In a luxurious room bathed in the soft glow of morning light, a young woman jolted awake with a gasp.
Her chest heaved as if she had just escaped the clutches of a nightmare, her wide eyes darting around the unfamiliar yet strangely familiar surroundings.
The room was opulent, adorned with elegant furniture and delicate curtains that swayed gently in the breeze from an open window.
But none of that mattered to her in that moment.
She sat up abruptly, her hands trembling as she looked down at herself.
Her body felt different—younger, lighter, as if the weight of years had been lifted from her shoulders.
Panic and disbelief surged through her as she scrambled out of bed, her bare feet hitting the cold marble floor.
She rushed to the full-length mirror on the far wall, her breath catching in her throat as she stared at her reflection.
The face staring back at her was one she hadn't seen in a decade.
Her features were softer, her eyes brighter, free of the weariness that had haunted her in the years to come.
She touched her face, her fingers brushing against her skin as if to confirm it was real.
"This… this can't be," she whispered, her voice trembling.
"Am I really… back?"
Her heart raced as she stumbled toward the nightstand, grabbing her phone with shaking hands.
The screen lit up, and her eyes widened as she saw the date: February 5, 2550.
"Ten years…" she murmured, her voice barely audible.
"I'm really back. Ten years in the past."
Her mind raced as she processed the implications.
The Solvayne Magic Academy entrance exam—the one that would change everything—was scheduled for April 1, 2550.
She had just under two months.
Two months to prepare, to change the course of events, to undo the mistakes that had led to so much pain and loss.
Her grip on the phone tightened, her knuckles turning white.
Memories of the future—her future—flashed before her eyes.
The battles, the sacrifices, the faces of those she had lost.
And him.
Always him.
The man with bluish-black hair, the one who had given everything, even his life, to protect what mattered most.
"Kyle… Ethan…" she whispered, her voice breaking.
"I won't let it happen again. I won't let you die this time."
Her reflection in the mirror stared back at her, determination burning in her eyes.
She didn't know how or why she had been given this chance, but she wasn't going to waste it.
The storm that had raged in her heart for so long had quieted, replaced by a single, unshakable resolve.
"I'll save you," she said firmly, her voice steady now.
"No matter what it takes, I'll save you this time."
She turned away from the mirror, her mind already racing with plans.
She had a mission now, a purpose that went beyond herself. And she would see it through, no matter the cost.
With a deep breath, she opened the door and stepped into the hallway, her footsteps echoing softly as she walked toward the future she was determined to rewrite.
****
Kyle was sitting on his bed, fiddling with his smartphone, trying to figure out all its features.
It was 7:30 pm, and he was debating what to cook for dinner when Aurelia suddenly barged into his room without knocking.
He looked up, startled, and his eyes widened.
Aurelia stood in the doorway, dressed in a stunning blue dress that perfectly matched her piercing blue eyes.
The dress hugged her figure, accentuating her curves, and her light makeup enhanced her natural beauty. She looked breathtaking.
Kyle blinked, momentarily speechless, before managing to ask, "Are you going on a date?"
Aurelia gave him a deadpan look. "Very funny, Kyle. Why aren't you ready yet? The banquet starts at 8 pm. We only have 30 minutes!"
Kyle frowned, confused.
"What banquet?"
Aurelia sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose.
"The banquet the academy is hosting to welcome the new first-year students. Didn't you check your emails?"
Kyle quickly grabbed his phone and opened his inbox. Sure enough, there was an email from the academy sent that morning.
****
Dear Kyle Valemont,
Congratulations on passing the Solvayne Magic Academy entrance exam! You are cordially invited to a banquet tonight at 8 pm to celebrate the new first-year students. The event will also include the announcement of the top rankings.
We look forward to your presence.
Best regards,
Solvayne Magic Academy Administration
****
Kyle groaned. "Why didn't you tell me about this earlier?"
Aurelia rolled her eyes.
"I thought you already knew! Now hurry up and get ready. I'll be outside. And don't make me wait—I don't want to ruin my perfect image by arriving late."
Kyle nodded, scrambling to his feet.
He washed his face quickly and rummaged through his closet, finally settling on a dark blue suit that matched his bluish-black hair, paired with a crisp white shirt.
He styled his messy hair, making sure every strand was in place, and glanced at himself in the mirror.
"Damn," he muttered, a smirk tugging at his lips.
"How can someone be so handsome?" His narcissistic side was showing, but he couldn't help it. He looked good.
"Kyle, hurry up!" Aurelia's voice called from outside, snapping him out of his thoughts.
He rushed to the hall, where Aurelia was waiting.
She looked him up and down, a hint of surprise in her eyes.
"You clean up nicely," she said, a small smile playing on her lips. "You look… handsome."
Kyle grinned. "Thanks. You look beautiful too."
Aurelia waved a hand dismissively, though her cheeks tinged slightly pink.
"Let's go. We're already running late."
They hurried to Aurelia's car, a sleek, mana-powered vehicle that hummed softly as she started the engine.
As they drove, the conversation flowed easily, mostly about trivial things—the academy, the weather, and the upcoming banquet.
Then, out of nowhere, Aurelia said, "You know, Princess Eleanora of the Argent Empire has enrolled in the academy."
Kyle raised an eyebrow.
"She's famous for her beauty and power. She's a deviant, you know—light and darkness affinities at those two rare elements."
Deviants are rare, extremely rare. Even in the entire continent, there are only a handful of them. People like Cedric, Eleanora, Cassian and a few others. And now… me.
That's why Kyle was reluctant to reveal his multiple affinities.
While having two affinities was already rare, he had four—an unheard-of number. That is why even the protagonist, Cedric, who possessed five affinities, only revealed his fire and light elements during his early days at the academy.
Kyle nodded, pretending to be surprised, though he already knew all about Eleanora.
From the novel, he remembered her as a tragic character—a deviant with immense potential who died early in the story.
She could have been a main character if the author hadn't killed her off so soon.
"Yeah, I've heard of her," Kyle said, keeping his tone neutral.
"She's pretty impressive."
Aurelia glanced at him, her expression thoughtful.
"You should try to get to know her. She's not just powerful—she's smart and kind too. Plus, having connections with someone like her could be useful."
Kyle chuckled. "Are you trying to set me up with her or something?"
Aurelia rolled her eyes.
"Don't flatter yourself. I'm just saying, it wouldn't hurt to make some powerful friends."
Kyle's smile faded as he thought about Eleanora's fate in the novel.
She had died at the start of the academy, her potential cut short. If he was going to change the future, saving her would be a crucial step.
She was too important to lose.
"I'll keep that in mind," Kyle said quietly, his tone serious now.
Aurelia noticed the shift in his mood but didn't press him. Instead, she focused on the road, the hum of the car filling the silence between them.
As they neared the banquet hall, Kyle's thoughts turned to Eleanora.
'I'll have to save her,' he decided.
She was too important to let die.
If he could change her fate, it might ripple out and alter the course of the entire story.
He had to use every resource at his disposal to rewrite the future, and Eleanora could be a key piece in that plan.
"We're here," Aurelia announced, pulling into the parking lot.
She turned to Kyle, her expression serious.
"Remember, this is a formal event. Don't embarrass me."
Kyle grinned. "When have I ever embarrassed you?"
Aurelia gave him a look that said 'plenty of times', but she didn't argue.
Instead, she stepped out of the car, smoothing her dress, and Kyle followed suit, adjusting his suit jacket.
As they walked toward the grand entrance of the banquet hall, Kyle couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and nervousness.
This was his first major event in this world, and he knew it would be a night to remember. But more importantly, it was a chance to make connections, gather information, and start changing the fate of this doomed world.
"Ready?" Aurelia asked, glancing at him.
Kyle nodded, his determination shining in his eyes. "Ready."
Together, they stepped into the banquet hall, their hands interlocked as they walked side by side.
****