A week.
Seven days since his soul had been ripped from his world… and thrown into this one.
Seven days of feeling trapped in a place he didn't understand, inside a body that wasn't his.
Seven days searching for answers… that never came.
According to the servants, it was the year 714 of the kingdom.
And he was fifteen.
—Fifteen…? —he murmured in front of the mirror.
His reflection stared back at him.
A refined face. Golden eyes. A young body… hardened by real training, not hours spent in front of a screen.
Perfect.
Back in adolescence.
And not just anywhere.
In the most lethal world he had ever known.
He exhaled slowly.
That's not me.
But he couldn't say it felt entirely foreign either.
That was the worst part.
Warm water ran down his skin as the servants cleaned the dried blood from his body.
He didn't move.
Not because he was comfortable.
But because he didn't know how to react.
Unfamiliar hands moved across his skin with ease. Precision. Routine.
As if they had done it hundreds of times.
As if this body… belonged to them.
Erwin clenched his jaw slightly.
He wasn't used to this.
Not to closeness.
Not to exposure.
Much less being naked in front of strangers without being able to react as he once would have.
But he didn't look away.
Didn't shrink back.
Didn't say a word.
He forced himself to stay still.
Easier to pretend normality… than to admit this was real.
—This guy… took training seriously —he muttered.
It sounded ironic.
But it wasn't mockery.
It was discomfort.
Because that "guy"…
was now him.
Bandages wrapped around his torso. Fast. Precise.
Then the clothes.
Fine fabric. Perfect fit. Light weight… yet durable.
Nothing in this world was casual.
Nothing was cheap.
Nothing was weak.
And then—
The door opened.
Without warning.
Without permission.
Sophia Douglas de Mondring stepped into the room as if it belonged to her.
And it did.
It wasn't her footsteps that tightened the air.
It was the claws.
A dark-furred lion walked beside her, each step striking the marble with a weight that didn't belong to an animal… but to something else.
Something superior.
Erwin felt his back tense.
Not from fear.
From instinct.
A blue light began to dance between the duchess's fingers.
It wasn't bright.
It was restrained.
Dangerous.
Like lightning waiting for permission to strike.
—I will grant you partial authority over two of your beasts —she said, approaching.
She didn't ask.
She didn't explain.
She declared.
—Thunder. My electric steed. Level seventy-six.—Umber. Dark wolf. Level seventy-one.
The names weren't new.
Lusian's memory responded before he did.
But feeling it… was different.
Very different.
Sophia raised her hand.
Symbols appeared.
Not drawn.
Etched.
Directly onto her skin.
Erwin held his breath.
It didn't hurt.
But it wasn't comfortable either.
It felt like something… was connecting from within.
—They will respond to your commands —she continued— within certain limits.
Then she looked at him.
Directly.
Without softening anything.
—Their loyalty remains mine.
There it was.
Not a gift.
Control.
—If your life is in danger… they will intervene —she added— even if it costs them theirs.
Erwin swallowed.
—Partial authority… —he repeated.
It sounded good.
But it wasn't.
It meant power…
under surveillance.
—Exactly.
The lion rested near the window.
It didn't move.
But the air around it did.
Dense.
Heavy.
As if its mere presence distorted space itself.
—Larriet —Sophia said.
The lion opened one eye.
Just one.
And it was enough.
A chill ran down Erwin's spine.
That's not an animal.
—Class A —she continued—. You cannot control it.
Perfect.
—But it will respond… if necessary.
Lusian let out a small laugh.
Automatic.
Defensive.
—Perfect… —he said—. If that cat decides to kill me, I hope you have another body ready, mother.
Sophia smiled.
Softly.
But her eyes didn't change.
—Then you'd better learn how to earn its respect.
When the last symbol sealed itself, something changed.
Not outside.
Inside.
An invisible thread tightened.
Connecting.
Linking.
Binding.
Erwin felt the presence.
Not as voices.
Not as thoughts.
But as something alive on the other side.
Breathing.
Waiting.
Umber was the first to move.
The dark wolf approached without a sound.
Too large.
Too close.
Erwin didn't step back.
Not because he trusted it.
But because his body… didn't feel fear.
And that—
that was worse.
The wolf sniffed his hand.
Long.
Deep.
Then exhaled.
And in that instant—
calm.
Not peace.
Not safety.
Something more primal.
Deeper.
As if a part of him recognized the other.
As if this wasn't the first time.
Erwin swallowed.
This isn't mine.
This is his.
—Each of these beasts has its own affinity —Sophia explained—. That defines their strength… and their efficiency.
Erwin barely listened.
He was too busy feeling.
Thunder.
Contained electricity.
Distant.
But present.
Umber.
Darkness.
Silent.
Close.
Too close.
—They will remain with you —she continued—. They will protect you.
Erwin nodded slowly.
But he already understood.
They weren't just guardians.
They were eyes.
He looked at the beasts.
Then at his arm.
Then at Sophia.
She already knew.
She always would.
He would never be alone.
Never unwatched.
He turned toward the mirror.
Golden eyes.
Not his.
But now… not entirely чуж ones either.
He exhaled slowly.
He couldn't run.
Not from this.
Not from this world.
Not from that name.
Lusian Douglas de Mondring.
If he wanted to survive…
it wouldn't be enough to pretend.
He had to become him.
And for the first time since awakening in Kuria…
he didn't feel only fear.
He felt something else.
Something small.
But firm.
A thin line between panic… and resolve.
If he couldn't go back…
then he would move forward.
Even if he didn't know how.
Even if everything stood against him.
Even if destiny was already written.
Because one thing was clear—
this world did not forgive the weak.
And he…
had already died once.