Shen Yu arrived at the bridge at eleven o'clock at night.
The bridge was not far from his apartment. He had passed it many times without looking at it directly.
Today, it was the only thing he could see.
His girlfriend had ended things two weeks ago.
She had said it was not working.
He had agreed.
She was right.
Who could live with someone who harmed themselves at every discomfort?
Shen Yu was aware this was a problem.
He had always been aware.
He climbed over the railing.The river below was dark and the wind was cold.
He stood there for a moment.
Then he let go.
The water hit him and then it was very cold, so cold, it brought out a different kind of pain.
Was the water always this cold?
Or was this how death felt....
He would never know.
--------
When Shen Yu opened his eyes again.
The ceiling above him was unfamiliar.
He sat up.
The room was small one.
There was a wooden table, a window with a thin curtain and a pair of worn boots by the door. Outside someone was haggling loudly over the price of grain.
He looked down at his hands.
No scratches.
That's odd.
He couldn't remember the last time he saw his hands spotless.
Before he could think further, a soft chime sounded. A glowing screen appeared in the air directly in front of him, transparent and blue at the edges.
A line of text appeared.
[Hello! Welcome to your new life! I am Cherry, your personal guide and companion for your journey in the world of Ramon.]
Shen Yu looked at the screen.
[I can see you are confused! That is completely normal. Please do not be alarmed. I will explain everything.]
[You have transmigrated into the body of a character in the novel 'Flames of Ramon.' The original owner of this body was a minor supporting character. For ease of reference, your new name is Fenric Delwyn.]
Shen Yu read the name twice.
[Fenric has the ability to heal others. This is a rare and valuable ability in Ramon. However—]
Cherry paused. Shen Yu got the impression she was trying to find a polite way to say something.
[Fenric's role in the novel was to die in a border raid in approximately three days. The purpose of his death was to motivate a side character in chapter four. He is not mentioned again after that.]
Shen Yu was quiet for a moment.
"So I died and woke up as someone who is also destined to die. How ironic.."
[That is technically accurate yes! But that is exactly why I am here. I will provide you with information about the novel, its characters, and the world of Ramon so that you can make informed decisions about your survival.]
Shen Yu looked at the cheerful little face Cherry had appended to that sentence.
"You said the border raid is in three days."
[Correct!]
"Where is it."
[The northern border of the Cassel territory. Approximately two days travel from your current location.]
"Then I won't go north."
Cherry was quiet for a moment.
[...That is one approach!]
Shen Yu stood up, then walked to the window.
The world outside was quite different from the modern world, it indeed did look like a fantasy world.
Lush green trees, cottages houses, kids running around cobblestone streets.
How.. authentic.
"To avoid the plot, I will go south."
But then again, stroking his chin. Why brought about a border raid?
"Does he raid borders? Just what brought him there? If I know I can avoid it."
[Being a supporting character and a useless one at that. Fenric is often written as gullible, though he is not a border raider he has friends who are and was brought on the raid to take the fall for them.]
Shen Yu turned from the window.
"So his friends set him up."
[Yes. They needed someone to take the blame for an illegal raid. Fenric was convenient.]
Shen Yu was quiet for a moment.
"Who are these friends?"
[There are three of them. Dorin, Cassie and Wulf. They have been close to Fenric since childhood. In the novel they are described as his only companions.]
"And after they used him to take the fall, they just continued living."
[Yes. They are not mentioned again after chapter four either.]
Shen Yu looked back out the window. A child was chasing a chicken down the cobblestone street with great determination.
"Where are they now?"
[Currently at the local tavern. They will come to find Fenric tomorrow morning to convince him to join the raid.]
"So I have until tomorrow morning."
[That is correct!]
Shen Yu turned from the window and looked around the small room. There was not much. A worn bag hanging on the wall. A small chest at the foot of the bed. The boots by the door.
He walked to the chest and opened it.
Some coins, change of clothes and a small knife.
He took the coins and counted them.
"Is this enough to travel south?"
[It is enough to reach the town of Merrath. After that your funds would be depleted.]
Shen Yu stared at the coins in his hand, there were only fifteen.
"Can i find work in Merrath?"
[Yes. Fenric's healing ability is rare. There would be demand for it in most towns.]
Shen Yu put the coins back and closed the chest. He sat on the edge of the bed and looked at the glowing screen still floating patiently in the air.
"One more thing."
[Yes!]
"The novel. Is there anything else in it that could get me killed."
Cherry paused.
[...There are several things. Would you like me to go through them in order of urgency?]
Shen Yu laid back on the bed and stared at the unfamiliar ceiling.
"Start talking."
[So! The most urgent thing first.]
[As previously mentioned, Fenric Delwyn does not survive past chapter three. His death is a fixed plot point. This means that if you continue to exist past chapter three, the novel's plot will register you as an anomaly.]
Shen Yu stared at the ceiling.
"An anomaly?"
[Yes. Think of it this way. The novel has an author. The author has a plan. You are currently deviating from that plan. The further you deviate, the more likely the author is to notice and intervene.]
[The intervention could take many forms. An accident. A sudden illness. A convenient villain. The author has many tools.]
"So the plot will try to kill me?"