A month passed in the blink of an eye.
For ordinary people, a month is a long time. But for me, it was just a series of days spent healing my ribs, relearning the story of this world that existed in my head, and of course—memorizing my new identity.
That morning, the air outside the old church felt fresh. The autumn sun shone softly, penetrating the cracks in the Gothic ruins where we were hiding.
I stepped out of the giant wooden door, squinting as the light hit my face.
No more black robes. No more tactical vests full of knives.
Today, I wore a civilian uniform specially selected by Seven. A clean white shirt, ironed smooth, paired with a gray vest and black pants that fit my long legs perfectly. My usually messy hair was now slightly tidied up, giving me the look of a "mysterious smart student."
I feel the pocket on my chest. Inside is a new ID card printed with high-level magical technology.
Name: Leon. Origin: Orphan from the Eastern Border. Status: -
I smiled wryly. An orphan from the border. A classic element that I wrote myself for a supporting character so I wouldn't have to bother explaining the family tree. Who would have thought that my laziness in writing in the past would actually help me now.
"Brother!"
A cheerful voice called out to me.
Near the black Van-Tech car, its engine already purring smoothly, Seven stood waiting for me.
The girl looked radiant today. She was wearing her favorite plain white dress. Her purple hair was adorned with a white ribbon, making her look like a little angel who had strayed into an assassin's headquarters.
As soon as she saw me, she ran over and threw herself into my arms, hugging my waist tightly.
"Wuaah! Brother Five looks like a smart person!" she exclaimed, looking up at me with admiring eyes.
"Only 'look smart', Seven?" I teased, patting her head gently. "And remember, call me Leon from now on."
"Hehe, okay, Brother Leon! Don't forget me when you're surrounded by noble girls there, okay!"
"Enough drama, Seven," a firm voice cut through our moment.
Hilda got out of the driver's seat. She wore sunglasses and fashionable casual clothes, perfectly hiding her deadly aura. In her hand, she held a leather suitcase.
"All your equipment is in here," Hilda said, handing me the suitcase. "Books, stationery, and of course... some special tools disguised as school supplies. Use them only if necessary."
I nodded, accepting the heavy suitcase.
"Listen, Leon," Hilda continued, her tone shifting to a mission briefing. "The Royal Celestia Academy operates on a closed dormitory system. After you enroll today, you can't go home. You'll be placed in dormitory quarantine while waiting for the selection results."
"I understand."
"And one more thing," Hilda lowered her sunglasses, staring at me intently with her red eyes. "You have to be accepted. Not just because of Seraphina's mission. But because the general admission fee is very expensive. Don't waste the organization's money."
I chuckled. "Don't worry, Master. I know the answers to the exam."
"What?"
"I mean... I've studied hard."
Hilda snorted, though I could see a hint of pride in her eyes. "Good. Then come in. We can't be late for the Flying Ship to the academy island."
The three of us got into the Van-Tech.
The interior of the car smelled of coffee beans, a familiar aroma. I sat in the back seat, while Seven sat next to me, still holding onto my sleeve as if afraid I would disappear if she let go.
The engine roared. Hilda stepped on the gas pedal.
The car sped away from the old church parking lot, out of the shadows of the past and onto the brightly lit Imperial Kingdom highway.
I stared at the church through the rearview mirror as it grew smaller and smaller.
This was a one-way trip.
When I returned here later, I didn't know if I would come back as a hero who had successfully rewritten the fate of this world or as a failed character who had been destroyed along with this world.
I closed my eyes, letting the vibration of the car engine carry me to the main stage of this world.
Until, without realizing it, the wheels of the vehicle slowly came to a stop. Hilda dropped me off in a narrow, deserted alley, two blocks from the capital's main road.
"This is as far as I go," Hilda said. "The rest is up to you, Leon."
I nodded, then got out of the van. As soon as the door closed and the van disappeared around the corner, I immediately changed my posture.
I hunched my shoulders slightly, ruffled my overly neat hair, and deliberately stepped in a puddle of dirty water to make my boots look dusty.
The disguise was perfect. An "Orphan from the Border" who had come all the way to the capital couldn't possibly look as fresh and fit as if he had just stepped out of a salon. I had to look tired, a little dull, but with a determined look in my eyes.
I walked to the Imperial Central Station.
Unlike the nobles who rode arrogantly in horse-drawn carriages bearing their family crests or luxurious steam-powered vehicles, I blended in with the common people. I bought an economy class ticket for the commuter train to the academy's departure point.
My destination: Vina Station.
It was a transit village famous for its vineyards, which also served as an air harbor for ships heading to the floating island of the academy.
The train ride took forty minutes. Along the way, I remained silent, observing my surroundings, pretending to read a book, while my eyes busily scanned the faces of other prospective students in the same carriage.
Upon arriving at Vina Station, the sweet aroma of grape juice greeted me.
This village was beautiful. Green vineyards stretched as far as the eye could see, while in the middle of them, the iron towers of the air harbor rose high.
Based on the map I had memorized, I had to walk along a rocky path.
I moved smoothly, avoiding the horse-drawn carriages carrying the belongings of the nobility. I deliberately chose a quieter but faster route along the outskirts, passing a row of bakeries and Magitech workshops.
Finally, I arrived at the gate of Vina Airport.
The view there was quite nostalgic.
Hundreds of people crowded the departure area. There were noble children followed by their personal servants. There were wealthy merchant children showing off their new magic watches. And of course, there were ordinary children like me, standing awkwardly.
My eyes scanned the crowd and stopped on a group of students with pointed ears and transparent wings on their backs.
Elves. Fairies. There were even a few Beastkin.
"Ah, that's right," I thought to myself. "Originally, this Academy was only for humans. But I added other races in Update Patch 2.0 so players could gacha non-human characters."
Seeing them in front of my eyes still gave me a strange, surreal feeling. They used to be just 2D characters on my screen.
"Attention all prospective students."
The announcement echoed from the magic loudspeakers floating in the air.
"This is the final call for the departure of the Third Wave to Celestia Island. The Airship will take off in fifteen minutes."
I looked up.
At the upper dock, an airship made of wood and metal floated gracefully. Its large white balloon bore the golden emblem of the Royal Celestia Academy.
I gripped my suitcase handle tighter.
"Alright," I muttered, stepping forward toward the ticket inspection line.
***
I stood on the side deck, letting the high winds blow against my face. Below, the settlement slowly shrank into green dots, replaced by an endless expanse of white clouds.
The trip was estimated to take five hours.
For the other students, this was a journey to the land of hope. But for me, it was a journey to the strongest fortress and the most luxurious prison in the world.
Technically, the Royal Celestia Academy did not exist on conventional maps.
The island is protected by a layered illusion magic system that I designed to be impervious to radar and standard magic detection. Only those with an "Access Key" can pass through the illusionary fog.
That's why The Numbers' intelligence had difficulty obtaining a complete map.
But I didn't need a map. I designed the place.
"Hah, this is boring," I complained softly.
After an hour of standing staring at the clouds, sleepiness began to set in. No internet signal, no smartphone. This fantasy world was beautiful, but there was very little entertainment.
I decided to take a walk. I might as well see what the new students at the academy were doing.
My main target: Seraphina Vox Winters.
I walked along the ship's deck, moving from the economy class area to the border of the VIP area on the upper deck.
The sound of polite laughter and the clinking of crystal glasses came from the VIP area. The young aristocrats were socializing, forming cliques and alliances even before school had started.
I hid behind a ventilation pillar, my eyes scanning the crowd, looking for that iconic silver hair.
In my original script, Seraphina was supposed to be the center of attention. She was supposed to be sitting in the most comfortable chair, surrounded by admirers, looking down her nose at the other students with arrogance.
However, what I found in a quiet corner of the rear deck made my blood rush.
I found her.
Her silver hair glistened beautifully in the midday sun. But Seraphina was not sitting on her throne.
She was standing in a corner near the ship's railing.
Three other noble girls surrounded her. One of them, a red-haired girl with a feather fan, appeared to be pouring the contents of her juice glass onto Seraphina's shoes.
"Oops, sorry," said the red-haired girl in a feigned tone. "I didn't see any 'Exiled Princess' there."
Her friends giggled maliciously.
I froze in place. My brain, as the author of this story, seemed to have encountered an error.
Wait. This is wrong.
The red-haired girl, wasn't she just a minor character? She should be afraid of Seraphina!
Why was Seraphina silent? Why was the cruel Villainess I wrote about, with her explosive temper, just looking down silently while clutching her uniform skirt? Where was her arrogance? Where was the dark magic she usually used to devour anyone who insulted her?
This isn't just a minor change. It's a fatal character deviation.
The Seraphina I see now isn't the Villainess. She looks like a victim.
"Damn," I muttered softly, gripping the edge of the iron pillar.
Did I really enter the game world I wrote, or is this world something far more than just a game world?!
*****
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