Back in the quiet confines of her small house, Rina placed her groceries on the table and stared at them thoughtfully.
A loaf of bread and a carton of milk weren't much, but they were enough to silence her growling stomach for now.
She tore into the bread with more vigor than she intended, chewing quickly.
Her mind buzzed with thoughts, calculations, and ideas.
Her life had changed drastically, but one thing remained true: her knack for making a plan.
If I'm going to survive here, I need resources, she thought, finishing the last bite of bread.
Money.
Connections.
Knowledge.
She poured herself a glass of milk, leaning back in her chair.
This world was strange, chaotic, and full of unfamiliar things, but that also meant opportunity.
In Aurendia, her reputation as a merchant had been built on taking calculated risks.
This would be no different.
Her gaze landed on the stack of books and papers on her desk. Rising from her seat, she walked over and began sifting through them.
Most were school-related—notes, textbooks, and some assignments that hadn't been completed.
Rina frowned. School. She had nearly forgotten that Rina Kang was still a student in this world.
Flipping through one of the notebooks, she found scribbled notes about math, science, and literature.
Her eyes scanned the pages, and she quickly realized that while some concepts were familiar, others were utterly alien.
"I'll have to study," she muttered, her frown deepening.
"Wonderful. As if I haven't already mastered enough in one lifetime."
But if school was a requirement to navigate this world, she would endure it.
Besides, she had two months before classes started. That gave her time to adjust and lay the foundation for her success.
Her thoughts shifted to her finances.
The wallet she had found earlier only held a small amount of money—barely enough for a few more days' worth of food.
She needed a way to earn more, and fast.
Rina sat back down at the table, her mind racing.
What skills did she have that could translate to this world?
In Aurendia, she had been a master of negotiation, investments, and trade.
Those skills weren't tied to magic or her past life—they were universal.
Her lips curled into a confident smile. "Markets may look different, but the principles are the same. Supply, demand, profit… I can work with that."
She glanced around the room, her gaze landing on the strange square device she had ignored earlier.
A laptop, Rina Kang's memories supplied.
After some fumbling, she managed to turn it on. The screen lit up, displaying a homepage filled with icons and unfamiliar symbols.
She clicked through cautiously, eventually stumbling upon something called "online marketplaces."
Her heart quickened as she browsed through the listings.
People were buying and selling everything—from clothes and furniture to handmade crafts and baked goods.
"This… this is it," she whispered, her eyes gleaming.
The idea began to form in her mind.
She could start small, selling simple things to build capital. Once she had enough, she could invest in bigger ventures. Slowly but surely, she would climb her way to the top.
But what should she sell?
Her gaze shifted to the cluttered desk once more, and an idea struck her.
Among the piles of papers were small sketches—simple designs of flowers, landscapes, and animals.
Rina Kang had enjoyed drawing in her spare time, it seemed.
Rina picked up one of the sketches, studying it carefully.
The art wasn't exceptional, but it had charm. With a few adjustments, it could be turned into something marketable.
"Stationery," she said aloud, the word rolling off her tongue. "Cards, bookmarks, small prints… I can start there."
Her mind raced with possibilities.
She could use the money she earned to buy better materials, expand her inventory, and eventually create a brand.
It wasn't the same as dealing in gold or precious gems, but it was a start.
Rina's smile widened.
The thrill of planning, of strategizing, was invigorating.
For the first time since her arrival, she felt like herself again—not a helpless teenager, but Kara Ilvion, the master merchant.
As the sun began to set, Rina's room filled with the quiet sound of pencil scratching against paper.
She worked tirelessly, sketching designs and drafting plans for her new venture.
By the time night fell, her desk was covered in drawings and notes.
She leaned back in her chair, exhaustion tugging at her eyelids but satisfaction warming her chest.
"This world may be strange," she murmured, staring at her work. "But it's nothing I can't handle."
For the first time since waking up in this new life, Rina felt a flicker of excitement for what lay ahead.