He racked his brain, trying to recall the online novels he had devoured in his former life, only to realize that his present predicament was direr than any he had ever read. To emerge as a hero, one required immense power. Though this fantastical realm wasn't wholly governed by the law of the jungle, the weak could never claim the spotlight. In Leoric's memory, not a single fantasy novel featured a physically frail protagonist rising to heroic status.

Heroes were always those endowed with great might—potent wizards, skilled swordsmen, or even chosen ones of deities. Therefore, he had to become strong. But the path to strength was fraught with challenges.

Attaining power wasn't a simple feat. Running a shop and peddling goods wouldn't transform him into a powerhouse. He needed to learn, train, embark on adventures, and choose a career path. Over seven years of keen observation, listening, and analysis, Leoric had garnered considerable knowledge about the world he now inhabited. There were numerous adventurous professions here—warriors, wizards, paladins, clerics, druids, bards, and more. It sounded like a realm where one could pursue their passions, but it was far from that.

Everything was complicated because he resided in Spiritshade City.

"Cursed City of Shades," Leoric muttered, his brow furrowing as he lay on his bed.

Spiritshade City was an extraordinary city—a floating metropolis that hovered in the air, militarized with a rigid hierarchy. Most importantly, it wasn't situated in the Material Plane but rather in the Shadowfell.

The Material Plane, or the Prime Material Plane, was the mortal realm where humans, elves, dwarves, orcs, and other races coexisted. The Shadowfell, however, belonged to the Outer Planes, akin to the Abyss where demons dwelled or the Nine Hells where devils reigned.

Originally, there were no humans in the Shadowfell—Spiritshade City was a settlement of immigrants.

Legend had it that around two millennia ago, the Netheril Empire thrived in the Material Plane, boasting a splendid magical civilization. Wizards crafted countless wonders, one of which was the floating cities, including Spiritshade City, once known as "Shadowdale."

A catastrophe struck, causing the Netheril Empire to crumble almost overnight, with nearly all floating cities crashing—except for Spiritshade City.

Before the disaster, the lord of Spiritshade City orchestrated a grand magical experiment, breaching the planar barriers and relocating the city from the Material Plane to the Shadowfell. After a period of exploration, they returned to the Material Plane.

What they witnessed upon their return was devastation—the once-great empire lay in ruins.

The wizards of Spiritshade City divined that a ferocious creature called Fomorian had annihilated the Netheril Empire.

Revenge was inevitable, but since the Fomorians were potent enough to obliterate the mighty Netheril Empire, and with most floating cities crashed and wizards decimated, Spiritshade City couldn't confront them alone and retreated back into the Shadowfell to regroup.

They planned to amass strength and seek vengeance, but something went awry. This time, when they ventured into the Shadowfell, they encountered an insurmountable obstacle, thwarting any further attempts to return to the Material Plane, despite the wizards' relentless efforts.

Thus, Spiritshade City became an isolated outpost within the Shadowfell. Aside from its inhabitants, there were no other humans, elves, or dwarves—only endless shadow creatures.

As an isolated island, self-sufficiency was paramount. The city operated under semi-military management, with essential supplies rationed. Items sold in stores held little value, and each store catered to a stable clientele. For instance, Leoric's family served the limited number of wizards in the city who required specific spell components. Prices were fixed, and market expansion was impossible, so profits barely sustained basic needs.

This was dire indeed.

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Spiritshade City was a semi-militarized, hierarchical city. Its ruling class consisted primarily of wizards and clerics. Classes like paladins and druids were nonexistent, and never would be. There were some warriors, rogues, or bards, but their status was lowly.

In Spiritshade City, wizard schools and temples abounded. Wizard schools admitted students regardless of background but imposed exorbitant tuition fees; temples didn't charge fees but required noble lineage, excluding commoners from the clergy.

Leoric had no desire to become a cleric, so that avenue was closed to him.

The most promising option was to become a wizard.

But how could he afford the steep tuition?

Spiritshade City enforced rigorous elite education. As the city lord proclaimed, "We need, and only need, elites." The wizard school admitted students annually without a set quota, accepting anyone who could pay. The course spanned five years, with roughly a hundred new students enrolling each year. However, only ten students graduated annually—a dropout rate of ninety percent.

Those who failed to graduate were relegated to civilian life, unable to attain wizard status, and the tuition was forfeited.

Leoric's family had been small merchants for generations, operating a spell component shop. They had some savings, though Leoric was unaware of the exact amount. But if all the savings were expended, perhaps he could gain entry into the wizard school.

Yet Leoric knew his parents wouldn't take such a gamble unless they were insane. While becoming a wizard would elevate the family’s status, the ninety percent failure rate was too risky.

Failure meant losing everything, as the wizard school didn't refund tuition.

That's why many commoners, knowing that their children could escape low social status by becoming wizards, rarely risked their life savings on wizard schools due to the enormous stakes involved.

Leoric couldn't fault his parents; he could only bemoan his fate. "If I had to be reborn here, why not as the offspring of a king or lord? Why must I be a merchant’s son in Spiritshade City?"

Born into a merchant family with meager social standing and limited financial resources, what could he do?

If he were in the Material Plane, Leoric might consider fleeing Spiritshade City to seek opportunities elsewhere, perhaps encountering a reclusive old wizard willing to take him as an apprentice. But this was the Shadowfell, where venturing beyond ten miles outside the city meant facing death at the hands of lurking shadow monsters.

Rising above his station seemed like a distant dream.

Despite his thoughts, life had to continue. Initially, Leoric struggled with his new identity, haunted by memories from his previous life. However, over seven years, he adapted to his surroundings, family, and daily interactions with his parents, sister, and the mute neighbor and his bald dog.

Life carried on peacefully, while Leoric pursued his dream of becoming a wizard. But realistically, what could a six-year-old boy from a merchant family, albeit mentally an adult, achieve in a closed, semi-militarized city? Not much.

Could he sneak into a wizard's abode with a fruit knife and threaten him for magic training? Leoric lacked confidence in his stealth and deception skills. Though he believed that transmigrants often possessed protagonist-like traits, he couldn't take the risk.

Leoric wasn't willing to gamble with his life.

As a member of a merchant family, he couldn't expect luxuries. Hardships forced children to mature early. By age five, Leoric was already assisting his father in collecting spell components daily, alongside his sister Leovena.

Spiritshade City was perched atop a floating mountain. Potent wizards had severed a mountain peak, inverted it, and enchanted it to hover, constructing the city on the flattened summit. The mountain's surface area spanned about fifty square miles, with thirty square miles dedicated to the city, and the rest to farmland, kilns, mines, and forests. Although there was no sun in the Shadowfell, magic nurtured trees to grow swiftly and robustly.

Leoric's family owned a small plot outside the city, cultivating plants like shadow orchids, saffron, licorice, and peas, which they processed into spell components. At first, his father accompanied them, but later, Leoric and Leovena worked independently while their parents managed the shop.

These materials were inexpensive and common, yielding minimal profit. To earn more, they sought rarer items like live crickets or spiders. Today, Leoric spotted a shadow ring snake in the grass—an endemic species of the Shadowfell, harmless despite its menacing appearance. Its tongue and skin were valuable components for higher-level spells.

Leoric picked up a stone and crept towards the snake, crushing its head. Startled, the snake lashed out, striking Leoric in the face. Leovena rushed forward, wielding a stick to fend off the snake and support Leoric. Despite its injuries, the snake attempted to flee but was ultimately captured and slain by the siblings. Leovena happily tucked the snake away.

"At least thirty coppers," she said. "Perfect for your birthday present."

Her casual remark cast a shadow overLeoric's heart. Retaining his past memories, he hadn't taken his current life's birthday seriously until now. Hearing Leovena reminded him that his seventh birthday—and seven years in this world—was approaching.

Looking at his tools and the bag on his shoulder, did he truly have to spend his life as a merchant in Spiritshade City?

He refused to accept this fate. He needed to seize any opportunity to rise above his circumstances.

But where would that opportunity come from?