9:30 AM
As I walked in, the sound of the door echoed through the space, breaking the quiet anticipation that surrounded me.
The soft morning light filtered through the wide windows, casting a mosaic of dancing shadows on the polished concrete walls.
A wave of curious eyes fell on me, filling the room with a tension I could almost feel on my skin.
I could sense the weight behind each of those looks, each one carrying its own story, expectations, and judgment.
'Why is everyone staring at me?'
The question echoed in my mind, along with a subtle anxiety pressing on my chest.
The truth is, I knew exactly why. I just chose to ignore it.
The grandeur of the classroom was beyond what I expected, reflecting the scale of the academy I had only imagined when writing my novel.
It was even bigger than I pictured, but I accepted it easily. This was Spectra, after all.
I swallowed hard and took a hesitant step into the room, feeling like I was entering unknown territory.
My eyes quickly scanned the space, landing on faces I knew all too well. Faces I had created in my imagination.
They were unmistakable.
Arthur and Kai. As real and alive as I could have ever imagined.
Kai had that rebellious energy, practically buzzing with a wild intensity. He looked just like I described him in the novel.
As I got a little closer, I caught a glimpse of their conversation.
Kai was trying to convince Arthur to agree to a duel after the orientation. His voice was full of challenge and excitement.
"Come on, Arthur. It'll be the perfect way to test how much we've improved."
Kai insisted, eyes shining with a teasing spark.
Arthur replied with a calm smile. The patience and composure in his voice were unmistakable.
"There's a time and place for everything, Kai. Today doesn't seem like a good day for a duel."
His words reflected the same wisdom I had written into his character.
In the novel, Kai considered Arthur his rival. Even though Arthur never really cared about that.
I took a seat like everyone else. Just waiting for the teacher to arrive.
Since this was the first day at Spectra, nothing big was going to happen. The teacher would probably just explain how things worked.
Sigh.
I was still trying to process everything.
I was completely lost. Everything that happened since morning, including the walk to Spectra, felt way too real to be a dream.
It was time to accept that this was real.
'How did I even end up here?'
I had no idea.
Then something came to mind.
I remembered a comment from the night before. A reader was furious about Evan's suffering in the story.
"Author, you bastard. If gods exist, I hope you suffer as much as Evan!"
He had said something like that. There's no way this could be real.
'Could a god really have heard that and thrown me into the world of my own novel to make me live Evan's life? That's insane.'
As I spiraled deeper into thought, I felt someone staring at me.
I turned my head and saw one of the main characters from the novel.
It was Derek.
He was glaring at me.
I wasn't exactly sure why, since the early chapters didn't really focus on Evan. But as the author, I had a pretty good guess.
Derek was arrogant and full of prejudice. He came from a rich and privileged family.
He always looked down on other students, especially those who didn't share his status.
In the novel, I had written that Derek knew Evan came from a modest background and doubted his abilities.
Derek wasn't the type to just sit back and observe.
His family was one of the wealthiest and most influential connected to Spectra. He had access to things most students couldn't even dream of.
That's how, even before the semester started, Derek used his connections to dig up information about the new students in his class. Especially the ones like Evan. Scholarship kids or those from humble origins.
He probably thought Evan didn't belong in a place like Spectra.
When I saw that, I looked away and just ignored it. Picking a fight with him on the first day could turn into a huge pain.
"Everyone. Please give me your attention now."
Before I realized it, the instructor was already at the podium in front of the class. He had clearly used his abilities to slip in unnoticed.
"Welcome to Spectra Hero Academy."
Sebastian, a high-level instructor and experienced hero, stood at the podium with an imposing presence. His eyes scanned the room seriously before he began his introduction.
"My name is Sebastian."
His voice carried weight and authority.
"Here, we aim to cultivate and develop each of your potentials, no matter your background or circumstances."
"As you may know, some of you are here on scholarships, while others have the privilege of funding their own education. However, it's important to remember that everyone is equal within Spectra."
Sebastian paused for a moment, giving his words time to settle in before continuing.
"At Spectra, we value not only battlefield training but also academic education. You'll find comfortable, well-equipped dorms available for those who choose to live here. It's not mandatory, but highly recommended for your convenience and full integration into academy life."
In my novel, Evan didn't stay in the Spectra dorms because he had to take care of his two younger siblings.
Even if it was the better choice, it would've been impossible for him to stay at the academy and leave Noah and Emma alone. Obviously, I should make the same decision he did.
"Our academy operates with both mandatory and optional classes. The mandatory ones cover essential subjects that every student must attend to grow as a hero. Optional classes are up to each of you, based on your interests and personal goals."
I didn't have any reason to take optional classes for now.
"But remember, success at this academy isn't just about how many classes you attend. It's about the dedication and effort you put into every part of your journey."
Sebastian's eyes swept across the room, locking in our attention before continuing.
"I'd also like to announce that in three days, we'll be holding a special team trial."
"This will be a valuable opportunity for everyone to showcase their skills in a practical setting, highlighting teamwork and strategy. More details will be shared soon, but prepare yourselves for challenges that will push your physical and magical abilities."
He finished, sparking a wave of excited murmurs among the students.
Three days, huh.
I had to use that time to get organized and figure out Evan's powers.
'I'm so screwed.'
"Lastly, each of you will have the chance to progress at Spectra through a points system. Your performance in training, missions, and extracurricular activities will determine your rank within the academy. So don't forget to give it your best during the upcoming trial."
I remembered adding a ranking system. Depending on your rank, you could get better rooms, gear, and even artifacts.
The artifacts weren't anything too crazy, but for someone who couldn't even afford to choose where they'd die, I knew I needed to pay attention to this.
"Keep in mind, the path to becoming a hero isn't just about individual strength. It's also about teamwork, ethics, and perseverance. I look forward to watching each of you grow during your time at Spectra."
After that, the professor went on with some motivational speeches.
...
"Lastly, since not all of you will rely solely on magic, today you'll have the opportunity to choose some weapons that catch your interest."
That actually got my attention.
I hadn't really cared about that earlier, since I was still too shaken and confused by everything going on.
But now I could clearly feel some strange energy flowing through my body.
That had to be magic power. Since it was 2031 and the first day of the academy, Evan definitely had already awakened his powers.
In my novel, Evan wasn't anything special at first. Not until he stumbled across a hidden dungeon.
The dungeon wasn't difficult, so he didn't struggle to clear it.
Inside, he found a scroll that allowed him to summon a demon for an audience. Anyone in their right mind would've refused.
But Evan was desperate. He wanted power to protect his siblings, so he saw it as an opportunity.
He made a deal with a demon in exchange for power.
Evan gained the ability to control shadows however he wanted. And not just that — after making the deal, he also received a power that gave him a skill system, displayed through a floating window in front of him.
It was something like a standard status window you'd see in novels or anime.
The difference was that instead of giving this power to the protagonist, I gave it to someone who would become a villain.
It was both a mistake and a blessing, because now that power belonged to me.
As I was thinking, the professor spoke.
"Now all of you may follow me to the room where you'll be able to choose your weapons."
"And for those who aren't interested, an instructor will be waiting outside this room to show you to your dorms."
The moment I decided to pick a weapon, hesitation hit me.
Doubt about how effective Evan's abilities were, the way I had described them in my own novel, weighed on me.
Even if those abilities looked good on paper, using them in real life was a whole different story.
With that in mind, I joined the other students in the weapon selection room, deciding to choose a sword just in case.
The room wasn't anything fancy. The weapons were actually pretty normal.
Spectra had a strict rule against using personal weapons inside the academy.
It made sense. Otherwise, it would be like a pay-to-win game, since rare weapons were scattered all over the world.
But this only applied inside Spectra. Outside, it was a different story.
...
Like many other students, I went to the weapon selection room.
Without wasting time, I headed straight for a sword.
My hand had barely touched the hilt of one of the displayed swords when a voice caught me off guard, making me flinch a little.
"You..."
The voice carried both surprise and disapproval.
"I know you have magical abilities. So why are you going for a sword?"
I turned and found Derek. His imposing presence and critical glare were hard to ignore.
I wasn't surprised it was him. He was the type to look for conflict, especially on the first day.
My response came quickly, my voice laced with a hint of defiance.
"Since when do my choices concern you?"
"You little... What did you just say?"
He was holding a bow, but I knew he wouldn't be reckless enough to shoot me on the first day.
The tension between us rose quickly.
That was when Arthur stepped in.
He placed a hand on Derek's shoulder. It was a calm gesture to keep things under control.
He said we shouldn't start internal fights. If I was there at Spectra, I had proven my worth. He was sure I knew what I was doing. Besides, the professor made it clear we were free to choose any weapon.
Arthur spoke with the kind of gentle confidence that could defuse any conflict. His kindness and calm were as strong as his good looks.
I had to admit, seeing him in person was even more impressive than I imagined.
Derek muttered "Whatever."
He clearly wasn't happy, but he had no comeback for Arthur's logic.
He walked away, leaving me with a look of disapproval.
Arthur turned to me and smiled gently.
He told me not to worry about him.
I said I wouldn't.
With the sword now properly sheathed at my side, I walked away from the scene, thinking about everything that was happening but feeling a bit more at ease after Arthur's peaceful way of handling it.
...
I was just leaving the room when I saw someone that caught me completely off guard.
She stood out not just because of her confident posture, but also because of her long red hair. A flash of fire in the soft light of the room.
Her hair was tied in a high ponytail, and the way it fell matched her wild, rebellious personality perfectly.
She was impossible not to notice.
Her beauty didn't seek approval. It challenged expectations.
Her emerald green eyes locked on me, analyzing me with a piercing intensity I could feel deep inside.
When our eyes met, she looked away with disinterest.
I did the same.
The uncertainty about how to interact with her, or with any of the characters from my novel, was starting to weigh on me.
I had no idea what I should do from here.
But one thing was clear. My priority was survival.
Staying away from the main characters, at least for now, seemed like the best option. I didn't want to get caught up in the story's main events so early.
I glanced at the large digital clock on the wall. It was 11:45.
Since all the introductions were over, it was time to leave Spectra and go home.
I needed to check on Noah and Emma.
If all of this was real, then I had to be ready.
My life was about to turn into a storm.