Chapter 4: Chapter 4 – The Hero’s Gaze and the Hidden Page

“Hey.”

That single word made Luca flinch.

Standing behind him was Aiden Everhart, expression calm, eyes curious but not overbearing.

“We’re in the same class, right? Luca… Valentine?”

Crap. Play it cool. You’re just a background noble. Nothing to see here.

“Y-Yeah. Looks like it.”

Aiden smiled. “Just thought I’d introduce myself. First day and all.”

Right, because the literal protagonist needs to be courteous to extras.

Before Luca could reply, a pair of arms slid around Aiden’s.

Lilianne Fairmoore.

She gave Luca a fleeting glance — if it could even be called that — before turning back to Aiden with a radiant smile. “You promised to look around the greenhouse with me after, remember?”

“Oh, right. Later, then.”

Aiden nodded at Luca and turned to leave with Lilianne, who didn’t spare Luca another second of attention.

Whew. Crisis averted. And here I thought I’d be pulled into a romantic comedy subplot already.

Luca exhaled deeply. Then sighed again. Then muttered, “Let’s never speak again, golden boy.”

Class A – First Meeting

Luca stepped into the Class A classroom — wide, elegant, sunlit through enchanted glass.

He quietly took a seat at the back, eyes scanning the room as memories of the game flickered through his mind.

Kyle Drayden

— a boy with fiery red hair and sharp amber eyes, his posture radiating confidence.

“Grandson of the Iron Duke,” Luca recalled. “One of the key tactical leaders in the Empire War Arc. His decisions during the Border Defense Events change entire quest lines. A spearman — polearm mastery, mid-range dominance, crowd control specialist. When he’s on the field, enemy mobs collapse like dominoes.”

Across the room stood Selene Weiss, tall and statuesque, her snow-white hair flowing like a cascade of winter.

“From the Weiss Magic Tower — positioned as the next head after her mother, who holds the title of Transcendent Mage. Not many players even unlocked that title path. Selene’s known for absurd dual-element precision, insane casting speed, and eventually, World Magic — the kind that rewrites terrain and silences dragons. Cold, quiet, and terrifying in one-on-one combat. Half the playerbase feared dueling her, the other half simped hard.”

Just as Luca was adjusting in his seat, the doors opened again.

Aiden Everhart walked in, golden hair catching the light like a halo.

“I mean, it’s Everhart,” someone whispered nearby. “Guy probably bathes in light mana.”

Girls immediately flocked toward him — only to be intercepted by a single force of nature.

Lilianne.

She stepped between them and Aiden, her sweet smile far more threatening than kind. “No crowding, please.”

She’s like a protective spirit with jealousy issues, Luca mused.

Aiden chuckled nervously. “Lily, they were just saying hello—”

“No need for hellos. You’re mine,” she said sweetly, tugging him toward their seats.

Yup. Definitely better not talk about it.

Luca leaned back and took a deep breath.

These were characters I guided, fought beside, died for — or with — again and again.

Every name in this room once lived in my screen — lines of code and story flags. And now they’re here. Breathing, moving, real.

He could feel the pulse in his neck, the buzz in his fingertips. Like stepping into a myth you memorized, only to discover it breathing beside you.

He wanted to speak to them. To shake their hands. To scream, “I know you!”

But instead, he buried that excitement deep inside and forced a casual yawn.

This is too much. I’m one badly timed word away from combusting.

“Calm Down , Calm Down”

First Class with Professor Seraphina

Later that day, the students of Class A gathered in a grand classroom — marble floors, crystal chandeliers, and enchanted windows that displayed Arcadia’s clear sky.

Seraphina entered — calm, confident, and impossible to ignore.

Her sky-blue hair was tied into an elegant bun, a few strands falling just enough to frame her sharp eyes. Her attire, while professional, didn’t hide her curves — especially her ample chest, which had already made a few boys red in the face.

She clapped her gloved hands once.

“Good morning. I am Professor Seraphina, your homeroom instructor. I teach intermediate and advanced magical theory. Some of you may not remain here by year’s end. Class A is not a title — it is a challenge. Earn your place.”

Seraphina Lyselle. Tower-certified mage. Master of glyph-based casting. Former battlefield commander. Calm as a glacier until provoked. Known in the game for having terrifyingly accurate insight into magical aptitude.

She paced slowly.

“Let’s begin with something more involved. Mr. Valentine.”

Luca blinked.

Why me again? Do I radiate ’target me’ energy?

He stood reluctantly. “Yes, Professor?”

Seraphina’s eyes narrowed ever so slightly. “In tri-threaded mana lattice design, what causes destabilization during simultaneous polarity shifts in dual-imbued glyph structures?”

Luca hesitated for only a breath — then the pieces fell together. Not from studying — from playing. From dying. From retrying.

“Polarity shifts in dual-imbued glyphs disrupt mana current coherence. Tri-threaded lattice attempts to adapt, but simultaneous shifts generate oscillating interference in opposing nodes. Without anchor glyphs to ground the flow, mana destabilizes into feedback — shattering the circuit. It’s like forcing a current through opposing magnetic fields with no buffer. The lattice breaks.”

Silence.

Seraphina arched an eyebrow. “An intuitive answer.”

She turned away, but her gaze flicked back to him just once more.

What did I just say?

A few students looked stunned. Others looked like they suddenly regretted showing up at all.

Professor Seraphina’s Office – Later That Day

Seraphina sat alone at her desk, fingers steepled.

“Luca Von Valentine…” she murmured.

The student registry shimmered in front of her, displaying his placement exam scores. Above average. Nothing exceptional.

Yet that answer…

“That question was part of a draft list for faculty-level research discussion. Not even third-years have exposure to it yet.”

She leaned back slightly, thoughtful.

“He reasoned it out. On the spot. No hesitation, no memorized formula. He understood the instability.”

Her eyes narrowed.

“No prodigy slips through this academy’s records unnoticed. And yet…”

She allowed herself a small smile.

“How very… interesting.”

Luca’s Dorm Room – Evening

Each student had their own quarters. Luca finally stepped into his.

Luxurious by modern standards — magically heated, enchanted desk, self-cleaning bathroom.

But his focus was on the details.

What do you own, Luca? What am I supposed to be?

He opened drawers, scanned the shelves. Clothes. Polished boots. A faded family crest on a sword he didn’t recognize. A few old letters. Textbooks.

Then, tucked between two books, a worn leather-bound journal.

He pulled it out, heartbeat rising.

The name etched on the inside cover: Luca Von Valentine.

He hesitated.

Then opened the first page.

[End of Chapter 4]

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