Affinity: Chaos - Chapter 162: Is That What I Think It Is?

One god, one faith, one world, one mage… I am the only mage in the world.

- Description from Ptwxz (translated)

Yan Yuling was born into a wealthy family and was an abandoned daughter since childhood. Her stepsister took her place as the pampered daughter of the Yan family and used her as a sacrificial lamb. She only wishes to have a boring, normal life.Unfortunately, she was destined to meet a handsome and talented businessman, who is also known as a 'cut-sleeve'. Their meeting is as cliche as a dog-blood drama, signaling the intertwining of their destinies. But, under the gentleman's facade, he is someone who carries dark secrets and thirsts for revenge.As they get to know each other better, they discover each other's hidden stories that could destroy their fragile relationship and kill their budding love.Faced with so many secrets, can they truly find love from each other?

Elias “Grim” Kingsley, a nine-year-old orphan with a hardened heart and sharp tongue, dies alone from pneumonia in an overcrowded orphanage. Known for his perpetual scowl and biting remarks, he's labeled a “problem child” by caretakers and “damaged goods” by potential adopters. Years of rejection have built thick armor around his young heart.In death, he encounters the God of Balance who offers him a second chance at life in a different world—this time as Grim Van Ambrose, son of a noble house. Balance explains that every soul deserves to know love and connection, something Elias was cruelly denied in his first life.Promised the family and belonging he never experienced, Grim begins his new life only to suffer an immediate tragedy: his mother dies moments after his birth. This cruel twist of fate reinforces his belief that loss is inevitable, leaving him with a distant father and the mysterious voice of a “Guidance Assistant” in his head.As Grim grows into his new identity, he struggles with his dual nature—the emotional scars of his past life bleeding into his present one. His difficult personality and sharp tongue remain, now paired with noble privilege and expectations. Despite his outward brashness, he carries the deep wounds of his first life and the fresh loss that welcomed him into his second.What begins as one orphan's second chance evolves into an epic journey through a world of ancient beasts, elemental magic, and deadly political intrigue. As Grim uncovers the truth about the Ambrose Clan's fall from grace and the conspiracy that framed them for treason, he faces increasingly dangerous adversaries—both human and monstrous. His quest for revenge against those who destroyed his family's legacy will challenge him to master forbidden techniques, forge unexpected alliances, and ultimately decide whether to rebuild the Ambrose Clan as it was, or transform it into something entirely new.In a realm where power determines survival and ancient secrets lurk beneath noble facades, Grim must learn that sometimes the greatest battles aren't fought with swords, but with the choices that define who we truly are.

"I want to run away from everything."