I tried getting used to my new body first things first and synthesizing every scrap of information I could recall about Vael and the internal mechanics of [The Star Academy]. My mind became a library, cataloging every detail I could remember from the game’s lore, mechanics, and character sheets.
I started recording everything I could in my phone, which I reset the password using biometrics.
Anyway, there was a singular, glaring reason Vael was always the first character to be cut from a player’s party the moment a more specialized or powerful character became available.
Despite his versatile utility in buffs and debuffs, his character sheet contained a devastating, fundamental flaw.
’Vael can’t use long-range or wide-area attacks with his ice powers. And being a Frostguard, he is only compatible with the ice element; he is fundamentally incompatible with all the others.’
He suffered from a physiological restriction that made projectile or large-scale elemental manipulation nearly impossible. If he attempted to launch an ice shard or a wave, the energy would dissipate before it could travel any significant distance. The result was pathetic—the projectile would lose all momentum and fall to the ground as a mere chunk of ice, lacking the velocity or force of a real attack.
In the game, his ice powers were used to create massive ice-walls and shields to protect himself and the party from attacks and enemies. He was, for all intents and purposes, a support-defense hybrid.
"Vael would have been a truly broken character if it wasn’t for his body condition putting a hard restriction on him, even if he could only utilize the ice element."
If he were able to cast freely, he would be a tactical nightmare for any opponent—freezing entire mobs in place, slowing them down, and shattering them with ice strikes.
"But that’s that—I can’t change his physical condition, and I’m stuck with it now."
Honestly, Vael was a decent character even with that restriction, but in a game where "decent" eventually meant "obsolete," he was destined for the bench.
And so, my primary objective became clear; I had to figure out how to bypass this limitation or, failing that, find a way to make this body—to make myself—stronger.
Why?
Well, the answer was grim. By stepping into Vael’s life, I had inherited his entire situation.
And currently, just before I possessed him—
"He was running away from the assassins sent by the Elders, and he was planning to seek refuge inside [The Star Academy]."
That meant my survival was tied directly to that institution. If I wanted to stay alive, I needed to get inside those academy walls.
For that, I had to keep my grades high and, more importantly, I had to prove my worth.
I would be expelled if I didn’t show growth in that kind of school. Furthermore, graduation would be a death sentence; the moment I stepped outside the academy’s protective bubble, the assassins would be waiting.
In short, I had absolutely no choice but to get stronger.
"For now, I’m at least safe here."
I whispered to myself, needing to hear the words aloud to calm my nerves.
It appeared that thanks to the help of a few servants who remained loyal to the late Lord and Lady Frostguard, Vael had managed to slip past the Elders’ spies and find sanctuary under the Blackthorne family’s protection.
I was safe here, at least until the school term began.
"Fuuuh..."
Now, back to the central problem—what should I do to transform Vael into a formidable fighter?
"..."
I sat in silence, deep in thought.
I spent the remainder of that day brainstorming. My mind churned, turning the problem over and over, trying to find a loophole in Vael’s restricted biology.
... ... ...
... ... ...
... ... ...
*****
Three days had passed since I first woke up in Vael’s body.
By now, the surreal nature of the situation had begun to fade. This was no dream, no hallucination, and no dying vision. This was my life now.
"..."
I felt an unsettling indifference regarding my old world. I didn’t know if there was a way back, or if I even wanted one. With or without attachment, I simply didn’t expect to feel this calm—even a bit excited—that I had been sent into a game I had spent so much of my free time playing.
’Was my previous life really that worthless?’
I asked myself the question, but I didn’t bother trying to find the answer.
Anyway, I had settled into a routine. My schedule was as follows:
Early in the morning, I would wake up and tidy my bed with military precision.
I would then head downstairs to share breakfast with Ahri and Cindy.
Ahri remained kind, and Cindy remained indifferent. Which both works for me and my situation.
After breakfast, I would always volunteer to clean the dishes.
Ahri had refused me several times before, insisting that I was a guest, but I refused to take no for an answer. I felt like a parasite doing nothing while staying under their roof. I needed to contribute, not just to alleviate my own guilt, but because I was keenly aware of the stakes.
I knew exactly how dangerous it was for them to take me in even for a while. If it were ever discovered that I was here, it wouldn’t just be my life on the line—the assassins would certainly execute Ahri and Cindy for their involvement.
If they were willing to take such a massive, life-altering risk for me, I would do everything I could to at least repay them, even by just doing chores.
The only piece of information keeping me calm was the memory that, in the game, Vael appeared at the gates of [The Star Academy] on the first day, completely unharmed. I could safely assume that for the two months leading up to the school year, I would remain safe.
Unless something unexpected happens.
Anyway, after finishing the chores, I would retreat to my room. I would dress in a thick jacket, a bonnet, and jogging pants, making sure to pull the hood low over my forehead to obscure my distinctive hair color from any prying eyes.
Then, I would head out for a run. I ran until my lungs burned and my shirt was drenched in sweat.
After a full day of thinking on my first day here, I had landed on one potential solution to make Vael a viable fighter.
I couldn’t change the game’s rules regarding his elemental output, so I decided to pivot.
If I couldn’t fire ice, why not make myself physically capable of closing the distance? Why not make myself physically stronger and fight with my body?
I already had the ability to buff my own strength, which would stack perfectly with a rigorous physical regimen. Vael was clearly already training, given the baseline tone of his muscles and his endurance, but I would take it to the next level.
So, I committed to it.
Then... after running for a couple of hours, I would return to the house and sneak into the backyard.
It was a secluded spot, perfect for training while the others were occupied. Once I was sure I was alone—SHHHHK!
I would channel my mana to form a thin, elegant blade of ice—a rapier.
It’s really a wonder how I can control Vael’s powers with ease, not that I’m complaining. This is a big help for me.
Anyway, I was a bit of a nerd in my original life. Influenced by the games I played and the stuffs I read, I joined a school club during my freshman year that would let me learn how to wield a sword.
I originally planned to join the kendo club, but I accidentally joined the fencing club instead.
I was too shy to quit, and I figured it was all essentially the same.
Then... to my absolute surprise, I had discovered a natural aptitude for the sport. I became good at it—really good... I ended up competing in tournaments and even won a national level one!
FWIP-
I gripped the hilt of the ice rapier with my right hand. With a deep breath and a surge of mental discipline, I let the muscle memory from my past life take over.
SLASH! SWISH!
FWOOOOSH!
I began to run through the drills. I practiced the footwork, the parries, and the lunges I had drilled into my soul years ago, modified by the specific weight and cold of the ice weapon.
I pushed myself until my arms grew heavy, trembling with the effort I was putting into training.