Ughhh… Where am I? Alex groaned, every muscle in his body screaming in pain.
As he opened his eyes, he found himself lying on an endless white surface. Above him stretched a vast, dark sky, illuminated by countless stars that glowed like gemstones scattered across velvet. The white floor extended indefinitely, creating an eerie sense that he was floating in the middle of the universe itself.
Before he could even begin to make sense of it, he noticed a man standing a few steps ahead, facing away from him. The figure was tall, with long, silky blond hair that fell to his waist, catching the faint starlight in a golden glow.
Is that… an elf? Alex wondered, spotting the familiar pointed ears that matched his own.
Despite the figure's slender frame, he emanated a strength that seemed to envelop the entire scene. His presence was both majestic and overwhelming, his attire angelic yet giving off an unearthly power that made Alex feel small. The man's ears twitched slightly, and he half-turned, his gaze falling on Alex with a piercing intensity. As their eyes met, a wave of pressure crashed over Alex, forcing him to his knees before he could even utter a word.
*Cough! Cough!* I… I can't even breathe… Alex gasped, struggling for air as he felt the gulf between their strength. Summoning every ounce of willpower, he tried to lift his head, his tiny hands bracing against the weight crushing down on him.
The man's striking emerald eyes were like bottomless pits, deep and unknowable. His face was hauntingly beautiful, almost mesmerizing, but it was clear that he was no ordinary being.
The man's lips curled slightly, as though amused by Alex's defiance. He turned fully to face Alex and took a single, deliberate step forward. The ground beneath his feet cracked as he moved, and blinding beams of light erupted from the fissures, casting the stars above into shadow. The white floor crumbled beneath Alex, dissolving as he began to plummet into a dark abyss.
No… I'm… falling…
His eyes grew heavy, the world around him slipping away as the darkness swallowed him. Helpless to resist, Alex let go, and his thoughts faded into nothingness.
---
*Thwack!*
The sound of a solid punch echoed through the room. Arlette, her face flushed with anger, stood over Leo, whose hand was still raised to his head, nursing a growing bump.
"Sob… I'm sorry, alright! I was just excited to see him after all this time! Cut me some slack, okay?" Leo mumbled, rubbing his sore head, guilt written across his face.
"Excited?" Arlette's eyes flashed with frustration. "Do you just unleash that absurd aura whenever you're excited? Is this how you greet your son after vanishing without a word and leaving nothing but a cryptic note?"
"Woof!" Fein growled, joining in with an indignant bark. Although his tail wagged slightly, betraying his happiness at Leo's return, his eyes were narrowed as if he hadn't forgiven Leo either.
"Oh, not you too, Fein!" Leo sighed, reaching down to pat the dog's head. "You know I missed playing with you."
"Where *were* you all this time?" Arlette demanded, moving closer to Alex's bedside. She sat down beside him, her eyes lingering on his sleeping form. "And what on earth made you take half my research papers with you? Do you know how much time it took to restore all those missing parts?"
Leo blinked in confusion. "Didn't you read the note I left? I'm sure I wrote that I was going to find a cure for Alex's illness."
Arlette rolled her eyes, her voice dripping with exasperation. "A single line saying you were going to find a cure hardly counts as an explanation. You should have at least told me face to face. And why did it take you two years? Were you personally inventing the cure? How could you even come back without one?"
Leo's face lit up with a faint smirk. "Huh? But I did find one."
Arlette's eyes narrowed, clearly unconvinced. "Are you seriously lying about this?"
"Why would I lie?" Leo retorted, clearly frustrated as he pulled a leather pouch from his belt. "See for yourself."
Arlette took the pouch and hastily opened it, her hands diving inside. She retrieved a book and several pages of notes, her eyes widening at the familiar lion-shaped emblem engraved on the book's cover.
Opening the book, she flipped through the pages, her eyes widening as she scanned the contents. *This is… It's almost identical to my own research, except for a few parts. Even the ingredients listed for the formula are the same.*
"Where… where did you get this?" she asked, her voice unsteady.
"A 'friend' helped me," Leo said, his tone growing softer. "Your research was incredibly useful. There's more inside the dimensional pouch—that's partly why it took me so long to return."
Arlette swallowed, her hand trembling as she reached back into the pouch. This time, she pulled out two items, her heart pounding as she examined them. In one hand, she held a small, metal box sealed by dark chains adorned with intricate symbols. In the other was a tiny glass bottle containing two glowing, sunflower-like herbs, their leaves emitting a mysterious violet light with tiny waves of mana shimmering across them.
"Is… is this what I think it is?" Her voice was barely above a whisper as she stared at the herb.
Leo nodded, glancing over at Alex with a warm expression. "Yeah, it took me forever to track down, but I did it. I had to, after all."
Arlette's hand covered her mouth, her eyes brimming with emotion. She clenched the items tightly as tears finally slipped down her cheeks. Fein whined softly, nuzzling her leg.
Leo stepped closer, pulling her into a gentle embrace. "Now you don't have to worry about Alex anymore. He'll be alright."
At his words, Arlette's composure broke, and she let herself cry, releasing the burden she'd been carrying alone since Alex's memory loss. They stayed like that for a while, silent, wrapped in each other's warmth.
---
After a long silence, Leo gently pulled away. "So, do we have everything we need?"
Arlette took a shaky breath, wiping her tears. "Yes, we do. But…" She looked at Alex, her gaze troubled. "There's a complication. Alex's body is too weak to handle the Dragon Heart's mana."
Leo's brow furrowed, a serious expression settling over his face. "Right. The Dragon Heart's mana is incredibly potent. Dragons are a sentinel race, apex predators since birth. Even a young dragon can decimate entire counties if provoked. The mana within their hearts is far denser than that of other races."
Arlette nodded, her hands clenching as she held the glass bottle. "The Everglowing Echinacea will help, but it may not be enough. His body hasn't developed the strength to withstand the potency of these ingredients."
"That's where I come in." Leo's face brightened with a hint of excitement. "As soon as he wakes up, I'll start training him. He's got a real knack for combat. You saw that punch, right? Even after all this time bedridden, he's got talent." Leo's chest puffed up with pride, his nose lifted slightly in the air.
Arlette chuckled softly, her voice warm. "Willpower, he has plenty. You saw how he tried to shield me from your aura, even though it must have been agony for him. He's got the spirit of a knight, my little knight in shining armour."
Leo chuckled, his smile widening. "Well, he is my son, after all." He straightened, puffing his chest out even more.
"Ughhh…" Alex's groan cut through their conversation as he began to stir.
Arlette and Leo both turned to him, their faces immediately etched with concern.
"Alex! Does it hurt anywhere?" Arlette asked, her voice filled with worry.
---
Was that a dream? No… It was too vivid, too intense. Alex's mind raced as he recalled the terrifying encounter. And that man… he was a monster beyond anything I've ever seen. No, "monster" doesn't even come close.
A sinking suspicion formed in his mind. Could he be linked to my… transmigration? The chances aren't zero.
As he struggled to open his eyes, a new pain seared through his skull, splitting and intense.
"Ughhhh…" he groaned, clutching his head.
"Alex! Does it hurt anywhere?" Arlette's voice was thick with worry as she placed a gentle hand on his wrist and the other on his forehead. A soft, green light began to radiate from her shoulders as mana flowed from her fingertips into Alex's body, tracing along his mana circuits with a warmth that began to ease his pain.
Warm… Is this mana? Alex thought, surprised at the sensation. Her control over it is impeccable. I can feel each thread of mana weaving through my circuits.
"Do you feel better now?" Arlette asked, brushing his hair back gently. "Does your head still hurt?"
"It… doesn't hurt anymore." Alex replied, slowly sitting up. His vision was still blurry, but as it cleared, he caught sight of a familiar figure sitting nearby.
The man had jet-black hair and golden eyes that held a warmth Alex hadn't noticed before. He was handsome but had a rough, rugged quality that made him seem approachable yet noble.
Alex's eyes flicked to Arlette, his confusion evident. She chuckled, her hand resting on his shoulder. "He might look scary, but he's just a big klutz. This is your dad—the man from the stories I told you."
"Yo… son. I'm back," Leo said, waving awkwardly, a sheepish grin spreading across his face.
So, he's the one who disappeared without a word. Alex took in Leo's appearance, noting the faint resemblance. Well, I guess he looks a bit like me. But why did he come back now, after all this time?
"I'll go make something for you to eat," Arlette said, standing up. She gave Leo a pointed look. "You two can catch up."
As she left the room, Fein trotting happily after her, silence settled over the room like a thick fog.
Both father and son avoided each other's gaze, each one awkwardly glancing around, struggling to break the silence.
Why does he keep looking away? Alex thought, studying Leo. Is he nervous about talking to me? But I'm the one with memory loss. Shouldn't he be the one starting the conversation?
Why did Arlette leave me alone with him?* Leo thought, sweat forming on his brow. *What am I supposed to say after two years? I know! I'll ask about that punch he threw. His form was solid, even for someone bedridden all his life.
Finally, Leo cleared his throat, trying to project confidence as he looked at Alex. But Alex's intense gaze, his fingers interlocked and posture slightly forward, made it feel less like a reunion and more like an interrogation.
"So… uh, son," Leo started, his voice trembling slightly. "Where'd you learn to punch like that? It was… impressive."
"I didn't learn it anywhere," Alex replied, his tone even, his gaze unwavering. "It was my first time punching someone. Guess that makes me a genius." He smiled, but his eyes held a steely glint that made his expression look almost eerie.
What do you mean, "a good punch"?* Alex thought, his expression unreadable. *That was my "Thunder Eagle" strike—my best shot. If I were a little taller, it wouldn't have hit your gut; it would've hit your jaw.
Leo managed an awkward chuckle, rubbing the back of his neck. "I… I think so too! Definitely talented!"
"Dad," Alex said, his tone turning serious. "I heard you left to find something important. Did you find it?"
Important? Leo thought, glancing away. Guess that's how Arlette must have explained my absence.
"Yep!" Leo answered, his face lighting up. "A friend helped me find everything I needed. I even had to fight a few dragons—one from the Orgsfield clan. Tough opponent."
Alex's eyes narrowed, studying Leo more carefully. So he's strong, then. Strong enough to take down a dragon from the Orgsfield clan, no less. Alex's mind turned back to the terrifying figure he'd seen in his dream. But that man… he was something beyond even a dragon.
A spark of hope lit up inside him. If Dad found the ingredients for the cure, then maybe I can finally live without constantly fainting.
"Dad, does that mean I can finally…" Alex trailed off, looking at his wrists, the faint tremor in his hands betraying his excitement.
Leo's face softened. "Yes, you can move around and live freely."
"But there's something you need to do first," Arlette said as she re-entered the room, holding two steaming bowls of porridge.
"Your body's still too weak to handle the formula. It will take a few months to purify the Dragon Heart's mana." She handed a bowl to Alex, who took it gratefully.
"That's where I come in!" Leo added with a grin, his eyes glinting with excitement. "I'll train you to get stronger."
Ehh? A training arc? Alex thought, raising an eyebrow.
Sigh. Guess I'll just have to go with the flow.