I blinked awake, groggy and disoriented. The stone floor beneath me felt cool, a stark contrast to the warmth I was used to in my previous life. Slowly, I pushed myself up, glancing around. Wherever I was, it was nothing like the world I knew. Stone walls arched overhead, lit by a strange ambient glow. The air crackled with energy—magic. It wasn't subtle, either. It was thick, almost tangible. Wizard City. I'd chosen Wizard City for a reason, and now I was here.
I looked down at myself—small hands, a bit shaky, clutching the edge of a long, dark robe. I was no longer the twenty-year-old who felt lost and hollow. No, now I was eleven, with a fresh start and magic running through my veins. In this world, I wasn't just someone searching for meaning—I was a wizard.
I reached up and felt the circlet resting on my head. A powerful artifact, one of the few pieces of gear I had chosen for this jump. The circlet hummed slightly as my fingers brushed it, like it was alive, reacting to my presence. With it, I would be immune to mind control—a small comfort, considering the chaos that was bound to follow me in this world.
Standing up, I took a moment to orient myself. Wizard City was bustling. Through the narrow alleyway I was in, I could hear voices echoing in the distance, wizards laughing, chanting spells, and something that sounded like an explosion in the far distance. Of course. I was in a city full of wizards—chaos was a daily occurrence here.
I began walking, trying to adjust to the fact that I was a kid again. It wasn't as unsettling as I thought it might be. Maybe the fact that I'd spent years wishing I could be like the heroes in my favorite comics, anime, and stories helped me accept this new reality. This was it. I was in a world of magic now—a world of adventure. And I wasn't just some bystander anymore. I had power.
Wiz Biz—the basic magical knowledge of every wizard in this city—was already second nature to me. I knew the handshakes, the secret words that would let me pass through the cliques of wizards. But that wasn't the extent of my abilities. No, I had a lot more under the hood.
I could feel it bubbling just under the surface—Power Shriek, a burst of magical sound that could incapacitate anyone nearby. A crude, embarrassing ability, but useful in the right situation. Then there was Life-Giving Magus, which allowed me to bring inanimate objects to life. That one was more intriguing—giving life, creating beings that would serve me, maybe even become companions on this journey. I wasn't sure yet how far that power would go, but I intended to find out.
And then there was Archimage. I could feel that title in the weight of my thoughts. I wasn't just any wizard. I had the potential to become one of the greats. Archimage was a reputation, a mastery of magic that few would dare challenge. I had the knowledge—it was mine to unlock, but I would have to earn it.
Finally, there was Elemental Monarch with the affinity for Fire. That one felt dangerous, like a flame constantly burning inside me, waiting to be unleashed. I had the power to control fire, create it, and even summon fire elementals. I didn't know the full extent of this ability yet, but I could feel its heat in my veins. I'd have to be careful with that one.
As I walked through the narrow streets of Wizard City, I began to notice something else—people were watching me. I hadn't done anything yet, but I could feel their eyes on me. Wizards of all shapes and sizes, muttering to each other as they passed by. It wasn't just curiosity. It was something else—disdain. Like I didn't belong here.
That must have been **Unacceptable**, one of the flaws I had taken on in exchange for the powers I now possessed. It wasn't just a matter of being disliked. It was deeper than that. People didn't just dislike me—they rejected me on a fundamental level. It was going to make things harder, but that was part of the deal.
And then there was the matter of my **Pudding Deficiency**. I couldn't feel it yet, but I knew it was coming. A constant, gnawing need for pudding. How that was going to affect me in a city of wizards, I had no idea, but it was only a matter of time before it became a problem.
And of course, there was **Magic Man**. The most chaotic, deranged figure in all of Ooo had taken an interest in me. I hadn't met him yet, but his influence would be felt. I could feel it now, like a shadow creeping at the edge of my consciousness. There was no telling when or how, but he was going to make my life hell at some point. Maybe today. Maybe tomorrow. Maybe when I least expected it. But it was coming.
I kept my head down as I made my way through the streets, trying not to draw attention to myself. That wasn't going to work for long, though. I could already feel the fire inside me itching to be used. It was a matter of time before something forced my hand.
As I rounded a corner, I heard a shout. Turning, I saw a group of wizards huddled together, pointing at me. No, not at me—at something behind me. I turned just in time to see it.
A reflection. My reflection, but... twisted. A version of me, distorted and warped. It was grinning, eyes wild with a manic energy that sent a chill down my spine.
"Time for fun!" the reflection shrieked, lunging at me, fire bursting from its hands.
I barely had time to react. Instinctively, I raised my own hand, summoning fire to meet the attack. The flames collided in midair, sparks flying in all directions. My heart pounded in my chest as I stared down this twisted version of myself.
This was Magic Man's doing. I knew it. This wasn't just a random reflection. This was him, toying with me. Testing me.
The reflection cackled, its laughter ringing through the narrow alley. "You can't win!" it shrieked, fire still pouring from its hands.
I gritted my teeth and pushed back, summoning more fire, hotter and brighter. I wasn't about to lose to this... thing. Whatever it was, I wasn't going to let Magic Man win.
But as the flames grew, so did the weight of my flaws. I could feel the stares of the other wizards behind me, their disdain turning into something more—fear. And the need for pudding was beginning to claw at the back of my mind, distracting me at the worst possible moment.
Focus, I told myself. Focus.
With a final burst of energy, I forced the flames back, overwhelming the reflection. It shrieked one last time before it disappeared in a puff of smoke, leaving me standing there, breathless and shaken.
The wizards who had been watching scattered, muttering to themselves as they hurried away. I didn't blame them. I wasn't exactly stable. But I was alive, and that was all that mattered for now.
I took a deep breath and straightened up. That was just the beginning. This was a world full of challenges, and I had barely scratched the surface. But I wasn't the same Nelson who had drifted through life back on Earth. Here, I had power. Here, I had purpose.
And I was going to make the most of it.