February 18, 2025
I wake to three sharp knocks at my door. KNOCK. KNOCK. KNOCK.My cheek presses into cool sheets; the last thing I remember is the taste of blood and shattered glass beneath my palm. I lie on my back, eyes burning, throat tight. I've cried straight through the night. The room looks like a battlefield: the ornate table lies splintered in the corner, the mirror's jagged frame yawns on the floor, and dried blood stains the wood and my right hand.
I force myself to sit up. My body aches from every blow I threw, but it's the hollowness in my chest that cuts the deepest. Glancing at the broken mirror, my reflection is fragmented—hollow dark circles, swollen eyes, ashen skin. Yes, it's still me… but barely.
I swallow hard and turn toward the door, bracing for whatever comes next.
I open the door. A maid stands there, trying not to stare at the wreck behind me.
"Good morning, Hero," she says with a polite bow. "Breakfast is ready, and you have your meeting with the king soon. Please be on time, as agreed."
I nod, though I have no idea what time we agreed on. Everything from yesterday blurred the moment they told me there was no way home.
She leads me down corridors lined with pristine carpets and gilded walls. Stained-glass windows scatter colorful light across the floors. The castle is beautiful… sterile.
We enter a grand dining hall. King Alaric sits at the head of the table. Ren and Yui are already seated to his left. Yui's gaze is cold. Ren offers me a practiced, easy smile.
"Damien! You look like you've been through the wringer. Come, sit."
"I didn't sleep well," I say, taking the seat next to Ren.
The feast before us could be art—strange-shaped loaves, shimmering fruits, and a grayish paste at the center. I scoop some onto my plate. The first bite tastes exactly like rice and beans. I keep eating… and eating.
Yet I don't feel full.
It's like a hollow cavern inside me that no amount of food can fill. The king watches me, then gestures. A maid leans forward, whispers in his ear, and hurries away.
The king stands and addresses the table:
"I hope y'all are enjoying the meal. Today marks the beginning of your true journey."
Ren glances at me; I glance back. Yui's shoulders tense.
"You will be sent to the Royal Academy of Elaris for five months," the king continues. "There you will learn about this world, gain control of your mana, master your magic type, and develop your unique power. You must be ready for war in six months."
Yui leaps upright.
"Learn? Aren't heroes supposed to arrive with their powers fully formed?"
"How can you use something you've never touched?" I reply. "If we don't learn, we'll die on the first mission."
The king nods.
"Indeed. Heroes usually manifest with Advanced or Master level mana… but without training, it means nothing."
Ren asks:
"What is a mana level? How do we know ours?"
"You will discover that today at the academy," the king says.
I stay silent, but continue eating—though the emptiness remains.
At that moment, an elderly man with a white beard and black robe enters, leaning on a staff topped with a blue gem. He kneels to whisper to the king, his eyes flicking to me. The king looks back, his face unreadable.
A maid returns with ceremonial uniforms—white with gold trim and a triangular emblem on the left shoulder.
I slip back to my room, take advantage of the daylight, and peer out the window.
A flawless blue sky. Stone and timber houses perfectly aligned. A vast garden at the palace's base. Merchants hawking goods, children racing through streets, swordsmen sparring in open courtyards. Even from here, it looks like a masterpiece.
But all I can think is: I don't belong here.
I sigh, put on my uniform, and head out. Ren and Yui wait with two maids.
"I thought the earth swallowed you!" Ren jokes.
"I was just taking in the view," I answer.
"Enough chatter, or we'll be late," Yui says—stern, but with the hint of a smile.
We descend the palace steps to the courtyard and climb into three separate carriages. I take the center seat.
The journey is long. I crack the window, but the stench of rubbish, sweat, and sewers forces me to close it. I stare out, forcing my mind to focus.
I pass armor-clad soldiers, wizards with staves, and street vendors selling fruits, weapons, potions, and trinkets. It feels like a game… except it's real.
After an hour, the carriage halts.
"Welcome to the Academy of Elaris," a butler announces, opening the door.
The academy stands before us—towering spires, white walls, manicured gardens, ancient statues. Uniformed students wander in clusters, all looking purposeful.
"My mother would love this," I murmur.
We're led inside to a broad office. A man in his forties, wearing a blue robe and a perpetual grin, greets us warmly.
"Ha-ha-ha… Welcome, heroes Ren and Yui, to the Academy of Elaris."
Ren and Yui's names again. What about me? Am I invisible?
I say nothing.
"You will each receive a room. You may attend any class, at any time. Here is the academy map."
He hands out three aged parchments, then says:
"Close your eyes. Picture a sphere in your stomach. Feel it rise to the top of your head. When it reaches, you'll see colors and hear a voice. Write down everything."
I comply. Darkness swallows my vision. Then a spot, darker than the void, flickers. It pulses, trembles—and suddenly everything turns crimson. Heat floods me, and I hear my inner voice whisper:
"G…l…"
"Gul…"
"Gluttony…"
I open my eyes and grab the quill. I write.
Ren and Yui finish quickly and hand in their sheets. The headmaster reads theirs with a nod. Then he reads mine.
His face transforms.
Eyebrows shoot up. His hands tremble. His smile vanishes. He swallows hard.
"That is all… Y'all will be shown to your rooms."
But as we leave, he cannot take his eyes off me.
As if he sees a monster lurking beneath my skin.