"In a world bound by the invisible threads of knowledge, everything is defined by its understanding. Knowledge is the foundation of power, of life, and death—of everything. To understand is to control. To master it is to shape the very world, and in the world of magic and logic, knowledge is the only thing that truly matters."
Axnem blinked his eyes open, the sharp light of dawn piercing through the curtains of his room. His body felt heavy, like it had been weighed down by something intangible, yet familiar. The space around him—a modest dorm room—was a place he'd seen before, but the sense of familiarity was laced with a strange feeling of disconnection. The wooden beams overhead, the worn-out desk, and the faint smell of ink and parchment seemed too close yet too distant.
The feeling of being out of place clung to him like an unwelcome guest.
He sat up quickly, his heart pounding in his chest, hands instinctively brushing over his face. His skin felt older than it should. Older than it was.
And then it hit him—the truth he had been trying to deny since waking up. He had returned.
Axnem's mind raced. He was back at the Royal Academy of Magic, but not as a professor or scholar in his prime. He was back in his younger self, the age when he had first entered this place—a high school student at the most prestigious academy in the realm.
A second chance.
But that didn't feel like a gift. It felt like an impossibility, a riddle he couldn't quite solve. His memories of the future were still intact, and the knowledge he had accumulated from his past life seemed to cling to him like a ghost, whispering in his ear, urging him to act before it was too late.
In his future life, Axnem had watched his family—the once-great Black family—descend into ruin. Their magical legacy, their political power, all of it had disintegrated. He had been too late to stop it. But now—now, with this strange opportunity to return, he had a chance to do things differently.
The Black family had ruled the underworld in his time, their influence stretching across politics, magic, and business. But their enemies had grown stronger, their downfall inevitable. And as the heir to the family, Axnem had stood at the edge of the precipice, unable to hold on to what little remained.
But in this new timeline, in this strange echo of the past, everything was still in his hands. He had the chance to rewrite it all.
His thoughts were interrupted by the soft sound of footsteps outside his door. The door creaked open, and a figure stepped inside.
A woman, mid-thirties, her dark hair neatly braided, wearing the robes of a senior professor at the academy. Axnem's heart skipped a beat, but he masked his surprise. She looked at him, concern flashing in her eyes.
"You're awake," she said with a calm voice, yet her gaze held an edge of authority. "I thought you'd still be sleeping."
Axnem blinked and smiled, the weight of his past life pressing down on his chest. This was Professor Leira Black, his aunt, and one of the academy's most respected scholars. Unlike the other professors, she didn't hold much political sway, but her mind—sharp and unwavering—was feared by many in the intellectual circles.
She was one of the few people in his family who was still alive in this timeline.
"I'm awake now," Axnem replied softly, trying to suppress the wave of emotions that surged within him. "How long have I been out?"
"Long enough to make me wonder whether your lectures will be late today," she said, walking to the window and drawing the curtains back to let the sunlight flood in. "You've been in and out of consciousness for a while. You're still recovering from the last incident."
Axnem nodded, his mind clicking into place. He remembered the accident—a magical experiment gone wrong in his last life, one that had almost cost him his life and everything he had worked for. He hadn't expected it to happen again, but his return to this time meant his past mistakes were once again within reach.
He stood up from the bed, looking out of the window. The sprawling campus of the Royal Academy of Magic lay in front of him. The towering ivory spires, the wide courtyards, the sprawling gardens—all so familiar, yet so distant.
Axnem hadn't expected to return to this place as a student again. The idea of sitting in class among peers, trying to pass his exams like everyone else, felt like a bitter irony. His future self had seen the academy from the perspective of a mentor, a guide, but now he was just another student.
"I have to go," Axnem said, turning to his aunt. "There's a lot to do. I need to get ahead of things."
Leira raised an eyebrow. "You always say that. But this time, you've got something different to catch up with."
Axnem met her gaze, feeling the weight of his future knowledge settle in his chest. He wasn't just a student anymore; he was the one with the answers—the one who knew how things would unfold, the one who would change the course of his family's future. But first, he had to play the part. He had to survive.
His aunt's tone softened as she walked to the door. "Remember, the academy is an impartial institution. Use your knowledge wisely, nephew. You're not just representing yourself anymore. You're representing us."
Axnem nodded, but as she left, a chill of doubt crept over him. What would happen if he failed again?