Chapter - 1 - Aurora

Alex stood dumbfounded, his mind struggling to grasp the enormity of what had just transpired. The world before him was far from the digital constructs he had created; it was vibrant and alive. Lush grass stretched out beneath his feet, and towering trees swayed gently in the breeze. The air was fresh, and the landscape felt like a distant echo of Earth's ancient beauty. Alex marveled at the sensation of the cool, living soil beneath his bare feet, and the vibrant world around him, feeling both awe and confusion.

It was only then that he realized he was scantily clad in nothing. His body, now towering over six feet, felt foreign and unwieldy. Every attempt to move his feet was met with resistance, and a rising panic gripped him as he struggled to control his unfamiliar limbs.

After some time he gained some control over his limbs, Distracted by his disorientation, Alex stumbled and began to tumble downhill. "Damn it," he thought, "I've run up a mountain!" The wind howled past him as he descended uncontrollably, his body unresponsive to his desperate attempts to stop.

...................

Down by the river, two boys were fishing when they spotted Alex's unconscious form floating by.

"Look, Ans A body!" exclaimed Evan.

"By the stars, Evan, it's a man! We need to help him," Ans replied urgently.

The boys waded into the river, dragging Alex's limp form to the riverbank.

"He's breathing, but barely. What do we do?" Ans asked.

"Let's bring him to Lady Aurora, She might be able to save him," Evan suggested.

She lives in the small hut atop the hill.

They carried Alex up the winding path, their footsteps muffled by the dew-kissed grass. At Aurora's hut, they knocked on the door.

"Evan?" Aurora's voice is gentle, although she is blind, she knows them by their footsteps.

" ma'am. We found a man by the river. He is unconscious," they replied.

"Bring him inside. Light the candles and describe him to me," Aurora instructed.

They laid Alex on a straw mat. Aurora, her hands hovering over him, began to assess the situation.

"He's tall, with dark hair. His skin feels strange, and ma'am, he has no clothes on."Ans described.

Aurora's fingers brushed over Alex's forehead. "His anatomy is strange. There's a metal piece connected to his brain's nerves. His body is healing itself, but his nerves aren't. I can heal them for him." Surprisingly, she found it difficult to heal his nerves. It would take at least two months to heal him fully.

"Will he wake, lady Aurora?" Evan asked, worry evident in his voice.

"Patience, young ones. His nerves are damaged. Well, I will try to fix him," Aurora replied, her voice calm and reassuring."Evan, ask your mom for some clothes for him."

Aurora, though blind, radiated a timeless grace. Her face, framed by silver strands of hair, was a canvas of wisdom and kindness. Her eyes, though sightless, seemed to hold a depth of understanding.

After two days, he regained consciousness.

As Alex began to stir, he couldn't speak, couldn't move his limbs, he admired her. unaware of his admiration, continued her work, her hands moving with practiced precision. Her presence was comforting. Her hands emitted a soft, glowing light as she gently touched his body. He gasped in his mind. "Magic?"

She felt a slight movement in his body. "So you're awake?" Aurora asked. He couldn't reply, but he watched her as she waited for an answer. When there was no reply, she simply continued with her routine.

After two weeks, as Aurora stepped into the morning light of her garden, she dipped her fingers into the crystal-clear spring, the water turning iridescent.

"How are you feeling today?" Aurora asked as she noticed Alex's continued struggle with his body.

"I feel great, though my limbs are unresponsive," Alex confessed.

"Now you can talk, I thought you were deaf," Aurora said. "I can't heal you quickly because your body is absorbing my mana too fast. It will take at least two months—your body needs time to recover."

"Do you remember anything?" she asked.

For now, he didn't want to talk about his origin, he would wait for some time, so he denied it.

"Can I ask about you?" he asked, "My name is Aurora" she replied. 

"your eyes… what happened,". Alex asked, unsure if he was being rude.

her smile was warm."I was born blind, but you can see what I'm capable of."

"You a healer ?" 

Aurora nodded "But some villagers call me a witch" 

At that moment, two villagers arrived, seeking Aurora's help. As she prepared to leave, Alex watched her.

In the morning sunlight, her reflection shifted, and her skin took on an ethereal glow.

"She's beautiful," Alex mumbled.

Aurora's keen hearing caught his words, and she chuckled softly.

Alex couldn't do much physical labor, but he refused to remain idle. With his limited strength, he took on small tasks—sweeping the floors and tidying up. However, his body wasn't fully recovered, and exhaustion came quickly.

Sometime later, Aurora returned with Evan and Ans.

She found Alex slumped against a wall, breathing heavily. "You don't have to push yourself," she told him gently.

But Alex only gave a tired smile. "I just don't want to be useless."

She smiled softly and said, "Let's eat something. Evan's mother has prepared some meat for you."

As he ate, his complexion gradually improved.

Ans watched as Alex's complexion changed and pointed it out to Aurora.

Aurora checked him and was amazed. "You didn't poop, right…?"

At her unexpected question, the boys burst into laughter.

"You two, stop laughing," she scolded.

"Yes, Lady Aurora," they said in unison.

Alex looked at her, surprised. "Yes… How did you know?"

"Your body is fully digesting everything you eat—there's nothing left to poop," she explained.

"Ah, so that's why I always feel hungry," he thought, nodding to himself.

"You're always hungry… right?" Aurora asked.

Alex nodded.

Alex was confused. How could this happen? He only remembered living in a digital world, but now he was in a strange body—one he could barely control. His limbs felt uncoordinated, he was always hungry, and he couldn't work properly.

What had happened to him?

He had no answers, but he needed to find them.

For now, his first priority was helping these kind people.