The sound of his footsteps echoed dryly over the wine-red carpet that covered the long hallway of the mansion.
Each painting on the walls was a fragment of family history: oil portraits of the Maximouds from generation to generation.
Solemn faces, piercing gazes, and smiles so restrained they seemed to judge from the canvas anyone who dared look at them. The shadows of the crystal lamps reflected on the golden frames, tinting the atmosphere with a reddish, spectral light.
The reddish leather of the sofas and the burgundy walls seemed to absorb every trace of sound, wrapping Darius in a heavy silence.
The air smelled of old wood, dried rose perfume, and inherited power.
"Breathe deeply and stay calm…" Darius thought silently, just as his hand rose to knock on the door at the end of the hallway.
Tok. Tok.
The sound echoed through the hollow mansion.
"With your permission, sir. I'll take my leave," said a deep voice before turning and disappearing down the corridor like a shadow.
Darius inhaled deeply. His fingers closed around the doorknob, and slowly, he pushed the door open.
"With your permission… mo—" he began to say.
The voice froze in his throat.
In front of him, the large office was illuminated by a floor lamp with a scarlet glass shade.
Behind the desk, a woman with bright red hair sat in a swivel chair, her back turned toward him. The silhouette of her figure was outlined under the light, and the faint movement of her shoulders showed that she had noticed his presence.
Charlotte Maximoud.
The matriarch of the family.
The woman slowly turned the chair, revealing her face: pale and smooth skin, wine-red lips, and bright eyes that radiated authority and allure.
Her fitted ivory-white blouse contrasted with the dark jacket that outlined her elegant and commanding figure. Even without saying a word, the simple way she raised a finger to point at him was enough to freeze his blood.
Darius swallowed hard.
His mind screamed.
"Act normal, act normal, act normal."
He took a few steps forward, stiff as if walking through a minefield.
"Good afternoon, mother," he greeted with a slight bow, trying to keep his composure. "You arrived much earlier than expected. How was your trip?"
Charlotte remained silent for a few seconds, staring at him. Her gaze was so deep that Darius felt she could read every one of his thoughts.
Then, her expression suddenly changed.
"What's happening?! No. No way, she's not like that, maybe it's…"
"My sweet boy, how I missed you, darling!" she exclaimed, leaping toward him with a sudden gleam in her eyes.
Before he could react, Darius was engulfed in a fierce, almost suffocating hug. Charlotte shook him several times, laughing between whispers of joy.
"Mom… could you please let go of me… I'm getting… dizzy," he mumbled weakly, watching the walls spin.
It was just as it seemed. Believe it or not, Charlotte Maximoud was a very affectionate and empathetic woman—at least when it came to dealing with her family. But with outsiders, not so much. That was why Darius, in the novel, always put all his trust in her—after all, she was his mother.
Finally, the woman released him, laughing softly.
Darius sighed in relief and dropped into the chair in front of the desk. Charlotte, elegant and relaxed, returned to her seat with a maternal smile.
"Well," she began, crossing one leg over the other, "you must be wondering why I came back earlier than planned.
The truth is, some urgent matters came up with your father… so there was a sudden change in my schedule."
Darius felt a chill run down his spine.
"Matters with my father? That wasn't in the novel. This shouldn't be happening…"
His expression, however, did not betray his confusion.
"I understand, mother. Quite something, huh?" he said with a faint smile. "But you still haven't explained the reason for my summons."
Charlotte tilted her head slightly, then reached for a small object on the desk: a metallic chip the size of a fingernail, glowing faintly blue.
"Your father asked me to give you this," she said, placing it carefully in front of him. "He said only you should have it… and that you should use it when you enter Zenith Academy."
Darius took it between his fingers. The chip was cold—almost alive.
"This chip… I think I know what it is."
"Now that I've given you what's yours," Charlotte continued warmly, "tell me, what have you been up to this week? Have you been eating well? Sleeping enough?"
Darius sighed.
"Mom, I already told you… I'm not a kid anymore. You don't have to ask me that every time."
She chuckled softly.
"And what's wrong with that? I'm your mother—it's only natural that I worry about you."
He stood, smoothing his jacket.
"I know, mom. Well, not much has happened. I've just been… working and studying."
Charlotte looked at him with pride.
"Always studying. I'm not surprised you got into Zenith Academy with such a high score. Second place, no less."
"Yes, but it's not enough," Darius replied as he headed for the door. "I have to keep pushing myself."
"I'll be going now, mother. I still need to study."
He closed the door softly behind him.
Charlotte remained still for a few seconds, staring into the void, thoughtful.
"What am I going to do with you?" she murmured. "You could at least stop being so serious…"
On the other side, Darius walked quickly down the hallway. His previously tense face relaxed.
"Lucky me for acting so well," he whispered, letting out a nervous laugh. "I really am an excellent actor."
His room was in the east wing of the mansion—spacious and modern, with large windows and advanced technological furnishings. The ceiling lights changed according to his mood, reflecting bluish tones that gave a sense of digital calm.
He sat at his desk, turned on the computer, and looked at the chip hanging from his neck.
"Now I understand what just happened," he said in a low voice. "This chip is proof of my theory."
For a moment, he recalled everything he had observed since waking up in that world.
The slight changes in conversations, the different expressions, the human reactions he didn't remember from the novel.
"This isn't a plot alteration," he thought, "it's a change in perspective."
The story he knew had been narrated from the protagonist's point of view—essentially in first person. Everything that happened outside her environment simply didn't exist on the pages. But he, Darius, was living his own route.
It was the same story, but on another axis of fate.
"I was a bit negligent not realizing it sooner," he whispered. "I'm Darius, not the protagonist."
"Now, my decisions will determine my own story."
He inserted the chip. A sharp hum filled the air.
GLIP... GLIP... GLIP.
Holographic files began to project before him, forming diagrams, maps, names, and dates that seemed drawn from the deepest secrets.
Darius smiled calmly, satisfied.
"Thank you, father… this information is worth gold."
---
The next morning, Solnareth Station buzzed with activity.
Tall buildings with glass structures floated above energy rails, and drones carried luggage and glowing advertisements. The automated system's voice echoed through the speakers:
["Welcome to Solnareth Central Station. Next destination: Rheos, City of Guilds."]
The train appeared as a flash of light, stopping with a soft hum.
Darius adjusted his black jacket and boarded without looking back.
"It's time to go," he murmured, taking a seat by the window.
The train lifted off, releasing beams of golden light before disappearing into the clouds.
Darius opened a holographic newspaper. A headline glowed before him:
["Jackson Seraphina has done it again! The head of the Seraphina family defeats an A+ class demon that threatened to destroy an entire city."]
Darius rested his chin on his hand, smiling calmly.
"The protagonist's father… that means the Zenith Academy arc has just begun."
Then, a notification echoed in his mind like a digital reverberation.
[Omniscient Narrator System — New mission suggestion available!]
The reflection of the screen lit up his face.