It had been more than two weeks since I awakened in this body.
Two weeks of silence, observation, and reading.
I spent most of that time buried in dusty rooms and neglected shelves, going through every history book I could find—records of kingdoms, wars, noble families, and the structure of this world. The more I read, the clearer things became. And the more obvious it was how fragile my position truly was.
This body belonged to Alaric Winchester, the first son of the Winchester family.
A noble by title.
A disgrace by reputation.
House Winchester was old, but its glory had long since faded. Generations ago, the first head of the family had fought alongside the Empire during a decisive war against rival kingdoms. As reward, the Empire granted them control over a portion of the southern region.
But land alone meant nothing.
Most of that territory was covered by dense forests and jagged mountain ranges—dangerous, unexplored, and crawling with monsters. The Empire held no legal claim over it, yet neither did it offer protection. The Winchesters were left to fend for themselves, ruling land they lacked the power to exploit.
And power was exactly what they did not have.
My father, Elric Winchester, was a capable administrator but a weak cultivator. His authority barely extended beyond the estate walls. The family's finances were in ruin—largely due to the previous Alaric's indulgences. Gambling. Alcohol. Women. Drugs. Whatever little wealth the territory produced had been wasted.
That was why, in this household, I was not seen as a son.
I was seen as a mistake.
The only reason House Winchester still retained its noble title was because of my brothers.
Kazamir Winchester, my elder brother, had already proven himself. His aura talent was solid—far beyond average. He had passed the Empire Academy's entrance examination with high marks and was already studying there. Calm, disciplined, and respected. The exact opposite of what I had been.
And then there was Kenric Winchester.
Younger than me.
And far more terrifying.
Kenric's talent for magic bordered on abnormal. Even instructors from visiting academies had taken notice. Despite his age, he had been granted early admission into preparatory programs tied to the Empire Academy. He was spoken of in whispers, with expectations that bordered on reverence.
Compared to them, Alaric Winchester was trash.
At least, that was what everyone believed.
Through my reading, I also came to understand the greater structure of this world.
There were eleven great kingdoms, each ruling a massive island. At the center of them all stood the Empire, the supreme authority that governed ten kingdoms through dominance, treaties, and force.
Three kingdoms lay to the east.
Three to the west.
Two to the south.
Each had its own king, its own laws—but all ultimately bent to the Empire's will.
All except the North.
The two northern kingdoms did not openly oppose the Empire. Nor did they acknowledge its rule. Officially, they were "independent allies." In reality, they answered only when it benefited them. Everyone knew that if the Empire were ever to fall, the threat would come from the North.
The Empire knew it too.
As I pieced all of this together, one truth became undeniable.
If House Winchester wanted to survive—if I wanted to rise—then money and power were non-negotiable.
And the answer lay beyond the estate.
The forests.
The mountains.
The land everyone feared.
There were rumors of rare minerals, ancient ruins, and forgotten resources hidden within those territories. Dangerous, yes. But danger had never frightened me. It had always been an invitation.
Six months remained before the Empire Academy's next entrance examination.
Six months—according to everyone else—for me to fail.
That was when I decided to act.
I went to my father.
Elric Winchester sat behind his desk, reviewing documents when I entered his chamber. He looked up, surprise flickering across his face.
"I'm going into the forest," I said calmly. "To train."
The room went silent.
His expression hardened, torn between disbelief and concern. He hesitated, then spoke slowly.
"Alaric… do you understand what you're saying? That land is dangerous. Even knights don't travel there alone."
He didn't say it, but I knew what he was thinking.
This son has no chance.
The succession already belongs to the others.
Before he could refuse, a soft voice cut in.
"Let him go."
Fiora Winchester, my stepmother, had been listening quietly from the side. Her smile was gentle—too gentle.
"If he wishes to try, shouldn't we allow it? It would be cruel to stop him now."
I understood her perfectly.
If I died, it solved a problem.
I met my father's gaze again.
"I'll return in three months," I said. "Alive."
He studied me for a long moment, searching for something—anything—that resembled the son he remembered. What he saw instead unsettled him.
"…Very well," he said at last. "If this is what you want."
As I left the chamber, I felt his eyes linger on my back.
Later that night, Elric Winchester recalled the rumors that had spread through the estate—the fight between his son and the knight commander's heir. At first, he had dismissed it as coincidence. A fluke.
Now… he wasn't so sure.
Watching the dark forest stretch beyond the estate walls, I smiled faintly.
This land lacked power.
That was about to change.