of the incident. Avoid direct confrontation unless necessary.
Eren smiled wryly. "Even the system thinks I should steer clear."
For now, that was exactly what he'd do. Whatever happened between Raynor and Cassian, it was a chapter of the story Eren would prefer to leave unopened. His focus would remain on survival, staying out of the spotlight, and building a quiet life in the shadows of the academy. If Cassian's opinion of him ever shifted, it would have to happen naturally—without Eren risking his precarious position by getting too close to the main characters.