The next morning, Jake woke up to the sound of birds chirping outside the hospital window. The light of dawn filtered through the curtains, casting a soft, warm glow over the room. It was peaceful—almost too peaceful, considering the turbulent thoughts racing through his mind.
He had spent the night tossing and turning, his mind replaying the events of the past few days over and over again. The strange sensations of living in a female body, the unsettling emotions he felt around Sung Jin-Woo, and the overwhelming reality of being trapped in a world where danger lurked around every corner—it was all too much to process at once.
But today, Jake knew he needed to start taking concrete steps toward his goals. The longer he stayed in the hospital, the more likely it was that someone would start asking questions he couldn't answer. He needed to get out of here and begin training, both to improve his healing abilities and to explore the powers granted by the Sage Enlightenment System.
After freshening up, Jake made his way to Sung Jin-Woo's room. The door was slightly ajar, and he could hear the soft murmur of voices inside. He paused for a moment, hesitating. Sung Jin-Woo had been getting stronger every day, but Jake wasn't sure how much longer he could keep up the charade of memory loss.
Pushing those thoughts aside, Jake gently knocked on the door before entering. Sung Jin-Woo was sitting up in bed, talking to his sister, Sung Jin-Ah, who had come to visit him. When they saw Jake, both of them smiled, though Jin-Woo's was noticeably softer and more subdued.
"Good morning, Joo-Hee," Jin-Woo greeted, his voice warm but tinged with weariness.
"Good morning," Jake replied, forcing a smile onto his face. "How are you feeling today, Jin-Woo?"
"A bit better, thanks to you," Jin-Woo said, his eyes meeting Jake's with an intensity that made Jake's heart skip a beat. "I'm lucky to have you watching over me."
Jake quickly averted his gaze and clenched his fist, feeling his face heat up. "I'm just doing what I can," he mumbled, shifting awkwardly. "But I think it's time we both started thinking about getting back to our normal lives. We can't stay in the hospital forever."
Sung Jin-Ah, who had been quietly observing the interaction, nodded in agreement. "Unnie's right. You both need to recover fully, but it's important to start taking steps forward. Maybe some light training or even just a walk outside would help."
Jake glanced at Jin-Ah, grateful for the suggestion. "That's a good idea. We could start with something small, just to ease back into things."
Jin-Woo seemed to consider this for a moment before nodding. "Yeah, that sounds good. I don't want to stay cooped up in here any longer than I have to."
With the decision made, they agreed to take a walk around the hospital grounds later that day. It would be a small but significant step towards returning to normalcy—or at least, as normal as life could be in this world.
Later that afternoon, Jake and Jin-Woo found themselves walking along a quiet path that wound through the hospital's garden. The fresh air and greenery were a welcome change from the sterile environment of the hospital, and for a moment, Jake allowed himself to relax.
As they walked, Jin-Woo glanced at Jake, his expression thoughtful. "You've been really quiet, Joo-Hee. Are you sure you're okay?"
Jake hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. On one hand, he needed to maintain the facade of memory loss to avoid suspicion. On the other hand, he knew that building trust with Jin-Woo was crucial to his plan.
"I've just been… thinking a lot," Jake finally said, choosing his words carefully. "About what happened in the double dungeon, and what it means for us moving forward."
Jin-Woo's expression darkened slightly at the mention of the dungeon, but he didn't press for details. Instead, he nodded, his gaze turning to the path ahead. "It's a lot to take in. What happened in there… it changed everything. I'm sure you'll remember everything in no time"
Jake could sense the weight of Jin-Woo's words. The double dungeon had been a turning point in the original story, the catalyst for Jin-Woo's transformation into the world's strongest hunter. But for Jake, it was also a turning point—a moment that had forced him to confront the reality of his new life.
"I want to get stronger," Jake said suddenly, the words slipping out before he could stop them. "I want to be able to protect myself… and others. I don't want to be afraid anymore."
Jin-Woo stopped walking and turned to face Jake, his expression serious. "Joo-Hee, you've always been stronger than me. You saved lives with your healing abilities. But if you're saying you want to do more… I'll support you. We can train together."
Jake's heart swelled with a mix of gratitude and something else—something he wasn't ready to name. He nodded, a determined look in his eyes. "Thank you, Jin-Woo. That means a lot to me."
Jin-Woo smiled, and for a moment, the intensity of his gaze softened into something warmer, almost affectionate. "We're in this together, Joo-Hee. We'll get through it, no matter what."
That evening, after their walk, Jake returned to his hospital room with a renewed sense of purpose. He had taken the first step towards building a stronger bond with Jin-Woo, and now it was time to start focusing on his own growth.
Sitting cross-legged on the bed, Jake closed his eyes and called forth the Sage Enlightenment System. A familiar, soothing green light enveloped him, and the system's interface appeared before his mind's eye.
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[Sage Enlightenment System]
.
Name: Lee Joo-Hee (Jake Garcia)
Class: Sage of Eternal Leaf
Level: 1 (0/100)
HP: 140/140 | MP: 210/210
.
Stats:
- Strength: 11
- Dexterity: 13
- Vitality: 14
- Magic Power: 21
- Intelligence: 18
- Wisdom: 19
.
Skills:
- Healing Touch (Skill Level 1 - 0%): Amplified healing abilities, allowing for rapid recovery of wounds and ailments.
- Verdant Growth (Skill Level 1 - 0%): Manipulation of plants and nature, enabling the user to control and accelerate plant growth.
- Nature's Embrace (Skill Level 1 - 0%): A protective barrier formed from natural energy, capable of shielding the user and others from harm.
_______________________
Jake studied the abilities, contemplating how to best utilize them. Healing Touch was already familiar, having been Joo-Hee's original skill, though it had now been amplified by the system. Verdant Growth intrigued him—it was untapped potential, something he had yet to fully explore, but he could already see its value in both combat and survival scenarios. Nature's Embrace offered a layer of defense, a protective skill that could prove vital in the dangerous world of Solo Leveling.
Jake knew that mastering these abilities would be crucial to his survival. He would need to practice, to experiment, and to push the limits of what the Sage Enlightenment System could do. And he would need to do it quickly—before the next crisis hit.
But for now, Jake allowed himself a moment of peace. He had taken his first steps into the unknown, and while the path ahead was still shrouded in uncertainty, he felt a glimmer of hope.
As he drifted off to sleep, Jake's thoughts returned to Sung Jin-Woo. The connection they had begun to build, the warmth he felt whenever Jin-Woo smiled at him… it was all so confusing, yet so foreign. But Jake pushed those thoughts aside, reminding himself of his goal: to become strong enough to survive in this world, to fulfill Lee Joo-Hee's wish, and to one day, perhaps, find a way back to his own.
For now, though, he would focus on the journey ahead—one step at a time.