Marella finally let go of his arm as they reached what seemed to be another part of the house. She turned, still scowling. "Honestly, I don't know how you put up with him sometimes. He thinks you're invincible just because you're strong, but I see it differently. Pushing you like that…"
Ethan scratched the back of his head, unsure how to respond. "I guess… I'm used to it?" he said awkwardly, trying to play along.
"Well, you're home now. Get cleaned up before Mom finds you like this. She'll have both your heads if she sees you in such a state."
Ethan chuckled nervously. "Right. Thanks, Marella."
She softened slightly, her tough exterior cracking for a moment. "Just… be careful, okay? We can't afford to lose you too." She gave him a quick hug and left the room.
Alone now, Ethan exhaled, his mind racing with questions. He had somehow been thrust into the life of another version of himself, with a family, a reputation, and a history he didn't understand. But if he was going to survive in this strange world, he would need to adapt quickly.
"One thing at a time," he muttered to himself. "First, get cleaned up. Then, figure out who I'm supposed to be."
Ethan scanned the room, searching for something to clean up with. A basin of water sat on a small wooden table, with a cloth draped beside it.
He dipped the cloth into the cool water and began wiping away the dirt and blood that had caked onto his skin. As the grime slowly disappeared, he was beginning to feel a bit more like himself.
After cleaning up, he splashed water on his face and stared at the wall in front of him. What the hell was he doing here?
He took a deep breath and steeled himself. "Adapt, survive, figure it out later," he whispered, repeating the words that had kept him going so far.
Ethan left the room, unsure of what awaited him next. As he stepped into the hallway, he heard the faint sound of voices—Marella's sharp tone mixed with the gruff voice of his supposed father and someone else. It seemed like the argument was still ongoing.
But suddenly they stopped and then a door opened when another woman barged out. "Ethan!"
Her dark hair was pulled back in a loose braid, and though her expression was stern, there was a warmth in her eyes that hinted at the deep concern she felt.
She pulled him into a tight embrace, surprising Ethan with the familiarity of the gesture. "Thank the stars you're safe! Do you have any idea how worried we've been?" She pulled back, inspecting him as Marella had done earlier, her brow furrowed as she took in his disheveled appearance.
"I—uh, I'm fine," Ethan stammered.
"I swear, you and your father will drive me to madness with this 'training.' You're strong enough already, Ethan. There's no need to keep pushing yourself like this. Especially with those beasts lurking in the woods."
"Yeah, I'll be more careful," Ethan said.
"Your awakening will go very well. Trust your mother. Okay? You need to leave early tomorrow morning and you haven't even had your dinner yet. Come on."
Awakening? What did she mean by that? He wanted to ask more but he was quickly ushered into another room.
"Come on, let's get you fed. You can't face tomorrow on an empty stomach."
Ethan's stomach grumbled in response, and he realized how long it had been since he'd last eaten anything.
As they entered the dining area, the scent of roasted meat and freshly baked bread filled the air, making Ethan's mouth water. His mother began setting plates on the table, and soon enough, his father and Marella joined them. The atmosphere was tense but warm, the family dynamic strangely familiar yet foreign.
Ethan sat down, trying to blend in, but he couldn't help but think of his parents. They had passed away a few years ago and this brought back many painful memories.
"Eat up," Marella said as she handed him a piece of bread. Ethan forced a smile and dug in. The food was rich and flavorful, unlike anything he remembered from back on Earth. The bread was warm and soft, the roasted meat tender and savory.
Considering that he was also very hungry, he quickly forgot about everything else and stuffed himself full.
By the time he was back in his room, he could barely keep himself awake.
Ethan collapsed onto the small bed in the room, his body heavy with exhaustion after everything that had happened. The soft mattress, though simple, felt like a luxury compared to the chaos of the past day.
He decided to sleep for a bit first and then tinker with the status screen and potentially other features that he might have missed. Maybe he could find more information about this awakening, his family was talking about.
At least that was the plan.
But when Ethan opened his eyes, it was already daylight, and the moment he willed his status screen to open up, the door barged open and his father came in.
"Son, you are still sleeping? How could a young healthy man at the cusp of awakening be so tardy!"
This was immediately followed by his mother also entering the room. Then more chaos followed.