Entering The City

Darian walked past a group of children playing on the hill. This was a small hill just outside the city—still within a safe zone, where no wild beasts could enter. Because of that, it was a popular place for commoner children to spend their time.

He, too, was a commoner. Naturally, he had played here as a child as well. That was why this place remained one of the most comfortable spots for him—a refuge from the stifling environment of the Academy, which he had grown to despise.

Almost everyone in this world was taught to unlock their Arcane Engraving upon reaching adolescence—a set of runes that recorded their personal information. It was used for easier evaluation of one's talents and future prospects, serving the kingdom's interests.

As he walked back toward the city, Darian opened his Arcane Engraving.

[Name: Darian Veyne]

[Class: Unassigned]

[Level: 5]

[XP: 110/200]

[Life: 150/150]

[Mana: 350/350]

[Stamina: 80/80]

[Core Stats:]

STRENGTH: 10

DEXTERITY: 8

CONSTITUTION: 14

INTELLIGENCE: 30

WISDOM: 35

CHARISMA: 10

[Skills:]

Passive Skills:

1. Rune Insight (Level 5)

2. Tactical Mind (Level 2)

3. Alchemist Savant (Level 3)

Active Skills:

1. Runic Infusion (Level 3) – Infuses a weapon or armor with known runes for 3 minutes.

Darian suddenly stopped in his tracks. His eyes locked onto his Arcane Engraving in disbelief.

He remembered this stage of his life clearly. At this age, he should have only had a single passive skill—Rune Insight, and even then, it had only been at Level 1.

But now, he had three passive skills. Not only that, he had already acquired an active skill. His Intelligence and Wisdom stats had also reached more than 30.

This shouldn't be possible for someone his age. Its only possible because he had regressed to the past.

Reaching this level of power should have taken another year—when the apocalypse began, and he was finally forced to break free from his laziness. That was when he had gained a rare Class.

At this point in his past life, Darian had been just an intelligent commoner, but his deep resentment toward the rigid hierarchy that separated nobles and commoners had left him unmotivated. No matter how hard he worked, he would always be overshadowed by noble children with status and privilege.

Why bother trying if he was destined to be trampled by those with no talent but enough wealth and status to rise above him?

However, his mindset had changed since his regression. He could no longer afford to be complacent—he had already witnessed too much death.

Clenching his fists, Darian quickened his pace toward the city.

---

The city of Vanelheim, the heart of the human kingdom, was a sprawling and vibrant metropolis. It was a place where cultures, magic, and commerce intertwined, drawing people from all corners of the world.

At its core stood the most prestigious academy in existence called the Harmonia Institute, an institution renowned for its excellence in nurturing talents from various races, including Humans, Elves, Dwarves, and Half-borns.

The streets bustled with life as carriages rolled through the city, carrying merchants, scholars, and adventurers.

Some were pulled by horses, while others with more expensive costs floated effortlessly, drawn by glowing arcane orbs. Which is a marvel of magical engineering.

Market stalls lined the streets, their vendors enthusiastically calling out to passersby.

Some sold simple goods like fresh produce, fine fabrics, and exquisite jewelry while others, hidden within shadowed alleyways or grander establishments, dealt in more specialized wares.

Alchemists' shops displayed rows of colorful potions that containing mysterious effects, from simple healing elixirs to rare concoctions that could enhance one's strength, speed, or even perception of time.

Blacksmiths showcased their craftsmanship, offering finely forged weapons and armor.

Overlooking it all stood a towering structure near Harmonia Institute. It was the Magic Tower. A monolithic spire of ancient stone and glowing sigils, it housed the wisest and most powerful wizards of the age.

Within its enchanted halls, scholars of magic delved into the mysteries of the arcane, pushing the boundaries of what was possible.

Yet beneath all the luxury and grandeur lay something far more disheartening. The discrimination.

Nobles—regardless of race—looked down on commoners. This reality was evident everywhere, whether in society, the Harmonia Institute, or even the Mage Tower. The divide between them was unmistakable, an invisible wall that no one dared to challenge. After all, nearly everyone believed that trying to change a system that had existed for hundreds of years was pointless.

Darian had once thought the same. That was why he spent his days idling, unwilling to fight against a world that had already decided his worth.

Even when the apocalypse arrived, and monsters never before seen emerged from the rifts, the nobles still refused to aid the commoners.

Weapons, potions, and fortified shelters—all the resources needed to survive—were luxuries that commoners could never access. But for nobles, they were always within reach, safeguarded for emergencies.

And so, countless commoners perished in horrific ways. Some of the commoner students at Harmonia Institute managed to protect themselves with the resources they had. But what about their families?

Darian let out a deep sigh. That was the fate that awaited them one year from now.

Because of his talent, he had survived. But his classmates hadn't. Their desperate cries for help, their final moments—they were burned into his memory, haunting him even now.

But he still refused to play the hero.

The apocalypse was an event so massive that not even the strongest warriors or the most brilliant wizards had been able to stop it. Even with his knowledge of the future, he couldn't prevent it alone.

The only thing he could do now was save himself and those closest to him.

He would not repeat his past mistake.

He would not try to save the world only to lose everything.

---

The front gate of Harmonia Institute was now in sight.

Darian, however, didn't enter through the main gate. Instead, he took a path a few meters to the left.

There, hidden from plain view, was a hole in the wall—one that had been broken open years ago by a senior student. And now, Darian was its unofficial inheritor.

After pushing aside some overgrown shrubs and bushes, he uncovered a narrow opening, roughly two meters tall and one meter wide. It was just barely large enough for someone with a lithe build like his to slip through.

He stepped inside, carefully covering the hole again with foliage. Dusting off his hands, he turned...

"Well, look who we have here."

A voice he recognized rang out from behind him.

Darian clicked his tongue in irritation. Three noble students stood before him, smirking.

---