Celestia Royal Academy stood atop the floating island of Aethermoor, a breathtaking monument to humanity's magical achievement. Its seven towers pierced the clouds, each representing one of the seven elemental affinities: Fire, Water, Earth, Wind, Lightning, Light, and Darkness.
The academy was the premier institution in the Aurelia Empire, training the next generation of heroes, knights, mages, and rulers. Only the most talented—or wealthy—could attend.
Ethan stood in the central courtyard, surrounded by hundreds of first-year students. The orientation ceremony was about to begin.
He scanned the crowd, his [Eyes of the Reader] activating unconsciously.
Names and information flickered above certain heads—characters he recognized from the novel.
And then he saw him.
[LUCIEN ASHFORD]
Role: Protagonist
Rank: A
Affinity: Light (Divine Lineage)
Status: Chosen Hero, Blessed by the Goddess
Lucien Ashford was everything Ethan was not.
Golden hair that seemed to catch the sunlight. Azure eyes that sparkled with noble conviction. A perfectly sculpted face that made both men and women stare. He walked with the casual confidence of someone who had never known failure.
At seventeen, he was already A-Rank—a genius among geniuses. He possessed the Divine Lineage, a bloodline blessed by the Goddess of Light herself, appearing only once every thousand years.
He was the hero of this world. The protagonist who would gather five legendary heroines, defeat the Demon King, and unite the continent.
And right now, he was surrounded by admirers.
"That's the Ashford heir—"
"I heard he single-handedly defeated a B-Rank demon beast—"
"He's even more handsome in person—"
Ethan felt a complicated emotion watching Lucien smile graciously at his fans. In the novel, Lucien was portrayed as the perfect hero—kind, brave, and righteous.
But Ethan knew things the novel only hinted at.
Lucien Ashford was kind, yes. But he was also oblivious to an almost criminal degree. He attracted women like moths to flame but remained dense to their feelings until the plot required him to notice. He made decisions based on heroic ideals without considering consequences.
And most importantly, he had a terrible habit of getting the people around him killed.
Including, in the original timeline, Ethan Blackwood.
Not this time, Ethan thought. I'm not dying as a footnote in your story.