The Darkmoor family study was exactly what I expected from a powerful noble house—imposing, elegant, and designed to intimidate. Towering bookshelves lined the walls, filled with ancient tomes on magic, warfare, and politics. A massive desk dominated the center of the room, crafted from black oak and inlaid with silver runes that seemed to pulse with their own inner light.
Duke Aldwin Von Darkmoor sat behind that desk like a king on his throne, and I could see where I had inherited my imposing presence. He was tall and broad-shouldered, with the same piercing crimson eyes and black hair, though his was streaked with silver at the temples. His face was weathered by years of political maneuvering and battlefield command, but his gaze was as sharp as ever.
"Aldric," he said without looking up from the documents spread before him. "You're late."
I had been walking through the corridors for barely ten minutes, but I didn't argue. In the original story, Duke Darkmoor had been stern but fair, a man who valued punctuality and strength above all else. The original Aldric had often disappointed him with his reckless behavior and eventual failure.
"My apologies, Father," I replied, bowing respectfully. "I was... processing some important information."
That got his attention. He looked up, and I saw a flicker of surprise in his eyes. The original Aldric had been arrogant and dismissive, especially toward his father. He rarely showed proper respect and never admitted to being wrong about anything.
"Information?" Duke Darkmoor set down his quill and leaned back in his chair. "What kind of information?"
This was my first real test. I needed to show that I had changed without revealing too much about my true nature. The system had given me knowledge of the future, but I had to be careful how I used it.
"I've been thinking about the academy entrance exams," I said carefully. "And about the political situation in the kingdom. I believe I may have been... approaching things incorrectly."
The Duke's eyebrows rose slightly. "Incorrectly? That's not a word I've heard from you before, son."
I moved closer to the desk, my hands clasped behind my back in a posture of respectful attention. "I've been acting like a typical noble heir, expecting power and respect to be handed to me based on our family name alone. But that's not how the world really works, is it?"
"No," the Duke said slowly, his eyes studying me with new interest. "It's not."
"The academy will be filled with talented individuals from across the kingdom," I continued. "Future leaders, powerful mages, skilled warriors. If I want to build the kind of influence that will serve our family in the coming years, I need to be smarter about how I interact with them."
This was a calculated risk. In the original story, Duke Darkmoor had been frustrated by his son's tendency to make enemies of potentially useful allies. By showing that I understood this flaw, I could gain his approval and support.
"And how do you propose to do that?" the Duke asked.
I smiled, and it was a expression that would have made the original Aldric proud. "By being the kind of leader people want to follow, rather than the kind they feel forced to obey."
The Duke was quiet for a long moment, studying my face as if seeing me for the first time. Then, slowly, he smiled. It was a predator's smile, sharp and satisfied.
"Now that," he said, "sounds like something a true Darkmoor would say."
He stood up and walked around the desk, stopping directly in front of me. Up close, I could see the scars on his hands and arms—evidence of a life spent fighting for power and position. He was a dangerous man, but he was also family. And in this world, family was everything.
"The academy entrance exams are in two months," he said. "I had planned to send you with a modest retinue and enough gold to maintain your status. But if you're truly ready to play the game properly, I can offer you something more valuable."
"What did you have in mind?"
"Information." The Duke returned to his desk and pulled out a leather portfolio. "Complete dossiers on every significant student who will be attending the academy this year. Their backgrounds, their abilities, their families' political positions, their personal weaknesses."
My heart raced. This was exactly what I needed, but far more than I had hoped for. "And in return?"
"You make the Darkmoor name proud," he said simply. "You build a network of allies who will serve our family for generations to come. And you prove that you're worthy of inheriting everything I've built."
The system screen appeared in the corner of my vision:
[QUEST COMPLETED: MEET WITH DUKE DARKMOOR]
[REWARD: INCREASED FAMILY INFLUENCE]
[BONUS OBJECTIVE COMPLETED: MAINTAIN FATHER'S RESPECT]
[ADDITIONAL REWARD: INFORMATION NETWORK ACCESS]
[NEW QUEST AVAILABLE: PREPARE FOR ACADEMY ENTRANCE EXAMS]
[REWARD: UNKNOWN]
[BONUS OBJECTIVE: RECRUIT FIRST ALLY BEFORE ACADEMY]
I accepted the quest mentally while maintaining my conversation with the Duke. "I won't disappoint you, Father. But I'll need more than just information to succeed."
"What else do you require?"
"Resources for travel," I said. "I want to visit the capital before the academy exams. There are... opportunities there that I'd like to explore."
The Duke's eyes narrowed slightly. "What kind of opportunities?"
This was where things got tricky. Luna Shadowmere was currently imprisoned in the capital, but I couldn't explain how I knew that without revealing my otherworldly knowledge. I needed a plausible reason for wanting to visit the capital that would also put me in position to rescue her.
"Networking," I said smoothly. "The capital is where the real power brokers operate. If I'm going to build influence at the academy, I need to understand the political landscape beyond just the students' backgrounds."
"And?"
I had learned from playing villain characters that the key to good manipulation was mixing truth with lies. "I've heard rumors about talented individuals who might be... undervalued by the current system. People with skills that could be useful to our family, if approached correctly."
The Duke studied me for another long moment, then nodded slowly. "Very well. I'll arrange for you to have access to our family's network in the capital. But Aldric—" his voice grew stern, "—whatever you're planning, remember that you represent the Darkmoor name. Don't do anything that would bring shame to our house."
"Of course not, Father." I bowed again. "I would never dishonor our family."
That was technically true. What I was planning would bring honor to the Darkmoor name, just not in the way the original story had intended.
After receiving the promised dossiers and travel arrangements, I returned to my room to plan my next moves. The information my father had provided was incredibly detailed, covering not just the students but also the political situation surrounding the academy.
Most importantly, it confirmed several key details about the characters I remembered from the original story. Magnus Lightbringer was indeed planning to attend the academy, along with his childhood friend Seraphina Brightblade. Elena Starweaver, the brilliant mage who would become another of his companions, was also on the list.
But there were also details the original story had never mentioned. Political tensions between noble houses, economic pressures affecting merchant families, and social movements that could be exploited for personal gain.
I spread the documents across my desk and began making notes. The original Aldric had been a straightforward antagonist—he saw something he wanted and took it by force. But I was going to be different. I was going to be the kind of villain who won by making people want to help him.
"Luna Shadowmere," I said, pulling out her file. According to the official records, she was a common criminal who had been caught assassinating a minor noble. But I knew the truth—she had been framed by a corrupt official who was embezzling funds meant for orphanages. The noble she had supposedly killed was actually alive and in hiding, having faked his death to escape gambling debts.
In the original story, Magnus had discovered this truth and used it to secure Luna's release and eternal gratitude. But what if someone else made that discovery first? Someone who could offer her not just freedom, but revenge against those who had wronged her?
I smiled as I made my plans. Luna was powerful, loyal, and had every reason to hate the corrupt nobles who had destroyed her life. She would be the perfect first addition to my growing network of allies.
The system screen flickered to life again:
[ANALYSIS COMPLETE: LUNA SHADOWMERE]
[STRENGTHS: STEALTH, ASSASSINATION, SHADOW MAGIC]
[WEAKNESSES: ABANDONMENT ISSUES, TRUST PROBLEMS]
[RECRUITMENT PROBABILITY: 73%]
[OPTIMAL APPROACH: RESCUE + REVENGE OPPORTUNITY]
[WARNING: HERO MAGNUS LIGHTBRINGER WILL ATTEMPT TO RECRUIT THIS TARGET IN 87 DAYS]
Perfect. I had nearly three months to get to her first. But I wouldn't wait that long. The sooner I could build my network, the stronger my position would be when I finally faced Magnus.
I spent the rest of the day reviewing the other potential allies and enemies I would encounter. Seraphina Brightblade, the noble swordswoman who prized honor above all else. Aria Stormwind, the prodigy mage from a fallen noble house who was desperate to restore her family's reputation. Valeria Ironheart, the barbarian princess who would only respect strength.
Each of them had become Magnus's ally in the original story, but each of them also had needs and desires that could be met by someone else. Someone who understood their pain and could offer them something better than empty heroic ideals.
As the sun set outside my window, I felt a sense of anticipation I hadn't experienced since my gaming days. This was like planning a perfect raid strategy, except the stakes were real and the rewards were beyond anything I had ever imagined.
The original Aldric Von Darkmoor had been destined for defeat, but I was going to rewrite that destiny entirely. I would build an empire of loyal followers, eliminate the so-called hero, and claim my rightful place as the true power behind the throne.
And it would all start with a simple rescue mission in the capital's dungeons.
"System," I said aloud, "prepare departure preparations for tomorrow morning. It's time to begin recruiting."
[QUEST UPDATED: PREPARE FOR ACADEMY ENTRANCE EXAMS]
[SUB-QUEST ACTIVATED: RECRUIT LUNA SHADOWMERE]
[TIME LIMIT: 87 DAYS]
[REWARD: LOYAL ASSASSIN + SHADOW MAGIC TRAINING]
The game had officially begun.