Seeing my face in the mirror, I couldn't believe it.
As I ran a hand through my now-dry hair, my reflection stared back at me.
Pale strands, still slightly tousled, framed my sharp features, delicate yet striking, carrying an almost unearthly allure.
My golden eyes, calm yet piercing, studied the subtle changes in my form.
The frailty that once clung to me was gone.
My frame, once thin to the point of weakness, had gained definition, lean muscle replacing its former fragility.
Though my build remained refined, there was now an undeniable strength beneath the elegance.
My gaze trailed downward.
"...Wow."
I twisted my torso slightly, watching how the light traced over my abdomen.
'Six-pack?'
A wry chuckle escaped me. "Hah... Never thought I'd see the day."
Back on Earth, I used to dream of this, shedding my scrawny frame for something stronger, more capable.
Yet now that I had it, the realization hit me like a brick.
'This won't do. I stand out too much.'
My pale, snowy hair and striking golden eyes were already eye-catching. Now, with a refined yet powerful physique, I'd attract even more attention.
It was one thing to feel stronger, but another to be noticed.
'I need to cut my hair…That should be good enough.'
I turned toward the wooden cupboard in the corner and pulled it open.
Inside, neatly folded shirts and trousers lay stacked.
My fingers brushed over the fabric before I grabbed a simple black tunic and fitted pants.
Without hesitation, I slipped them on, adjusting the fit until they sat comfortably against my frame.
With that settled, I took a deep breath and whispered, "Status."
========STATUS========
Name: Lucion Everhart
Rank: Mortal [★★★★★]
Aptitude: Bright Star
Profession: Farmer
======================
I exhaled slowly, muttering, "A five-star Mortal."
"Not enough."
A slight grin tugged at my lips, but it quickly faded.
This was only the first step.
To survive in Vortex Academy, I needed to reach Awakened rank before the entrance ceremony next month.
I clenched my fists. Even though my strength had improved, it was still far from enough.
The protagonist of this world was destined to grow at a monstrous rate. His talent, his encounters with fate none of that concerned me.
What did concern me was survival.
Grrrrrrr...
A low growl escaped from my stomach.
'...Right. I haven't eaten since I arrived in this world.'
I vaguely remembered Lucion's mother taking me to a meal, but… I had dozed off. And—
'Wait.'
A shock ran through my mind.
"Lucion's mother? She's sick! ...Hold on. Selena literally told me this before I went to bathe. How the hell did I forget in just a minute?"
Panic surged through me as I hurried out of the room, my footsteps quick against the wooden floor. I made my way straight to the dining hall.
The moment I reached the dining hall, I came to a sudden halt.
Selena lounged in her chair, arms crossed, an unreadable look in her eyes. Nearby, Elena, Lucion's mother, sat with a steaming cup of tea, her frail hands wrapped around it.
A wave of relief washed over me. She was fine.
"Are you alright, Mom?" I asked, my voice slightly uneven from my rushed arrival.
Elena smiled gently. "I'm fine, dear. But how about you?" Her eyes softened with concern. "You dazed off again. What happened?"
I scratched the back of my head, quickly dodging the question. "I'm fine now. See how healthy and handsome I look?" I replied with a teasing grin, gesturing at myself.
Selena's gaze lingered on me for a moment before…
"Pfft—"
A muffled sound echoed through the hall. I turned my head sharply, Selena.
She sat there, shoulders shaking slightly, before finally letting out a snort of laughter.
"Luci." she said between chuckles. "Handsome? No, you look… pretty." She gave a mock bow, grinning mischievously.
I felt a muscle in my jaw tighten. "You…" Before I could respond, a deep voice cut through the air.
"Lucion."
My gaze snapped to the man seated next to Elena, and my breath caught.
It was as if he had materialized out of thin air, slipping into the space without a sound, without presence.
My mind struggled to reconcile the fact that I hadn't noticed him at all.
And yet, now that I had, I couldn't look away.
His white hair, slightly tousled, framed a strong jawline.
Deep-set grey eyes, weathered from years of hard work under the relentless sun, held a quiet intensity, a look that seemed to pierce right through me.
His features had a rugged handsomeness, shaped by toil rather than luxury.
Darius Everhart.
Lucion's father.
He carried the unmistakable air of someone who had spent a lifetime working the land.
Yet, despite the rough edges, there was a quiet nobility in his stance, an unshakable strength that couldn't be taught.
His resemblance to Lucion was undeniable, though where Darius's eyes were a steely grey, Lucion's gleamed with a striking golden hue.
Obviously, I recognized him right away, those fragments of Lucion's memories had already made sure of that.
But seeing Darius here, standing before me, was something else entirely.
'Had he been sitting there all along? How had I not noticed?'
'Nah... it had to be exhaustion messing with my head. No way I missed him just sitting there.'
Shoving aside the unease, I met his gaze.
"...How are you feeling?"
I hesitated before straightening my posture.
"I'm fine, Dad."
The word felt strange on my tongue, carrying a weight I couldn't quite place. Was it really mine to say? He wasn't my father, he was Lucion's.
And yet, the title slipped out so naturally, as if it had always belonged to me.
Come to think of it… Elena and Darius were nothing to me. Or at least, they shouldn't have been.
But then, why did calling them Mom and Dad feel so effortless? Was it the lingering influence of the previous Lucion?
Darius studied me in silence, his expression unreadable.
Then, with a small nod, he simply said, "Good."
Before I could say anything else—
"Grrrrrr..."
The unmistakable sound of my stomach growling echoed through the hall.
Silence.
"Pfft—hahaha!"
My face burned with embarrassment.
Selena was the first to burst out laughing, her voice ringing through the hall.
Elena chuckled softly, while even the normally serious Darius let out a quiet amused exhale, though he quickly masked it. Selena smirked at me, clearly enjoying my misery.
"You must be starving," Elena said warmly. "Let's eat."
She then turned to Selena. "Selena, you should join us too."
Selena leaned back in her chair, a grin still tugging at her lips. "Why not?"
As plates were set before us, warmth filled the air. The clinking of silverware, the quiet conversation, the soft laughter it was so… natural.
'This feeling… it's familiar.'
'Back on Earth, my father and I always enjoyed meals like this. Simple moments, casual talks over dinner, they had always felt so ordinary. Yet now, in a world that isn't mine, the memory feels distant… like something slipping through my fingers.'
Before I even realized it, a small droplet of warmth slid down my cheek. I quickly wiped it away before anyone noticed, but in that moment, I knew this place was not game anymore.
When I glanced up, I saw Darius Everhart's eyes watching me.
For a brief moment, something flashed in them—understanding?
And then…
He smiled.
As I focused on the meal in front of me, I muttered under my breath,
"...Is this my life now?"
A strange feeling settled in my chest. Not unpleasant. Not unwelcome.
It was warm.
'It didn't feel bad at all.'