A few hours later…
When I finally opened my eyes, I found myself lying on a large white bed in a strange wooden room, covered in bandages. I tried to sit up to see where I was, but my skull throbbed the moment I moved. "Ow…" Even lifting my arm was impossible—I was too weak to move it at all.
Suddenly, a calm, feminine voice spoke from right beside me. "You shouldn't try to move yet. You're pretty messed up." I gasped, startled. I hadn't noticed anyone else in the room. "Who… who are you?!"
"Calm down… I'm just a nurse, following orders." She replied with an exhausted sigh.
I noticed she was mixing something in a bowl, but when I looked at her properly, she didn't seem dangerous or like she was lying. She looked used to this kind of situation, though clearly exhausted—dark bags under her eyes.
I turned away, staring at the wall, embarrassment creeping over me. I asked nervously, "Is she alright?"
She turned her head to face me. "Who?"
"The red-haired girl." I answered.
"Oh, you mean Anna," the nurse said casually, her eyes softening. "She's fine—just some minor injuries."
I sighed in relief, feeling the weight lift off my chest. The girl who protected me was okay. But then, the memory of the battle flashed back.
I turned back to the woman, asking, "But who was that guy who attacked the beast? He cut its arm off with a single blow…"
She stopped stirring the bowl and looked at me, eyes wide with surprise—and maybe disbelief.
"You seriously don't know the Silver Knight?"
I was confused. "Silver Knight? What's that?"
"N-no…" I said nervously. The nurse sighed again and turned back to mixing. "That was the Silver Knight, Lucan. One of the strongest in the whole Aelorian Empire…" She paused, then muttered, "…after the Aeons."
My eyes widened. "Aeons?"
She sighed once more. "Where exactly are you from, not to know about them?" Her face grew serious. "Aeons are special beings with incredible powers. Their abilities can defeat almost any foe. Most stay neutral, neither good nor evil. They're mysterious. Some are even thought to be dead."
"I see…" I replied.
A couple of days passed with the same routine. I'd wake up, eat breakfast and lunch the nurse handed me, take my medicine, and rest. I grew bored and tired of it, but it gave me time to think about what I needed to do next.
"You're free to go now, but be careful next time. Don't jump into fights like that," the nurse said as I got up from the bed.
"Yeah…" I replied nervously.
During my stay, I made up my mind and learned more about this world. I had two goals: get stronger, and find out the truth behind this summoning. After everything I'd been through, it all felt painfully real. There was no other explanation—it wasn't a dream.
To get stronger, I first had to understand the powers here. This world was filled with mana and fantasy powers, nothing like my old world. Once I could tap into that, I could start training my body.
I wasn't trying to get stronger just because of guilt from my last battle—but also because of my past life. I had to make the most of this chance to change myself. Even here, my past still haunted me.
The nurse told me about 'cores.' A core is a space in the mind that channels mana from the air. Most people can use their cores, but some can't. They're called Blanks—because instead of having a core in their mind, they have it in their soul. That gives them mysterious powers and lets them channel far more mana than normal. Lucan is apparently a Blank.
The nurse only had a core, able to use advanced healing abilities. Nothing special—she could heal scratches, but using too much would wear her out. That's all I understood from her so far.
I wondered if I even had a core…
Once I finished thinking, I took back my clothes from when I was summoned. The nurse had washed them spotless—no stains left. I also received a black cape from her as a parting gift, to help me fit into society better.
It felt like time to leave. I walked toward the door and thanked the nurse for her care. Just as I reached for the handle, I heard a familiar voice.
"Excuse me."
I froze, confused. Turning my head, I saw the woman who helped me—the one who sacrificed herself to protect me.
"Oh, it's you!" she said, worried but relieved. "H-hello…"
She moved aside so I could leave. Before I stepped out, I thanked the nurse again for everything. She was still mixing ingredients but smiled faintly as she said, "Just leave."
That small smile gave me an odd sense of relief.
As I closed the door and looked back at Anna, she said, "Well… I have a lot to say."
I was scared to face her, still embarrassed. But I had to apologize—not just for distracting her but for my cowardice as well.
I clenched my hands, kept my eyes down, and nervously said, "Look, Anna. I'm sorry for being a coward and hurting you—"
"No," she cut me off.
"It wasn't your fault. It was mine for being too weak. I should've done more."
Yeah. If I hadn't been there…
"But it's behind us now! So don't be sad. Believe me, it's fine." Her voice was soft but serious—someone you could trust.
I finally looked at her. She seemed disappointed in herself for acting too rashly, but happy to see me again.
"You're too kind," I muttered quietly, smiling.
"Huh?"
"Don't worry about it," I said, brushing it off. She looked confused but quickly changed the subject.
"Also, how do you know my name?" she asked.
I was surprised I'd let that slip. After a brief pause, I said, "The nurse told me about you."
She raised her eyebrows, then said, "Oh! Speaking of names, I don't think I know yours."
"I'm Alex. Just Alex." I decided to leave out my family name—too much baggage there.
"That's a nice name!" she said with a big smile.
"Anyway, I have something important to tell you."
I was surprised the conversation took a serious turn, but I was ready to listen.
"Yeah?" I replied nervously, worried she might scold me for trying to fight the monster.
She reached out, holding a full-looking bag.
Anna frowned. "As an apology for being late—and almost too late to save you—the Silver Knight sent you some money to cover your expenses."
How thoughtful. I didn't really need it, but money was important—my pockets were empty after being summoned here. I'd have to repay him if I met him again.
I asked, "Why didn't I get to meet him? I wanted to thank him myself."
It would've been better to thank him in person—and to see more of him. I only caught a glimpse of his silver hair and unique knight outfit. I was curious what he looked like.
Anna pouted. "He has other matters to attend to. I feel the same, but he's just too busy with knight duties."
"Oh, well. I understand."
Makes sense. He's not one of the strongest in the kingdom for nothing. I wondered how he got so strong. According to the nurse, he's no match for the Aeons, but he could probably hold his own. Civilians talk like that—mostly rumors.
We walked down the stairs of the wooden place I'd stayed in and stepped onto the cobblestone street where I first arrived in this world.
Anna, still pouting, said, "Can you believe he's only 17 and doing all this? I barely see him at school! I'm really worried something bad will happen to him."
Her cheeks flushed. I didn't need to ask—her expression said it all.
So Anna likes the Silver Knight, romantically. Anyone could tell by her red face. I was a bit bummed. But I never had a chance anyway. I put on an uninterested face as she kept complaining—unusual for her, but I guess this is how she acts when she opens up.
Remembering something, I asked, "Also, what was that 'activate' thing you did? Is it some kind of ability?"
If I wanted to get stronger, I needed to understand that. It teleported us right next to the fight, so it had to be a teleportation type. Something like that would be a huge help.
Anna looked at me, eyes wide and eyebrows raised. She came closer and whispered in my ear, "I'm a Blank."