The days that followed Jace's revelation were filled with a strange mixture of the mundane and the extraordinary. On one hand, life at Middleton High continued much as it always had—homework, rehearsals for the school play, and the usual teenage drama. On the other hand, Anita and her friends now had a centuries-old fox spirit living among them, and that was anything but ordinary.Jace, true to his word, began his journey of learning about the modern world in earnest. He spent hours poring over books and websites, trying to catch up on the centuries of history, science, and culture he had missed. Anita had lent him her laptop, and it quickly became a fixture in his hands as he explored the vast expanse of the internet."How does this work?" Jace asked one evening, holding up the device with a curious expression. "This… laptop. It's like a book, but it holds far more knowledge than any library I've ever seen. And it's connected to… everything?""Pretty much," Liam said with a grin, clearly enjoying the opportunity to play teacher. "The internet is like a giant web of information. You can find almost anything on it—news, history, entertainment, you name it. But you have to be careful, too. Not everything you read online is true."Jace nodded, absorbing the information. "It's incredible. In my time, knowledge was something you had to seek out, often in remote or hidden places. Now, it's at your fingertips. But I suppose that means there's even more responsibility to discern what's true and what's not."Emily, who had been sitting nearby with a book, added, "And that's why critical thinking is so important. The internet is a powerful tool, but it can be overwhelming if you're not careful. It's easy to get lost in all the information."Jace gave her a thoughtful look. "I see. It's not so different from navigating the spiritual realm, then. Both require focus and discernment."As the days passed, Jace began to adapt to the rhythms of modern life. He accompanied Anita and her friends to school, though he didn't enroll as a student himself. Instead, he spent his time learning from them and observing the world around him. He was fascinated by the way technology had transformed society, but he was also aware of the challenges it presented.One afternoon, while Anita was working on her history project, Jace asked, "Why do you study history so intently, Anita? What draws you to the past?"Anita paused, considering the question. "I guess it's because history is full of stories. Stories about people who lived and died, who loved and fought, who changed the world in ways big and small. I'm fascinated by how those stories shaped the present. And maybe, by understanding them, we can make better choices for the future.