Rafael stepped into his apartment, both hands carrying plastic bags filled with his monthly groceries. Living alone as a college student was no easy feat, especially coming from an orphanage. However, for him, surviving was the only option.
His small apartment might not be spacious, but it was comfortable enough. A bedroom, a kitchen that merged with the living area, and a single bathroom located near the kitchen.
After placing the groceries on the dining table, Rafael let out a relieved sigh.
"With this, I won't have to worry about food for the next few weeks."
Relying on part-time jobs to cover his living expenses meant that his financial situation was far from stable. Because of that, cooking for himself was the best option compared to buying food outside.
However, as he was unpacking his groceries, something caught his attention—a thick book with a striking cover nestled among his purchases.
"What is this...?"
Rafael picked up the book and read the title—Soul Fantasy. He paused for a moment, then rewound his memory. He did stop by a bookstore earlier and browsed through its fantasy novel collection.
"Looks like I did it again..."
That bad habit of his had struck once more. Rafael suffered from Tsundoku—a tendency to buy books only to let them pile up without ever reading them. It wasn't that he disliked reading, but he often ended up buying books that didn't match his taste.
Letting out a sigh, he carried the book into his room. As he entered, his eyes landed on the shelf in the corner, packed with other books he had purchased due to this habit. With a bit of reluctance, he placed Soul Fantasy there, letting it join the stack of books that shared the same fate.
"Rafael, you really need to stop this habit," he muttered to himself.
Without a second thought, he let himself fall onto his bed. The moment his back touched the soft surface, a wave of comfort washed over him.
"Ahh… my beloved bed..."
No one could resist the allure of a bed after a long, exhausting day. His eyelids grew heavy, his vision blurred. Sleeping seemed like a great idea at that moment.
Within seconds, Rafael had drifted into the world of dreams.
***
Sunlight filtered through the gaps between the towering oak leaves, creating shimmering patterns on the green grass that swayed gently in the breeze. Rafael blinked his eyes, feeling the cool earth against his back. But something felt strange.
Hadn't he just fallen asleep in his apartment?
He quickly sat up and scanned his surroundings. A vast expanse of grassland stretched as far as the eye could see. Not far from where he was, a crystal-clear river flowed peacefully, cutting through the land. In the distance, golden wheat fields swayed gently, while a fairly large village stood firmly amidst the greenery. Further to the north, a dense forest loomed, forming a mysterious natural boundary.
"Where… am I?"
Suddenly, a sharp pain pierced his head, as if thousands of needles were stabbing him all at once. Rafael clutched his head tightly, his breathing ragged as countless fragments of memories—memories that weren't his—flooded into his mind.
Adrian Nightwork.
A twelve-year-old boy living in a village called Rockville. An orphan who lost his mother, Hermine, at the age of eight due to a mysterious illness. Since then, he had been raised by Franz Erlbaum, an old man whom he regarded as an uncle—who was, in fact, also the village chief of Rockville.
"What the hell is this?! Why are these memories suddenly appearing in my head?!"
Panic overtook him, yet he had not realized one crucial fact—he was now inside the body of a boy named Adrian Nightwork.
However, his consciousness soon registered something. That name… it felt familiar.
Then, another memory fragment surfaced in his mind.
"The main protagonist!"
Rafael finally grasped the shocking truth. Adrian Nightwork was the main character in the novel Soul Fantasy—the very book he had just purchased! He recalled it clearly because he had briefly read the synopsis on the back cover before placing it in his shopping bag.
'Did I… get transported into the novel?!'
"Hey! Adrian!"
A voice called out to him, forcing Rafael to turn toward the source. A boy his age approached, his blonde hair gleaming under the sunlight, while his bright blue eyes gazed at him curiously.
Jerome Welcott.
The name surfaced in his mind as if he had known it for years.
'Why is he calling me Adrian?'
"H-hey…," he responded awkwardly.
Jerome squinted. "Hmm? What's happen with you, Adrian? You look like an idiot. Did something happen?"
That sharp remark made Rafael click his tongue inwardly. But he quickly came up with an excuse. "Hm? N-nothing. I-I… just woke up from sleep, haha."
Jerome snorted. "Hmm... So suspicious. Anyway, go wash your face in the river over there. You really look like a mess"
"If you say so. I'll be right back."
Grateful for the chance to step away, Adrian hurried to the river. However, the moment he looked at his reflection in the water, his body froze.
"This face…?! Whose face is this?!"
The reflection in the river showed a young boy with dark blue hair, resembling the night sky, and emerald green eyes. That wasn't him. That wasn't Rafael.
'What happened to me…?'
"Arkkh!"
The pain struck again, sharper and deeper. It felt as if an invisible hand was pouring an ocean of information into his mind, filling his head with memories that weren't his.
You are Adrian Nightwork.
The voice echoed in his mind as the pain slowly subsided.
Adrian—or Rafael—fell silent. The truth, however unbelievable, was now laid bare before him.
'This can't be… Am I really Adrian Nightwork?'
As impossible as it seemed, reality said otherwise. He had transmigrated into the body of the main protagonist of Soul Fantasy.
'So… this is what transmigration feels like? I can't believed!"
Adrian's heart pounded wildly. He didn't know whether to feel excited or terrified. Excited because he had left behind his difficult life on Earth, but at the same time, fear gripped him—because he had no idea what would happen next.
More importantly, he didn't even know the full story of this novel! He had only read the synopsis and had no real knowledge of the world or the plot he was about to face.
"No! That's not something I should be worrying about right now!"
Dwelling on that wouldn't solve anything. The most important thing now was to understand the world he had entered and adapt as quickly as possible.
This world was called Aterra. A world similar to Earth, but with only two major continents: Arias and Sinor. Unlike Earth, Aterra possessed magical and supernatural forces such as magic.
According to Adrian's memories, Rockville, the village where Adrian located now was a village within the Kingdom of Asland, one of the four great kingdoms in the Borveil region of the Arias continent. The other three major kingdoms were Roesberg in the east, Bedeborg in the north, and Vourissa in the west.
The culture of the Borveil region, including Asland, was called Gorllewin, which closely resembled European culture on Earth. They had two primary languages: Aterrean, which served as the international language, and Gorllewish, the native tongue of the Borveil region. Historical records stated that Aterrean itself had roots in Gorllewish. And Adrian Nightwork was fluent in both.
Adrian took a deep breath, trying to calm his chaotic thoughts.
"So, I really am inside this novel's world…"
No matter what happened, he had to survive. This world might be unfamiliar, but now, it was his world.
At last, Rafael fully accepted his new identity as Adrian Nightwork.
***
Jerome Welcott leaned casually against the oak tree, an open book in his hands. Sitting comfortably, he stretched out his legs over the cool grass, enjoying the tranquility of the afternoon.
As soon as he saw a young man with dark blue hair approaching, he immediately closed his book and flashed a smile.
"Oh, you're back!" he greeted cheerfully.
Adrian Nightwork, who had just washed his face in the river, let out a light sigh before walking closer.
"How does it feel? Much fresher, right?"
"A-ah, yeah… It seems like the air is getting warmer. Maybe because summer is approaching," Adrian replied, wiping the remaining water from his face with his sleeve.
Jerome snorted. "Maybe. Rockville has been getting hotter compared to last month. Ugh, I wish winter would come soon!" he complained.
"If you say that, the farmers might end up beating you up, you know?"
Winter was the most dreaded season for farmers. Their crops couldn't survive the freezing temperatures, forcing them to stop planting until the season changed. It was only natural that farmers would be upset hearing Jerome say such things.
Meanwhile, Adrian noticed something—he now felt much more comfortable talking to Jerome. Was this an effect of Adrian's original memories? Maybe. And honestly, he was grateful for it.
"By the way," Adrian glanced at the book in Jerome's hands, "what are you reading?"
"Oh, this?" Jerome lifted the book slightly, revealing its cover. "A book about magic."
A magic book—or what was called a Grimoire—was a collection of mystical and supernatural texts. Mages in Aterra often used them as guides in learning magic, though not all Grimoires were the same. There were three main classes in the hierarchy of these magical books.
Low-Class Grimoires could be read by anyone. They usually contained only basic spells or simple instructions, making them nothing more than standard reference books—like the one Jerome was reading now.
Mid-Class Grimoires held greater magical potential. Those who studied them might gain extraordinary powers, though the effects could be either beneficial or harmful. Books in this category were often strictly guarded. You could think of Mid-Class Grimoires as expensive, valuable books.
Meanwhile, High-Class Grimoires were the rarest and most dangerous. These books contained powers strong enough to destroy the world if they fell into the wrong hands. For this reason, every High-Class Grimoire discovered was immediately confiscated by the Aterra Magic Association—the organization responsible for regulating magic use across the world.
Adrian eyed the book in Jerome's hands skeptically. "So, by reading that, you think you'll instantly master thousands of magic spells? You do realize that without training, that's impossible—especially if you're not a Fantasia."
Jerome immediately glared at him. "Hey! I am a Fantasia, you know! Besides, I can already use Flame Burst and Vine Flagellum!"
"That's because your elements are Fire and Plant."
Those who had awakened their Mana Core within their bodies were called Fantasia. They could manipulate Mana energy at will and had a natural talent for becoming Mages. Typically, a person awakened their Mana Core between the ages of eight and ten. If they failed to awaken it by then, they would be classified as Non-Fantasia—incapable of using magic.
And Adrian Nightwork… was among the
Non-Fantasia.
He still remembered it vividly—the day Jerome awakened his Mana Core. They had been nine years old, playing in the grasslands, when suddenly, a surge of energy exploded around them. That was the moment Jerome naturally awakened his power.
Jerome looked at Adrian with a slightly guilty expression. "It's a shame you can't use magic, Adrian."
Adrian suppressed a smirk. 'You're wrong, Jerome. I'm the protagonist here.'
He already knew that sooner or later, he would be able to use magic—one way or another. The problem was… he had no idea how the story would unfold.
If in the novel Soul Fantasy Adrian awakened his power at the age of twelve, then that meant he had to find a way to awaken his Mana Core soon—and time was running out.
Fortunately, Adrian Nightwork was someone who loved reading, whether books about magic or non-magic topics. He possessed vast knowledge about this world, and his deep understanding might be the key for his current self to discover a method to awaken the power he had never possessed before.