# Chapter 1
Darkness... thick darkness envelops consciousness like heavy fog. Then suddenly, as if a lightning bolt pierced the night, my eyes snapped open with a sharp pain.
"Where... where am I?"
The words left my mouth in a hoarse voice, as if I hadn't spoken in years. I looked around with confused eyes, trying to understand what was happening. I was lying on a simple wooden bed in a small room with gray stone walls. Golden sunlight crept through a small window, casting patterns of light and shadow on the worn stone floor.
I tried to sit up, but a wave of dizziness swept over me, forcing me to stop and put my hand to my forehead. My head hurt as if a thousand hammers were striking it at once. But the pain wasn't what shocked me... it was what was flooding my mind like a torrent of memories.
"No... this is impossible."
Two memories... two completely different sets of memories clashed in my mind. The first, hazy and vague, belonged to a youth named Lian Shadewind, sixteen years old, from a fallen noble family in a world called Arthimia. The second, painfully clear and detailed, belonged to someone else entirely... a person from a different world, a world without magic, a world called Earth.
I sat on the edge of the bed, my head in my hands, trying to organize the chaos filling my mind. The memories from the other life were so clear... my name was Kim Jin-wook, a 28-year-old Korean programmer, addicted to a game called "Spirit Realm Online" – the world's most famous VRMMORPG.
"Spirit Realm Online..." I whispered the name, feeling a shiver run down my spine.
I was one of the world's top players, spending sixteen hours a day in the game. I knew every secret, every hidden quest, every strategy. I had maxed out my level with my favorite character, a Spirit Controller specializing in summoning multi-elemental spirits. I knew the game's future until the very end, because I had played the closed beta and knew all the events that would unfold.
But how...? How did I end up here?
My last memories from Earth were vague. I had been working long hours, three days without sleep, trying to finish an important coding project. I drank too much coffee and energy capsules, and suddenly felt a sharp pain in my chest, then... darkness.
"Did I die?" I asked myself, the idea sending a wave of cold fear through my body.
But if I died, what about this body? What about Lian Shadewind's memories?
I rose slowly and headed towards a small, cracked mirror hanging on the wall. The face that looked back at me wasn't mine... or rather, it wasn't Kim Jin-wook's face. It was the face of a handsome youth with long black hair and deep blue eyes. Noble features, but pale and gaunt, bearing the marks of malnutrition and neglect.
"Lian Shadewind..." I whispered, and another wave of memories surged into my mind.
Lian's memories gradually clarified, like a painting being drawn in faded colors. The Shadewind family were minor nobles in the Holy Empire, owning small lands on the outskirts and some limited trade. Lian's father, Count Mark Shadewind, was a powerful Spirit Controller of the Fourth Rank, specializing in wind and lightning spirits.
But three years ago, tragedy struck...
The memories came as broken, painful images. A stormy night, a sudden attack on the manor, masked men, servants screaming, and fire consuming everything. My parents... I saw them fighting bravely; my father summoning lightning spirits to strike the attackers, my mother protecting me with a barrier of water spirits.
But they were outnumbered and outmatched. I watched my father fall, a poisoned dagger stabbed in his back, and my mother scream his name before someone beheaded her right before my eyes.
"No!" I screamed, slamming my fist against the wall, the physical pain helping drive away the painful memories.
The shock was so severe that Lian lost most of his memories and abilities for three years. He lived as a servant in the distant relatives' house, the Shadowpine family, who took what remained of his family's assets under the guise of "caring for him." But in reality, they treated him like a slave, giving him the worst food and worst place to sleep, forcing him to do the hardest labor.
And today, on his sixteenth birthday, Lian finally awoke... but not just the original Lian, but with the memories and experience of Kim Jin-wook as well.
I sat on the bed again, trying to organize my thoughts. The situation was very complicated, but I needed to understand exactly what was happening.
First, I am now in the world of Arthimia, the same world from the game "Spirit Realm Online." Every detail matched – place names, the magic system, history, even the current dates. According to Lian's memories, we are in the 1247th year of the Imperial Calendar, exactly the same period when the game's events begin.
Second, I am now Lian Shadewind, a character that didn't exist in the original game. This means I'm not in the game itself, but in a real world resembling it, or perhaps the game was modeled after this real world.
Third, I now have complete memories and knowledge of this world's future. I know when wars will happen, who will die, who will become powerful, where hidden treasures and ancient secrets are located.
"This... this could be an opportunity."
I stood and looked out the window. Outside was a familiar scene from the game – Shadowpine Manor, a large black stone building located on the outskirts of the Imperial Capital. I could see the carefully manicured gardens, servants working outside, and the stone-paved road leading to the capital.
But before thinking of any plans, I needed to check my current status. In the game, every person had a "Status Window" showing their abilities and level. I wondered if the same system existed here.
"Status Window," I thought forcefully, and suddenly, a transparent frame filled with information appeared before me:
---
**[Status Window]**
**Name:** Lian Shadewind
**Age:** 16 years
**Rank:** Novice Apprentice (Level 1)
**Class:** Spirit Controller
**Basic Attributes:**
- Strength: 8/100
- Agility: 12/100
- Intelligence: 23/100
- Spiritual Power: 15/100
- Luck: ???
**Special Skills:**
- [Holy Spirit Eye] - Level 1 (Inactive)
- [Player's Memory] - Level MAX
- [Multi-Element Spirit Control] - Level 1 (Inactive)
**Condition:** Malnourished, Physically Weak, Psychological Trauma (Partially Healed)
**Contracted Spirits:** None
---
"Pitiful condition," I muttered bitterly.
My stats were very weak, weaker even than any new player in the game. That made sense, considering three years of mistreatment and no training. But the special skills...
"Player's Memory" was clear – this was my knowledge from the game. But "Holy Spirit Eye" and "Multi-Element Spirit Control" were unfamiliar. In the game, there was no skill called "Holy Spirit Eye," and most players could only control one or two types of elemental spirits at most.
I focused on the "Holy Spirit Eye" skill, and an explanatory window appeared:
---
**[Holy Spirit Eye - Level 1]**
**Description:** A unique ability that allows seeing the essence of spirits and hidden energies. Can see others' true power level, their weaknesses, and hidden spirits in the area.
**Cost:** 5 Spiritual Energy points per use
**Duration:** 30 seconds
**Cooldown:** 10 minutes
**Note:** This is a rare hereditary ability of the Shadewind family. It was dormant due to psychological trauma.
---
"A hereditary ability?" I looked at the window in surprise. "This wasn't in the game..."
This meant there were elements in this world that weren't in the game, or perhaps were hidden from players. This made things more complicated and exciting.
I closed the status window and sat on the bed, thinking about the situation. I had immense knowledge of this world, but I was currently very weak. The Shadowpine family treated me as a servant, and they probably didn't know yet that I had regained my memory.
In the game, I knew that the Imperial Mage Academy entrance exams would take place in two months. This was my golden opportunity to escape this place and begin my true journey. But to enter the Academy, I needed to prove I was a Spirit Controller capable of summoning at least one spirit.
The problem was I didn't have any contracted spirits currently, and my physical condition was very weak.
"But I know exactly where to find what I need," I smiled for the first time since waking up.
In the game, there was a secret location in the Dark Sorcerer's Forest, about a day's walk from here. There resided a small fire spirit called "Ember" – a rare spirit that could grow into legendary power if trained correctly. In the game, no one discovered this secret until two years after the events began, but I knew its exact location.
But first, I needed to regain some strength and activate my abilities. And more importantly, I needed to be cautious. If the Shadowpine family discovered I had regained my memory and abilities, they might try to harm or exploit me.
I decided to pretend I was still weak and sick for a few days, while secretly strengthening my body and gradually restoring my abilities.
Suddenly, I heard footsteps approaching my room door. I hurried back to bed and closed my eyes, pretending to sleep.
The door opened forcefully, and I heard a familiar, harsh voice:
"Hey! The little slave finally woke up?"
I opened my eyes slowly and looked towards the door. There stood a young man in his twenties, tall and muscular, with blond hair and cold green eyes. He was wearing luxurious noble attire made of blue silk embroidered with gold. This was Victor Shadowpine, Lian's cousin and the current heir of the family.
"Victor..." I whispered weakly, pretending exhaustion.
"Finally talking!" Victor laughed cruelly. "I thought you'd stay in a coma forever. You've been a burden on us for far too long."
Behind Victor, a woman in her forties entered, thin and sharp-featured, with tightly bound black hair and cold gray eyes. She wore an elegant black dress. This was Lady Margaret Shadowpine, Lian's aunt and Victor's mother.
"What a pathetic sight," she said in a low, venomous voice. "Three years you've eaten our food and lived under our roof without offering anything useful. I think it's time you paid your debts."
"My debts?" I asked, though I knew what was coming.
"Of course," Victor smiled wickedly. "Your stay, your food, your clothes... everything has a price. We calculated it, and you owe us an amount estimated at five thousand gold coins."
Five thousand gold coins? That was a huge sum, enough to buy a small palace. They were trying to saddle me with impossible debts, making me their slave forever.
"But we are a generous family," Lady Margaret continued in a fake tone. "We'll give you a chance to repay your debts. From today onward, you will work as an official servant in the house. Your salary will be one silver coin per month, and we will deduct the costs of food and lodging from it. At this rate, you'll finish paying your debts in... let me calculate... about five hundred years?"
Victor laughed loudly, as if he had heard the world's funniest joke.
I looked at them calmly, hiding the burning anger in my heart. Inside, I was quickly analyzing their abilities using my game knowledge.
Victor Shadowpine was a Second Rank Spirit Controller, around level 19, specializing in dark spirits. His abilities were strong, but his arrogant personality made him underestimate enemies. His mother wasn't a Spirit Controller, but she was intelligent and manipulative.
"I understand," I said in a weak voice, as if surrendering. "I will work hard to repay my debts."
"Good!" Lady Margaret smiled. "You start tomorrow. For now, it's dinnertime. Go to the kitchen and help the cooks."
I got up from the bed slowly, pretending weakness, and headed towards the door. But as I passed Victor, he grabbed my arm forcefully.
"Pay close attention, dear cousin," he whispered menacingly in my ear. "This house has rules. Remember your place, and don't try to be too clever. My father took your family's assets completely legally, and we won't hesitate to get rid of you if you become a problem."
"I understand," I replied calmly, showing no reaction.
Victor released my arm and pushed me towards the door. "Go now, you have work to do."
I headed towards the kitchen in the basement, thoughts racing in my head. A plan was gradually forming. I had two months before the Academy exams, and I needed to make use of every day.
The kitchen was large and crowded, filled with the smell of food and steam rising from large pots. There were five or six servants working hard, preparing dinner for the family and guests.
"Lian?" an elderly woman called out in surprise. "Oh my God, you're finally awake!"
I turned towards the voice and saw a woman in her sixties, short and plump, with gray hair and warm brown eyes. She wore a cooking apron full of stains. This was Martha, the head cook, the only person in this house who had treated Lian kindly during the past three years.
"Martha," I smiled weakly. "Yes, I feel a little better."
She hurried over and examined my face worriedly. "Still so pale, and weak. Are you eating enough? Of course not, how could you with the tiny portions they give you."
"It's fine, I'm okay," I said gently. "Victor sent me to help you with dinner."
"That boy!" Martha grumbled angrily. "He knows no mercy. Come, help me chop the vegetables, but don't tire yourself too much."
I spent the next hour in the kitchen, helping prepare dinner. But my mind wasn't focused on cooking. I was observing and analyzing everything – the guard pattern in the house, the family's habits, the weak points in security.
While chopping vegetables, I silently activated the "Holy Spirit Eye" skill. I felt a slight tingle in my eyes, and suddenly my view of the world changed.
Everything became clearer. I could see faint threads of spiritual energy flowing through the house, like rivers of colored light. I could see each person's power level as numbers floating above their heads.
Martha - Level 0 (No magical abilities)
Young Cook - Level 2 (Weak Spirit Controller, specializes in fire spirits for cooking)
Maid - Level 0
But what truly caught my attention was something else. Upstairs, I could see a strong glow of spiritual energy – Level 38. This was Victor's father, Count Richard Shadowpine, the master of the house. He was a Third Rank Spirit Controller, an expert in dark and earth spirits.
And also... there was something hidden in the cellar. A faint but distinctive magical energy glow, as if something was buried or stored there.
"Lian? Are you okay?" asked the young cook. "You look like you're seeing ghosts."
"Sorry, just a little tired," I closed the eye skill and returned my focus to cooking.