Lucian Pendragon stood silently in his room.
The Akashic interface had already disappeared.
The dragon's presence had faded into the depths of his consciousness.
Yet the information remained.
Every word.
Every detail.
Affinities.Abilities.Authorities.System.Dragon.Chaos.Void.
Lucian slowly walked toward the tall window.
Morning sunlight poured into the chamber, illuminating the polished marble floor and dark wooden furniture.
Outside, the capital city of the Pendragon Duchy was already alive.
Carriages rolled through the streets.
Merchants shouted prices from their stalls.
Knights in silver armor patrolled the outer walls of the estate.
Everything seemed ordinary.
Lucian rested his hand against the glass.
His crimson eyes looked calm.
But behind them—
His mind moved rapidly.
"…A system."
"…A dragon."
"…Akashic Records."
None of that surprised him as much as one particular thought.
A thought that had been growing stronger since his awakening.
Lucian closed his eyes slowly.
"…This world."
"…Feels familiar."
Fragments of memories from his previous life surfaced within his mind.
Stories.
Novels.
Fantasy worlds.
Magic systems.
Noble houses.
Dragon contracts.
He had read countless stories like that.
And the more he observed this world—
The more similarities he noticed.
Lucian's eyes opened again.
"…A novel."
The possibility was disturbingly high.
A noble house.
A powerful family.
Magical hierarchy.
A structured power system.
A protagonist somewhere in the world.
And characters destined to play certain roles.
Lucian leaned slightly against the window frame.
"…Then I must be a character as well."
But what kind?
Hero?
Villain?
Side character?
Sacrificial pawn?
His lips curved slightly.
"…Doesn't matter."
Because Lucian had no intention of following any role written for him.
If this truly was a story—
Then he would not obey its script.
Lucian had already died once.
He had no interest in becoming a disposable character in someone else's narrative.
His crimson eyes darkened slightly.
"…Rules exist to control people."
"…But control only works on those who obey."
Lucian slowly turned away from the window.
He walked toward the mirror standing beside the wardrobe.
His reflection stared back.
Long white hair.
Crimson eyes.
Pale skin.
A calm, almost indifferent expression.
A sixteen-year-old noble boy.
Yet beneath that calm exterior—
Something far more dangerous had awakened.
Lucian studied his reflection quietly.
"…Manipulator."
That word suited him.
Not a hero.
Not a villain.
But someone who moved the pieces on the board.
Someone who influenced events without being noticed.
Someone who controlled outcomes from the shadows.
Lucian exhaled slowly.
"…Let's see if fate can survive manipulation."
Then—
Knock.
Knock.
"Young Master?"
Lucian opened the door calmly.
Elena stood outside with a polite bow.
"Young Master, breakfast has been prepared."
"…I see."
"Young Master… everyone is waiting."
Lucian stepped into the hallway.
"…Let's go."
The mansion corridors were elegant and quiet.
Servants bowed respectfully.
Lucian nodded politely.
"…Good morning."
He rarely spoke much.
And that suited him perfectly.
A quiet person attracted less attention.
Less attention meant fewer people trying to understand him.
And that made manipulation easier.
Eventually, Lucian reached the massive dining hall doors.
The servants opened them.
Lucian stepped inside.
The dining room was enormous.
Nearly the entire Pendragon family was already seated.
Lucian's eyes calmly scanned the table.
Grandfather.
Grandmother.
Father.
Mother.
Uncles.
Aunts.
Cousins.
The twins.
For a brief moment—
Lucian froze.
Something unfamiliar stirred inside his chest.
A strange feeling.
Warm.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
Family.
In his previous life—
He had none.
His parents had died early.
He had grown up alone.
Surviving.
Working.
Existing.
Never sitting at a table like this.
Never hearing family laughter.
Never belonging anywhere.
The realization struck him unexpectedly.
His chest tightened slightly.
Lucian looked away for a moment.
"…How troublesome."
He inhaled slowly.
Then exhaled.
The emotion disappeared.
Suppressed.
Locked away.
Lucian stepped forward calmly.
"…Good morning."
But instead of going straight to his seat—
He walked toward the twins.
The six-year-old siblings looked up happily.
"Big brother!"
Lucian bent slightly.
He gently kissed both of their foreheads.
"Good morning."
The twins giggled happily.
Then Lucian walked toward the head of the table.
His grandfather sat there like a mountain.
Duke Aldric Pendragon.
Lucian stopped beside him.
Then unexpectedly—
He leaned forward and hugged the old man.
The entire table froze.
Aldric Pendragon blinked.
Lucian… had never done that before.
Not once in sixteen years.
The old duke stiffened awkwardly.
"…Lucian?"
Lucian released him calmly.
"…Good morning, grandfather."
Aldric cleared his throat.
"…Yes… good morning."
But inwardly—
The old man's heart felt strangely warm.
Around the table—
Everyone had noticed the change.
His mother watched quietly.
His father frowned slightly.
The cousins exchanged glances.
One man remained silent.
Lucian's second uncle.
Cedric Pendragon.
A calculating man.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
But he said nothing.
Yet inside—
Thoughts were already moving.
Scheming.
Lucian calmly took his seat.
Breakfast began.
Conversation filled the room.
Politics.
Trade.
Military reports.
Family news.
Then eventually—
The topic shifted.
Lucian's father spoke.
"Lucian."
"You are turning sixteen this year."
Lucian nodded slightly.
"Yes."
His grandfather continued.
"There is a certain academy on the continent."
"The greatest one."
Lucian already knew what they meant.
"The Arcane Academy."
His grandfather nodded.
"A recommendation has arrived."
Lucian raised an eyebrow slightly.
"From whom?"
"An old friend of mine."
"Richard Leywin."
Several family members nodded respectfully.
Richard Leywin.
One of the most famous archmages on the continent.
A 7th Circle Grandmage.
A being capable of destroying multiple nations if he wished.
He was also one of the senior professors of the academy.
His father spoke again.
"You will have to decide soon."
"The academy entrance is in four months."
His mother added softly.
"Your friends Lucas and Kael will also be joining."
Lucian remained silent.
"…I will think about it."
Then someone else spoke.
A calm female voice.
Evelyn.
His cousin.
Nineteen years old.
She had long silver hair and a cold expression.
She was already a student of the academy.
Currently home for vacation.
"I recommend going."
Lucian looked at her.
She continued calmly.
"The academy is enormous."
"It is practically a city."
"Students from every kingdom attend."
"Competition is constant."
"The faculty are some of the strongest individuals on the continent."
She paused slightly.
"Even the principal is a 10-Star Knight."
Lucian listened carefully.
"A being comparable to an Emperor Rank powerhouse."
She continued.
"The common power rankings are known as…"
Awakened
Novice
Advanced
Master
Grandmaster
Great Grandmaster
King
Emperor
Monarch
Lucian nodded slightly.
But he knew something else.
The Akashic Record had shown him deeper levels.
Ranks not known to the public.
Sovereign
Saint
Spirit
Supreme
Zenith
And possibly even higher.
The ancient Chaos Void Dragon…
Its rank had appeared as:
?????
Meaning—
Even the system could not categorize it.
Evelyn continued speaking.
"There are also dangerous groups inside the academy."
"Political factions."
"Noble alliances."
"Secret societies."
She looked directly at Lucian.
"You should be careful."
Lucian nodded calmly.
"…Understood."
But inside—
His mind had already begun calculating.
An academy filled with geniuses.
Powerful teachers.
Political factions.
Influence networks.
Resources.
Knowledge.
Opportunity.
Lucian slowly smiled.
Very faintly.
"…Interesting."
If this world truly was a story—
Then the academy would likely be its stage.
And Lucian Pendragon had already decided.
He would not follow the script.
He would rewrite it.
He would not follow the script