A world of false magic, but real rewards

The next day.

A soft light filtered through silk curtains. The scent of fresh flowers and ancient stone filled the room. Kaito opened his eyes slowly, his breath short, still numb.

A vaulted ceiling, adorned with celestial frescoes. A huge bed. A soothing silence... almost unreal.

He sat up with difficulty. His head was spinning, his thoughts in disarray. Everything came back to him: the awakening circle, his words, the others' astonishment... then emptiness.

He put his hand to his temple.

"I fainted... in front of everyone?"

He examined the room, every detail screaming royal luxury: embroidered hangings, ornate furniture, a vase of still-warm medicinal herbs. He was in the palace.

"But why here? Why alone?"

He stood up, unsteadily, and approached the mirror. His reflection seemed blurry, almost... foreign.

"Nothing makes sense," he murmured.

He remembered what he'd said. This world was too perfect. Too scripted. And the more time passed, the more this idea clung to his skin.

He looked at his palm.

"What if I'm right...?"

Kaito sighed and returned to sit on the bed. An eerie silence reigned in the room, heavy but almost comical in its absurdity.

He ran a hand through his hair, then gave a nervous grimace.

"Honestly, all I needed was for someone to come in and say, 'It's okay, Kaito, it was just a dream...' "

He rolled his eyes sarcastically.

"Yeah, sure. We get attacked by wyverns, we wake up in a world with a priest in a toga and a king in golden armor, we talk about classes, artifacts... and bam! It was just my imagination."

He burst out into a dry, mirthless laugh.

"Honestly, if they're going to come out with that, I'd rather be told I'm in a bad isekai written by an insomniac teenager."

He flopped back onto the bed.

"I must be really losing my mind."

Then, more quietly, as if whispering to himself,

"Or maybe it's precisely because everything is so well-structured that it stinks of writing."

There was a soft knock at the door.

Kaito sat up immediately. His heart raced.

"Who...?"

The door slowly opened. A young maid entered, holding a basin of fresh water. She bowed without a word, then placed the basin on a small table near the bed.

"The king has asked that you rest a little longer," she said in a soft voice.

Kaito didn't answer right away. He eyed her with barely concealed suspicion, as if she too had just walked out of a well-oiled story.

"I... Thank you."

She bowed again, then quietly left.

As soon as the door closed, Kaito stood up and walked over to the window. Outside, he saw the palace gardens, a brilliant green, where a few nobles and guards were strolling. A perfect, almost indecent, peace.

He turned away and looked at his hand again. No mark, no trace of awakened power. Nothing unusual. And yet...

"Why me? Why do I feel this constant unease?"

Footsteps echoed in the hallway. This time, it was a familiar voice.

"Kaito?"

He froze. It was Reiji.

The door barely opened, revealing the delegate's worried face. He entered slowly, closing it behind him.

"Are you better? We were all worried yesterday... well... not all of us, but..."

He paused, observing Kaito's expression, half-lost, half-defiant.

"What you said before you collapsed... it was strange. But I have to admit there was a certain truth in what you said."

Kaito shrugged.

"The problem is, it's becoming more and more real. Like I'm reading a book... except I'm stuck in it."

Reiji gave a small smile.

"You haven't changed. Even here, you have to be out of step with everything around you."

"No, Reiji. It's not a mismatch. It's a warning. This world is too coherent, too well-arranged. As if... everything followed a script."

Reiji seemed to think, before continuing.

"You want to know what happened next? Right after you fainted, the High Priest declared that the ceremony had to be postponed, to give you time to recover. But..."

He looked away for a moment.

"But some students strongly opposed this decision. They wanted to continue. They put pressure on him. And... the ceremony resumed. Without you."

Kaito frowned.

"Charming. And you, then? What class did you have?"

Reiji gave a small smile, almost embarrassed.

[Master of Enchantments]

Kaito stared at him, his eyes wide.

A silence.

Then he burst out laughing.

"Wait, you? Enchanter?! Are you serious? You?"

He threw his arms up in the air.

"I'm dreaming! Even that's overly scripted! Reiji, the model delegate, becomes the elegant magician of the group. All that's missing is for Ryo to end up as a paladin, right?"

Reiji raised an eyebrow.

"...That's exactly what he got. Sacred Paladin."

Kaito stared at him for a moment, his mouth half-open.

"Wait... Divine Paladin?"

Reiji nodded calmly.

"One of the rarest. He's received blessings, apparently." Everyone was in awe."

Kaito remained silent for a few seconds. Then, a surprised smile played on his lips.

"Ryo, huh... The guy who fought against injustice in middle school like a walking shonen... He's become the hero this world has been waiting for?"

He sighed, almost amused.

"Honestly, in a way... it suits him well. He's always had that aura. Even if he was one of the only ones who came to talk to me when I was alone."

Reiji nodded.

"He hasn't changed. He even asked if you were okay after the ceremony."

A slight silence. Kaito smirked.

"All he needs is a speech about friendship and a shiny sword, and we can start the ending."

Reiji, despite himself, stifled a smile.

"He did indeed give a speech. Very... inspiring."

Kaito flopped back onto the bed, arms outstretched, eyes raised to the ceiling.

"If this is the casting of this story... I can't wait to see who ends up as the demon king."

He closed his eyes for a second.

"Spoiler alert: I bet it's me."

There was another knock at the door. This time, the voice was deep, calm.

"Master Reiji, you're expected."

Kaito exchanged one last look with Reiji.

"We'll talk about this later. Let me know if Ryo starts glowing in the dark."

And as he stood up, he mockingly said,

"Come on, let's head towards my destiny... or my ritual execution. It's fifty-fifty."

Kaito left the room, his mind soothed by the discussion he had just had with Reiji. Talking with his childhood friend had allowed him to regain his calm and morale. The weight of the situation was still present, but he now felt ready to move forward. He set out in search of High Priest Silvanus. Perhaps this meeting would finally bring him the answers he was seeking.

He had barely set foot in the corridor when he stopped dead in his tracks. In front of him, two familiar figures stood there, as if waiting for him.

Daichi and Haruto.

Daichi, tall, muscular, and a little gruff, wasn't someone Kaito had ever really interacted with. It wasn't for lack of opportunity to talk, but Daichi seemed a bit lost in his own world, just like Kaito. Conversation never seemed to come naturally between them. But now, seeing him face to face, Kaito couldn't help but notice his imposing posture, like that of a warrior already accustomed to action.

As for Haruto, he was more discreet, almost retiring. He didn't have Daichi's physique, but he had that cold, strategist's gaze, and it was in silence that he seemed to make himself heard. Yet, at that moment, something about him exuded a kind of almost eerie calm, as if he knew exactly what he was doing, even in such a chaotic place.

Kaito simply watched them, and a small shiver ran down his spine when he heard their words.

"So, you're finally awake, huh?" Daichi asked with a slightly mocking smile. "Not a bad world, huh?"

Kaito raised an eyebrow but didn't reply. Daichi didn't seem bothered by anything, not even the fact that he was... in a fantasy world, seemingly cut off from reality.

Haruto simply stared at him silently, but eventually broke the silence, his voice soft and precise.

"You already have your class? We got ours." He paused, before continuing, almost as if it were obvious: "I'm an Assassin." He seemed to be observing Kaito's reaction, but didn't add anything more.

Kaito bit the inside of his cheek. Assassin. No surprise there. Everything was so... predictable. But he didn't add anything, simply looking up to listen to Daichi.

"And me, Tank!" Daichi burst out laughing, his large body looking like it was ready to crush everything in its path. "I hope you're not going to slow us down too much, eh?"

Both seemed to be waiting for a response from Kaito, but he didn't dare get carried away. He'd seen the scene clearly: Daichi the tank, Haruto the assassin... and him? He felt like a secondary character in this overly well-organized scene. It's so... cliché!

But Kaito clenched his fists. He couldn't explode, not here. Not now. What was he going to say? That it all seemed so scripted? No. It wouldn't change anything. He just had to keep playing his part, for now.

Haruto broke the silence again, staring at Kaito.

"You don't look so well. Don't worry, it's normal. It all sinks in eventually."

Kaito blinked. "What sinks in eventually?"

Haruto shrugged.

"Adapting. This world has its rules, its systems. If you want to survive here, you'll have to learn to live with them."

Kaito stared into space for a moment, then exhaled softly.

"What if I have no choice?"

Daichi burst out laughing, patting Kaito on the shoulder a little too enthusiastically.

"You're right, man. You don't have a choice anymore."

Kaito rubbed the back of his neck. He didn't really want to dwell on this conversation. But at that moment, he realized one thing: he had no options left.

He wasn't going to continue fighting this overly perfect, overly organized world. He was going to accept it. Because, no matter what he said, this world was an adventure, and it didn't matter if it was predetermined.

Kaito shrugged with a small smile.

"So, where are we going?"

Daichi stretched and pointed.

"We need to meet the others in the great royal hall. Are you coming with us?"

Kaito thought for a second, then sighed. In the end, he had no choice but to accept.

"Yeah... let's go." »

As they walked toward the great royal hall, Kaito found himself thinking about all this. Maybe it was all cliché, but in the end, what did it matter? After all, he was about to experience the adventure of a lifetime, a world of swords and magic, a universe in which he could lose himself and, perhaps, rediscover himself.

He had accepted this role, and for now, there was no turning back. He told himself he would do his best to enjoy this reality and, perhaps, discover the truth behind this strange story… but one thing was certain: he was going to make the most of it and have fun doing it.

Great idea! I'll elaborate on all of this while maintaining the tone and stakes of your story: a quiet tension, Kaito's gradual awakening, and the feeling that there were still many mysteries to come.

The heavy doors of the hall opened with a solemn creak. Daichi and Haruto accompany Kaito, who walks slightly behind, his gaze somewhat lost. All the students are there, gathered in small groups, some sitting, others standing, all in heavy silence. Teachers Kentaro and Hiroko monitor the atmosphere, visibly still in shock from recent events.

In the center of the room stands a man in a white robe, his face marked with wisdom: the high priest. Before him, a golden pedestal from which rises a column of magical light. Behind him, on a throne carved from silver wood, the king observes them with a cold presence. To his right, a woman in light armor with piercing eyes: Lady Kaelis, her gaze fixed on the students as if they were mere pawns.

The high priest raises his hand to silence the quiet murmur that had begun to rise upon Kaito's arrival.

"Before your arrival, I spoke at length with Professor Kentaro. I understood that many things in our world are foreign to you. That is why, first of all, I will explain to you the foundations of this land... the gifts, the classes, the monsters, the mana..."

He begins a brief explanation of the natural laws of the world, the magic classes, the power levels, the elemental circles. He speaks with a certain pride, like a guide presenting a well-oiled world.

But at that precise moment, Kaito crosses the threshold of the sacred circle. The priest interrupts his speech.

"Young man... are you fit to continue?" he asks, his voice filled with genuine concern.

"Yes... I'm fine," Kaito replies calmly, though a thousand questions are racing through his mind.

The high priest nods, then turns back to the assembly. But he barely opens his mouth when Kaito interrupts him.

"Since I'm the only one who hasn't been evaluated yet... shouldn't we finish the awakening ceremony?"

A murmur of astonishment runs through the students. The king himself tilts his head slightly, interested.

The high priest pauses for a moment, as if surprised by the lucidity of this discreet boy.

"Very well. Since the sacred crystal is in the sanctuary of awakening..."

He turns to a young priest standing in the background:

"Go get the replacement artifact. It will suffice."

A moment later, a small obsidian pillar encased in a gold circle is brought in, from which emerges a faintly shimmering blue stone.

The high priest extends his hand toward the young boy, inviting him to approach the pedestal where the new artifact rests.

"This crystal is much less powerful than the one used in the ceremony, but it can at least reveal your class."

All eyes focus on Kaito, alone in the center of the room, like an animal on display in a cage.

He walks forward slowly. A drop of sweat forms on his temple, but not from stress. No. His mind has already drifted.

Kaito (inner thought):

"Okay... this is the fateful moment. The big moment when I'll know if my life will descend into heroic comedy or diabolical tragedy."

— Option 1: I touch the thing, and poof! I become something like "Apprentice Farmer," "Mushroom Picker," or worse... "Slug Tamer." The others make fun of me, I struggle for 50 chapters, I cry in a cave, then I discover a legendary artifact or an old sensei who tells me "You have a hidden power within you!" ...and then, bam, I become a cheater, I save everyone, and even the girls who were making fun of me end up blushing when they look at me.

"The classic." The guy is a total loser, but in reality, he's pure of heart, he understands monsters, he befriends a dragon, he invents magical permaculture, and everyone ends up saying he's the real hero."

"...Okay, I admit, I've read those kinds of stories. And I liked them."

— And then, Option 2... The darker scenario, the one that smacks of the final boss. I touch the artifact, and there, a revelation: "Demon King Reborn," "Heir to Chaos," or worse, "Devourer of Worlds." The priests faint, the king stands up, the teachers panic, and all the students look at me as if I were going to rip out their souls.

"And me? I smile mysteriously, because I already understand everything. I was summoned, but not to save them. No. To judge them." »

"I get up, a black fire invades me, I grow horns, and I say something cool like 'I was never one of you.' And boom, end of season 1."

"...It would be cool, sure. But a little too much work, no?"

A small chuckle almost escapes him, but he catches himself. He's now standing right in front of the artifact.

"Well, in any case, I just hope it's not something like 'Herb Merchant'. Because then even the author will be ashamed."

He slowly reaches out his hand.

His fingers brush against the stone.

A white light bursts around him.

Silence falls over the room, cutting off all breaths.

On the surface of the artifact, magical letters appear:

[Class: Elemental Mage]

A collective gasp passes through the room, neither disappointment nor admiration. A cheated class like the others... not enough to write an epic, nor start a war.

A murmur runs through the room, this time more of relief than astonishment. After all, some had received much rarer, even legendary, classes.

Nothing abnormal, nothing to worry about. Just another student, with a higher class.

But Kaito remained frozen. A thin smile played at the corner of his lips.

"Well... even better: not a humiliated hero, nor a demon king. Just a normal guy, invisible... like before."

He turned silently towards the room.

"Well... an unexpected event."

Kaito slowly joined the group where Reiji was, still slightly dazed by the revelation of his class. The surrounding noise had faded, as if everything else had suddenly melted into a distant blur.

Reiji gave him a genuine smile and patted him on the shoulder.

"Congratulations on your class, Kaito. Elemental Mage, eh? That's a good foundation."

"Let's just say it could have been worse..." Kaito replied, a little embarrassed.

His gaze then fell on the other members of the group. He recognized Ryo, the new Hero, then Haruka, the shy girl who had screamed at first, Hiro, the quiet, sickly-looking guy, and finally a girl with a noble, almost intimidating aura.

Curious, Kaito turned to Reiji.

"Hey, by the way... what classes did you get?"

Reiji chuckled.

"Good question."

He pointed to each of the students in turn.

"You already know Ryo's class. Divine Paladin, the hero blessed by the gods."

"Of course it was planned from the start! I'll never leave my friends in danger. As long as I'm here, no one will get hurt!" said Ryo, a flash of determination shining through.

Reiji continued without commenting.

"Hiro, our shadowy figure, got the Necromancer class. It surprised everyone, but apparently, it's a very rare class." »

Hiro shrugged, a small smile on his lips.

"I prefer things to be quiet... but if I have to raise a skeleton or two, I guess I'll get used to it."

"Next, Haruka." Reiji placed a light hand on the girl's shoulder, and she immediately blushed.

"She received the Arch-Priestess class. Healing, blessings, support... A rare class."

"Th-that's not that impressive..." she stammered, looking down.

"And finally, Mitsuki. She was blessed with the Holy Knight class. A class that's both defensive and offensive, capable of wielding holy magic with a sword."

Mitsuki crossed her arms, standing stiff as a board.

"I will protect those who rely on me, to the end."

Kaito listened attentively, mentally noting each class.

"Compared to them, I'm a bit of a walk-on... but hey, we'll see how it goes." " said Kaito, smiling.

Reiji spoke again, looking more serious:

"I don't know yet what awaits us... but I think we'll be able to defend ourselves."

Ryo laughed.

"Seeing as how you look like a guy hiding a potential cheat, I'll give you three days before we find out you're a demigod or a hero too!"

"...I'd rather not," said Kaito, amused.

Laughter rose softly between them.

The priest continued his explanations.

"Adventurers, allow me to introduce you to this world you've just been thrust into: the kingdom of Asterion, under the aegis of King Arvandil Arthorus."

A respectful silence accompanied his words, as if everyone was holding their breath to avoid missing anything of his teaching.

"Beyond our borders, countless kingdoms coexist, nations of humans as well as others ruled by other races:

— The stone citadels of the dwarves, built in the bronze mountains, — The ethereal cities of the elves, suspended from the celestial vaults, — The savage empires of the beastmen, rooted in the primordial forests, — And many other nations, ruled by ancient dragons or spirits."

Kaito felt his heart pound; the idea that this world was so vast reminded him of the extent of the possibilities... and the dangers.

Silvanus continued, his voice filled with solemnity:

"I was sent here by the Holy Empire, guardian of the peace between the kingdoms, to ensure the balance of power and assist His Majesty in his decisions.

Now, let us address the very essence of your destiny: mana and magic." Mana is the lifeblood of the world, an invisible flow that irrigates every creature and every stone. To master mana is to influence the very fabric of reality."

He took a step, clasping his hands in front of his chest.

Elemental magic grants you command over fire, water, air, and earth; a brutal technique often used on the battlefield. Sacred magic draws its strength from the divine; its prayers heal, its blessings protect. Dark magic and soul magic manipulate the boundary between life and death; feared for their corrupting power. Spells and enchantments craft magical objects: eternal swords, impenetrable barriers, runic glyphs…

These disciplines can be combined: a rune warrior summons a wall of sacred flames, a necromancer alters souls to strengthen his allies.

Finally, the most discreet but not the least: Void magic. Based on the pure abstraction of mana, it allows:

Long-distance telepathy, to unite the minds of your companions,

-The detection of hostile presences, whether in the shadows or underground,

-The analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of an adversary or an artifact. A subtle discipline, requiring mental rigor and total self-control.

Silvanus's words hung in the air, and each of the students seemed to mentally picture their own talents and weaknesses, already dreaming of mastering these powers.

The high priest finally concluded:

"This is only a glimpse. You will discover in time the extent of your gifts. For now, patiently climb each step of knowledge. Your future will depend on your understanding of mana and your willingness to use it wisely."

A sacred silence followed. Then a murmur of admiration rippled through the audience: the lesson had just ended.

Reiji exchanged a knowing glance with Kaito,stars shining in his eyes.

"So... ready to explore these mysteries?"

Kaito nodded, excitement and determination mingling in his gaze.

"The adventures always begin after the tutorial."