BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!
8:57 A.M. The alarm wouldn't shut up.
The boy lay on his stomach, one arm dangling off the bed's edge, the blanket barely covering him.
"Augg… shut up…" he groaned, reaching for the phone on the table. After a few half-hearted swats, he found it, hit snooze, and rolled back… that was it.
He didn't even open his eyes before drifting back to sleep.
The world could wait. Sleep couldn't.
BEEP BEEP BEEP!
Again? The alarm had mercy for all of sixty seconds before it began its assault anew. This time, he opened his eyes, a dark shade of clear blue that still held the haze of sleep.
His bangs covered half his face, but the sharp lines beneath them made him look annoyingly good-looking even like this.
"What time is it…" he muttered, squinting at the glowing screen.
"09:00 AM? Already?"
He let himself fall back onto the bed, sighing. One hand stayed on the phone, swiping aimlessly through videos for something to keep him company while his brain decided whether to wake up or not.
'An academy this, an academy that, like it's some big deal… do they ever shut up? Admissions happen everywhere, nothing special…' he thought.
Then he saw the name of the Academy, it hit him.
'Eden… oh, right. This isn't my usual world anymore.' This academy was a huge place, a place where main characters rose, side characters died, and extras like him were just lucky to make it past chapter one. Full of chaos and drama, battles with the protagonist, and famous people everywhere: idols, celebrities… and yet, somehow, no less dangerous.
He let the phone slip from his hand and stared at the blank ceiling.
"Last day here," he muttered. His eyes dropped to the small box by his bed — a handful of clothes, some utensils, and a few things that he could still call his.
He sighed, picked up his phone, and searched: [Eden Dormitory].
Rows of nearly identical rooms appeared on the screen though every room somehow felt… impersonal due to the different decorations.
'I just hope it's not one of those rundown dorms. I don't even have enough to get by for a few more years,' he thought. Reality might be different from the online photos, which are on the internet for prestige only.
"Morning, Mom… thanks for everything." His eyes wandered to the small table beside the bed, where a framed photo stood — a smiling woman with brown hair and warm hazel eyes, her arm around a younger version of him.
She was gone, that photo was all he had left.
There was no one left to look after him now. Only the money from her insurance and what little savings she'd left behind.
'The only place to live for free is Eden.' He knew what it meant — Eden wasn't safe. Too many things could go wrong there. But what choice did he have? He had nowhere else to go.
'Fighting? Forget it. I wouldn't last a minute. I've never fought in my life, ' he sighed. Born in a peaceful world… no swords, no monsters, no magic. 'Though violence was there but where isn't?'
'Reincarnated as an extra… whose idea was that?' He groaned and let himself sink into the bed.
'And to make it worse, I barely remember the story of this world. Great start.'
'Still, I have time… time to learn, to train, to catch up.' School wasn't something he wanted, but it was all he had.
'Status, he thought.'
×××××
[Status]
[Name]: Memphis Peregrine
[Race]: Human
[Age]: 16
[Profession: Saint of the Night]
[Tier: 0 • Dormant]
[Level: 1]
° ° ° ° °
⇒Stats
Strength: 15.3
Agility: 11.5
Dexterity: 9.8
Stamina: 9.9
Endurance: 27.3
Vitality: 26.6
Intelligence: 24.2
Charisma: 23.9
Constitution: 20.8
Arcana: 42.7
° ° ° ° °
▸ 「Corvid Familiar」 「Level:1」
Rating : Rare
Type: Passive
Description : A natural affinity for and ability to command corvids. A raven companion is constantly present, acting as a scout, messenger, or conduit for minor magics.
▸ 「Heliosite」 「Level:1」
Rating : Legendary
Type: Active
Description : The ability to manifest the large, constellation-marked blade, which appears to be formed from solidified night sky or a giant, crystallized feather.
×××××
'A specialized mage… I guess that fits me,' he thought, eyes lingering on the description, especially «Arcana: Mana infused with intent and will. This energy responds to consciousness, shaping spells and phenomena beyond natural magic.»
'At least the class is good,' he mused. He skimmed through his abilities again. 'Though I've never seen these abilities before… they look powerful enough.' He'd tried similar classes before in the game.
'Not bad. And thankfully, not one of those with absurd activation conditions.' Remembering them he shuddered with thoughts to do in real life, those classes that demanded blood rituals or weird restrictions to cast a spell.
He shook off the lingering thoughts and started folding his blanket. He eyed the mattress, sighed, and picked it up. 'Alright, you're coming with me too.'
'No place to store them, huh?' A small sigh escaped him. He didn't have the money to buy one.
'Well, it's not like there's much to store anyway. I'll just carry them.' He ran a hand through his hair before heading to the sink. The splash of cold water woke him a little.
In the bathroom mirror, his reflection looked finally awake.
'Maybe I'll shower at the academy. If Eden's as bad as the forums say, I'll be mopping before I unpack.' He paused, toothbrush in mouth. 'Though… it's not like I hate morning baths.'
…
After clearing out the apartment, he stared at the small pile beside the door. Two suitcases, a worn-out backpack, and the rolled-up mattress tied neatly with rope.
He adjusted the strap across his shoulder, testing the weight.
'Guess that's everything,' he thought. One suitcase in hand, the mattress slung over his back. It looked like he was off on a hiking trip rather than moving into a dorm.
He wore a tracksuit, because honestly, why bother dressing up? It's not a date—it's just a dormitory filled with strangers.
'Taxi?' he thought, then shook his head. 'No. If I've got high endurance, I might as well use it.'
What's that high endurance for? Obviously for physical labour if not for stamina.'
A pat on his pockets: phone, wallet, ID card. Everything he needed and nothing more.