Echoes of Crimson

_*Helk's POV *_

So… I'm Helk Gilton. The hidden son of the kingdom, a student with a concealed identity. I have a doting older brother and a best friend who seems to know me well.

This is the complete opposite of my old life.

But… shouldn't transmigrated people receive a flood of memories? A system? Some kind of guide?

I have nothing.

Does that mean this isn't a novel or a dream? That this world is actually real, just in another universe?

…Hah. Who am I kidding? I'm no chosen one. I should just focus on adapting. No use getting my hopes up.

_*Three Days Later *_

Click.

"Hey, Helk, it's me. How are you feeling now?"

Helk turned toward the door and saw Jellin stepping inside, his usual easygoing smile in place.

"Jellin, hey." Helk chuckled. "I'm doing a lot better now. My brother had the imperial doctors check up on me, and they even used magic to heal me. It's pretty impressive."

"Good to hear," Jellin said, nodding. "The doctor said you can be discharged today. Oh, and you're officially going back to school." His lips quirked up in amusement.

Helk raised a brow. "You sound like something interesting is about to happen."

Jellin smirked. "Oh, you'll see."

Helk narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "Should I be worried?"

Jellin shrugged. "Maybe."

Helk sighed. "Speaking of school… how bad was the damage from the attack?" His expression turned serious. "It wasn't just a small incident, right?"

Jellin's smirk faded slightly as he crossed his arms. "Yeah, it was bad. But they acted fast. The school's already been rebuilt—stronger than before. They've installed a high-level barrier to keep out powerful monsters. It's got a limit, but it should buy enough time for us to counterattack if anything happens again. Pretty cool, huh?"

Helk nodded. "That's a relief."

Jellin leaned against the wall. "Oh yeah, Keith is back from his training. He heard about what happened to you. He was supposed to be with us, but he got called away for practice right before the attack."

"Keith…?" Helk frowned. "Another person I forgot?"

"Yeah," Jellin said, shrugging. "He's one of our close friends. Lucky bastard missed the whole thing, but I bet he'll feel guilty about it."

Helk hummed in thought. "He must be a good friend then."

Jellin grinned. "You'll see soon enough."

Click.

The door opened, and a nurse stepped inside. "Helk Gilton, you're clear to be discharged."

She left as quickly as she came.

Jellin clapped his hands together. "Alright, let's go to the dorms!" He smirked and grabbed Helk's bag before he could protest.

_*On the Way *_

"Come on, get in." Jellin led Helk to his car.

"Yeah, yeah," Helk muttered as he slid into the passenger seat.

As Jellin drove, Helk stared out the window, taking in the sights of the academy city. It was like a perfect blend of modern technology and magic. Floating platforms carried students across campus, enchanted brooms zipped through the sky, and a sleek, glowing energy track guided hover-skates above the streets.

His eyes widened slightly. "That's amazing..." he murmured under his breath.

Jellin smirked but didn't comment.

After a while, they finally arrived.

Click.

Helk stepped out of the car, his jaw dropping as he took in the massive academy gates. The towering structures, the grand entrance, the sheer scale of it all—it was nothing like the schools he knew in his old world.

"This is our school?!" Helk exclaimed.

Jellin laughed. "Damn right it is."

They walked through the entrance, and immediately, Helk felt eyes on him. Whispering voices filled the air as students turned to glance at him, their curiosity obvious.

He stiffened slightly.

"Ignore them," Jellin said casually. "They'll get over it."

Helk took a breath and nodded.

_*At the Principal's Office *_

"So… this is it?" Helk asked, staring at the large door in front of him.

"Yep," Jellin confirmed before knocking.

Before his knuckles could even make contact, the door creaked open on its own.

A deep, authoritative voice called out, "Come in."

Helk and Jellin stepped inside, only to be greeted by the sight of the principal's back. His posture was straight, his aura commanding. But what really caught Helk's attention—

Was that… a bald dwarf?

Helk struggled to keep a straight face. Why does this look so… weirdly majestic?

The principal finally turned, his piercing eyes locking onto Helk. "So… you're Helk Gilton, aren't you?"

Helk quickly erased any trace of amusement from his face and met the man's gaze head-on.

"Yes, I am."

The principal hummed, studying him closely.

Helk could tell.

This man wasn't just assessing him.

He was testing him.

And for some reason, Helk had a feeling this was only the beginning.

The room remained silent for a moment before the principal leaned back in his chair, fingers interlocking. His sharp gaze flickered between Helk and Jellin before he spoke again.

"I must acknowledge your efforts during the last attack," he stated. "Both of you played a crucial role in ensuring the safety of the students until reinforcements arrived. If not for your quick thinking and courage, we could have lost many lives that day."

Jellin smirked but quickly shook his head. "I appreciate the praise, Principal, but most of the credit should go to Helk." He turned to Helk with a knowing grin. "He was the one who kept his cool even with a sword through his stomach."

The principal's eyes sharpened as they landed on Helk once more. "Yes, I heard about your injury." His gaze held something unreadable. "You kept fighting even after sustaining such a wound. That is not something just anyone can do."

Helk remained silent for a moment, his thoughts flashing back to that day. The searing pain in his stomach, the scent of blood thick in the air, the chaotic screams of students running for their lives—he remembered it all.

Because that was the day he had been transmigrated into this world.

He hadn't lost his past memories. He still remembered his old life, his family, his friends—everything. But the memories of the original owner of this body? Those were missing. He had no idea what kind of person Helk Gilton was before he woke up in that hospital bed.

But during that attack, there was no time to question anything. He had moved purely on instinct.

Helk finally exhaled, lowering his gaze. "...I only did what I thought was right."

The principal studied him for another long moment before giving a small nod. "Regardless, your actions were commendable."

Helk nodded.

"Your situation is complicated, and we do not wish to draw unnecessary attention to your identity. However..." The principle continue to talked as he narrowed his eyes. "Do you at least remember how to use magic?"

Helk blinked. Magic? His body tensed. He hadn't even tried to use it. He knew this was a world of magic, but—

"Uhh..." Helk hesitated.

Jellin stepped in smoothly, as if sensing Helk's uncertainty. "Helk's body should still remember it, even if his mind doesn't. If he gets some time to adjust, I'm sure he'll be able to use it again."

The principal nodded slowly. "Fine. You'll be tested soon, so be ready."

Helk swallowed. Test? He wasn't even sure how magic worked here! He had read about magic in stories before, but experiencing it himself was a whole different matter.

The principal then turned his gaze to Jellin. "As for you, Jellin, make sure Helk gets settled in. His identity remains a secret until further notice."

Jellin saluted lazily. "Got it, got it."

The principal sighed, rubbing his temple. "Dismissed."

As they stepped out of the office, Helk let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. "What kind of test do you think it'll be?"

Jellin grinned. "Oh, it'll be fun."

Helk gave him a deadpan look. "Somehow, I don't believe you."

Jellin only laughed.

.

.

.

Finally, they reached their destination. He pushed open the door to room 25, stepping inside without hesitation.

The moment they entered, Helk stopped in his tracks. The dorm was huge—far bigger than he expected. High ceilings, polished wooden floors, and neatly arranged beds. A small lounge area near the windows made it feel less like a dormitory and more like a high-class apartment.

Jellin walked toward a bed and started unpacking Helk's things as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "There are four students per room," he explained casually. "Lucky for us, Keith, you, and I are in the same one. The fourth guy isn't around much, so it's mostly just us."

Helk barely heard him. His eyes scanned the room before his mind drifted back—back to a different place, a different life.

A small, dark storage room. Cold air seeping through the cracks. The stiff, worn-out blanket barely keeping him warm. The suffocating silence pressing against his chest.

That had been his 'room' before.

A sudden touch on his shoulder snapped him back. "Helk, you okay?"

Helk blinked and turned to see Jellin watching him with calm but sharp eyes.

"Huh? Oh." He forced a small smile. "I'm okay. It just feels… nice to have a room like this. With you guys."

Jellin studied him for a moment before nodding. "Well, get used to it. This is home now."

Helk hummed in agreement and moved toward his bed, sinking into the mattress. It was soft. Softer than anything he had ever slept on before.

He let out a satisfied sigh, letting himself relax—

"Oh yeah," Jellin suddenly spoke. "Class starts in fifteen minutes."

Helk's eyes snapped open. "...What?"

Jellin, back still facing Helk, continued folding clothes. "Fifteen minutes. Give or take."

Helk bolted upright. "You're just telling me this now?!"

Jellin didn't respond immediately. Instead, he smirked slightly—just for a second—before turning around, face completely neutral.

"Oh well," he said, stretching his arms then pointed Helk's wardrobe for his uniform. "Better if we go now. We wouldn't wanna miss Miss Kayla's class."

Helk was packing his book according to the schedule "Who?"

"Our classroom teacher," Jellin replied with an unreadable expression. Then, as if remembering something, he gave a small nod. "And… a very strict one."

Helk noticed the way Jellin's eyes darkened slightly, as if he were recalling a terrible memory.

A sudden image flashed in Jellin's mind—Miss Kayla's terrifyingly sweet smile as she delivered punishments, her eyes practically glowing with sadistic delight.

"...Yeah," Jellin muttered. "You really don't wanna be late."

Helk hurried to the wardrobe Jellin had pointed to earlier and yanked it open. His eyes widened slightly at the uniform inside.

A long-sleeved dark navy jacket with silver linings, adorned with an embroidered crest on the left chest. Beneath it, a white dress shirt and a fitted black vest added to its polished look. The uniform also included tailored black pants and a matching belt. A silver-stitched cape hung neatly beside it, giving the attire an air of nobility.

Helk took out the jacket, running his fingers over the embroidery. "This is… fancy."

Jellin glanced over. "Yeah, the school takes its image seriously. Just put it on already, we have ten minutes now."

Helk nodded, grabbing his uniform and wear it.