The sensation of water flooding into his lungs was unlike anything Ryo had ever experienced before.
It wasn't like the quick gasp you take when you swallow wrong while drinking — no, this was deeper, heavier, merciless. The cold weight pressed against his chest like an iron vice, squeezing the air from his body while icy darkness clawed its way down his throat.
I… can't breathe…
Bubbles streamed past his vision as his body thrashed instinctively. His limbs flailed in an uncoordinated frenzy, searching for purchase, for anything to grab onto — but all he found was the endless, suffocating grip of the lake around him.
The shimmering surface above, where sunlight danced in ripples, looked close… so close. He reached for it, his fingers stretching toward that thin, wavering sheet of light, but each second made it seem further away. His chest burned, his vision narrowed into a tunnel.
Then, just as the final thread of consciousness began to slip, something strange happened.
The cold… vanished.
When his eyes opened, Ryo found himself staring at an unfamiliar ceiling.
It was made of polished stone, white veins of marble running through slabs the size of doors. The faint scent of parchment and old wood hung in the air. He sat up abruptly, his heart still pounding from the drowning sensation — yet his clothes were dry, his body perfectly fine.
"What the hell…" he whispered.
He was lying on a simple bed, a thin blanket draped over him. Beside it was a small wooden table, on which sat an envelope sealed with deep crimson wax. The seal was embossed with an emblem he didn't recognize — a tower rising between a pair of crossed swords.
Cautiously, Ryo broke the seal and unfolded the letter inside.
"Dear Ryo,You have been accepted to attend Aurelius Academy. Please arrive at the Academy Gates before sundown today. Do not be late."
No signature. No explanation.
He stared at it for a long moment, trying to make sense of everything.
One moment he was… where? His mind scrambled through fragmented images — the lake, a group of voices calling from the shore, then darkness. Now here he was, in a room he didn't recognize, with an acceptance letter to a school he'd never applied to.
Before he could even decide what to do, a faint chime rang out, as though someone had struck a small bell inside his head.
[System Notice]Welcome, Ryo. You have been selected. Proceed to the Aurelius Academy Gates.
His pulse quickened. He looked around the room again, but there was no one there. The voice wasn't physical — it was inside his mind, clear and mechanical, emotionless.
A "system"? Was this a dream? Some kind of hyper-realistic hallucination?
He tried pinching himself. The sharp sting told him this was all far too real.
When he opened the heavy oak door, he found himself in a cobblestone street. The air was fresh, carrying a faint floral fragrance mixed with the savory scent of roasting meat from a distant stall. People bustled about — some clearly human, others… not. He spotted a tall man with furred ears and a tail, a slender woman whose silver hair glinted unnaturally, and a pair of robed figures whose faces were hidden by ornate masks.
A marketplace stretched ahead, full of vibrant fabrics, strange fruits, and glowing crystal trinkets. Beyond it, looming on a distant hill, stood an enormous set of golden gates — the only thing that could be called "academy gates" here.
"That's… huge," Ryo murmured. The gates looked tall enough to let a dragon through.
As he walked toward them, he tried to take stock of his situation. He was wearing his old black jacket, faded jeans, and sneakers — completely ordinary compared to the robes, armor, and exotic clothing of the people around him. He could feel eyes on him, curious and assessing.
"Outsider?" he overheard a merchant mutter under his breath.
The road to the gates took him past open courtyards where students were sparring. Sparks flew from clashing blades, bursts of flame erupted from hands, and arrows of pure light zipped through the air. The skill and power on display was both mesmerizing and intimidating.
By the time he reached the gates, the sun had dipped low in the sky. Two armored guards stood on either side, their spears gleaming in the orange light. They didn't speak — only stepped aside as he approached.
The instant he stepped through the archway, the world seemed to tilt.
The sounds of the marketplace cut off abruptly. The air grew still, heavy, almost oppressive. The vibrant colors of the academy courtyard beyond seemed to drain into muted shades. Even the students inside moved strangely slow, like shadows behind frosted glass.
Then he saw her.
A girl stood directly ahead of him, her gaze fixed on him like she had been waiting. She was impossibly beautiful — pale skin like untouched snow, eyes the color of fresh blood. Her long, black hair shimmered with streaks of crimson under the dying light.
Every instinct told him she was dangerous.
"You're late," she said softly. Her voice was low, melodic… and cold.
He opened his mouth to reply, but didn't get the chance.
A sharp, invisible force slammed into his chest with bone-cracking power. He gasped, the air torn from his lungs. Pain exploded through him as he was lifted off his feet and thrown backward.
Blood sprayed from his lips as his vision blurred.
The last thing he saw before darkness claimed him again was the girl's crimson eyes narrowing slightly, as if in disappointment.
[System Notice]You have died.
Regression initializing…
Light flooded his vision.
Ryo found himself back in the marble room, lying on the same bed. The sealed envelope sat neatly on the table beside him, as though nothing had happened.
His hands shook slightly as he reached for it again.
What the hell is going on?
For a long while, Ryo simply sat there on the bed, staring at the envelope like it might explode if he touched it again. The memory of the girl's crimson eyes still burned vividly in his mind. The pain of his ribs breaking, the taste of blood in his mouth, the weightless moment before his body hit the ground — it had all been too real.
And yet… here he was, uninjured, breathing steadily, back in the exact same position as before. Even the faint smell of polished marble and parchment hadn't changed.
[System Notice]Regression completed. Death count: 1.
His stomach tightened."Regression? Death count? What is this, some kind of… game?" he muttered, rubbing his temples.
Games didn't feel like this. Games didn't leave you with phantom pain in your chest or the lingering memory of fear gnawing at your spine.
For several seconds, he just focused on breathing. The world outside that marble room felt hostile now — unknown rules, unknown dangers, and apparently the possibility of being murdered before even saying a word.
Still… he couldn't ignore the letter.
When he finally broke the seal again, the contents were unchanged. Aurelius Academy. Arrive before sundown.That meant he'd have to walk the same streets again. Face the same gates again. Maybe even… face her again.
His hands tightened around the paper. "If I don't go… will the system kill me? Or will I just wake up here again?"
No answer came. The silence inside his head was worse than the system's voice.
He got to his feet, this time more cautiously inspecting the room before leaving. On the far side stood a wardrobe — simple oak, nothing fancy. Inside were neatly folded sets of clothing: plain white shirts, brown trousers, and sturdy boots. They looked more fitting for this world than his worn sneakers and jeans.
He hesitated, then swapped his clothes. If people stared at him less, maybe he could slip through unnoticed. The boots felt strange on his feet, heavier than what he was used to, but they made a satisfying thud against the stone floor.
Outside the room, the building's hallway stretched long and narrow, lined with tall windows. Through them, he could see the bustling market square again. Sunlight streamed through dust motes in golden shafts, and the distant chatter of merchants carried on the breeze.
He walked slower this time, taking in details he had missed. The cobblestones were uneven, worn by centuries of foot traffic. Many of the vendors' stalls were adorned with banners bearing unfamiliar crests — golden lions, silver hawks, and strange runes that shimmered faintly.
He passed a group of beastkin children chasing each other around a fountain, their laughter high and bright. A woman with skin like polished bronze sold steaming bread rolls from a cart, the scent warm and comforting. For a fleeting moment, the ordinary liveliness almost made him forget he had just died.
Almost.
As he reached the sparring courtyard again, he slowed.The clash of weapons and bursts of magic were hypnotic in their own way. One boy conjured a swirling sphere of water that darted forward like a living creature, while his opponent deflected it with a barrier of shimmering light. Another pair dueled with curved blades, their movements a blur.
Ryo swallowed hard. If students here could do that, what kind of monsters were their teachers? And that girl with the red eyes…
His chest ached faintly at the thought.
The golden gates loomed larger as he approached, their polished surface catching the sunlight in a blinding flare. The intricate carvings along their arch depicted a battle scene — winged warriors clashing with shadowy beasts, a towering figure holding a sword that seemed to split the sky.
Two armored guards watched him. Their helms concealed their faces, but he felt their gaze linger.
One stepped forward slightly. "Name?"
"…Ryo."
The guard nodded once, stepping aside. "Enter."
The moment he crossed the threshold again, that same oppressive stillness fell over him.The colors dimmed. The world felt… thinner, as though the air itself was holding its breath.
She's here… he thought, and his instincts screamed for him to turn around.
Sure enough, there she was — the same girl, standing exactly where she had been before. Long black hair, streaks of crimson, and those eyes that pierced straight through him.
"You're late," she said again, in that same soft but cutting tone.
This time, Ryo forced himself to speak. "Wait! I just—"
The invisible force hit him before he could finish. The crushing impact knocked the wind from his lungs, his ribs groaning under the pressure. Pain flared sharp and blinding.
He hit the ground hard, choking, vision swimming.
[System Notice]You have died.Regression initializing…
He gasped awake in the marble room. Again. The same bed. The same letter. The same faint scent of parchment.
His hands were trembling now. This wasn't a fluke — the system was dragging him back every time.
"Why?!" he shouted to the empty room, his voice cracking. "Why send me there if she's just going to kill me?! What's the point?"
No answer. Only silence.
For the next few minutes, he paced the room. The stone floor was cold under his bare feet — he'd kicked off the boots in frustration without even realizing it. His mind spun with possibilities.
Maybe there was a way to reach the gates without running into her. Maybe she wasn't even real, just some sort of trial. Or maybe… maybe she was the trial.
His stomach turned at the thought.If that was the case, he had already failed. Twice.
Finally, he sat down, elbows on his knees, staring at the letter."This time," he muttered, "I'll be ready."