Kelvin abruptly opened his groggy eyes to the bright ambiance of the room.
The soft, supple feel of the bed beneath him and the gentle ventilation conveyed that he was sheltered somewhere safe.
His vision was blurry, obscuring his surroundings, but he could faintly discern the white walls and sterile decor that resembled a hospital.
After several seconds, his sight adjusted to the brightness, allowing him to fully survey the room. As he had suspected, it was indeed a hospital-like chamber.
Though he still harbored some doubts, the tight bandages constricting his chest were clear evidence of his location.
Exhaling in relief, Kelvin was grateful he was no longer in immediate danger. His mind, however, drifted back to the harrowing experience in the mines. His ears still buzzed with the residual pain from the blast that had knocked him unconscious.
Yet, what troubled him most was the fragmented state of his memories, coupled with the unfamiliarity of his own body.
Kelvin realized he needed to piece together his memories, for they held the answers to his current predicament.
Pushing aside the discomfort, he began to delve into his thoughts, sifting through the avalanche of recollections.
He lay motionless on the bed, eyes shut, wholly absorbed in the flow of memories.
Minutes passed as he mentally combed through the chaos, searching for fragments that could shed light on his present situation.
When he finally opened his teary, red eyes, a long exhale escaped his lips, accompanied by a profound sense of uncertainty.
Since waking up in that tunnel, Kelvin had been plagued by an indescribable feeling that something extraordinary had occurred.
'Transmigration? Or is it reincarnation?' he wondered. He couldn't be sure, but one thing was clear—the surreal nature of it all was undeniable.
In retrospect, it seemed ironic. Not long ago—or so it felt, though time was now an enigma—he had resigned himself to dying in that control room, only to awaken in the body of a teenager, in a world that was bizarrely foreign.
The entire experience was so disconcerting that his Earth-bound sensibilities instinctively prompted him to pinch himself, ensuring he wasn't dreaming or trapped in some illusionary afterlife.
Like any Earth native, indoctrinated since birth with notions of the afterlife—Heaven and all its promises—the idea of transmigration felt like something straight out of a novel.
And as he sorted through the knowledge of this new world, the strangeness of it all only intensified.
Standing up, Kelvin began to inspect his new body. His bloodied suit was unzipped to his waist, revealing his torso.
According to the memories of his predecessor, this body belonged to a fourteen-year-old boy named I'scarus, an orphan.
Kelvin noted that, for a boy of that age, being 5'7" was quite tall.
He walked towards the room's only window and gazed at his reflection.
His sapphire-blue eyes stared back at him, and the cityscape reflected in them. His brown skin and ash-colored hair gleamed under the room's lighting.
His memories were disjointed, and as he looked at his reflection, he tried to align the fragments but failed.
Kelvin was still grappling with the confusion, but he knew he had to suppress his doubts and acclimate to this strange new reality.
"I'scarus," he murmured, testing the name. His parents had called him 'Sca' for short.
Snapping out of his reverie, Kelvin shifted his gaze beyond his reflection to the refinery-like city illuminated by the resplendent glow of two purple moons.
He could see vessels of various sizes and shapes navigating the atmosphere, weaving through the structures of the city.
From the limited knowledge he had inherited, Kelvin understood that this world was technologically advanced, far beyond Earth.
Concepts like space travel, planetary dominance—these were commonplace to the inhabitants here.
The more Kelvin observed, the more his blue eyes gleamed, reflecting the city's splendor. After basking in the sight for a while, he returned to the bed and sat down.
Everything he had seen and remembered left him in awe. There were still many things he didn't understand, but he knew he would need to explore those memories in greater detail.
One recurring element in I'scarus's memories particularly baffled Kelvin—something that seemed impossibly fictional.
"Magic?" Kelvin whispered, half-disbelieving. The notion of mysterious, preternatural power seemed fantastical.
But as he recalled his encounter in the mines, he began to piece together what had truly happened.
The sudden surge of strength he had felt during the battle that enabled him to defeat the creature was a peculiar, yet familiar, phenomenon in this world.
In I'scarus's memories, there were individuals with powers beyond comprehension—people capable of cultivating, manipulating, and controlling the very essence of the universe.
These individuals were known as 'Awakeners.'
It was said that eighty percent of humans could awaken to these powers, provided they were artificially infused with 'World Essence.' Another ten percent could awaken naturally, while the remaining percentage accounted for various anomalies.
From his predecessor's memories, Kelvin concluded that this 'Essence of the World' was a crucial factor in this world's astounding progress.
In fact, without this mysterious energy, the advancements that had propelled this civilization to such heights would have been impossible.
The reality of the situation started to settle in Kelvin's mind, and as he slowly accepted the truth, he realized the gravity of his new existence.
Kelvin, now I'scarus, was thrust into a world that demanded not only strength but also wisdom and adaptability.
He couldn't afford to linger in the past, mourning his old life.
Instead, he needed to embrace the present, with all its complexities and unknowns. His survival depended on it.
Kelvin—or rather, I'scarus—leaned back on the bed, his mind churning with thoughts of the future. He had no idea what challenges lay ahead, but one thing was certain: he would face them head-on.
There was no going back. His life on Earth was over, and a new chapter had begun in this strange, magical world.
He realized that the knowledge he had acquired from both his past life and I'scarus's memories would be his greatest asset in navigating this world - for now.
But knowledge alone wouldn't be enough. He needed to learn, to grow, to adapt—and most importantly, to survive.
The journey ahead would be fraught with dangers, but it would also be filled with opportunities.
As he pondered this, a sense of determination began to well up within him. Kelvin—no, I'scarus—was ready to embrace this new reality, no matter how daunting it seemed.
The uncertainty that had plagued him moments ago was now replaced with a sense of purpose.
Kelvin knew that he couldn't dwell on the past, on what had been lost. Instead, he needed to focus on what could be gained in this new life.
He needed to harness the power within him, understand the world around him, and carve out a place for himself in this unfamiliar yet intriguing world.
His thoughts drifted to the concept of Awakening. It was a process that seemed almost mystical, yet it was rooted in the reality of this world.
He knew that if he were to survive, he needed to fully awaken this potential.
He needed to become more than just a boy in a strange land—he needed to become a force to be reckoned with.
The realization filled him with a renewed sense of resolve. He wouldn't just survive in this world—he would thrive.
And in doing so, he would discover the truth behind his transmigration, the purpose of his new existence, and perhaps, the meaning of the life he had left behind.