Silvia Eringrad.
The second child of Count Eringrad, The noble family renowned for their ice affinity. With her notable features like long silver hair, gentle blue eyes, and good upbringing it is no wonder many noble families across the empire wanted to betrothed their sons to her.
When the Ostheno family announced Eric's engagement with Silvia, it was causing an uproar. She was that beautiful and talented, the primary reason why previous Eric was so obsessed with her.
Combined with Eric's family status, his position as an heir and reputation among the nobility will be guaranteed. Those aspects are the driving forces for fueling his ego. And now, the same Silvia standing in front of him. For now, he will play along with her even though he is tired.
"Silvia Eringrad." Eric slowly circling her like a goddamn cheapskate villain. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"
The silver haired girl before him blinked slowly. "I heard the news about your fight. I just wanted to make sure you're okay," she paused. "...and not doing something reckless."
Eric chuckled, "Certainly! Given your role on the Disciplinary Committee, I understand that ensuring the well-being of every student is a fundamental priority." He stopped, folded his hands behind his back. "But indulge me, you didn't come here merely to say that, did you?"
Now Silvia truly couldn't maintain her calm and stiffened, warily looking at her fiancee. She quickly took out an elegant envelope from her pocket and gave it to Eric.
"A messenger from the Ostheno family came this morning. Since you're difficult to find today, the messenger told me to give it to you."
"This is quite intriguing." Eric carefully opened the letter embedded with Ostheno's seal, and took his time to read it.
My son Eric.
I am very disappointed in you regarding your attitude, which does not reflect our family values.
The rumors about you hanging out with uncouth people are bad enough, but now you have started to openly follow supremacist ideology. I was hoping you don't act any worse.
It seems my expectations were wrong. You have stirred another incident by challenging the eldest son of the Justitia family to an open duel, which you lost miserably and pitifully.
The Ostheno family's reputation and upbringing are now being questioned. In order to maintain the dignity of our family, it is with a heavy heart that I will cancel your engagement to Miss Silvia of the Eringrad family.
I hope you…-
Eric doesn't bothered to finish reading the rest. In short, Eric Ostheno was so fucked up that his family can't cover up his misdeeds anymore, thus decided to break his engagement with Silvia to save their face and they will have a family meeting when the Academy enter winter break. Meaning Eric has to go home, to determine his future as a member of the Ostheno family.
He burned the letter nonchalantly, the ashes fell to the ground. "Thank you, Silvia Eringrad. Ah! How rude of me. Since we're not fiancee anymore, perhaps I should address you as Miss Eringrad?"
Silvia blinked again, dumbfounded by Eric casually revealing the contents of the letter. "Is it okay for you to tell me that? About the engagement… I myself haven't even been told yet."
Her sweet and soothing voice yet there was concern lacing it, reverberated into his ear. She silently clenched her fist, and her beautiful features stared at him resolutely.
"Rest assured, it would be fine." Eric shrugged.
Silvia asks him out of curiosity. "Also, since when did you talk politely like that?"
Her casual question struck him and he dropped his facade. Eric roughly scratched his hair and posed an annoyed face. "You're right. Enough with the drama. You need anything else from me?"
"You're not angry with the news?" Silvia softly spoke to him. "...the engagement, I mean."
Now that's a valid question. Eric doesn't know whether he is still adjusting to his new body or not, but deep down in his heart there is still some lingering feeling and longing towards the girl known as Silvia Eringrad. It's as if Eric Ostheno faintly screamed to Eric Avent not to let go of their engagement, but Eric Avent knows better.
"Nah, I'm cool. This time is a perfect moment to call off this bullshit relationship."
"Eric, I-"
"Wait, since when did you become a mama duckling for those three? Or not! Are they lost children, searching for their mama? Don't tell me…you're their mama!?"
Eric mockingly motioned his head behind Silvia. She turned around and saw her close friends watching from afar with worried expressions. Before she could say anything else, he bluntly told her, "I'm tired, I want to go back to my room. You brats do your stuff, let this old bone rest!"
Silvia pursed her lips, she closed her eyes briefly, looking back at the past few years of his relationship with Eric. It was a turbulent, painful and exhausting engagement. But knowing ahead that the toxic relationship finally ended, deep in her heart there was some relief in it. And she finally said what she wanted to say. "...Goodbye, Eric."
After hearing her departure and seeing her back, Eric stretched his stiff body and jogged back to the first year's dorm. Taking a quick shower and gulping down some light dinner, he earned his rest.
***
Days blurred fast, and it's been two weeks since Eric arrived in this world.
Even though he loathes this life, turns out academy life wasn't so bad. He practically only needs to attend daily lectures, doing homework given by the professors (with Jeremy's help), and sometimes scouring interesting places such as the cafeteria and small eateries.
He doesn't know whether his 'new father' was dumb or not given how previous Eric's disastrous actions were, but Eric received pocket money weekly from his family via package courier provided by the academy.
"Maybe I should treat myself to something delicious this weekend? Wait, there is still some stuff that needs to be taken care of..."
He roused from the usual thoughts, focusing on what was before him. Today's lesson was Physical Education, or to be precise Field Training according to the academy's curriculum.
"Alriiiiight! Pair up, you lot! Let's stress out that brain and muscle of yours!" The professor with impressive biceps shouting at the Class E students. The class he is currently in, Class E, is the last class in terms of academy ranking.
Naturally, every student was already paired up, leaving Eric alone. Even some 'pair' students ended up with three people, just to avoid pairing up with him. Jeremy gave him a pitiful look. He knew the wimpy guy wanted to pair up with him, but Eric had warned him long ago not to appear too friendly with him.
The professor only sighed and let the lesson proceed as usual. Many paired students begin their exercise by warming up, then performed some small spar on each other. Few of them are mages, knights, warriors, etc. And the remaining students are discussing strategies, spells and magic theories on the field.
Eric distanced himself, approaching a wooden dummy. He conjured a small flame on his palm, and began to manipulate it. Inside his body resides two powers, Eric's original magic, fire manipulation, albeit on low rank and psychokinesis given by the weird system.
He recently began questioning how that power bestowal works, since this world revolves around manipulating Mana or magic power in general. Dismissing any distraction, he began to fully focus on his fire manipulation.
Butterflies, slithering snakes, spider lily flowers, swimming fishes...he shaped his fire freely with the help of his psychokinesis. For the final touch, he repeatedly clasped the fire as if it was dough. Then he took an archer's aiming stance, mimicking a certain mass murderer sorcerer of the Heian era.
"Fuga."
The flame flew into the air, toward the wooden dummy. Since Eric lacked the real technique and power, the flame only grazed the dummy, leaving a small black dot.
"Tha-that's amazing, Eric! How did you do that!?" Jeremy suddenly appeared behind him, clapping seeing the illustrious effect. Eric only waved his hand, "That was nothing but a cheap imitation. Anyway, why are you here?"
"I-I'm just curious? After witnessing how you skillfully shaped those flames!" Jeremy said with a look of admiration. Eric sighed, then about to tell him to return to his pair when the professor yelled something about assembled.
Thus that's how the usual peaceful days of Eric have passed.
***
Or not.
"As your homeroom teacher, I'm afraid you'll have to repeat a year if this continues." said Professor Anthony while tapping his report about Eric.
Eric stood dumbfounded, hearing the bad news.