Rain poured over the roof of Aruna High School, pounding like restless drums. Aurora Lim sat alone in the far corner of the library, her gaze lost in the fogged-up window. In her hands was an old leather-bound book, worn and silent, tucked between test prep manuals and forgotten encyclopedias.
No title.
No author.
Only a strange, silver rune etched into the cover—arcane symbols that shimmered faintly in the light.
She turned the first page with curiosity.
And the world cracked open.
It wasn't an earthquake. It wasn't an explosion.
It felt like her soul had been sucked into a silent vortex.
She fell—not to the floor—but into light.
A golden blaze swallowed her vision. Distant thunder rolled through her ears, layered with whispers in a language she couldn't understand.
[System Activating]
Welcome, Candidate of External Dimension.
Body Synchronization: 84%… 93%… 100%
Aurora wanted to scream.
Then—darkness.
She woke on damp grass that shimmered like crystals under twin suns. Above her stretched a violet-gold sky, two moons lazily orbiting each other. The air smelled sweet and strange.
Aurora sat up, heart pounding.
"This… isn't a dream, is it?"
A voice echoed inside her head—mechanical, calm.
[Mage System: Activated]
Welcome to the world of Aetherin.
Primary Objective: Rise as a Grand Mage. Locate the World Ruler. Protect… or destroy him.
She blinked at the empty air—and a translucent window floated into view.
[Initial Status]
Name: Aurora Lim
Origin: Non-Mana World (Earth)
Class: Mage – Awakened
Level: 1
Skills:
– Basic Elemental Detection
– Spatial Link (Locked)
– ??? (Sealed)
Starting Quests:
• Survive your first 24 hours.
• Locate a mana source.
• Avoid death.
She stared. Her breath caught in her throat.
This is... a system. Just like in games or fantasy novels.
But the wind, the soil, the pain in her knees—everything was real.
"I've been transported to another world."
After walking aimlessly through an iridescent forest, Aurora spotted smoke rising in the distance. Her instincts told her it meant fire—perhaps people. A village?
Hope surged in her chest.
Branches clawed at her legs as she moved toward the smoke, careful, cautious. The sun—or suns—were sinking past violet mountains now. Ten minutes later, she crouched behind a rock at the edge of a wide field.
There was a campfire. Around it stood men in long cloaks. In the center of them—
A young man.
He wore a midnight-blue coat adorned with a golden winged lion. His posture was relaxed, but power radiated from him like a storm held barely at bay. His black hair ruffled slightly in the wind, and even from a distance, his silver eyes glowed like twin moons.
He's… beautiful.
Aurora shook her head. Focus.
One of the cloaked men spoke.
"Your Majesty, the northern border has been breached by Voidspawn. Two garrisons lost."
Your Majesty? Aurora's eyes widened. That's the king?!
The young man spoke calmly, his voice low and clear.
"Send Class-V knights to reinforce the border. None of them are to carry a red seal."
Aurora held her breath. She tried to shift to a better hiding spot—
Crack.
A snapped twig.
Heads turned.
"Who's there?!"
Panic gripped her. She turned to run—only to trip over a root and crash into the mud.
Within seconds, two guards had dragged her before the young king.
Now up close, he was even more unreal. Sharp jawline, silver eyes colder than frost, lips pressed in a thin line. He studied her like she was a puzzle to be solved.
"Who are you?" one of the guards barked. "A spy from Kladir?"
"I—I'm nobody! I'm just—"
[Choice Available]
• Tell the truth: You're from another world.
• Lie: Say you're a forest dweller.
• Use Skill: Basic Elemental Detection (Low Effectiveness)
Aurora swallowed. If I tell them the truth, they'll think I'm insane…
But before she could choose, the king raised his hand.
"Let her go."
The guards hesitated.
"Your Majesty—"
"I said, release her."
They obeyed.
Aurora fell to her knees, breathing hard. She dared to look up—and locked eyes with the king.
"Your name?" he asked.
"…Aurora."
The system pulsed again.
[Target Identified: Caelan Valemore – Young King of Veilreth. Sequence: Undetected. Status: Unknown]
Warning: This entity is a focal point of your fate.
He repeated her name quietly, almost as if testing the weight of it.
"Aurora."
Then he turned to his guards.
"Take her to the palace. No one touches her without my command."
Aurora could hardly breathe.
What just happened?
On horseback, with soldiers riding alongside, Caelan leaned toward her.
"You're from another world, aren't you?"
She stiffened.
"Y-You knew?"
A ghost of a smile crossed his lips.
"I've been waiting for you… for five years."
[New Quest Received]
Protect King Caelan Valemore.
Reward: Tier 2 Skill – Flame Bind
Aurora clutched her chest.
What is this world? And who is this king… who knew her name before she spoke it aloud?
One thing was clear:
She was no longer Aurora Lim, an ordinary girl from Earth.
She was now a mage.
And her story had only just begun.