chapter:1 the day the world bent
I wasn't supposed to be here.
That was my first thought when I opened my eyes and saw the sky.
It wasn't the sky I knew.
A pale lavender hue blanketed everything overhead—too purple to be normal, too still to be real. Below it stretched a massive stone plaza, its surface tiled in perfect symmetry, flanked by soaring towers that looked like they were pulled from the pages of a fantasy novel. Banners fluttered high above, bearing strange symbols I'd never seen before, glowing faintly like they'd been carved from moonlight.
I blinked.
Then blinked again.
Still there.
This wasn't my room.
And unless I'd been abducted by fantasy cosplayers with a sick budget, this wasn't Earth either.
Then it hit.
> [New Quest: Attend the Opening Ceremony.]
Objective: Do not cause a scene.
Reward: +20 Credits
Failure Penalty: -loose your next quest reward
The screen flickered in mid-air, then faded before I could react.
Yep. Holographic quest notifications.
Right. Definitely not a dream.
Definitely not Earth.
---
Let's rewind.
Yesterday, I was a normal student. Kind of. I had a best friend I used to hang out with every day—walking home together, gaming into the night, and talking about life like we had it figured out. He was the kind of guy who made boring days bearable and made me feel like I wasn't just drifting through existence. We had plans—dumb ones, sure—but they were ours.
Now? Gone.
No friend. No school. Just me, stranded in a reality I didn't understand.
I'd always known I was a little smart. I could remember stuff well—maps, layouts, quotes, random trivia. Teachers used to tell me I had a good head. But I didn't really believe them. I never studied, and I got by on last-minute luck more often than I cared to admit.
That's who I was: pretty lazy, . Not that dumb, just... unconvinced I was anything special.
Now the universe had apparently decided to throw me into the deep end, without floaties.
---
The plaza was crowded with people my age, all wearing similar uniforms—dark navy with silver linings, some already adorned with stripes or emblems I didn't recognize. There were hundreds of us standing in rows, murmuring, whispering. No one looked particularly happy to be here.
The air was tense. Like we were all waiting for something to explode.
And then someone walked out onto the raised platform in front of us.
An old man with sharp silver eyes and a cloak that billowed even though there was no wind. He held a long staff, more ceremonial than practical, and when he stepped forward, silence fell like a curtain.
"Welcome to Valebourne Academy," he said, his voice unnaturally clear. "Realm of the Chosen. Domain of the Proven."
I felt a shiver crawl up my spine. I didn't like the sound of that. Not one bit.
"This is not a place of comfort," he continued. "This is a crucible. A proving ground. You will be tested. Mentally. Physically. Spiritually. And should you fail, the realm will remember you not as a student—but as a warning."
Oh. Great.
Nothing says "Welcome to School" like vague death threats.
---
> [Hidden Quest Unlocked: Survive Your First Day]
Objective: Understand your surroundings without drawing attention.
Reward: Basic Map of Valebourne Academy
Failure Penalty: -10 Reputation (Visible Cluelessness)
Note: Quest cannot be declined.
Okay, so that's twice now the system's reminded me that I'm on thin ice.
There was a system. A real one. Quests. Rewards. Penalties.
No overpowered stat screen or sudden power-up. Just objectives. Demands. Consequences.
I had to stay low. Watch. Listen. Fake it.
I noticed groups forming already. Some students were confidently exchanging greetings, as if they knew each other. Others—like me—stood quietly, taking everything in. I could hear whispers about "classes" and "ranks."
"Did you hear about the Strategist class? Supposed to be invitation-only."
"They say Tanks can withstand an ogre strike without a scratch."
"Please let me be a Mage. I can't swing a sword to save my life."
Classes? Strategist? Tank? This place was sounding more and more like an RPG—except with actual consequences.
I kept a straight face, nodding subtly as if I was in on it.
Inside, I was spiraling.
Then a voice beside me said, "You look like you just lost a bet with a god."
I turned.
A boy with messy silver hair and tired eyes gave me a lazy grin. "I'm jack. You?"
"Aster," I said, automatically.
"Well, Aster," he said, clapping a hand on my shoulder, "welcome to whatever this is."
And just like that, I wasn't alone. Even if it was brief, having someone next to me helped. It grounded me.
---
The headmaster—or whoever he was—finished his speech, and a ripple of tension passed through the crowd.
"Your orientation begins now. Your performance from this moment on will determine your class path and your initial rank. You will be observed."
Observed? By who?
Before I could ask, platforms began glowing beneath our feet. I barely had time to glance at Onelio before everything was swallowed in light.
---
I woke up in a smaller room—stone walls, glowing torches, a sealed iron door. Alone again.
> [Quest Update: Orientation Trial Begins.]
Objective: Find your way out. Time Limit: 30 minutes.
Bonus Objective: Locate the hidden sigil.
Reward: Class Affinity Preview
Penalty: Delayed Class Assignment
Alone. Timed. Puzzle-based.
Well, great. My first test was apparently Escape Room: Fantasy Edition.
---
Whatever this academy was, it wasn't just a school. It was a game. A twisted test.
And me?
I was an unlucky fellow who got caught in the middle of it
---