A World Unknown
The air smelled of burning incense, thick with the scent of unknown herbs. The ground beneath Priyam's hands was cold, smooth, and unnatural—nothing like the tiled floors of his old world. He opened his eyes, his vision blurred, and was met with an overwhelming sight.
He was inside a vast hall, its walls adorned with intricate tapestries depicting warriors, monsters, and mighty sorcerers. Countless candles flickered in an eerie rhythm, casting elongated shadows on the marble floor.
A crowd surrounded him—men and women clad in elaborate robes, their faces a mixture of fascination, skepticism, and scorn. Their garments bore symbols unfamiliar to him, but the aura of nobility was unmistakable. Among them stood a girl—no, a noblewoman—her platinum blonde hair cascading down her back, her violet eyes gleaming with arrogance.
She held out her staff, its silver frame pulsating with residual magic.
"I, Princess Evelyne von Rozenheim, have summoned thee," she declared, her voice clear and authoritative. "Kneel before me, my familiar."
Silence followed. Priyam's mind struggled to process her words. Familiar? The term echoed in his mind, bringing memories of fantasy novels, but the weight in her tone suggested something far more serious.
"W-What?" Priyam muttered, still dazed. His voice, in this vast and ancient hall, felt pathetically small.
The nobles whispered among themselves, their murmurs filled with mockery and disbelief.
"A commoner?" one scoffed.
"No, worse… He doesn't even have mana."
"What kind of joke is this?"
Evelyne frowned, gripping her staff tighter. "Silence." The murmurs stopped instantly. She turned back to Priyam, her eyes narrowing. "Stand, familiar. You belong to me now."
Priyam's blood boiled. Belong? He had just woken up in a completely unfamiliar world, surrounded by people who clearly looked down on him, and now he was being told to submit?
"Like hell I will," he snapped.
The hall gasped. A summoned familiar rejecting its master? Impossible.
Evelyne's expression twisted in irritation. "You will obey me."
She raised her staff, and suddenly, a searing pain surged through Priyam's body. A glowing mark burned into the back of his left hand—a crest of intricate runes. He clutched his wrist, gritting his teeth, his breath ragged.
"What… what the hell is this?"
"A binding seal," Evelyne said coldly. "A contract that ensures obedience."
Priyam clenched his fists. This was beyond insane. A contract? A seal? He was just a normal college student in his world, not some pawn in a magic ritual.
And yet, his situation was undeniably real.
"Take him to the dormitory," Evelyne ordered.
Two armored knights approached, their hands on their weapons. Priyam instinctively took a step back, but there was no escape.
As they grabbed his arms, dragging him toward the exit, he caught glimpses of the nobles' expressions—some amused, some pitying, others intrigued.
Among them, a hooded figure watched silently, their golden eyes gleaming with an unreadable expression.
Who the hell have I gotten myself involved with?
The Academy of Arcane Nobility
The corridors of the academy were grand, lined with gothic arches and floating chandeliers. Priyam was led through winding hallways before being thrown into a room—a lavish one, but a prison nonetheless.
The door locked behind him.
He exhaled sharply, his mind racing. This world… it wasn't Earth. The magic, the nobility, the bizarre summoning—none of it fit reality.
And I have no power.
His fists tightened. He was at the mercy of an arrogant princess in a world where strength dictated worth.
Suddenly, a knock.
The door creaked open, revealing a young girl with silver hair and glasses. Unlike the others, she wore a simple robe, her expression neutral yet calculating.
"You're different," she said.
Priyam frowned. "Who are you?"
She stepped closer. "My name is Astrid. I study magic at the academy."
"Okay… and?"
She adjusted her glasses. "I've never seen a familiar like you before. No mana, no beastly traits, no combat instincts. And yet, Evelyne's summoning spell reacted to you. That means something."
Priyam crossed his arms. "You think I'm special?"
Astrid's lips curled into a slight smirk. "No. I think you're a mystery."
Priyam narrowed his eyes. A mystery, huh?
Then, the mark on his hand pulsed, a strange warmth spreading through his veins.
And for a fleeting moment, he felt something stir deep within him—something foreign, something… powerful.
To Be Continued…