I shot up from my bed, my heart racing at terrifying speeds. I gripped my chest, slinging my head back as I stared at the blank ceiling, unsure of what to think. The rapid beating of my heart seemed to continue endlessly.
What the fuck was going on?
I was back at the infirmary. The mild aroma of lilies permeated the air, followed by the occasional smell of fresh medicinal herbs and pills. The brightness and mild heat of the Sun replaced the cloudy, rainy sky and the… monstrous beast I had been killed by.
Surprisingly, being ripped apart by the beast didn't hurt.
Unlike my first death, being mauled by the beast felt like a projection; a moving image of sorts. But then again, it felt so real, as if I could feel the fearsome aura, and the monstrosity breathing down my neck.
I stared at the goosebumps on my arm. It was beyond anything I'd ever witnessed.
I had mistakenly believed I was the strongest in all the worlds… Although I had lost all of my strength–even at my prime–I didn't hold a candle to the beast. Not even for a split second could I survive before that monster.
But most importantly of all, why had I suddenly teleported to the ship?
"The newspaper…" I whispered, my eyes widening in shock and realization. Clenching my fist, I turned to face an old man. In his hands was a large piece of paper, black text lining the countless pages.
'Wait, I can read… I can read!' I suddenly realized as I began reading the text write on the newspaper. It was the same language used in my homeland… or was it? It felt somewhat foreign, but also similar.
Most of all, I could understand a few signs I had never seen before.
As I skimmed the page, I couldn't find anything remotely relevant.
That was until the old man released a light sigh before turning the page, allowing the page he was reading to be seen. There were a few random headings about the execution of Barons, rise of a new star, and a court hearing.
However, in the middle of the page, I saw it.
[FoxCarter Ship sinks in the middle of the Jeringo Sea as concerns about Sea Storms rise in coastal cities.]
Beneath the headline was the picture of the ship I'd been on. Only, it was in mint condition, anchored at a massive harbor that held several other, massive ships.
'What's most interesting is that no one who saw the Beast lived to report it,' I thought. 'Or maybe they did. Who knows?'
It didn't concern me.
What did matter was that I had seen the tragedy occur before my eyes. No, I had manifested into it, as if I were a character. Massaging my aching temples, I leaned back in my bed, staring at the ceiling with a blank expression.
It was all too complicated.
I had died, transmigrated to whatever the fuck this was, then manifested into a news headline before returning to the infirmary. Thankfully, the teenagers that had greeted me were nowhere to be seen.
"Oh, you're awake!"
I spoke too soon.
***
"So you don't remember a thing?" The blue-haired teenager asked yet again, concern plastered on his face. Apparently, his name was Ian Macleod. He was the son of a professor in the Stallard Hope Academy, the same academy I was enrolled in.
Beside him was a pink-haired girl named Isabelle, and beside her was a green-haired boy named Samuel.
Apparently, these teenagers and I had been friends since childhood. Our families were closely tied, in both occupation and family. Furthermore, our parents had been close friends too, which solidified the relationship.
"I seriously don't," I replied. I was playing the amnesia card. It was the most 'realistic' explanation… at least, more logical than transmigration, which I previously believed was a concept that existed only in mythical scriptures.
"What about me? Do you not remember me?" Samuel asked, seemingly desperate. I felt as if his concern for me was unusual. As if he desperately wanted me to remember something… something perhaps only he knew.
"No, I don't."
"You have to. Just think."
If I hadn't lost my power, I swear…
The pink-haired girl, Isabelle, remained silent throughout the conversation; as if she were in deep thought.
"Ignore Samuel," said Ian, finally interfering. He shot a glance at the other boy, shutting him up instantly. The hierarchy was quite clear. I preferred it that way. "How do you feel? Are there any other symptoms?"
"There don't seem to be." I shook my head.
"That's good."
At that moment, the doctor who'd first heard about my 'amnesia' came over, a notepad clutched in between his fingers. Beside him were two nurses who seemed to be conversing in a different language than the main one.
I could understand it, but the other teens couldn't.
"So, I tried calling your family for an interview, but they didn't return the call. We're going to start off by doing tests every week for now, and work around any head injury you may have suffered that you might not remember."
Silence.
"Try getting used to your lifestyle, because I'm going to be frank, there are no 'cures' for amnesia. We can only try enhancing your memory to help you remember a few things. A lot of things are going to change, Ryan, and that's fine."
Nod.
"You just need to learn to deal with that change, and embrace it. I've told Nurse Molly and Nurse Athanasia about your prescriptions. You can pick them up when you get discharged in a few hours."
"Okay. Thank you so much, doctor."
"My pleasure."
With that, the doctor walked away, and the nurses told me about the medicine I was supposed to take.
Thankfully, I could now start getting assimilated with this new world…
Perhaps this was my second chance.
I would make sure to make the best of it.