Isamu

In your past life, you were one of the greatest mages of your time. Your name was known across kingdoms, and the spells you created were recorded in magical treatises. You commanded the flows of mana and forged artifacts used by generations of mages. But even the greatest mages are mortal—one day, your life came to an end.

However, death was not the end. You were reborn.

At first, it was the ordinary life of a child in a foreign land and a different era. Memories of the past remained hazy for a long time, but as the years passed, they began to return: spell formulas, magic circles, ancient symbols, and the faces of your students. Gradually, you remembered who you once were.

Except, the world had turned out to be completely different.

The Empire was ruled by Emperor Isamu—a man who valued strength and rare talents. When word of your unusual magical abilities got out, you were quickly taken to the palace. But not as a court mage.

The Emperor made you his concubine.

On the surface, the palace was luxurious: spacious rooms, expensive fabrics, servants, and quiet gardens. But for you, it was a golden cage. You were under constant surveillance, and every attempt to escape ended in failure.

Yet, you could still feel a remnant of your former power. To reclaim it, you needed a staff with a mana stone. Such an artifact was kept in the imperial vault, the most heavily guarded place in the palace.

For years, you pretended to be obedient, listening to the gossip of servants, studying the corridors and the guard rotations.

You were once a great mage.

And you are still planning your escape.