Elijah remained motionless for a few seconds in front of the mirror.
Even after accepting his new appearance, his reflection still felt too foreign to him.
His pale eyes, almost translucent, seemed to hold all the exhaustion of his former body.
He took a deep breath.
Elijah: I can't go back, he thought. So I might as well move forward.
A soft beep suddenly echoed inside his head.
[SYSTEM — INTERFACE ACTIVE]
Name: Elijah Aster
Status: Alive
Mental State: Unstable
Memory Synchronization: 100%
Elijah frowned.
Elijah: "Unstable…? Seriously? And why are you talking inside my head?"
System: "Don't worry. I can talk inside your head, but I can also appear physically if you want."
Elijah: "Ah… okay, you scared me."
He suddenly ran a hand over his face, then through his light-colored hair.
Every gesture reminded him that he was no longer Ren.
But that wasn't such a bad thing—at least he was no longer an Omega forced to lower his head before Alphas.
[QUEST — UNLOCKED]
Objective: Allow Elijah to be exposed to sunlight.
Time Limit: Before his 18th birthday
Failure: Physical death
Elijah let out a small, joyless laugh.
Elijah: "There are even missions now…"
Lilou: "Yes, and you can even save points."
He knew, through Elijah's memories, that he couldn't endure sunlight—but how was he supposed to be cured With the points?
Elijah was nothing more than a rejected existence.
Elijah: Just like before… he thought.
Suddenly, another notification appeared.
[SKILL ACQUIRED (Level 1)]
Allows the host to see and hear through walls.
Elijah: "What!? See and hear through walls!?"
This time, Elijah smiled.
Elijah: "So… you really are a high-performance system!"
The system reply. Lilou : "yes i told you "
A knock echoed at the door.
Butler: "Young Master, dinner is ready."
Elijah straightened up.
The gaze that had once been filled with confusion was now full of restraint and courage.
Elijah: "I'm coming."
He turned his back on the mirror one last time.
This world owed him nothing.
And he expected nothing from this family either.
He would have to use drastic methods if he wanted to complete all the missions assigned by Lilou.
But this time… he wouldn't settle for merely surviving.
He would try to understand.
And when the day came, he would reclaim everything that had been stolen from him—as Elijah.
Elijah left the room, the hallway silent.
The immaculate white walls of the villa made him think that at least he hadn't been sent to an abandoned house.
His parents had shown some conscience, at the very least.
But at times, the memories of the real Elijah overlapped with Ren's, forming a strange, almost suffocating sensation.
Each step toward the dining room pushed him further into reality.
Don't panic. Observe, then act.
That was the only rule he imposed on himself.
As he drew closer, voices became audible—forced laughter, almost mocking.
He recognized the atmosphere immediately: servants who didn't respect the master of the house.
He entered.
The first thing he saw was the table—a long table, far too long for a single person.
And sitting at it were the servants.
Elijah wasn't even surprised; he had expected it.
He scanned their unfamiliar faces and noticed the one who most resembled the butler.
Elijah: "Is this how you treat your master?!"
Silence.
No more laughter.
Only the sound of his own breathing.
He understood then:
He would have to be harsh with the servants if he wanted respect.
But before he could say anything else, all the servants stood up and left in great haste.
The butler then approached Elijah.
— Young Master, please eat while the food is still warm.
Elijah was stunned. He didn't understand what was happening.
They had reacted as if they hadn't expected him to come down for dinner at all.
So he sat down slowly.
The dishes were refined, luxurious—far too much for someone who had been abandoned in a remote wing of the villa.
Still, hunger always wins over man.
He brought the spoon to his lips and began to eat.
Yet his heart remained heavy.
[SYSTEM — ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS]
Threat Level: Low
Isolation Level: High
Psychological Impact: Progressive
Elijah clenched his teeth.
Elijah: "What's the point of analyzing my loneliness? Nonsense… tsk."
Lilou discreetly appeared beside him, floating slightly above his head.
But this time, he wasn't smiling.
Lilou: "Elijah is sad…"
Elijah continued eating without looking at him.
Elijah: "I'm alive. That's already a lot, isn't it?"
Lilou lowered his head.
Lilou: "Elijah still blames Lilou…"
Those words, spoken with strange innocence, struck deeply.
Elijah set his spoon down.
Elijah: "How could I blame you for making me throw up from fear?"
A heavy silence settled.
[TRIGGER — MENTAL EVOLUTION]
Condition Met: Acceptance of new life
Mental Resistance +10 points
Elijah slowly raised his eyes.
Elijah: "I see… The more I accept my suffering and overcome it, the more points I gain?"
Lilou smiled faintly.
Lilou: "Lilou doesn't want Elijah to suffer… but Lilou can't change the rules."
Then he disappeared.
After dinner, Elijah returned alone to his room.
Night had already fallen, wrapping the villa in thick darkness.
Outside, the forest whispered under the wind, as if it were alive.
He approached the window and said:
Elijah:"If no one comes to me… then I'll go to the word"