"This... no doubt about it, this is the Adventurer game. I remember Merlin played it once."
Tap, tap, tap, tap...
The hurried sound of footsteps echoed in the hallway outside the room, striking the floor in a quick rhythm, as if someone was rushing toward Zake. He froze, his heart beating faster, his brows furrowing in confusion. One of his eyebrows arched, trying to guess who was coming.
Who is that? Why are they walking toward me? Could it be... that mysterious woman again?
Memories from the past crashed into his mind. When he was six years old, he had encountered a strange woman in a park—someone who appeared out of nowhere, coinciding with his birthday, and then cursed him. That memory had stuck in his head, creating a lingering, unexplainable anxiety.
The footsteps stopped abruptly, right in front of Zake's room.
Huh? They stopped...
A mix of curiosity and fear drove Zake closer to the door. His hand trembled as he reached for the handle, but curiosity won over fear. His expression remained pale, cold sweat starting to form on his forehead. His breath caught. He moved closer... and then—
BANG!
The door swung open with a loud crash, the hinges creaking sharply. Zake was thrown backward onto the floor, his eyes wide with shock. His heartbeat echoed loudly in the room, amplifying the tense atmosphere of the night.
In the doorway stood a girl in blue pajamas that hugged her slim figure. Her blonde hair cascaded beautifully, and her bright blue eyes sparkled as she looked at Zake, filled with excitement. Her body exuded a faint yet alluring scent of orchid flowers.
Zake shivered. His lower lip trembled, a small trickle of blood forming as he bit down hard. His hand clenched the marble floor, producing a faint cracking sound. His breath grew ragged, as if his lungs refused to take in air.
And that girl—
leapt toward him with overwhelming enthusiasm.
"Zake~!! ♥"
Her voice rang out bright and cheerful, full of warmth, but to Zake, it felt like a bolt of lightning striking his heart.
There was no mistaking it—that was Mellisa Von Zarythean, Zake's older sister, the first daughter of the Emperor and Empress of the Empire. A lively, energetic girl who always teased her one and only little brother. She had just turned 16 this year.
Mellisa hugged Zake tightly, their bodies pressed together, and Zake nearly felt like his soul was being squeezed out of his body from the intensity of her embrace.
"S-Sis! I told you, don't scare me like that! I just got into the academy, you know?!" Zake shouted, his voice trembling, though the sharpness of his tone gradually softened.
Mellisa giggled softly, then glanced around Zake's room. Her eyes scanned the space—it was completely bare. No furniture, no decorations. Just a plain bed and a small table in the corner. She let out a small sigh, a hint of guilt flashing in her expression.
"Eh? Why is your room still so empty, my little brother?" Mellisa asked gently, brushing Zake's cheek affectionately. "Your lip is bleeding."
Zake exhaled deeply, trying to calm his still-racing heart. "Didn't you know? Us first-year students have to explore the academy first to get familiar with the place. So I haven't had time to set up my room…"
Mellisa took a step back, crossing her arms, her eyes narrowing in thought.
Hmm... Wait a minute, this is the perfect opportunity... she thought, a mischievous smile forming on her lips.
"A-hem! Since your room's still empty, big sis will help you find some good furniture around the academy. Or... would you rather sleep in my room~?" Mellisa teased in a playful tone, though her bright, eager expression made her offer hard to refuse.
Zake sighed, then gave a small smile. "For the latter, no thanks. But for the former, I'm in."
Mellisa immediately started bouncing up and down in excitement... Yay~! This is it! A nighttime date scenario with my little brother! Hohoho~! she cheered inwardly, as happy as a child who just got a new toy.
***
In a tall, lonely tower bathed in pale moonlight, a woman with jet-black hair streaked with gray stood near the window, her silhouette faintly visible.
"You've arrived, Leonhart 'Le' Valdheim," she spoke softly, though there was a distinct, intimidating edge to her voice.
The silhouette of a man standing before the window, blocking the moonlight, sighed. "Wow... your red eyes are as scary as ever, huh? Syris Ysddom'ac," he replied, his voice carrying the ambitious tone of a thirteen-year-old boy, though there was an unsettling tremor in his words.
Syris stepped closer, her footsteps nearly silent. The only sounds around them were the rustling of the wind and the distant chirping of crickets. Leonhart remained standing, his gaze fixed forward, his emerald green pupils glinting in the dim light.
"Let's cut to the chase—why did you summon me here?" he asked, his expression serious, though it was clear his mind was racing.
Silence enveloped the room for several seconds that felt like an eternity, until finally, Syris leaned in and whispered in Leonhart's ear with a sly smirk.
"Your childhood friend... Riana. She's here, in the academy~"
Leonhart's eyes widened in shock, his body trembling violently, cold sweat dripping down his temple.
Strange... This world... It should be the 26th cycle, right? But Riana has never been at the academy before... he thought, his eyes widening in disbelief.
Syris locked eyes with him sharply, then added in a calm tone, "You feel it too, don't you? That something's off. Even in your previous life, your height was 167 cm at age 13. But now... you're only 162 cm."
Leonhart froze, as if realizing a small detail he had overlooked. A sudden gust of wind blew in from the window, prompting him to turn toward the view outside.
Syris moved closer, her eyes catching the silhouettes of two people walking in the dorm courtyard: Zake and Mellisa.
"It's begun... It's now 8:25 p.m., July 6th, year 714 of the Dragon Calendar, year 1000 of the World Calendar," Leonhart whispered.
Syris glanced at Leonhart with a sharp look, one eyebrow raised, then added, "Prologue arc... Zake Von Zarythean's meeting with the head of Zary Academy, Luna Levitt, at the academy's shopping district. But why is Mellisa there too? Isn't this supposed to be the moment she starts becoming the villain?"
Leonhart and Syris exchanged glances.
They both muttered the same words under their breath.
"Is the plot shifting again?"