Kai woke up in an unfamiliar bed, his body aching from the rough treatment it had endured in his previous life. The last memory he had was of the explosion—an accident, or perhaps fate's cruel sense of humor—before everything went black. Now, as he opened his eyes, he saw a wooden ceiling and a small, dimly lit room.
Sitting up slowly, he noticed his new surroundings. The room had old furniture, a desk littered with papers, and a single window through which the faint light of dawn filtered in. There was something strange about the air—an unfamiliar scent, not of city life, but of something old, something ancient.
Panic rose briefly, but then reason kicked in. Where am I? He raised a hand to his face, feeling a young man's features—smooth skin, no beard, and no wrinkles. He was in the body of a sixteen-year-old. Did I... Did I transmigrate?
Kai's thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door. A middle-aged man, wearing a robe with a simple crest, stepped inside. His eyes were sharp but kind.
"Ah, you're awake," the man said with a smile. "I'm Alden, your mentor. You've been asleep for quite some time."
"Where am I?" Kai asked, his voice hoarse from disuse.
"You're in the town of Westbrook, part of the Wizard Subcontinent. This is a place for budding apprentices, those who show potential in magic," Alden explained. "I know this might be overwhelming, but don't worry, you'll adjust. We all do."
Kai blinked, still in disbelief. The reality of his transmigration was beginning to settle in. The Wizard Subcontinent? Magic? He had heard of such things in stories, but he never imagined that they could be real, let alone a part of his own life.
"You'll be joining the guild here in town," Alden continued. "They help those with magical talent develop their skills and abilities. And from what I can see, you have quite a lot of potential."
Kai rubbed his temples, trying to process it all. His mind, once focused on survival and completing his work in the old world, now had to shift its focus entirely. A magician, a wizard? He had been an ordinary person, and now he had a new life, with new possibilities—and dangers.
Alden seemed to sense his confusion and smiled. "I understand this is a lot to take in. But we'll start slow. First, get some rest, and tomorrow, we'll begin your first steps into the world of magic."
Kai nodded, still unsure of what the future held for him in this strange new world.