Ever since I returned to my room, everything has felt strange: the way people looked away, the slight tremor in the headmaster's voice when he read my report… There's no time for regrets. If I want to survive, I must learn about this world right away.
***
Damien unfolded the academy map. Three levels: on the first floor, physical combat classes and outdoor training fields; on the second, magic theory classrooms, spell-practice chambers, mana control rooms, and a library that took up more than half the space; on the third, the dormitories.
He had trained in HEMA with his father since he was a child, so he felt comfortable with a sword. With that in mind, he decided to spend the first month in the library and, on his free days, explore the kingdom.
When he entered the library, professors and guards watched him silently, but he pressed on. Inside, the air smelled of parchment and old wood; towering shelves held thousands of volumes, and carved pillars threw dancing shadows under the candlelight.
At the end of an aisle, he spotted Ren surrounded by eager students. Damien cleared his throat and approached.
"Hey, Ren."
Ren waved off his followers and said, "Damien! We were just talking about you. Yui and I thought we'd study together."
Yui looked up, gave a small smile, and nodded.
"I found a book on the history of Elaris," she said. "It might help us."
"Great—let's get started," Damien replied.
For hours they shared pages, debated passages, and compared notes. The murmur of their voices was the only sound in those endless aisles.
---
In the castle's gilded halls, the headmaster walked beside King Alaric Dorneval, a loyal butler trailing behind. Their decades-long friendship was clear in their easy banter. They entered a private chamber, and Alaric settled behind a heavy desk.
"Your Majesty, my report on the newcomers is ready," the headmaster began.
"Save the formalities, old friend," the king replied with a grin. "Just tell me what you know."
"First, Yui Tanaka," the headmaster said. "According to her own notes, she's attuned to light and healing magic. Her special skill is called Divine Drain. We believe she can absorb ambient mana and reuse it—based on the name of the skill and similar abilities recorded in the past."
"Understood," the king nodded. "We have to trust their word since we can't test it ourselves."
"Next is Ren Tanaka," the headmaster continued. "He says he practiced something called kendo—a sword art from his world. His skill, God of Swords, might let him summon or control multiple blades or greatly enhance his own sword. He's also attuned to water, earth, air, and fire magic."
"Interesting—worthy of a hero," Alaric murmured. "He'd make good use of the Aeternum Blade."
"I'll have your grace's men search for it discreetly," the king said to his butler. "No one touches it without permission."
The butler bowed.
"Finally, Damien Cross. He reports an affinity for dark magic called Gluttony. He also mentions practicing an art called HEMA, but we have no details on how his power works."
Alaric's face grew dark and he slammed his fist on the desk.
"I suspected as much," he said quietly. "Those red eyes and that bottomless hunger. Keep him under watch. Feed him all he needs—but never let him realize what his ability truly does."
"As you command, Your Majesty," the headmaster replied. "I'll return to the academy at once."
---
That night, Damien returned to his dorm exhausted. He reviewed his notes: four races—humans, elves, demi-humans, and demons—all descended from ancient humans; gods were real, their miracles recorded in shrines. He studied mana usage:
- Manifested: temporarily enhances body or weapons.
- Expelled: projects mana outward for spells.
He memorized the mana tiers:
- Zero (black): no mana.
- Latent (white): senses mana.
- Low (gray): only manifested mana.
- Normal (dark blue): both forms.
- High (pink): more reserves and control.
- Advanced (red): can draw a bit of nature's mana with side effects.
- Master (gold): perfect control without side effects.
"I'm Advanced… but what exactly is Gluttony?" he wondered.
A knock at the door. A maid rolled in a trolley piled with covered dishes.
"Dinner," she said, then left.
Damien uncovered feast after feast—yet hunger remained. Each bite felt like chewing on air, his stomach a hollow drum that no meal could silence. In his mind, three ghostly voices echoed: his father's booming laugh as they sparred in the yard, his mother's soft encouragement when he first held a sword, and his sister's tiny coo from the cradle that he'd never hear again.
Tears slipped down his cheeks, catching the flicker of torchlight as he pushed the trolley aside with trembling fingers. The weight of the empty plates clattered to the floor, a painful reminder of what he'd lost. He let himself collapse onto the bed, the sheets cool against his fevered skin. His chest ached with longing, every breath a stab of sorrow—and yet, beneath the tremor of grief, steel gathered in his heart.
Thoughts of his family brought fresh tears, but also hardened his resolve: he would find a way home.
---
February 19, 2025
The next morning, on his free day, he sighed, "I need fresh air."
He walked through the kingdom for hours. He arrived at the Adventurer's Guild building and entered a busy hall with quest notices on a board.
One notice read:
[ Hunt 30 Goblins – Reward: 5 Silver Coins – Sponsor: Dougio Meriodo ]
Nine skull icons marked it.
"What do these skulls mean?" he asked a scarred huntsman.
"It means nine parties took that quest… and never came back," the man said.
Damien shivered. "That's chilling."
"Hey, kid," the huntsman warned. "That uniform marks you as academy—this place can be dangerous."
Damien nodded and left, feeling every stare.
Outside, he saw the big sign: Adventurer's Guild.
A flash in an alley corner caught his eye: a small black shard with a glowing red dot.
"What on earth is this?"
He touched it. A dark purple aura burst from his hand like a maw, devouring the shard.
Then, inside his mind, he heard:
[Consumed: Alpha Rat]
[Skill Learned: Stealth – Rank B]
[Skill Learned: Dash Casting – Rank E]
[Gluttony Activated]
"What the hell? A RAT?" he thought. His hunger was gone and his footsteps made no sound.
Could this be Stealth? he wondered.
He tested the other skill:
"Dash Casting…" he whispered. Nothing.
"Dash Casting!" he yelled. Still silence.
People stared and chuckled. Embarrassed, Damien fled into a side alley.
Three men whispered there.
"They say there's a third hero no one's seen," one said.
"With red eyes and dark skin—like a dark elf," another mocked.
"He'll be easy prey. Imagine the ransom," the third laughed.
Hidden in shadow, Damien realized he had become a target.
And for the first time… he felt true fear.