The ticking sound of the old wall clock echoed so slowly.
On a simple wooden bed, a girl slowly opened her eyes.
Long blue hair spilled over a yellowish white pillow.
Bright yellow eyes stared at the ceiling made of weathered wood.
The girl was Erin.
However, behind the consciousness of this young body, the soul of a man from the modern world was stored.
A man who spent decades of his life behind an office desk, dealing with numbers, reports, and endless fatigue.
A man who lived an ordinary life, without major achievements, until his body surrendered to worldly exhaustion.
When he first woke up in this place, he found himself on the verge of death due to a severe illness.
He remained unconscious for a full month.
Beside his bed, a middle-aged woman with wrinkles on her face and a look of loyal affection cared for him day and night.
That woman was his mother in this world.
"You're awake, Erin?" the woman's voice sounded gentle every time he opened his eyes.
At first, Erin felt like a stranger.
He thought this was just a long dream before death completely claimed him.
However, day after day proved that this world was real.
The pain in his body was real.
The warmth of the warm soup fed by the woman was real.
And the sincerity in the mother's eyes truly touched the depths of his heart.
In a small house located in a remote village, far from the hustle and bustle of the capital, their days were filled with peace.
There was no more office overtime.
There was no more pressure from bosses.
What remained was only the sound of rural wind, the rustle of leaves, and oil lanterns burning at night.
One afternoon, near a small window facing the meadow, the mother sat next to Erin.
On a small table lay a thick book bound in deer leather.
"Erin, this world is vast," said the mother with a warm smile.
"And to survive in it, a person needs not only strength, but also knowledge."
Since that day, the mother became the best teacher for Erin.
She taught reading, writing, royal history, social ethics, and knowledge of various regions in the world.
Erin absorbed all those lessons easily, partly due to the capacity of this body and partly due to his past life experience.
However, the most valuable and interesting lesson for Erin was magic.
"Magic is not just about channeling mana," the mother taught one night while showing a spark of blue light at her fingertips.
"Magic is understanding. It is a bridge between our minds and the universe."
The mother was no ordinary person.
Previously, before deciding to live in this remote village, she was a famous professor at one of the largest magic academies in the kingdom.
She had educated many great mages and received various awards for her contributions to the educational world.
Erin listened to every story of his mother with full admiration.
Seeing her daughter's enthusiasm, the mother always smiled proudly.
"Someday, this knowledge will be useful," whispered his mother back then.
Time continued to pass without mercy.
The seasons changed.
Green leaves turned yellow, then fell and were replaced by white snow, and bloomed again in spring.
The relationship between Erin and her mother grew closer.
Although Erin knew that he was the soul of an unfamiliar man from another world occupying this body, the affection given by the woman made him truly consider her as his own biological mother.
Every night, they sat together by the fireplace, discussing old books, or simply enjoying warm tea.
Erin felt that this second life of his was much more meaningful than his past life.
However, that happiness did not last forever.
The mother's elderly body slowly weakened.
The old illness she had hidden behind a smile finally took the rest of her strength.
On a spring morning, when the sun had just broken through the window gaps, the room felt very quiet.
There was no sound of small coughs as usual.
There was no aroma of herbal tea evaporating from the kitchen.
Erin walked slowly toward his mother's bed.
The wrinkled hand lay cold on top of the blanket.
Her eyes were closed tightly in peace.
Beside the pillow, there was a small letter addressed to Erin.
Tears dripped from Erin's yellow eyes.
For the first time in this world, his chest felt so tight.
He cried no longer as a confused stranger, but as a child who lost the only family he had.
The funeral was held simply on a small hill near the village.
Erin stood alone under the shade of a black umbrella, gazing at the wooden gravestone inscribed with his mother's name.
The wind blew hard, fluttering the tips of her blue hair.
After that day, the house in the countryside felt very spacious and empty.
Every corner of the room reminded Erin of his mother.
Her laughter, her wise advice, and the way she explained complex magic theories so patiently.
Erin realized one thing.
He could not continue to live in this house alone.
The memories were beautiful, but life had to go on.
He had to step outside.
He needed a clear purpose in life.
The night before his departure, Erin tidied up all of his mother's legacy notebooks.
He wore neat dark-colored clothes, tied his blue hair with a simple ribbon, and carried a small bag containing several books and his mother's heirloom magic staff.
He looked around the house for the last time, then extinguished the lantern.
"I'm leaving," he said softly to the silent room.
The journey to the capital took several days.
Erin walked along the path, crossed an old wooden bridge, and rode on a merchant's horse-drawn carriage passing by.
During the journey, he saw various sights of this new world.
Dense forests filled with small monsters, clear rivers reflecting sunlight, and small villages busy with the daily activities of their residents.
All of that enriched Erin's understanding of the world where he now lived.
When he finally arrived at the main gate of the capital, a magnificent view welcomed him right away.
The big city was surrounded by high and sturdy stone walls.
Horse carriages passed by on clean cobblestone streets.
Merchants shouted offering their merchandise on the side of the road.
Knights in shiny armor patrolled with high discipline.
Nobles with luxurious carriages passed by without caring about the people around them.
Erin stood in the middle of the crowd, taking a deep breath.
He held the notebook bag tightly at his side.
Deep in his heart, he knew exactly what he had to do.
Most of the knowledge he possessed came from his mother.
And the best way to honor his mother's memory was to continue the path that the great woman had once traveled.
He wanted to be an educator.
He wanted to share knowledge, guide the younger generation, and watch them grow into useful people for society.
Based on the information he gathered during the journey, there was one most famous magic educational institution in this kingdom.
A place where talented young mages gathered to study.
A place where his mother used to teach and produce many big names.
The Royal Astra Magic Academy.
Erin walked along the main street of the capital, following the directions listed on his mother's old map.
His footsteps were calm, full of confidence, and without hesitation.
Everyone who passed by him glanced for a moment, captivated by the calm beauty of her face and the striking blue color of her hair, combined with yellow eyes that radiated wisdom beyond her age.
However, Erin did not care about the gazes of the people around him.
His mind was solely focused on one goal.
After walking quite far past the quiet and lush noble district, the magnificent building he had imagined finally appeared before him.
Erin stopped right in front of the main gate of the Royal Astra Magic Academy.
He looked up slowly.
A giant iron gate engraved with the royal crest loomed high, guarded by two fully armed academy knights.
Behind that gate, the vast academy building complex was visible.
Magic towers pierced through white clouds.
Classic-styled lecture buildings stood magnificently in the middle of a green and well-kept garden.
Several neatly uniformed students were seen walking in the courtyard, carrying books or discussing magic material with each other.
The academy atmosphere was so lively, radiating energy, ambition, and the future.
Erin stood still for a moment.
The afternoon wind blew gently, fluttering strands of her blue hair.
He took a deep breath, feeling his heart beat slowly, not out of fear, but out of anticipation.
He stared at the big gate with a faint smile on his lips.
"So, this is the academy," Erin muttered softly to himself.
A new chapter in his life was about to begin.
No longer as a tired office worker in the old world.
No longer as a sick girl lying in a countryside room.
But as a professor.
An educator who would guide, protect, and shape the future of young people in this magic world.