Magic (3)

Lucas' eyes widened as Eldric's offer sank in. He could hardly believe what he was hearing. "For real?" he asked, his voice trembling with a mix of excitement and disbelief.

But as the initial excitement faded, doubt began to creep in. 'Am I even capable of magic?' Lucas wondered. He came from another world, after all. Magic here might require something he didn't have—mana, perhaps? What if he lacked that fundamental component? The thought weighed on him heavily, but his curiosity was stronger than his fear. Trying wouldn't hurt, would it?

"You'll really teach me magic?" Lucas asked again, his voice quieter now, as if afraid the offer might disappear if he spoke too loudly.

Eldric nodded, his expression calm and reassuring. "Of course," he said simply, but his confidence carried a weight that made Lucas' heart race.

A spark of hope flickered to life inside Lucas. Back on Earth, he had spent countless hours daydreaming about magic, imagining himself as a powerful sorcerer performing awe-inspiring feats. The mere thought of finally being able to learn magic made his chest swell with anticipation. Perhaps, just perhaps, he might discover a hidden talent he never knew he had.

'Is this it?' Lucas thought, his eyes narrowing with determination. 'Is this the moment I uncover my true potential?'

Memories of his old life surfaced, unbidden. Lucas had never been particularly talented at anything. Unlike his brother, who was athletic, popular, and brimming with confidence, Lucas had always been the outcast. His one redeeming quality was his academic success; at least in that area. But beyond that, he had always felt painfully ordinary.

A grin crept onto Lucas' face, unbidden and a little too wide. Eldric, who had been observing him in silence, raised an eyebrow.

'This guy just keeps getting weirder,' Eldric thought. He crossed his arms, beginning to question his decision to teach Lucas magic. Still, there was something oddly endearing about the boy's enthusiasm.

Lucas' energy seemed to double as he processed Eldric's words. "Alright then, I accept the offer!" he declared, his voice full of resolve. Without waiting for a response, he turned and began walking back toward the place where he had been treated. The day's events had left him thoroughly exhausted, and the prospect of rest was too tempting to ignore.

Eldric watched him go, his expression softening slightly. 'What a strange guy,' he mused. 'I never imagined I'd end up teaching someone magic. A D-rank adventurer teaching magic… that's almost laughable.'

He shook his head with a faint smile as Lucas disappeared into the forest.

***

By the time Lucas returned to his room, the weight of the day had fully settled over him. He trudged to the bed and collapsed onto it with a groan of relief. The softness of the mattress seemed to envelop him, coaxing his tired muscles into relaxation. For a moment, he simply lay there, staring at the ceiling and letting his thoughts wander.

Lucas had never been particularly active. Back on Earth, most of his time had been spent indoors, buried in novels and webtoons. The physical toll of the day—running, fighting, and even just walking—had pushed him to his limits. If he had known he would end up in another world, he might have made an effort to exercise more. But now it felt too late to regret his choices.

'Damn it,' he thought bitterly. 'Why am I so weak?'

His eyelids grew heavier as his thoughts began to blur. Within moments, he drifted into a deep, dreamless sleep.

***

When Lucas woke, the room was bathed in a soft, diffused light. He blinked a few times, disoriented but oddly refreshed. Sitting up, he stretched his arms overhead and felt… light. The aches and pains that had plagued him earlier were gone. Tentatively, he flexed his fingers and rolled his shoulders. Everything felt… normal. No, better than normal.

'Huh?' he thought, his brow furrowing. He swung his legs off the bed and stood up. His movements were fluid and effortless, a stark contrast to the sluggishness he had felt before. Cautiously, he jumped in place. There was no pain, no weakness holding him back. It was as if his body had been completely rejuvenated overnight.

'Whoa. This is amazing!'

Excitement bubbled up inside him as he paced the room, testing his newfound vitality. The memory of his earlier exhaustion felt distant, almost unreal. It was hard to believe he had been so weak just hours ago.

Lucas sat back on the bed, his mind racing. 'I'm glad I'm finally healed,' he thought, relief washing over him. 'This is all thanks to Dr. Sebastian. I owe him so much. I'll have to find a way to repay him someday.'

For a while, Lucas sat in silence, letting the quiet of the room settle around him. But the stillness soon grew suffocating. His mind wandered back to his predicament. The novelty of being in another world was starting to wear thin, replaced by a gnawing frustration. He had expected grand adventures and heroic moments, but so far, all he had encountered were setbacks and humiliation.

'Damn it,' he thought again, clenching his fists. 'How am I supposed to find a way back home if I'm this weak?'

He sighed, leaning back. Maybe he needed to change his approach. 'If I'm feeling better now, I might as well do something productive. I should find Eldric and start training with him. At least then I'd be doing something useful.'

His decision made, Lucas stood and left the room. The house was quiet as he made his way to the living area. But as he entered, he noticed someone sitting on the couch. It was Dr. Sebastian. The older man's posture was tense, his brow furrowed deeply.

Lucas paused, his curiosity piqued. 'Wait, is that Dr. Sebastian? I didn't realize he was back already.'

Something about the doctor's expression gave Lucas pause. He seemed troubled, almost as if he were wrestling with a heavy burden. Lucas hesitated, unsure whether to approach or leave him to his thoughts.