Caius sat at his desk, his fingers resting on the worn-out quill, but his mind was elsewhere. Memories of Heaven's Wrath flooded in, as if the story was being rewritten in his head. He had read this novel so many times, analyzing its twists and turns, but now, living inside it, everything felt eerily real.
The original protagonist, Leon, was a regressor. Having failed in his first life, he returned to the past with the singular goal of growing strong enough to defeat the final boss who had once crushed him. The novel revolved around his journey at the academy, where he gathered powerful allies, trained rigorously, and uncovered hidden truths about the world. The academy was a crucial turning point in Leon's path, where he would meet those who would help shape his future.
But it wasn't just the academy that held significance—it was also a battleground. The villainous faction known as The Echo Chamber lurked in the shadows, manipulating events and causing chaos. They weren't the only threat. Demons, cunning and ruthless, had already infiltrated the academy, hiding behind masks of nobility and power. These forces would eventually clash, forcing Leon into an early confrontation far before he was ready. It was only through sheer will and luck that he managed to survive.
Caius swallowed. If there was one certainty in this world, it was that getting involved with Leon too soon would be a death sentence. If he tried to take advantage of the protagonist's regression and position himself near him, he could just as easily become a target for those who wished Leon harm. Even worse, if Leon suspected his motives, he might view Caius as an enemy. A regressor wouldn't trust easily, and if Caius approached him with knowledge he shouldn't have, it could spell disaster.
The only sure path to survival was to stay as far away from the main events as possible.
Leon's growth was inevitable. The author had once stated that Leon was born as one of the five most talented individuals in the world. Caius didn't know who the other four were or if they were even alive, but if they still existed. The best course of action, then, was to ensure that Leon reached his full potential without drawing attention to himself. Helping him from the shadows? Far too risky. If Leon grew suspicious, things could take a turn for the worse. Even worse, what if The Echo Chamber or the demons marked him for interfering?
No, Caius had to remain in the background, unnoticed, unremarkable, and untouched by the chaos that would soon unfold. If he behave like that unlike the villan in the novel leon may think that he changed due to butterfly effect and he may survive.
He sighed and leaned back in his chair. This world was one of awakeners and monsters, a place where power dictated survival. The strong thrived, and the weak were crushed. Even nobles weren't safe from the cruelty of this reality. Caius was lucky to have been born into a powerful house, but that didn't guarantee his safety, especially if he got entangled with the protagonist.
After a while, he realized something—there were three months before the academy opened its doors.
Three months.
That meant he had time to figure things out. To prepare. To lay low.
His thoughts drifted to his family. He was the eldest child of the household, with a younger sister who had always been doted on by their parents. She was still young, innocent to the dangers lurking in this world. Caius didn't want to drag her into any of this mess.
Then, a sudden idea struck him.
What if I just don't go to the academy at all?
If he never attended, he could avoid the main plot altogether. No conflicts, no unnecessary exposure, just a peaceful life away from the chaos. But there was a major obstacle—the Duke. His father.
Would the Duke allow him to refuse such an opportunity? The academy was a prestigious institution where noble heirs built their future. His absence would raise questions, concerns, and, worst of all, suspicion.
Caius clenched his fists. He would have to bring this up when the Duke returned from the banquet.
The worst thing he can say is no, right?
After a while, there was a soft knock on the door before it creaked open. Elise, one of the maids, stepped inside, her black hair neatly tied back. "My lord, breakfast is ready. Should I bring it to your room?"
Caius hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Yes."
Elise bowed slightly before leaving the room to fetch his meal.
As Caius sat in silence, the scent of freshly baked bread and warm broth filled the air. A few minutes later, Elise returned, carefully placing the tray on his desk.
"My lord, your Meal," she said with a respectful nod. Her voice was calm, yet there was an undertone of concern in her gaze.
Caius exhaled slowly, composing himself. "Thank you. That will be all."
Elise hesitated for a brief moment, as if contemplating whether to say something, but in the end, she merely bowed and left the room.
He picked at the bread absentmindedly, his mind too occupied to care about the food in front of him.
*******
After finishing his meal, Caius decided to take a walk around the mansion to clear his mind. As he strolled through the corridors, he ran into a bright-eyed girl with soft auburn curls. Caius slowed down his walking when he noticed her, According to the memories of this body her name was Lilia, even though she is only one year younger than him,
she is one of the youngest maids in the mansion.
At the same time hearing the footsteps Lilia froze like a thief caught red-handed. In her hand was a small bowl of half-melted ice cream.
"Oh! S-sorry, young master!" she stammered, stepping back in a panic. "Please forgive me! I wasn't lazying around, I just… I just wanted a taste of the ice cream! Please don't punish me!"Her big brown eyes glistened as if she were about to cry.
Caius immediately panicked. "Wait, why are you suddenly crying over ice cream?!"
Lilia fidgeted with the spoon in her hand. "M-maids aren't supposed to slack off during work hours…" she muttered, looking down in guilt.
Caius sighed, rubbing his temple. "It's fine. I won't tell anyone."
She peeked up at him, hesitating. "Really?"
"Yeah, but now that you've made such a big deal out of it, I'm curious. Is the ice cream really that good?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
Lilia visibly relaxed and took a small bite, nodding enthusiastically. "It's delicious! Cold and sweet, and it just melts in your mouth. You should try some!"
Caius chuckled. "I've had ice cream before, you know."
"But no matter how much ice cream one had it will be never enough" she grinned mischievously.
He smirked. "I'll take your word for it."
"Young master, do you have a favorite ice cream ?" she asked, tilting her head.
"I don't think I do. I never paid much attention to ice cream flavours."
Lilia gasped dramatically. "That's a crime! You're missing out on one of life's greatest joys!"
"I'll consider changing my ways," he replied dryly.
"You better! Oh, but, um, can you keep this a secret from Elise and the others?"
He smirked. "Now, why would I do that? now that i think about it i changed my mind don't eat ice cream now on,"
She paniched.
then she began to cry "Young master, please anything but my ice cream"
"Relax, I was jus joking"
then She hesitantly wiped her tears of eyes and asked "R-Really"
"yeah. Don't worry i can order premium ice cream for you if you want"
After hearing those words her eyes lit up.
then she stood on her knee and said that "wow young master ,you are an ice cream angel from the heavens there is divine light coming from you "
"wow there ,you don't need show that much gratitude , I am merely doing my duty as an ice cream angel to give ice cream to those who doesn't have ice cream "
"wow i am totally blessed"
"my pleasure" by placing one hand on his chest and other behind his back like an butler bowing to a noble lady Caius bowed exaggeratedly
after a couple of seconds the both laughed out loud
""PPFT—HAHAHAHA!""
She let out a relieved sigh before flashing him a small smile. "You're not as scary as I thought you were, young master."
Caius raised an eyebrow. "Oh? What exactly did you think of me before?"
Lilia suddenly realized what she had just said, her face turning pale. "N-nothing! I mean—uh, I just thought you were more… serious!"
He smirked. "So I was an uptight noble in your eyes, huh? Should I be offended?"
She waved her hands frantically. "No, no! That's not what I meant!"
Caius laughed. "Relax, I'm just messing with you. "
She hesitated before nodding slightly. "Alright… If you say so."
Before leaving, she looked back at him. "And umm.. really, don't tell anyone about the ice cream , okay ?"
"Yeah, don't worry, Your secret will be safe with me."
She smiled brightly and hurried off to resume her duties, leaving Caius standing in the hallway, feeling a little lighter than before.