The morning sun filtered through the cracked windows of House Draemor's modest manor, casting long shadows across Aeris's cramped bedroom. Unlike the grand estates of other noble families, the Draemor residence was little more than a glorified farmhouse—a testament to their fallen status in the kingdom's hierarchy.
Aeris sat on the edge of his narrow bed, staring at his reflection in a tarnished mirror. The face looking back at him was still jarring—pale skin marked by malnutrition, unruly brown hair, and the distinctive violet eyes that marked him as true nobility despite his family's poverty. At sixteen, this body was lean from hunger rather than training, a far cry from the protagonists he'd read about in Tamer Chronicles.
"Status window," he whispered, remembering the system mechanics from the novel.
A translucent blue screen materialized before him, making his heart skip a beat. Even knowing it would happen, seeing the game-like interface in real life was surreal.
[STATUS WINDOW]
Name: Aeris Draemor Age: 16 Rank: Unranked Tamer Level: 1 Bonded Monsters: None
[ATTRIBUTES]
Strength: 8/100 Agility: 12/100 Intelligence: 23/100 Mana: 15/100 Charisma: 7/100 Luck: ???
[SKILLS]
Basic Taming: Level 1 Monster Communication: Level 1 Survival Instinct: Level 2
[SPECIAL ABILITIES]
Noble Bloodline: Slight boost to monster affinity [HIDDEN]: Conditions not met
Aeris frowned at the question marks beside his Luck stat. In the novel, every character's luck was clearly displayed—it was one of the most important attributes for a Tamer, determining everything from monster encounters to the quality of bonds formed. Why was his hidden?
More concerning were his overall stats. Even for a starting character, these numbers were pathetically low. Leon Hartwell, the protagonist, had started with at least 15 in Strength and 20 in Mana. Aeris was operating at a severe disadvantage.
A sharp knock interrupted his thoughts. "Young master, your father requests your presence in the study."
Aeris's stomach clenched. In the original timeline, this was the conversation where his father would refuse to pay for Royal Tamer Academy enrollment, leading to the sequence of events that would ultimately kill him. But this time would be different—it had to be.
He made his way through the manor's narrow corridors, past faded portraits of ancestors who had once commanded respect and power. The study was small and cramped, filled with ledgers that chronicled the family's financial decline. His father, Baron Marcus Draemor, sat hunched over the desk, looking far older than his forty-five years.
"Aeris," Marcus began without looking up, his voice heavy with exhaustion. "I know what you're going to ask, and the answer is no. We simply don't have the funds for academy enrollment."
"Father, please listen to me," Aeris said, stepping forward with newfangled confidence that surprised them both. "I know our situation is dire, but this is our only chance to restore House Draemor's honor."
Marcus finally raised his head, studying his son with tired eyes. "Honor doesn't put food on the table, boy. The enrollment fee alone is fifty gold coins—money we don't have. And even if we did, what makes you think you have what it takes? You've never shown any aptitude for taming."
Aeris had expected this reaction. In the original story, the old Aeris had accepted defeat here, too intimidated by his father's pragmatism and his own insecurities. But armed with knowledge of the future, he pressed on.
"I'll find a way to pay for it myself," Aeris declared. "Give me two weeks. If I can't secure the enrollment fee by then, I'll abandon the idea and help with the estate."
Something in his tone must have convinced Marcus, because the older man's expression softened slightly. "And how exactly do you plan to earn fifty gold coins in two weeks? Even skilled tamers struggle to make that much in a month."
Aeris took a deep breath. This was where his knowledge of the story would truly be tested. "There are opportunities in the Whispering Woods. Small contracts, rare materials, maybe even untamed monsters that could be valuable to collectors."
"The Whispering Woods?" Marcus's face paled. "Aeris, that forest is dangerous even for experienced tamers. The goblin tribes alone—"
"I know the risks, Father. But staying here guarantees our family's continued decline. At least this way, we have a chance."
Marcus studied his son for a long moment, perhaps seeing something different in the boy who had never shown such determination before. Finally, he sighed. "Two weeks. But if you're not back by then, I'm sending the guard to drag you home myself."
Aeris nodded, his heart racing with a mixture of excitement and terror. He had bought himself time, but now he had to make good on his promise. The Whispering Woods held the key to changing his fate—he just had to survive long enough to claim it.
The rest of the day was spent in preparation. Aeris gathered what little equipment he could find: a rusty short sword that had belonged to his grandfather, a leather satchel, basic camping supplies, and the small amount of rations their kitchen could spare. It wasn't much, but it would have to do.
As evening approached, he made his way to the manor's small library—a collection of perhaps thirty books that represented the family's intellectual legacy. Most were financial records or outdated etiquette manuals, but hidden among them was what he sought: A Beginner's Guide to Monster Taming by Scholar Aldrich Fennmore.
Aeris had read this book in his previous life as Ryo, but experiencing it through Aeris's eyes revealed new details. The techniques described within seemed to resonate with something deep inside him, as if his body remembered skills his mind had never learned.
"Interesting," he murmured, noting how his hands naturally formed the proper gesture for a basic taming circle. "Maybe this noble bloodline trait is more significant than I thought."
He spent hours studying, particularly focusing on the sections about monster behavior and habitat preferences. The Whispering Woods were home to dozens of species, but Aeris was particularly interested in one: the Lunar Moths. These ethereal creatures were highly sought after by alchemists for their wing scales, which were essential components in mana-enhancement potions. More importantly, they were docile enough that even a novice tamer could potentially form a bond with them.
According to the book, Lunar Moths were most active during the new moon—which happened to be in three days. If Aeris could time his expedition correctly, he might be able to secure not just the materials he needed to sell, but potentially his first monster companion.
As the night deepened, Aeris found himself standing at his bedroom window, staring out at the dark forest that stretched beyond their estate's borders. Somewhere in those shadows lay his destiny—and quite possibly his doom.
He thought about Leon Hartwell, the protagonist who would soon be making his own journey into these same woods. In the original story, Leon had stumbled upon a wounded Thunder Wolf and formed a bond that would launch his legendary career. But Aeris couldn't simply copy Leon's path—the timing wasn't right, and he lacked the protagonist's natural charisma and luck.
Or did he?
Aeris pulled up his status window again, focusing on the mysterious luck stat. Why was it hidden? In all his reading of Tamer Chronicles, every character's luck had been clearly defined. Could it be that his reincarnation had somehow affected this attribute?
"Status details: Luck," he commanded, hoping the system might provide more information.
[LUCK ATTRIBUTE - ACCESS DENIED]Unlock conditions: Form first monster bond OR reach Level 5 OR discover true nature
Aeris's eyes widened. There were unlock conditions? This was definitely not part of the original story's mechanics. Something about his presence in this world had created variables that hadn't existed in the novel.
As he prepared for bed, Aeris felt a mixture of anticipation and dread settling in his chest. Tomorrow, he would begin his journey into the Whispering Woods. He would either find a way to change his fate or discover that some destinies were too powerful to overcome.
But one thing was certain—he wouldn't go quietly into that goblin-orchestrated death that awaited the original Aeris Draemor. He had been given a second chance at life, and he intended to make the most of it.
Outside his window, the wind rustled through the trees of the Whispering Woods, carrying with it the promise of adventure and the whisper of dangers yet to come.