The morning sky over Aethernia was pale blue, streaked with golden lines as the sun slowly rose from behind the Arclume Mountains. A gentle spring breeze drifted through the air, carrying the scent of dew and wildflowers from the highlands. To others, this might have been just an ordinary morning.
To me, it was the day fate began to move.
I stood before a large mirror in the noble chambers of the Valtherion family. My jet-black hair was neatly arranged over a dark blue academy uniform trimmed with silver along the sleeves—the symbol of a first-year student at the Astralheim Elite Magic Academy. On the left side of my chest was the family crest: a winged lion clutching a split sun.
Aeron Valtherion.
The name still felt foreign in my mind, even though it had been two weeks since I opened my eyes in this world. Two weeks since I realized I was no longer Arka, the devoted player of Eclipse of Aethernia, but the protagonist of a story that always ended in tragedy.
Today was the first day of the academy.
The day the entire storyline officially began.
"Your Highness Aeron, the carriage is ready."
The head butler's voice broke my thoughts. I took a long breath, trying to steady a heartbeat that was far too fast for someone who was supposed to already know what would happen.
I knew who I would meet today.
I knew who would become my allies.
And I knew… who would one day die.
"Very well. I will be down shortly."
My steps felt heavier than usual as I walked down the long palace corridor. Sunlight reflected off the white marble floor, casting a long shadow of my figure—the shadow of a hero who, in the original story, had to sacrifice himself to seal the Demon God.
But that was no longer my fate.
Not this time.
---
The Valtherion family carriage rolled along the main road of the Ardentia Kingdom's capital. Citizens stood along the roadside, some bowing respectfully when they saw the noble crest emblazoned on the carriage. Through the window, I gazed at the city I had once seen only in cutscenes.
The details were more vivid than I had ever imagined.
Crystal towers reflected the sunlight. Mid-level mages hovered low in the air using wind magic. Merchants displayed small artifacts glowing with faint light. This world was real—too real to be called just a game.
The journey to Astralheim Academy took two hours. It stood on a high plateau surrounded by curving cliffs, as though the world itself were protecting it. When the carriage passed through the massive gates carved with ancient runes, I felt a subtle vibration in my chest.
A high-level magical defense system.
In the original story, this symbolized the beginning of a hero's journey. A place where friendships were formed. Where first love blossomed. And where tragedy was slowly sown.
The gates opened.
And before me stood Astralheim Academy.
Its main building rose high with gothic architecture blended with blue magical crystals. Slender towers stretched toward the sky, connected by floating bridges supported by magic circles. The front courtyard was filled with hundreds of noble carriages from across the continent.
This was the center of power for Aethernia's next generation.
I stepped out of the carriage.
And immediately felt the stares.
Valtherion was no small name. As one of the kingdom's guardian families, my presence naturally drew attention. But I was not the only one under scrutiny today.
On the right side of the courtyard, a white carriage lined with gold came to a slow stop. Its emblem was unmistakable: a winged sword encircled by a halo.
The royal family.
The carriage door opened, and a young woman stepped down gracefully. Her blonde hair shimmered beneath the sun, her blue eyes as calm as a winter lake. Her academy uniform was slightly different—embroidered with gold to signify her status.
Crown Princess Elmyra Ardentia.
In the original story, she was the main heroine.
And the only person who witnessed my death in the ending.
Our eyes met for a brief moment.
My heart trembled.
In the original timeline, this was our first meeting—the beginning of a formal conversation that would gradually grow into a relationship built on trust.
I knew the smile she would give.
I knew the tone of her voice.
I knew… how she would cry at the end of the story.
"Prince Aeron of House Valtherion, is it not?" Her voice was gentle yet firm.
Exactly like in the game.
I gave a light bow. "It is an honor to meet Your Highness, Crown Princess."
She smiled faintly. "I hope we may work well together at the academy."
The words were simple. But in the original storyline, that sentence was the beginning of everything.
I resisted the urge to look at her for too long. If I wanted to change fate, I could not allow myself to grow attached as I had before. Emotion was the protagonist's greatest weakness.
But before our conversation could continue, a commotion rose from the main gate.
A black carriage bearing a glowing cross symbol stopped in the center of the courtyard.
The Holy Federation of Luminara.
A theocratic nation that worshiped the Sacred Light and commanded the strongest paladin order on the continent. From the carriage descended a silver-haired young man with sharp golden eyes. His white robes were adorned with church insignia.
Kael Seraphine.
My main rival at the academy.
In the original route, he initially saw me as a threat to his sacred doctrine. Yet during the final war, he was the one who held back the demon forces so I could reach the sealing altar—sacrificing nearly his entire battalion.
He glanced in my direction.
Our eyes met.
A tension immediately filled the air—despite this first meeting not yet being meant to spark conflict.
"So that is the heir of Valtherion," he murmured softly, though loud enough to be heard.
I gave a faint smile. "And you must be the representative of the Holy Federation. A pleasure to meet you."
In the game, I chose the neutral dialogue option.
Today, I did the same.
It was not yet time to change too much.
Not on the first day.
But the surprises were not over.
From the other side of the courtyard came a small explosion accompanied by red sparks. A girl with blazing red hair stepped out of her carriage without waiting for a servant to open the door. Her eyes shone with bold confidence.
Lyra Ignivar.
A genius mage of dragon blood.
In the original route, she was a core member of the team and… the first martyr during the great war in the academy's third year.
She lifted her chin, scanning her surroundings with a challenging grin. "This place looks dull. I hope there's someone here who can entertain me."
Her gaze stopped on me.
Oh no.
In the original story, my first duel was against her—a battle that sparked her interest and made her my closest ally.
If I wanted to change her fate… I would have to be careful.
And then—
A chilling aura suddenly wrapped around the air. From the shadow of a pillar near the main staircase stood a girl with dark blue-black hair, almost invisible unless one paid close attention.
Selene Noctra.
A shadow magic user.
In the alternate route, she briefly became an antagonist before eventually aiding us at the end of the story.
All the key characters had gathered.
Exactly like the game's prologue.
I stood in the middle of the courtyard, realizing something that made my breathing feel heavy.
This was no longer just knowledge of a storyline.
This was a living stage.
If I made a wrong move, the consequences would be real.
A bell rang, echoing throughout the academy grounds. A massive magic circle appeared in the sky, projecting Astralheim's emblem.
"Welcome, new generation of Aethernia's guardians," the Headmaster's voice resounded through amplification magic. "From this day forward, the fate of the world rests in your hands."
Fate.
That word again.
I slowly clenched my fist.
Against the bright blue sky, for a fleeting second, I thought I saw a faint dark crack—as though something was watching from beyond reality.
The Demon God.
In the original story, he only became aware of my existence near the end of the first year.
But somehow… I felt his gaze had begun much sooner.
Perhaps because I had become an anomaly.
I stepped forward toward the academy's grand staircase, standing side by side with those who would one day become allies, rivals, and perhaps victims.
My steps were light.
But my mind was filled with a single resolve.
I will not allow this story to unfold as it once did.
I will not die upon the sealing altar.
And I will not let them weep at the end.
Today marks the beginning of the academy.
The day the hero was meant to accept his fate.
But I am no longer the same hero.
I am the player who knows the ending.
And starting today—
I will rewrite that fate myself.