Chapter 1: Death Is Just the Beginning
[You have died.]
That wasn't exactly the message Aiden Thorne expected to see after getting hit by a truck.
In fact, the last thing he remembered was the sharp screech of tires, blinding headlights, and the cold, numbing impact that rattled through his bones. Then—darkness. Silence. The end.
Or so he thought.
But here he was, staring at a glowing message floating in mid-air like some cosmic joke. His head throbbed, and his body felt… wrong. Lighter. Smaller. His back ached as if he'd slept on solid rock. Slowly, Aiden forced his eyes open, greeted by a high, arched ceiling made of ancient stone. Flickering torches lined the walls, casting long shadows that danced across faded banners stitched with a strange crest—an image of a lion, snake, badger, and eagle surrounding a large letter "H."
Where the hell was he?
"Ugh…" He groaned, sitting up.
His body felt different—thinner, younger. Glancing down, Aiden saw hands that weren't his. Pale, slender fingers, no scars, no calluses. His heart raced. Scrambling to his feet, he stumbled toward a cracked mirror leaning against the stone wall.
The reflection staring back wasn't Aiden Thorne.
This face was unfamiliar: messy black hair, sharp gray eyes, and a youthful, angular jawline. He touched his face cautiously, half-expecting the image to vanish. But it didn't.
Okay. I'm definitely not in Kansas anymore, he thought bitterly.
Then it happened.
[Ding! You have joined the group: Dumbledore's Army Reborn.]
A translucent blue screen materialized right in front of him, filled with glowing text. Aiden stumbled backward, nearly tripping over his own feet.
[Dumbledore's Army Reborn - Group Chat]
Members Online: 14
• HarryPotter96: "Is the new guy awake yet?"
• HermioneG91: "He should be. The system's active."
• LunaLuvGood: "I bet he's confused. I like confused people. They're fun!"
• Neville_Lion: "Give him a second, Luna. He just died."
Aiden's jaw slackened.
"What the hell is this?" he muttered aloud.
Before he could make sense of it, another notification popped up:
[Welcome, Aiden Thorne. You have been selected as a new member of Dumbledore's Army Reborn.]
You have inherited:
• [Legacy: Dumbledore's Army (Rank F)]
• [Starter Pack Acquired: Basic Spell Knowledge + Combat Instincts (Locked)]
• [Bloodline Potential: ??? (Locked)]
Dumbledore? That name sounded… vaguely familiar, but Aiden couldn't place it. Some historical figure? A general? Maybe a cult leader?
His heart raced as more messages flooded the chat:
• HarryPotter96: "Hey, newbie. If you're reading this, don't panic."
• HermioneG91: "Focus on the basics. The system will help you adjust."
• LunaLuvGood: "Or not. Panic's fun to watch, too."
Aiden squinted. "I have officially lost my mind."
But the cool stone beneath his bare feet felt real. The faint scent of wax from the torches was real. The thudding of his heart, the adrenaline in his veins—all real.
Okay. Step one: don't lose it.
Before he could think further, another message popped up. This time, it wasn't friendly.
[Tutorial Quest: Survive.]
Objective: Defend yourself.
Time Limit: 30 seconds.
Warning: Threat Approaching.
Threat?
A guttural snarl echoed through the stone corridor. Aiden whipped around just in time to see something charging toward him—a grotesque creature, hunched with long, gangly limbs, sharp claws, and eyes that glowed crimson in the torchlight.
Nope. Nope. Nope.
Instinct screamed at him to run, but his body moved differently. His stance shifted automatically, grounding itself. His right hand shot out, fingers curling as if gripping something invisible.
[Combat Instincts Activated.]
Words surged through his mind—foreign yet familiar, etched into his brain like muscle memory.
"Expelliarmus!" he shouted, his voice steady despite the terror clawing at his chest.
A blast of red light erupted from his fingertips, slamming into the creature's chest. It flew backward, crashing into the wall with a sickening crack before crumpling to the ground, motionless.
Aiden stood there, panting, his hand still outstretched.
"…What. The. Hell."
The chat exploded again:
• Neville_Lion: "Nice disarming spell, rookie."
• HermioneG91: "Not bad for your first time."
• LunaLuvGood: "See? Confused people are fun!"
Aiden lowered his hand slowly, his heart pounding. His gaze shifted back to the floating screen, then to the dead creature.
"Okay," he muttered. "This isn't a dream."
Another notification appeared, interrupting his existential crisis.
[Tutorial Complete.]
Rewards Unlocked:
• [Basic Spell Knowledge: Unlocked]
• [Combat Instincts Level 1: Unlocked]
• [Skill: Expelliarmus - Mastery Level: E]
A wave of information flooded his mind—spells, incantations, wand movements—even though he didn't have a wand. It was like downloading a new language straight into his brain.
Before he could process it, another message popped up:
• HarryPotter96: "Alright, newbie. Time for introductions. Welcome to Dumbledore's Army Reborn. Long story short: you're not from this world, but you've been chosen to inherit a legacy."
• HermioneG91: "The world you're in is dangerous. Magic is real. Dark forces are rising. Blah, blah, the usual. You'll get the hang of it."
• LunaLuvGood: "Oh! And don't die again. That'd be boring."
Aiden clenched his fists.
He didn't know who these people were. He didn't care about legacies or dark forces. He just wanted answers—and maybe a way back home.
But deep down, a small, twisted part of him whispered: Maybe this is your chance to start over. No rules. No past. Just power.
And Aiden Thorne wasn't the kind of guy to say no to power.
[End of Chapter 1]