Ilay gathered his thoughts. Memories from the original owner's body were still foggy and sparse, a slight headache forming.
He was currently in Eclipsed Kingdoms, a route RPG game, inhabiting the body of the MC's younger brother: Ilay Veldrace.
He flipped through the diary hidden away in one of the desk drawers. The entries were inconsistent, and the information was limited—mostly rants about his daily routines and how he was feeling. It seemed his life here wasn't all that bad.
The year was 1048 in the Xaitor Imperial Calendar, meaning this body was only eleven.
This lined up with what he knew about Ilay; his mother's death wasn't discussed fully in the story, only mentioned to have happened in the distant past.
He tossed the diary into the open flames of the fireplace. If this really was that time, then it wasn't safe for him to stay here.
The knight may have left without taking his head, but that didn't mean danger was gone.
Without servants or guards, this place was a goldmine for bandits and local thieves who wouldn't hesitate to kill a noble-born child if it meant pocketing a few thousand drams.
He opened the closet and found a suitable leather bag tucked in the corner, likely not having seen daylight in years.
After brushing off the dust, he packed a few light items—the essentials—along with some jewels he could sell later.
Ilay entered his mother's room and watched her rest peacefully. A bitter smile painted his face.
He brushed the hair away from her eyes, her now cold skin feeling like daggers. He gave her a gentle kiss.
Rest well, Mom. I promise I'll get back at them soon.
Looking around her room, he noticed it was neat, yet something felt out of place.
He moved toward the dresser where a box made of Imorian wood sat—a special type of wood known for resisting harsh weather conditions.
The intricate patterns carved into it had clearly been done by an expert craftsman. It was beautiful, polished with a red finish that resembled their eyes.
Could it be?
He ran his fingers over it, noticing a symbol at its center: a wolf looking toward the moon. When he pressed down, the cool surface comforting beneath his touch, the lid suddenly popped open.
Fingerprint recognition?
Inside was a small dagger, wrapped with a beautiful pendant shaped like a flower he didn't recognize. A small note was tucked inside.
He hesitated, seeing his name written on the outside. He closed the box abruptly and tucked it into his bag.
This… wasn't the time for that.
His heart grew heavy.
Even after death, his mother was still taking care of him.
He gathered a few more items and departed through the back entrance, heading directly toward the Ivory Forests.
The sun was setting, casting an orange glaze over the beautiful manor—over what used to be his home.
He lit a piece of wood with flint and steel and pressed it gently against the mansion walls. Soon, the structure was engulfed in fiery red.
To the servants who fed him, clothed him, and looked after him at his lowest… to his mother, who always smiled no matter what he did, no matter the situation—
Rest well. Peace be with you all.
He headed into the forest, dark and uninviting.
This is where Ilay's tragedy began, but mine won't end the same way.