Volume 01, Chapter 02

  Welcome To Sylvestria [2]

  “So this is the uniform,” I say quietly, looking at myself in the mirror.

  The navy-blue bzer with silver trim fits just right. I’m wearing matching trousers, a crisp white shirt, and a cobalt blue tie that adds a nice touch. After adjusting the pels and fixing the tie one st time, I leave my room and head downstairs. The smell of breakfast pulls me toward the dining room.

  “Mom’s cooking,” I murmur with a small smile.

  In the dining room, my mom is already sitting at the table. She looks calm and elegant, just like always.

  “Ah, Dominic. Come eat breakfast,” she says warmly.

  I nod, suddenly hungry.

  The table is packed with food: a warm, golden baguette, several kinds of cheese, a bright bowl of fruit, buttery croissants, soft-boiled eggs, and a pot of rich-smelling coffee. It looks amazing—like something straight out of a French café.

  No, I’m not exaggerating. The food feels French. Still, it makes sense. Sylvestria’s regions are influenced by different cultures, so seeing a mix of cuisines isn’t surprising.

  Just as I’m about to start eating, my mom slides over another pte.

  “Try these: Puto, Lefse, Tahini, and Xiao Long Bao.”

  I blink, caught off guard. “Wait… did you cook these?”

  She nods, smiling proudly. “Yes. It took some time since I don’t usually cook food from other cultures. But it was worth it.”

  I look down at the new pte. Each dish represents a different part of Sylvestria.

  Puto, a soft rice cake from Lumina Falls—based on the Philippines.

  Lefse, a potato ftbread from Ember Citadel—modeled after Egypt.

  Xiao Long Bao, soup dumplings from Celestria—clearly Chinese-inspired.

  Tahini, a creamy sesame paste from Frostheim—a region with Scandinavian roots.

  Sylvestria really is a melting pot.

  I can't help but admire how much effort my mum put into this.

  "Wow, Mum. This is… amazing," I say, unable to hide how impressed I am.

  I sit down quickly, my stomach growling from the smell of the food. Without thinking, I grab a fork and stab the nearest dish. My instincts from my old life kick in.

  "Dominic! Where are your manners?!"

  Her voice snaps me out of it.

  Oops.

  I freeze, still holding the fork, suddenly aware of how rude that looked."I'm sorry, Mum," I say, scratching my head and giving her a sheepish smile.

  Her serious look softens a bit, though she still seems surprised. I slowly pull the fork out and sit properly, trying to act more polite.

  Sitting here like this reminds me how different my life is now. Back then, meals like this were just a dream—something rich people enjoyed, not me.

  "Dominic, are you okay?" Mum asks, a bit worried. "It’s not like you to stab your food like that and skip saying Bon appétit."

  That catches me off guard.

  So… Dominic is usually polite?

  I realize I need to be careful. If I’m going to keep pretending to be him, I have to act the part.

  "Yes, Mum, I’m fine," I say with a smile. "I’m just… really excited to eat, that’s all."

  She smiles, a soft ugh escaping her lips. "Fufufu… I’m gd you’re excited, Dominic. You don’t usually get this hyped over meals."

  That makes me pause.

  So… Dominic doesn’t eat much? That expins why he’s so slim.

  Trying to fix things, I quickly add, "Well… I’m especially looking forward to your cooking today. I just have a feeling it’s going to be extra good."

  “Oh?” Her eyes narrow, her smile pyful. “So it only looks good today? Is that why you don’t normally get excited?”

  She says it jokingly, but I can feel the subtle hint of teasing.

  Did I just messed up?

  “Ah, no, no! That’s not what I meant!” I say quickly, waving my hands. “Your cooking is always amazing, Mum. I just… noticed there’s a lot of variety today!”

  She looks at me for a moment, then bursts out ughing. “You’re such a sweet talker, Dominic. Fine, I’ll let it slide this time.”

  Relief washes over me as I take a careful bite of the food, enjoying the explosion of fvors.As I eat, I remind myself to stay cautious. Every moment matters, and I can’t afford to mess up.

  – Creak!The sound of the door opening pulls my attention away. I turn and see the man from the photo in my bedroom walking in.

  “Celine, I’m home!”

  The room immediately feels warmer, and his presence brings a natural charm. He looks exactly like the man in the photo—Dominic’s father.

  “Ah, André, welcome back!” Celine says, her voice full of love and relief. Her eyes brighten as she sees him.

  So, Celine is Dominic’s mother. And now I know his father’s name is André. Bit by bit, this new life is making more sense.

  André notices me. His expression softens, and he gives me a warm smile. He walks over and ruffles my hair in a kind, gentle way.

  “Good morning, Dominic. How are you?”

  It’s a simple question, but I can feel the care behind it. This family… they’re kind.

  “I’m doing okay, Dad. How about you?”

  “I’m okay too,” André says as he sits down.

  Celine leans in, her eyes curious. “How was the Stargate raid, André?”

  “It went well,” he answers with a proud smile. “The Shadow Sentinels paid us well for how we did.”

  Wait… Dominic’s father is a Stargate Raider? The thought hits me like lightning. Stargate Raiders are elite Magicians who enter dangerous portals filled with monsters. They risk their lives to protect others.

  An idea suddenly sparks in my mind.

  “Dad, can you train me?” I ask without thinking.

  André and Celine both look at me, surprised and curious.

  “Why?” André asks, calm but clearly interested.

  “I want to enroll in Verdant Arcanum!”

  Their reaction is instant—they look at each other, shocked.

  Of course. A sudden change in goals is strange, even in a world like Sylvestria. To them, it must seem odd that their son suddenly wants something so different.

  “Dominic, what about your dream of becoming a Magitist?” Celine asks softly, clearly wondering what changed.

  So the real Dominic wanted to be a Magitist? Magitists are respected schors who mix magic with science. It’s a noble goal. But with what I know about Sylvestria’s future, I need to take a more direct path to power.

  Just then, the red holographic screen appears again, interrupting my thoughts:

  WARNING!MAKE SURE NOT TO REVEAL YOUR TRUE IDENTITY TO ANYONE! KEEP IT A SECRET!What? I stare at the words, baffled. Why?

  That will be expined ter. For now, just lie.Lie? I groan inwardly. I’m terrible at lying. They’re going to suspect something.

  But if the System insists…

  “I’ve been thinking about this for a while, and I realized that being a Magitist isn’t the right path for me,” I say, choosing my words carefully.

  André and Celine both look at me. At first, they seem surprised, but then their expressions soften.

  “If that’s how you feel, I’ll start training you tomorrow,” André says with a smile.

  Wait… really? That’s it? They’re okay with this? Why are they being so supportive?

  My mind drifts back to my old life—to my parents. They gave up so much for me, always putting my needs before their own, even when it hurt them. They supported me no matter what.

  And I left them behind.

  That thought hits me hard. I failed them. I’ll never get the chance to thank them or make things right.

  Before I know it, my vision blurs.

  “Dominic, why are you crying?!” Celine asks, worried.

  “Huh?” I blink, confused. Then I feel the tears on my face. I touch my cheeks. I’m crying?

  “Dominic, are you alright?” André asks, sounding more serious now.

  “I-I…” My voice shakes. I don’t want them to worry or start asking questions. I need to say something.

  “It’s nothing, Dad,” I say, my voice unsteady. “I just wanted to say… thank you.”

  The words hurt. I never said those things to my real parents. I took everything they did for granted.

  “Dominic, you’re crying even more now…” André says, looking both confused and concerned.

  “O-Oh, um…” I try to stop the tears, but thinking about my parents only makes it worse.

  Celine gets up and kneels beside me, resting a hand on my shoulder. “Dominic, it’s okay. You can tell us anything,” she says gently.

  Her kindness only makes my guilt worse.

  “I…” My voice breaks again. I can’t find the words.

  André kneels beside her. “We’re here for you, Dominic. No matter what.”

  Their kindness is overwhelming. They don’t know the truth—that I’m not their son—but right now, I almost wish I were.

  “Thank you,” I whisper. “Thank you, Mum… Dad…”

  And for the first time in forever, I cried. Cry. Not just because I’m sad, but because…

  -Ding!

  The oven timer goes off, cutting through the silence.

  “Oh! The blueberry pie is ready!” Celine jumps up and heads to the kitchen.

  Blueberry pie? I didn’t know she cooked one. Just the thought lifts my mood a little. It feels like the universe is trying to cheer me up.

  “By the way, Dominic…”André speaks up again.

  He grabs an apple from the fruit bowl and tosses it to me.

  Without thinking, I catch it in mid-air.

  “Nice catch,” he says with a grin. “Since you don’t have mana, we’ll work on your physical strength. You’ll need it to keep up with the Magicians and Manaficials.”

  His words remind me of how hard this path will be. Being a Manaless student at Verdant Arcanum isn’t impossible… but it won’t be easy. The world looks down on people like me.

  I pce the apple back in the bowl and look him in the eye. “I’m ready. I’ll take on anything you throw at me, Dad.”

  I have to get stronger—for what’s coming. Especially what I know is coming from the web novel.

  “I’m gd to hear that,” André says, smiling wider. “But first—breakfast.”

  Celine returns from the kitchen, carrying a tray with a freshly baked blueberry pie. The smell fills the room, and my stomach growls.

  -Growl!

  Celine ughs. “Looks like someone’s excited.”

  She pces the pie on the table. Its crust is golden, shining in the morning light.

  “Let’s eat! Bon appétit!”

  “Okay, Mum. Bon appétit!” I say as I sit properly.

  This time, I remember how Dominic usually behaves. I pick up a croissant and admire how perfect it looks before biting in.

  The taste is incredible. Buttery, soft, and crisp all at once.

  -Munch!

  I eat it quickly and reach for another without thinking.

  “Dominic, what did I say about manners?” Celine asks, her voice gentle but firm.

  I freeze mid-bite, smile awkwardly, and lower my hand. Right—manners. Still getting used to that.

  “Hahahaha!” André ughs loudly. “Looks like Dominic is at that stage, huh?”

  I blink, confused for a second, then get what he means.

  Teen boys eat like there’s no tomorrow when they hit their growth spurts. At 15, I’m right in that range.

  But for me, eating like this isn’t just about growing. It’s about finally tasting good food—something I couldn’t afford before. Every bite feels like something special.

  -Munch!

  I keep eating, not minding the teasing. The croissants, the coffee, the blueberry pie—it’s all amazing. More than food—it’s comfort. It’s warmth.

  And as we eat together, I feel something I haven’t felt in a long time.

  Like maybe this could really be home.