Jack sat on the couch, a device called a remote controller resting in his hand. In front of him stood a rectangular screen—a smart television, thirty-six inches wide, sleek and thin, its surface gleaming under the dim lights. It could connect to something called the internet and run "apps"—applications, as they were properly named.
Jack still couldn't fully grasp the concept of the internet, but he was amazed by it nonetheless. An endless wealth of information, available at his fingertips at any time. And to think, all of it could be compressed into a device small enough to fit in his pocket—a smartphone.
On the TV screen, an app called Webflicks was open, where one could watch countless "shows." Jack pressed the buttons on the remote, marveling at how the screen responded instantly with each click.
This new world was endlessly fascinating. Every day, it revealed something stranger, something more wondrous. Jack wondered if he would ever get used to it.
It had been nearly two months since he awoke in this stranger's body, yet the feeling of being out of place lingered, stubborn and heavy.
After his meeting with Althusia, Jack had done his best to step into the life left behind for him—to be a son, a brother, and... a fiancé.
That last one had blindsided him.
Sophia—the woman who had been by his side when he first opened his eyes—was supposed to be his betrothed.
It was surreal.
In his past life, he had known a Sophia too, though their connection had been different. Not romantic. Not yet. They had been comrades, bound not by promises but by trust, by the unspoken pact of survival born from standing together in the face of danger.
Jack's mind drifted.
The past month had been consumed by recovery. After his seizure, he had been admitted to the hospital once again, this time for fear of a brain injury. The memory of it still weighed heavily—the tense faces of his family, their worry etched into every glance and word. Jack couldn't help but feel guilty. It hadn't been a relapse or anything serious—just a slip in controlling his mana. A lapse in concentration. Nothing more.
But the doctors weren't so easily reassured. Given his "condition," they were especially concerned about the possibility of a brain bleed. What followed was a blur of brain scans, endless checkups, and days under observation.
In the end, they did find something—a minor hemorrhage. Small, but enough to alarm everyone. Fortunately, after a few careful rounds of mana circulation, Jack managed to heal the injury himself. When they finally discharged him, he made a silent vow: he never wanted to set foot inside a hospital again. The constant prodding, the sterile walls, the suffocating concern from every passing nurse and doctor—it was too much.
Yet even back home, the atmosphere remained heavy.
His family, unwilling to leave him alone, hovered around him at every opportunity. Ellen and James eventually had to return to work, and Andrea went back to school. Coincidentally, Sophia was on summer break, and so the responsibility of watching over him naturally fell to her.
Now, she stayed with him throughout the day—keeping him company, fussing over him, sometimes just sitting quietly by his side. Jack supposed he should be grateful. And he was, really.
But they treated him like a broken baby bird—fragile, helpless, something to be coddled. It was honestly too much.
Aside from a few sessions of physical therapy, Jack hadn't done any real training. His body itched to move—to run until his legs burned, to feel the sweat dripping down his back, to push himself until his heart pounded in his ears. Without that, he didn't feel complete. He needed it, craved it.
Yet every time he so much as hinted at doing more, his family would gently, insistently, coax him back to resting.
And so now, here he was: sitting on the couch, deflated and restless.
"Heya, stranger."
Sophia's voice snapped Jack out of his thoughts. She plopped down beside him on the couch, the scent of fresh shampoo lingering in the air.
"Hey, Sophia," Jack replied, trying to sound cheery. It came out flat.
"You can call me Sophie, you know," she said with a sheepish smile as she settled on his right.
Right. She had told him before—he used to call her Sophie.
"So… what are you watching?" she asked, leaning over to peer at the TV screen.
"I think it'd be better if you decide," Jack said, handing her the remote.
"Aww, but I've been picking the shows every time."
"But I have no idea which one to pick."
"You could just pick anything…" she teased, "but it's okay. I'll pick one of your favorites."
His favorites, huh. Jack thought for a moment. He didn't know the original Jack's preferences at all. Maybe this would be a good time to learn.
"You always preferred something animated," Sophia said after a beat.
"Animated?" Jack echoed.
"Yeah. I think it's because they feel the farthest from real life. You know... because—" She hesitated, sneaking a glance at his face.
Jack narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Well, I wouldn't know that," he said flatly.
Sophia let out a nervous chuckle. "Yeah, sorry. Anyway, let's browse some animated movies. Let's pick something light this time... Oh, I think this one'll do. The characters are anthropomorphic animals, but it's set in a world a lot like ours..."
Jack zoned out as she spoke, his gaze drawn to her side profile. Short, reddish-brown hair. Round brown eyes framed by long lashes. The delicate curve of her ear.
She looked nothing like the Sophia he had known.
That Sophia had been an elf—a warrior. She had long, sunlit blonde hair, fierce silver eyes that never wavered, and pointed ears that twitched at every sound. Her jawline was sharp, set with stubbornness and strength. Together, they had once gazed at the stars on rare clear nights, when the smog parted just enough to reveal the heavens. A miracle.
"Jack… Jack?"
He blinked and snapped back to reality. Sophia's round, doe-like eyes were fixed on him, wide with concern.
"What's wrong? You were staring so… intensely." She blushed, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
A silver ring on her finger caught the light, flashing briefly in Jack's vision.
Sophia had told Jack that he—well, the original Jack—had proposed to her just a few weeks before the accident. Apparently, they had been high school sweethearts: Jack, the star athlete, and Sophia, the shy artist who spent most of her time sketching in the back of the classroom.
She had laughed when she told him, teasing and a little smug.
"I was the one who wooed you, you know," she said, giving him a playful nudge with her elbow.
Jack had blinked at her in disbelief, and Sophia only grinned wider, clearly enjoying the upper hand. She recounted, with dramatic flair, how she had orchestrated "totally casual" encounters—dropping her pencil near his desk, asking for help she didn't really need, pretending to be hopelessly lost just so he'd notice her.
Jack had just nodded along, half impressed, half bewildered.
It was strange hearing all of this. Like reading someone else's love story and being told he was one of the main characters.
Back to the present, Jack made up his mind.
"Let's go outside," he said, his voice edged with urgency. The walls of the house felt like they were closing in on him. Even if they wouldn't let him train, at least he could go for a walk.
Especially now that he was back in Riverstone. They were staying at Jack's rented apartment—an upgrade from Ellen's house, which had started to feel... suffocating. Ellen had been obviously distressed when Jack suggested he move out, but she had eventually relented. "I understand that it's hard for you," she had said before giving in. And now, here he was—back in the city, under a roof shared with Sophia.
Sophia glanced up, her interest piqued. "Okay, got anywhere in mind?"
He shrugged, the tension in his shoulders still palpable. "Just a walk. I need some fresh air."
_____
Jack and Sophia strolled quietly along the suburban pavement, the warm evening air wrapping around them like a soft blanket. The sun hung low in the sky, casting everything in a golden glow as it prepared to sink beneath the horizon. The world seemed to slow down at this hour, the hum of summer filling the air—the distant buzz of cicadas, the faint rustle of leaves stirred by a gentle breeze. Jack walked beside her, his hand in hers, fingers occasionally squeezing his as they moved at an easy pace.
He didn't say much. His mind was still too full, and the silence between them didn't feel empty. It was comfortable. Sometimes, just being in each other's presence, without the pressure of conversation, was all that mattered. Sophia didn't seem to mind the quiet either. She stayed close, her presence grounding him in ways he couldn't explain.
Jack's eyes shifted over the rows of houses, the trees lining the streets, the familiar, simple comforts of the neighborhood. Yet, despite the tranquility of it all, his mind was restless. He breathed in deeply, a practiced motion. Mana breathing. He had done it so many times it had become second nature. But he could not reach the first stage. His mind was too chaotic. Too many things still felt unsettled. Too many questions without answers.
He needed to find his way, a purpose, something to focus on. To do that, he needed to understand more about this world.
"Althusia… if you brought me to this world, at least give me a clearer sign of what you want me to do…" Jack grumbled inwardly.
A sudden breeze whipped past him, carrying with it a sharp, stinging scent. His nose twitched. Smoke. The acrid smell of burning wood and melting metal. His instincts flared.
He glanced at Sophia. Her eyes widened in recognition. She'd smelled it too.
"Jack…"
Before she could say anything more, Jack's legs were already in motion, his body moving on instinct. Sophia's hand stayed firmly in his, and he pulled her along with him.
"I think it's coming from that direction," he muttered, his eyes narrowed, scanning the area.
His mana-enhanced senses, even though still not fully efficient, pointed him eastward, towards a row of shophouses.
"Jack, wait—" Sophia's voice was strained, but Jack didn't stop.
"Come on!" His pace quickened, breaking into a jog.
There was a fire nearby. He could feel it. It was almost like a pull, drawing him in, like a moth to a flame. Instinct. Urgency.
Sophia's grip tightened as she stumbled to keep up. She was out of breath, struggling to match his pace.
"Jack, what are you doing?!"
"Come on!" he urged, not looking back.
The smoke became visible now, billowing in thick, dark clouds in the distance. His legs carried him faster.
"Jack! Stop! Please!" Sophia's voice broke through the sound of his pounding heart, but he didn't hear her. It was background noise. All that mattered was the fire. Someone could be inside. Someone could be hurt. Trapped.
Buildings flashed by, but Jack didn't slow. A few turns later, he saw it: a crowd had gathered in front of a blazing building. The second floor was engulfed in flames, and thick white smoke obscured the entrance. The heat was palpable even from where he stood.
A woman's screams cut through the chaos. "Oh my god! My boy! He's inside!"
Jack didn't hesitate. He moved through the crowd with purpose. His breath barely elevated. Sophia was left gasping for air behind him.
"Make way! Coming through!" Jack's voice was commanding as he weaved past people, pushing toward the woman.
She was frantic, trying to rush into the building, but bystanders held her back.
"Ma'am, calm down," Jack tried, but she didn't hear him. She was too hysterical.
"Ma'am!" Jack reached out and gripped her shoulders, forcing her to look at him.
Jack was tall, around 175 cm, with a commanding presence despite the weight he'd lost since the accident. His voice was firm, grounded.
He caught her attention at last.
He could feel her terror, her helplessness, but he couldn't afford to hesitate.
"I'm a firefighter," Jack said, his tone level. "Tell me where your son is."
"He's… I… I went out to get eggs! Not too long ago! No!" She was shaking now, on the verge of breaking down.
"Ma'am! Where is he?" Jack's voice hardened.
"I left him in his room! On the second floor!"
"Got it." Jack's resolve was iron. "I'll go get him."
"Wait, sir!" A gruff voice grabbed his arm. A man, older, burly, looking concerned. "Even if you're a firefighter, it's too dangerous!"
Jack locked eyes with him, his gaze unyielding. "I know. But there's no time. And call 991 if you haven't!"
He turned toward the burning building, his eyes scanning the scene. The shophouses were close together, but only one was burning. The fire could spread. He couldn't afford to wait.
He looked at the entrance, obscured by thick smoke. The fire hadn't yet reached the first floor, but it was only a matter of time. He exhaled slowly, gathering his focus. Mana surged through his body, enhancing his strength. His muscles tightened, primed and ready to react.
His senses sharpened. His eyes saw clearer, focusing on every detail around him. His hearing intensified, catching every sound. His nose, too, picked up the scent of burning timber and melting plastic.
"Jack!" Sophia's shout rang out.
He turned to find her rushing toward him, her face stricken with worry. Her hands gripped his arm, pulling him to a halt.
"Please…" Her voice cracked with fear.
Jack's gaze softened for a moment. He knew he was putting her through this again, dragging her into his chaotic world. But he couldn't walk away from this. It was his calling. He had to do this, or he wouldn't be able to live with the guilt.
"I have to, Sophia."
Her hand trembled as she looked down, not able to meet his gaze. When she finally raised her face, there was a nervous smile, but her eyes held fear.
"I told you, call me Sophie."
"I'll come back, Sophie." Jack promised, his voice low, firm.
"You better." She gave him a look that said more than words could.
Jack nodded, turning back toward the fire. His feet moved, steady and sure, as he braced himself. The heat from the blaze intensified as he took his first step toward the building. His heart pounded, but his mind was clear. He had a job to do.
This was his first fire in this new, strange world, and he wouldn't hesitate.