The murmurs began before he even entered the hall.
A shift in the air. Straightened backs. Curious stares. Girls whispering behind their hands. Boys tensing as if facing a rival.
Then the heavy doors creaked open.
He stepped inside — tall, confident, eyes like molten gold that seemed to glow with their own light. Aiden Everhart. The Hero of the game. The golden boy of fate.
Dressed in the standard uniform, his presence made it look like a royal cloak. His blond hair shimmered under the magical lighting, brushed slightly back with the elegance of a noble’s heir. His face was sculpted for legends — straight nose, strong jaw, calm yet unreadable expression. He radiated something unnatural, something scripted.
Beside him, holding his arm with casual possessiveness, was a girl with cherry-pink hair tied into a long ponytail, bright green eyes, and a deceptively gentle smile. Lilianne Fairmoore, the original heroine. Childhood friend. A character that started sweet and affectionate... better not talk about it.
Luca’s thoughts spiraled.
Aiden Everhart. The protagonist of End Realm.I’ve played as him 1,432 times. I’ve seen every route, every dialogue, every choice. I know how he thinks, how he fights, what breaks him.He’s not just the Hero. He’s the beating heart of this world’s script.
His background played like a file in Luca’s head.
Born to a major noble house, descendant of duke known as sword of the empire . Awakened with divine-tier light affinity at the age of six. Blessed by the Church of Lumina. Raised under royal guardianship. Admired. Revered. Hated.
He was humble, charismatic, brave... and unknowingly cursed to suffer endlessly depending on the route chosen.
Luca felt his palms sweat.
Do I treat him like I know nothing?Or avoid him entirely?Getting involved in Aiden’s story is like signing up for a war with death flags stapled to your chest.
Aiden’s gaze swept the hall.
And for a moment, their eyes met.
A subtle pause.
Then Aiden’s gaze moved on, unfazed. Lilianne tugged his arm and whispered something with a giggle.
Luca released the breath he didn’t know he was holding.
He didn’t recognize me. Of course not. He’s never met Luca. I’m not part of his world... yet.
After orientation, students were grouped for personal aptitude interviews.
Luca’s group was called third.
Inside the interview hall, glowing runes pulsed with restrained magic. At the front sat three instructors: Professor Seraphina, the graceful sky-blue-haired mage in partially revealing attire — her bust straining slightly against her silver-accented robe; a white-bearded old wizard; and a gruff knight with a scar over one brow.
"Name," the knight barked.
"Luca Von... Valentine."
The mage scanned the parchment. "Ah. Minor noble background. Physical conditioning, average. Theory, above-average."
"Let’s start with the mana crystal."
Luca stepped forward. His hand touched the orb.
Nothing.
Then, a faint pulse.
Then chaos — the colors inside the crystal didn’t settle. They flickered wildly through every known spectrum, before dimming into something... undefined.
The older wizard frowned. "No basic affinity. Not fire, water, wind, metal, or wood."
"Nor elite affinities — no ice, lightning, darkness, or light," Seraphina added, narrowing her eyes.
"It’s not null mana either. It’s... clouded. Obscured. As if something’s interfering with its revelation."
The knight crossed his arms. "Meaning?"
"His magical core exists. Strong, even. But the affinity is locked. Dormant. There’s no way to assign him to Mage class right now."
"Then physical testing," the knight muttered.
They handed Luca a wooden training sword. He took stance and began drills — guards, strikes, parries. Each move was clean, textbook-perfect. A little stiff, but disciplined.
"Trained body. Standard noble fencing. Not elite, but solid."
"And his theoretical entrance answers were exemplary," the wizard nodded.
"Warrior class. General track."
Seraphina rested her chin on one gloved hand, watching him.
"Still... something is hidden in his core. A reaction to his unknown affinity," she said softly. "Let’s record him for reevaluation next term."
"And class grouping?" the knight asked.
"After all interviews. A-Class through D-Class, based on comparative aptitude and scores."
Seraphina’s eyes lingered one last time.
"Dismissed."
As Luca exited, the doors sealed behind him, but the voices inside continued.
"A strange one," the knight muttered.
"Very. Either he’s hiding something... or someone else is hiding it for him," the wizard said.
Seraphina stood, walking to the window as Arcadia’s spires bathed in amber twilight.
"There’s something inside that boy," she said. "Something... misplaced."
The other instructors shared a glance.
"I’m assigning him to my class," she added calmly.
"Even if his metrics aren’t Class A material?" the knight raised a brow.
"They are now," she smiled.
Later, near the central bulletin board, the class assignments glowed onto the projection.
D-Class... C-Class... I’m probably somewhere around B...
Luca’s eyes scanned the names.
Then stopped.
Class A – First Years
Aiden Everhart
Lilianne Fairmoore
Kyle Drayden
Selene Weiss
..
..
..
..
Luca Von Valentine
"...You’ve got to be kidding me."
He reread it. Then again.
A few students whispered behind him.
"Another Valentine?"
"Never heard of him. Aiden and Lilianne though — they’re monsters," one student whispered. "Aiden is a swordsman with a rare, high-level affinity for light — one of the rarest blessings in the known world. Lilianne, on the other hand, is a mage with affinity across all five basic elements and even the elite ones like ice, lightning, dark, and light — something basically unheard of."
That’s right. That’s why they are the main characters of this world and were destined to be in Class A. But..."
Why the hell am I in Class A?
Unknown affinity? Seraphina? Or is this fate pulling me back in?
He stepped away from the board, mind swirling.
Now I’m in the same class as the Hero and his... friend. No powers. No system. No idea what Luca was even supposed to become.
Let’s avoid Aiden for now. First, I need to figure out what my role is in this game. Then... maybe I’ll decide how to interact with him.
A moment passed as that thought settled.
"Hey."
Luca froze.
Aiden Everhart stood behind him, looking straight at him with a calm, unreadable smile.
Oh for f—
[End of Chapter 3]