The grand hall of the academy stretched before me like a vast sea of marble, the stone pillars reaching toward the heavens. It was a sight I had seen countless times in the game, but seeing it in person was a different experience altogether. Banners representing the four great houses—Silver Fenrir, Crimson Phoenix, Golden Foxes, and Azure Dragons—hung proudly from the walls, their colors vibrant, their symbols speaking of power, legacy, and battle. But as I stood here in the flesh, I couldn’t help but feel the weight of something much greater than any of those banners.

  The lives of the students. Their futures. The wars. The tragedies. And most of all... my role in it all. I wasn’t just a spectator now. I was part of the world. I wasn’t Regalia, the player manipulating characters behind a screen anymore. I was Regalia, the instructor. The sellsword-turned-teacher. The thought felt absurd, yet here I was, caught in the web of fate, wondering just how far I could alter the course of events.

  The quiet murmur of conversation in the room faded as the headmaster, Master Alaric, stepped into view. His robes flowed around him like a shadow, and his eyes scanned the gathered instructors and students with a piercing gaze.

  "Regalia," he said, his voice deep and commanding. "You, along with the other new instructor, will guide one of the four great houses. Your choices will shape the future of this academy, this world. The paths before you are many, but remember, the lives of the students you guide will be yours to protect, and yours to lead."

  I nodded, trying to push down the unsettling feeling gnawing at my insides. In the game, I had always been the one pulling the strings—now, the strings were in my hands, but I was far from sure of the direction I wanted to take. The four great houses, each with its own ambitions and secrets, were not just factions on a battlefield—they were the very lifeblood of this world. How could I choose between them?

  Just then, a soft click echoed across the floor, followed by the sound of boots striking stone. I turned, and my heart skipped a beat when I saw her.

  Ariana.

  In the game, she had been the protagonist, the central figure around whom everything revolved. Depending on the player's choices, she could lead any of the houses—each path a different story. But here, in this reality, she was a sellsword, not bound to any house. She didn’t have the predetermined destiny I had set for her to fulfill in the game.

  Her long black hair swayed as she walked to the front, her expression unreadable. A faded cloak hung around her shoulders, and her eyes—those sharp, calculating eyes—met mine for a brief moment. There was no hint of the protagonist I remembered, no sign of someone fated for greatness. Instead, she looked... uncertain, like I did. Just another mercenary, another instructor, no different from me.

  She didn’t speak right away. Instead, she stood beside me, her gaze scanning the room. Master Alaric stepped forward and motioned for us to stand by his side.

  “Two new instructors this year,” he said, his voice steady. “Each of you is tasked with guiding the next generation. Your choices will shape the future of this academy. You must each decide which house you will align yourself with.”

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  I glanced at Ariana. In the game, she had the potential to lead any of the four houses. But now, there were no choices presented to her. She was here, like me, and she would need to choose just as I did. But what could she choose? And more importantly, what would I choose?

  Ariana spoke first, her voice calm, though there was a flicker of uncertainty in her eyes. "I choose Silver Fenrir," she said, her words carrying the weight of authority.

  Silver Fenrir was the house known for its warriors, its knights who valued loyalty and strength above all. Ariana, with her battlefield experience and natural leadership, was a perfect fit for them. In the game, she was always presented as a central figure—whether as a fierce leader or a reluctant hero. I could see why she’d choose this path now. But her decision still surprised me. I had always thought of her as someone who didn’t belong to any one house—someone who could transcend the boundaries of allegiance. But in this world, she had made her choice.

  Master Alaric nodded approvingly. “A wise choice, Ariana. You will find much to teach the young warriors of Silver Fenrir.”

  Her eyes flicked briefly to me, but she didn’t say anything more. The room fell silent for a moment, and then the weight of the decision shifted onto me. The pressure I felt was unlike anything I’d ever experienced in the game. In the game, I was just a player. I could reload, undo mistakes, reset the world at will. But here... here, the choice felt permanent.

  I stepped forward, my gaze flicking to the banners again. Silver Fenrir, Crimson Phoenix, Golden Foxes, and Azure Dragons. The game had always been so clear—each house had its own story, its own drama, its own fate. I had watched these houses rise and fall countless times, but now the future felt murky. How could I choose?

  But I didn’t have to choose, did I? I had never been bound by the rules of this world. I wasn’t bound by the choices of the game. I had come here for a reason.

  I turned to Master Alaric. “I... I do not choose any of the houses,” I said, my voice steady despite the storm raging in my mind. “I will not follow the path laid before me. I will create my own.”

  The room fell into stunned silence. Even Ariana, who had been so confident in her decision, turned to me, her eyes wide with a mix of surprise and curiosity.

  Master Alaric’s brow furrowed. “Create your own house?” he repeated, his voice laced with disbelief. “Do you understand the consequences of this choice? A new house—one that has never existed—could upend the balance of this academy. It could bring chaos.”

  I met his gaze, my resolve firm. “I understand. But I refuse to be a pawn in someone else’s game.”

  He seemed to study me for a long moment, weighing my words. Finally, he nodded. “Very well. If you choose to create a new house, you will have to carry the burden that comes with it. You will be responsible for its future, and the lives of its students. No one will guide you. No one will aid you. You will stand alone in your decisions.”

  I nodded, a sense of purpose flooding my chest. I wasn’t going to follow the predetermined paths anymore. This was my story now, and I was going to write it myself.

  As the silence hung in the air, Ariana turned away, heading to join the students of Silver Fenrir. Her choice had been made, and there was nothing more to discuss. But I knew that my path was just beginning.

  The house I would create, the future I would build, was all in my hands. And I wasn’t going to let the world play out as it had before.

  It was time to forge my own path.

  I turned to face Master Alaric. “I will form my own house,” I said, my voice unwavering. “The Shadow Ravens.”

  A flicker of recognition passed across his face, but he said nothing more. He merely nodded, and I could feel the weight of my decision settling over me.

  The room seemed to pulse with energy as the reality of what I had just done sank in. This world, the world of the game, was no longer just a game. It was a battleground. And this is a choice I made.