Oroz woke up with a start, his body drenched in sweat. The images from his previous life—the magic, the battles, the betrayal—rushed back, overwhelming him. The room around him flickered, reality warping in his mind. His heart raced as he sat up, his thoughts in chaos. *Where am I?*
"Easy, Oroz," a voice called out softly.
He turned to see Thalia standing beside his hospital bed, but this time, she wasn't alone. There was a man standing in the corner of the room, his face hidden by a hood. The man's presence felt almost like a shadow—distant yet ever-present, watching him. His aura was sharp and cold, unlike anything Oroz had felt before.
"Oroz, you're not done yet. This is just another layer," Thalia said, her voice steady but tinged with worry. "You're in a new world, but it's not the end of your journey. It's just a new beginning."
Oroz looked down at his hands, feeling the pulse of magic within him. He knew, deep down, that the journey wasn't over. Something still beckoned him, a power beyond this world, and he had to find it.
"The Dark Enclave," Oroz murmured, his mind racing. "They... they followed me here, didn't they?"
Thalia nodded, her eyes darkening. "Yes. They're not going to let you go. Not while you have the Mana Beasts' power within you. They want it, Oroz. And they'll stop at nothing to claim it."
The man in the corner spoke for the first time, his voice low and gravelly. "The Enclave has already infiltrated this world. They know you're here. And they're closing in."
Oroz stood up, his mind still spinning. *Infiltrated? Closing in?* The world around him began to shift, warping into fragments of memories. The hospital room felt too small, too ordinary for the life he had led. He had known battles, magic, dark forces... But now, it was all hazy, like a dream he couldn't escape.
"You were supposed to rest," Thalia continued, her gaze intense. "But they won't give you that chance. You're their target now."
Oroz clenched his fists. He had been given a second chance, a new world to live in, but it wasn't a peaceful one. The shadows of the past were following him. He couldn't run anymore. Not when the people he loved—Thalia, Aqualis, his allies—were in danger. And not when the fate of this world was now entwined with the power he held inside him.
"I'm not going to let them win," Oroz said, his voice hard with resolve. "Not this time."
Thalia's eyes softened. "You've always been a fighter. But this world is different. The rules aren't the same here."
Before Oroz could respond, the figure in the corner stepped forward, revealing his face. He was older than Oroz had expected, his features weathered by age and experience. But his eyes—those eyes were sharp, calculating, and filled with a deep understanding of magic.
"You'll need more than your will to survive here," the man said, his voice calm but with an edge of warning. "I can help you, but you have to trust me. The world you knew no longer exists. You are in the middle of a grander scheme than you can imagine."
Oroz narrowed his eyes, studying the man. "Who are you?"
The man smirked slightly. "I'm someone who knows what it means to navigate this world and others. I've been watching, waiting for someone like you. And now that you're awake... I think it's time for us to join forces."
Oroz felt a pulse of magic surge within him, a recognition of sorts. This man... he was powerful. But he wasn't someone Oroz could trust blindly. The webs of fate were tangled, and the path ahead was murky.
"The Dark Enclave isn't the only force at play," the man continued, his voice quiet but certain. "There are others—secret societies, ancient beings, powers that stretch beyond time and space. And you, Oroz, you are at the center of it all."
Oroz's heart pounded as the weight of the man's words sank in. This wasn't just about him. The world—every world—was at stake. And Oroz had a part to play in it. But he couldn't do it alone.
"We'll need a plan," Oroz said, his voice steady despite the turmoil swirling inside him.
The man nodded. "First, we'll need to gather allies. Your power is only the beginning. The Mana Beasts you've connected with—they are just the tip of the iceberg. There are others, hidden away, waiting for you to find them."
Thalia stepped forward, her expression resolute. "Oroz, we've got a long road ahead of us. But together, we can stop the Dark Enclave, and whoever else is out there pulling the strings."
Oroz looked at the two of them—Thalia, a familiar face, and the stranger, who now felt like an ally despite his mysterious aura. They were right. The battle wasn't over. It was only just beginning.