'Why does it feel so uncomfortable? And why do I hear a voice?'
Klyde opened his eyes and, much to his confusion, saw why.
His prior discomfort stemmed from him sleeping whilst being seated, his arms being a cushion for his head.
As for the voice, Klyde's gaze fell on the professor in the midst of explaining something.
'A classroom?'
Klyde had an unusual expression.
Why was he in a classroom?
He remembered being in his bed, his eyelids heavy as he binge read the last chapters of a novel.
However, after falling asleep, he had suddenly woken up in the middle of a lesson?
How did he end up here?
'Perhaps... a dream?'
Klyde tried to rationalise.
But when a torrent of memories suddenly flooded into his head, Klyde quickly realised the truth.
'This... I've been transmigrated?'
Bewildered, Klyde raised his hands and examined them.
'It... really isn't my body...'
Trying to stay calm, he took a deep breath and went through the new memories.
His name was Klyde Lucival, a commoner that had miraculously been tested to have a mana affinity, and currently a student attending Twilight Sun Academy to become a Magus.
'Twilight Sun Academy?' Klyde's expression became even more perplexed, his eyes widening. 'The same one the protagonist attended from that novel?'
Klyde felt a sharp pain in his head trying to make sense of his situation.
Massaging his temples, he muttered inwardly, 'This pain is unmistakable, and everything I'm seeing is too vivid. If this were really a dream, I should have woken up by now...'
'I've really transmigrated... and into a novel at that...'
He couldn't fathom how or why, but as someone who had read a few novels in his lifetime, he managed to keep most of his composure.
'This is identical to many of the tropes I've read about.'
He was familiar with tropes where the protagonist wakes up in a new body, and being thrown into a strange new world.
Taking a moment to regather himself, Klyde glanced at his surroundings.
The room was wide and quiet, filled with rows of students dressed in formal uniforms of the academy — primarily white, and accented with red. They were colours that represented the Twilight Sun.
'So that's the protagonist… I also see a couple other key characters,' Klyde muttered in his heart, recognising them based on their distinct features described in the novel.
Seated near the back corner of the room was a sixteen-year-old youth with brown hair and emerald eyes. The protagonist.
Truth be told, he would be quite hard to spot due to his somewhat average features, however, Klyde had no issues identifying him as he had that same string necklace given to him by his father as a child.
A few rows down, Klyde also recognised some key characters who would become powerful figures later in the novel.
'From her cold expression, unique silver hair and golden irises, that should be Azalea from the powerful Daviessi royal family. A few seats away from her is the confident, golden-haired boy, Atlus Raiden, from another powerful family, and a future companion of the protagonist. And over there with sky-blue hair and eyes is Freya Lillium, a commoner who possesses immense talent.'
Klyde felt that his situation was simply surreal. Characters which had previously been in a novel were in front of him!
'Hm, there's also the cliche arrogant nobles at the front.'
Klyde couldn't help but smirk inwardly.
After receiving the new memories, the professor's voice which had previously been a blur had also become much clearer.
Obviously, the language here was different, but with the new memories, Klyde had no issue understanding it anymore.
'Based off my memories, it looks like I've transmigrated near the beginning of the novel. Today should also be my first day attending my first lesson in the academy,' Klyde mused to himself, placing his attention on the professor.
He was a man in his late twenties. With a professional demeanour, he taught the hundreds of Magi apprentices efficiently about the general knowledge of Magi
Despite its name having "academy" in it, Twilight Sun Academy was more like a territory and a large organisation than an institution for learning.
However, today was a special occasion as Twilight Sun Academy had recently accepted a large batch of students, which is why there's so many people in this room.
This lesson was more like an introduction for the apprentices, exposing them to the world of Magi.
Once this introduction is over, the apprentices can then go select fields and specialist professors they want to learn from.
While this professor was only covering general knowledge of Magi, this lesson was also crucial, especially for commoners like Klyde who had no prior knowledge of Magi.
If Klyde wasn't so perplexed over his transmigration and hadn't read the novel, he'd also likely be absorbing the information the professor was saying with absolute focus like his peers next to him.
After all, Magi were essentially beings who can invoke the elements, able to bring down lightning, rain down fire, summon the dead, and unleash many more powers beyond imagination!
However, despite its wonders, there were also the dangers…
And as for Klyde, although he was intrigued about his transmigration, he was also feeling deeply troubled about it as well.
The novel he had read involved magic, demons, and celestial beings akin to gods.
Having binge read the novel before his transmigration, he was acutely aware of how unfathomable this world is and the threats that lurk in the darkness.
Essentially, he was worried that a god or a powerful being may have already caught on to his transmigration…
And if that were the case, there is a high chance his fate was already sealed.
Thinking about it sent a chill down his spine.
'...Let's not overthink it.'
Klyde gathered himself once more.
'Nothing strange has happened so far… maybe my transmigration is a special case.'
With that thought, Klyde quietly exhaled and straightened his posture.
Just then, the professor's voice echoed across the hall.
"At the end of today, each of you should decide on a constellation. Once you've decided, go to the Treasure Hall and request for the star sequence of the constellation. If you've followed instructions and haven't spent all of your magic crystals already, there shouldn't be any problems."
A murmur spread through the hall.
There was a shift in atmosphere as everyone had a look of anticipation and excitement.
"Finally! I can't wait to become a Magus!"
"I will definitely choose the Warrior Constellation like my grandfather!"
"The Mage or Enchanter Constellation is definitely the best option. Plus, it will help me learn cool spells much easier!"
"Should I pick the Berserker... or the Assassin Constellation? Ah! It's really hard to decide!"
Klyde's interest was also piqued.
"Choosing a constellation?"
In the novel, constellations were essentially classes in RPGs with evolutionary pathways. Each constellation provided certain benefits to different fields such as fighting, potioneering, stealth, magic, illusions etc.
It strongly influenced your journey and future as a Magus. Thus, it was wise to carefully think things through before choosing your constellation.
Realising he'll likely be in this world for a while, Klyde also pondered over what constellation would be best suited for him.
He already had a few in mind having read the novel. These ones had left the greatest impression on him as the abilities of some of them were simply heaven defying.
For example, one of the constellations would grant the user the ability to influence luck and manipulate chaos, while another constellation granted the ability to alter space and control the void.
Of course, these were High-Tier constellations, something the majority of Magi could only dream of attaining.
Despite his interests in these constellations, Klyde knew Twilight Sun Academy wouldn't have the star sequences for them.
'Though, having read the novel, I do know where to obtain some of them,' Klyde pondered in his heart.
However, at this thought, Klyde couldn't help but let out a sigh, inwardly muttering, 'But of course, with my current means and strength, I'll simply be courting death if I went to those places. I would have to find a strong companion to help me.'
Klyde tapped his finger on his desk, deep in thought.
'I would also have to make sure the helper is trustworthy, and I'd also have to convince them how I acquired the information. There's also the matter of verifying the authenticity of my words. Magi are innately distrusting and scheming individuals, always thinking about their own safety and resources...'
Klyde sighed once more.
'There's simply too many risks and variables involved to go through with this plan. Picking a decent constellation that Twilight Sun Academy has would be the better option. Although their collection of constellations would be limited, it's better than dying due to going to those places unprepared...'
Klyde felt that this was the better course of action. Moreover, he understood that no constellations were truly "useless."
'While the other constellations may not be as enticing as those ones, all of them have their own strengths and weaknesses. Moreover, it's not as if constellations are the be-all to end-all of a Magus' strength...'
After all, if constellations were like classes in a RPG, there should be some form of balance, else it'd simply be an awful game.
...
Once the professor explained everything the Magi apprentices needed to know, everyone soon began leaving for the Treasure Hall to pick their constellations.
Klyde stood slowly, his body still feeling somewhat foreign.
After glancing briefly at a few people, Klyde made up his mind.
'Best not get involved with the key characters... it's not like I have anything to say to them. For now, I'll just go get a star sequence then go back to my room and begin modelling my first star. I can figure things out from there.'
As much as Klyde wanted to form connections with powerful characters, he first had to sort out his own issues and raise his strength.
Exiting the lecture hall, he stepped into the academy grounds, greeted by the expansive marble paths and towering structures of the academy.
The sky overhead was a clear, faint-azure hue — a phenomenon unique to this region due to the dense mana in the atmosphere.
He followed the stream of students heading deeper into the academy grounds, until a large building stood in front of him.
Above him, plated in gold, was the words: Treasure Hall.