After a long while, Lucas finally opened his eyes again. This time, he felt a noticeable improvement. Slowly, he took in a deep breath and exhaled, feeling the ache in his body but realizing it was much duller than before. Carefully, he sat up, his eyes sweeping over his surroundings as he tried to orient himself.
'Where am I?' he wondered, running a hand over his face, feeling the roughness of his skin and the faint trace of sweat from his recent ordeal.
His gaze drifted to an open door across the room. Moving cautiously, he swung his legs over the side of the bed and eased himself up. The movement brought a slight twinge of pain, but it was manageable. Step by step, he made his way toward the doorway, his hand brushing the doorframe as he peered through. Just beyond, he noticed an older man occupied with something.
Lucas stood by the door, watching quietly from the shadows of his room. He observed the old man's figure as he worked, his movements precise yet unhurried, as though he'd performed this task a thousand times before.
The old man paused, as if sensing a presence behind him, and slowly turned his head, catching sight of Lucas standing there.
"Oh, you're awake already," the old man remarked, his voice calm and welcoming.
Lucas said nothing, his eyes drifting over the old man's face. He looked somewhat familiar, though Lucas couldn't place why. His attention caught on the man's ears, which had a distinct and unusual shape.
'What's up with those ears?' he wondered, feeling a flicker of realization. 'Wait… could he be an elf?'
For a moment, Lucas simply stared, unable to tear his gaze away. The old man seemed to notice his odd look and raised an eyebrow, looking at him in return. 'Why's he looking at me like that?' the old man thought, though he said nothing.
Instead, he turned back to his task and spoke in a gentle but firm tone, "Hey kid, I've made you some food. If you want to get better, come sit and eat."
Lucas watched as the old man placed a steaming bowl of porridge on the dining table, the smell wafting toward him. Hesitantly, he stepped forward, trying to make sense of the man's intentions. Memories flickered in his mind—of a shadow approaching him before he'd lost consciousness. He had feared it was the goblins that were chasing him, but perhaps… Perhaps it was just this man who had helped him.
Lucas felt a mix of caution and gratitude. This stranger had taken care of him, yet Lucas couldn't afford to trust too easily, especially in an unfamiliar world. However, his hunger gnawed at him, making the decision simpler.
Silently, he made his way to the table, his steps slow and cautious. Words felt unnecessary, and his body felt too worn to hold any real conversation. He sat down, taking up the spoon, and began eating in small, careful bites.
The old man watched Lucas as he ate, studying him thoughtfully. Lucas could sense his gaze but continued eating, grateful for the warmth of the food. The old man's eyes seemed to hold a quiet curiosity, as though he were piecing together what might have happened to Lucas.
'What could've left him in such a bad state?' the old man wondered to himself.
When he finished the meal, Lucas reached for the glass of water, savoring the refreshing coolness as he drank. He put the glass down and glanced up at the man who had shown him such kindness.
"Thank you so much, sir," Lucas said softly, feeling a rush of appreciation.
The old man offered a gentle smile. "You can call me Dr. Sebastian. I'm a doctor, after all."
'A doctor?' Lucas thought, nodding slowly. That explains why I feel so much better. He must've treated me somehow… I remember him putting some kind of herbs on me earlier.
"Well," Dr. Sebastian said, getting up from his seat, "I have to go back to work now. But you should rest, Lucas. Your body still hasn't fully healed yet."
"Alright, Dr. Sebastian," Lucas replied.
The doctor gave him a nod and turned to leave. Lucas watched him go, a feeling of respect beginning to grow. Dr. Sebastian had been right about his condition; Lucas's body felt completely drained.
But he was also aware of that, thanks to the doctor's knowledge, he was in far better shape than he should have been. Somehow, the herbs Dr. Sebastian used had eased his aching muscles, and the pain had receded to a manageable level.
After Dr. Sebastian left, Lucas leaned back in his chair, lost in thought. 'Did Dr. Sebastian come home just to take care of me?' he wondered, a hint of guilt creeping in. He regretted doubting the old man when he first saw him. Maybe he'd been a bit too cautious.
The sight of Dr. Sebastian's elven features no longer surprised him.
After his experience with the goblins earlier, he won't even be surprised if he saw a dragon in this world, Lucas finally realized what kind of world he'd been transported to.
Feeling the weight of exhaustion settle over him again, Lucas rose from his chair and returned to his room, lying back on the bed.
"This feels amazing," he murmured, sinking into the mattress. "I can't believe I actually survived that…"
His mind wandered to his recent escape. 'When those goblins were chasing me, I really thought I was done for.'
He exhaled, relieving the tension of those terrifying moments, only for a sudden realization to jolt him upright.
"Wait… The language I'm speaking—it's different!"
"How did I not even notice?!" he muttered, frowning in confusion.
It struck him that he'd been speaking in a completely different language with Dr. Sebastian, yet it had felt natural, as if he'd been fluent all his life. He could switch seamlessly between this new language and his own without a second thought.
"But how?"
'How can I even speak this language?' he thought, searching for an answer. His mind drifted back to the mysterious vase that had brought him here. Could it have given him this ability to communicate in this strange world?
'Did the vase also grant me knowledge of this world?' he wondered, growing more curious.
However, the more he thought about it, the less it made sense. If it did, wouldn't I know more about the creatures in this world? Or at least have a better understanding of this world? But the knowledge eluded him, leaving him only with more questions and no clear answers.
He sighed, rubbing his forehead as a headache began to form. The mysteries of this world of the language, the mysterious vase, and the monsters were becoming too much for his weary mind to handle.
"Maybe some fresh air will clear my head," he said finally, getting up and heading to the door.