I always gave my characters eyes that matched their races, unless they were mixed, or among the cursed or blessed few.
Avens had red and green eyes, with a faded image of a wing in their irises.
In rare cases, a spine appeared instead, representing how dangerous yet graceful they looked when flying.
Humans had different colors, green, brown, blue, yellow, orange, pink—various shades, but never red.
The Berserkers had either red or orange eyes. It showed their rage.
Ghosts usually had silver eyes, or no irises at all, hauntingly beautiful.
Demi-humans had all colors, but their irises carried very unique shapes.
Then the Aces had black eyes, with circular irises and a very visible ace symbol within them.
However, the girl before me had something I never created.
Not even heterochromia. I'd used that before for characters with mixed bloodlines.
Her sclera were silver, not pale, not even white like every other living thing, but silver.
The kind you'd see on a blade.
Her irises were black at the top, fading into a soft red and pink near the bottom, almost like an arc.
They were beautiful, no doubt, but I hadn't created eyes like that.
If I had, I would've remembered.
She poured the tea without spilling a drop.
Every motion looked like she'd practiced it beforehand.
She handed me the cup without a word, then took something else from the tray, a slim, dark-covered book, and set it beside the plates.
Then she spoke.
"Mix this into warm water and drink it after eating," she said calmly, raising a small sack, if you could even call it that.
"It stabilizes your blood for meridian expansion and helps you sleep well."
I frowned the moment she said that.
Did the academy send my health records as well? Or did she take one look at me and just know?
"You're... the Apothecary?" I asked, because it was only an Apothecary that would know something like that.
She nodded gently. "Mister Rengold sent me a full report about my apprentice."
"I see," I murmured. "Why are you the one who got it? I thought the house mistress was in charge of that."
"I was assigned to oversee your adjustment period before I let you handle anything as my apprentice."
She said it simply, then lowered her gaze to the cup in my hand. "You should drink that before it gets cold."
I blinked. Ignored her question and asked, "You're the one training me?"
"No." Her tone didn't change as she turned to adjust the plates on the table.
"You're my apprentice. I don't train. You observe. You imitate and learn if you wish. That is all. You can, however, choose to call it training."
Great.
She turned slightly, her eyes flicking over my posture. Then I saw a small frown.
"You're supposed to be a cadet from the North, right?"
I nodded, and her frown deepened.
"Why the long hair? Strange eye color? You relax too much to even look like an Aven."
I sighed again, my exhaustion growing with every question she asked.
I don't understand why they made it such a big deal.
"I'm mixed, part Aven, part human," I said, watching her expression closely to see how she'd react, but she just nodded and averted her gaze.
"You're also older than I expected. The general and headmaster said nineteen..." She tilted her head. "I thought you'd be smaller, and more immature."
"Is that a compliment or an insult?" I asked, and I suddenly recallled what the Emperor said about a silent girl.
It couldn't possibly be her. This girl was too provocative for that.
She raised her head to look at me, then turned away almost immediately. She rose to her feet, adjusted her hanfu, and took a step back.
"You're not breathing correctly, either. Avens have special breathing patterns as well as techniques."
She paused, then added.
"Your flight ability is inactive, correct?"
"Yes." I answered, although there was nothing she could possibly do about it.
She just gave a simple nod and bowed slightly.
"You'll be at the lower yard tomorrow, before sunrise," she said and raised her head.
She didn't even wait for a reply, Instead, she walked to the door, paused, and looked over her shoulder.
"The Emperor assigned you to the four houses, which means you'll be traveling with me when we are summoned. I hope you know that?"
"I do."
"Han Xueling, right?"
I nodded, and she exhaled quietly. "You should stick to the attire you are given, unless you're away from the palace grounds."
I rubbed the bridge of my nose, nodding slowly and I asked in return, "Your name?"
"They said you could choose."
"What?"
She didn't face me again. She just held the door, then pulled it open.
"Two, Lian Rou. Bai Lin. Don't ask questions, or seek the meaning. Just pick the one that suits you."
And just like that, she slid the door shut and left.
No introduction. Just strange eyes, a book, a few quiet instructions, and the uncanny ability to irritate someone without raising her voice.
I looked at the tea. It was still steaming.
I picked it up the book, flipped through a few pages.
Techniques. Diagrams. Notes about breathing, internal flow, Aven bloodline pathways. Advanced stuff.
Stuff I should've known already, but my memories were still a blur.
Then the screen from earlier blinked to life again, making me flinch.
『System Notification: Judgmental Reader Interface Active.
First Task: Learn proper Aven breathing technique.
Core Output: Insufficient. Body-Soul Synchronization: 42%. Status: Below Cadet Standard.』
『Recommendation: Read the book or seek assistance.』
I exhaled slowly and slumped back against the wall.
So she was right. I was breathing wrong.
She hadn't even been rude about it, just... brutally neutral.
The worst kind.
She hadn't raised her voice. No lectures, didn't care if I listened or not.
She gave instructions like someone setting down utensils, simple, clean, emotionless and left.
Cold efficiency.
I definitely didn't write her. That much was obvious.
There's no way I'd forget creating someone like that.
That presence, quiet, soft, but edged like folded silk hiding a blade.
So... whose character was she?
"Did I leave my apps open in public?" I muttered, staring at the untouched tea as I sat by the table.
It couldn't be someone else continuing the book... right?
Was that why it didn't end where I died?
The screen flickered, which was strange.
『The Last Villain Falls has gained 2000 more fans since the death of Author Zhrak Jin-Ah.』
I stared at the screen, wondering why it was displaying thay.
Was it tracking the book's performance?
How was that even possible?
"Who is writing it now?"
The screen flickered, like it heard me, before answering:
『Such Data is Inaccessible at this time. The new author is yet to be identified.』
"I see."
I didn't. I saw absolutely nothing. I was more confused than ever.
"Is there a 'Han' written in the new draft?"
『Yes. Han Xueling, side character and brother of original antagonist Jaren Xueling, has been written back into the narrative.』
『The author rewrote his death into a minor accident.』
That explains why I didn't die… but then how do I still have my memories? And this System?
"Did the new author create the System?"
『No.』
"Then who did?"
『Such information does not exist』
Of course it won't, it's always those unexplainable otherworldly things that have no origin.
I then asked another question, one that had been bugging me.
There's no way I'd be alive in the story and the author would not be writing my side of the story.
"Did he focus on the character Han?"
『No. The author only focuses on the original main character.』
Max.
That bastard.
I stared at the screen, unsure if I wanted to keep asking questions.
There was one that kept clawing at me.
"...Am I still being controlled, or do I have free will now?"
『You have free will, since the consciousness and memories of the creator and creation inhabit the same body, full autonomy has been granted.』
So I had free will. That also meant...
"The novel still follows my plot then."
『Correct. However, the new author writes for the readers. Unlike the previous author, who wrote for both self and story.』
"...What does that mean?"
『Readers were granted full permission to contribute to the plot, including creating characters and altering events.』
I froze.
My eyes widened.
That was the worst possible decision.
Sure, readers could make suggestions, but letting them shape the actual world?
That's not writing anymore. That's playing with innocent lives.
If that's the case... the side characters, the villains, anyone who isn't the protagonist, they're doomed.
Especially Han.
I mean especially me.
"Does this get worse?" I whispered, already bracing myself.
The screen didn't answer with words.
Just an old notification blinked back into view like a reminder.
Can't complain because that's the main objective of the system.
『Major Task: Exterminate Commenter #Ryan_d34i 』
『Status: Inactive until certain conditions are met.』
I stared at it.
The tea was cold now.
I might as well play along till the conditions are met.
Maybe then, I should be given an answer to how I'll go about the extermination.
"I wonder where the other princes are anyway."