The ride home was unsettling.
Kael sat in the backseat of the vehicle—a "car," as his mother called it—his gaze fixed on the passing scenery. The world outside was unnaturally clean, the roads too smooth, the air lacking the familiar scent of steel and blood. Everything was too… peaceful.
He should have been relieved.
But all he felt was unease.
His mother sat beside him, occasionally glancing at him with worry. "Kael, sweetheart, if you feel overwhelmed, let me know, okay?"
Kael nodded absentmindedly. He had already decided—observe, learn, and adapt. Until he understood this world, he couldn't afford to act recklessly.
---
Two Days Later – Kael's Home
For two days, Kael explored the house, studying every strange object he could find.
He learned how to use a "phone"—a device that allowed people to communicate from great distances. He examined "books" that spoke of history, technology, and culture. He watched "television", absorbing images of a world so vastly different from his own.
No war. No swords. No warriors.
And yet, something inside him whispered—there's always a battle, even in times of peace.
Then, on the second day, the doorbell rang.
His mother opened it, revealing a group of teenagers.
"Kael!"
The moment they saw him, they rushed forward, clapping him on the back, laughing with relief.
"Dude, you're finally awake!"
"We thought you'd never come back, man!"
"You scared the hell out of us!"
Kael forced a smile, trying to match their energy. These were his friends—or rather, Kael's friends. He had no memory of them, no connection, yet their joy was real.
He needed to be careful.
"I… don't remember much," he admitted, watching their reactions. "The doctor said it might take time."
A brief silence followed. Then, one of them—a tall boy with messy hair—grinned. "Well, that sucks, but hey! You're still you, right?"
Kael gave a slow nod. If only you knew.
The conversation flowed, and Kael listened carefully, gathering information:
His name was Kael Aethern.
He had been in an accident two years ago.
His school was only a week away from starting, and he had been a student there before his coma.
He was supposedly bad at math but great at sports.
He had a childhood friend named Liana, who had visited him often while he was unconscious.
Kael absorbed it all. These small details could save him.
As the conversation went on, one of the boys—Ren—leaned in. "By the way, Kael… do you remember what happened? The accident?"
Kael's heart clenched. The accident…?
He hesitated. "I… don't."
Ren frowned. "You were hit by a car. But dude, the weirdest thing? The driver vanished. Like, literally. No one ever found out who hit you."
Kael stiffened.
A driver that disappeared?
Something was off. His rebirth, this Kael's accident, the curse that bound him to life through death…
This was no mere coincidence.
Something or someone had brought him here.
And he would find out why.
---
To Be Continued…