Rufus Knox slowly opened his eyes, the classroom coming into soft, blurred focus. The hum of whispers and scratching pens drifted through the air, but nothing fully registered at first. A dull ache ran through his skull, and his vision fluttered between shadowed shapes and bright lights.
He blinked rapidly, trying to gather his bearings. Where…? For a moment, he was certain he had just passed out from exhaustion. He remembered the game, the endless hours, the caffeine, the lack of sleep… three days straight without rest, and then nothing but darkness.
Then, the memories collided. A flash of his old life, his room, his friends — fragments of a world that now seemed impossibly distant. And yet, somehow, they merged with something new. A name whispered into his consciousness: Rufus Knox. His body, his mind, his very being seemed to adjust to a new reality.
He wasn't in his room anymore.
Rufus's gaze sharpened. The room around him was… different. Desks neatly arranged in rows, each student staring at him with a mix of curiosity and indifference. The walls shimmered faintly, decorated with arcane symbols that pulsed with subtle energy. Holographic boards hovered in midair, displaying complex charts and glowing runes. High school — but not the kind he knew. This was Blue Star, a world where magic and energy, called Aura, shaped the society itself.
"Yo! Wake up, sleepyhead!"
A round face nudged him from the side. Rufus turned to see his best friend — Fred — grinning, a mischievous glint in his eyes. Short, slightly chubby, and impossibly cheerful, Fred gave Rufus a firm shake.
"Finally!" Fred laughed. "Thought you'd sleep through the first lecture!"
Rufus groaned, sitting up slowly. "What… what happened? Where am I?"
"Blue Star, genius," Fred said, shrugging. "High school final year, right here, right now. Don't tell me you still can't figure it out."
Rufus's mind spun as he tried to piece together his fragmented memories. A world filled with monsters, portals, and walled cities — humans no longer ruled unchallenged. Civilization clung behind walls and defenses, and Aura flowed in every corner of society. It was chaotic, dangerous, but… fascinating.
He exhaled and looked around the classroom. Thirty or so students were seated quietly, some whispering to one another, some staring at the boards. A few scribbled notes rapidly, hands glowing faintly as Aura flickered from their pens. The variety of people — their heights, postures, and expressions — gave Rufus a casual sense of the class dynamics, though he didn't dwell on it.
The door opened with a soft chime, and the teacher entered. Silence fell immediately. Her robes shimmered faintly, traces of Aura flowing along the seams. She carried a staff that pulsed gently, a subtle reminder of the power she wielded and the authority she commanded.
"Good morning, class," she began, voice calm but firm. "Today, we begin with an overview of our world. Blue Star is vast, and Aura is the foundation of all life and civilization here. Cities are protected by walls, patrolled to guard against monsters and rogue portals. Energy flows through everything, and mastery of Aura is what allows humans to survive — and to thrive."
Rufus listened quietly, absorbing the information. The history was condensed but comprehensive. Portals opened across continents, monsters flooded the lands, and civilization adapted, building walls and cities to survive. Aura, flowing like a river beneath all things, was both a tool and a weapon.
"And tomorrow," the teacher continued, "you will all participate in the Awakening Ceremony. It is a crucial step in your growth. Be prepared."
The weight of her words settled over the classroom. Rufus let his gaze fall on Fred, who winked at him.
"Well," Fred whispered as the lecture ended, "looks like tomorrow's the big day."
Rufus leaned back in his chair, lazily stretching, but his mind was already racing. This world, with all its danger and opportunity, required adaptation. He had survived in his old life by thinking, by understanding patterns and systems. Here, the stakes were higher, but the principle was the same.
As the bell rang, students gathered their things. Rufus and Fred walked out together, chatting casually. They passed through the bustling streets of their city, towers looming overhead, walls adorned with information about beasts and portals. The contrast between the clean central streets and the poorer outskirts was stark.
At the subway station, Fred waved him off. "See you tomorrow. Don't fall asleep in class again, alright?"
Rufus nodded and turned toward his own district, a poorer neighborhood farther out. This was where his family lived. They were modest but close-knit, each with a personality that anchored him in this new world.
Father: A former military man who had joined a guild, stern but warm in private.
Mother: Caring, protective, with a fierce "tigress" energy.
Sister: Cheerful, lively, clever in her own right, though not extraordinary.
The reunion was quiet but comforting. Dinner passed with laughter and small conversation, a reminder that he had a place in this world — a family that depended on him and grounded him.
Later, as Rufus lay in bed, he let the day's events settle in. He had a family here, a city filled with challenges, and the Awakening Ceremony looming. There were unknown dangers and opportunities ahead. But for now… he accepted it all.
Tomorrow, everything would change.