diff --git a/engine/core/Engine.ts b/engine/core/Engine.ts
index 8554f1f..f127d42 100644
--- a/engine/core/Engine.ts
+++ b/engine/core/Engine.ts
@@ -384,9 +384,9 @@ export class Engine {
 
   private initChapterState(chapter: { defaultVariables?: Record<string, number> }) {
     if (chapter.defaultVariables) {
-      this.stateManager.variables = { ...chapter.defaultVariables }
-    } else {
-      this.stateManager.init({})
+      for (const [key, val] of Object.entries(chapter.defaultVariables)) {
+        this.stateManager.variables[key] = val
+      }
     }
     this.stateManager.flags = new Set()
     this.stateManager.history = []