Roman shot upright in his hospital bed, a guttural scream tearing from his throat.

“Jaimee!”

The name echoed in the sterile room, his voice hoarse and filled with anguish. His chest heaved as he fought to pull air into his lungs, the terror of the dream gripping him like iron chains. His eyes darted around wildly, that night still fresh in his mind—the deafening bang of the gun, Jaimee's scream, the blinding pain. It all felt so real.

Before he could spiral further, a pair of arms wrapped around him, strong but gentle. Lexi. She pulled him close, her warmth cutting through the cold panic that gripped him. “Shh, Roman, you’re safe. I’m here,” she whispered softly, her voice steady despite her concern.

His body trembled, and he buried his face in her chest, the sobs escaping in ragged gasps. He was shaking uncontrollably now, the memories too much to bear. Jaimee’s smile, her laughter, all of it slipping away from him in that single horrific moment.

Lexi held him tighter, her hand cradling the back of his head as he wept. “It’s okay, Roman,” she whispered, her fingers threading gently through his hair. “It’s okay. I’ve got you.”

He clung to her as if she were his lifeline, the floodgates opening as the pain and guilt he had held onto for so long poured out. His tears soaked into her shirt, but she didn’t mind. She just rocked him softly, humming under her breath, her voice a low, soothing melody in the dark.

“I’m here,” she repeated, her breath warm against his ear. “You’re not alone.”

Roman’s sobs began to slow, his body still shaking but less violently now. Lexi continued to hold him, her heartbeat steady beneath his cheek. For the first time in what felt like forever, he allowed himself to let go.

And for a moment, even in his grief, he felt a flicker of something—maybe it was peace, or maybe just exhaustion—but wrapped in Lexi’s arms, he found a brief respite from the storm. He felt comfort not just from her but from the One he had been ignoring whenever things suited him. He felt the warm embrace that had gotten him through every other tough time in his life that ever since coming to this world he just kept forgetting about for some reason!

Wait…Lexi’s arms? His eyes popped opened and his body stiffened, his breath catching in his throat as the realization hit him. Lexi’s arms—Lexi’s—were still wrapped around him, holding him close. Her warmth, her gentle presence, all of it had been so soothing in the midst of his breakdown. But now that the haze of emotion had lifted, the weight of the situation started to settle in, and he felt like he’d just crossed a line he hadn’t even seen coming.

His eyes popped open, staring at the stark white hospital wall in front of him, but his thoughts were everywhere else. His pulse quickened—not with panic, but with something else entirely. He was suddenly hyper-aware of every small detail: the way her fingers were still lightly stroking the back of his head, the steady rise and fall of her chest beneath his cheek, and the soft, rhythmic sound of her breathing.

He hadn’t realized how tightly he’d been holding onto her, and now, he didn’t know what to do with his hands. Should he pull back? Say something? Anything? But what would he even say? Thanks for letting me sob all over you—also, sorry I didn’t realize you were right there? It sounded ridiculous, even in his head.

Lexi hadn’t said anything either. She just kept holding him, her touch still as gentle as it had been when she’d first pulled him into her arms. Maybe she hadn’t noticed the shift in him, or maybe she had, but either way, her presence felt natural—too natural, in fact. Roman’s throat tightened, and the room suddenly felt smaller.

He swallowed hard, his mind racing. How did we even get here? Sure, they’d fought alongside each other, survived battles together—but this? This was different. They had shared moments, yes, but nothing like this.

He shifted slightly, trying not to disturb her too much, but his body betrayed him. The muscles in his back tensed, and his heart felt like it was beating too loudly, thudding in his ears. His hand twitched, as if it couldn’t decide whether to stay where it was or to find somewhere—anywhere—else to be.

Lexi must have felt the change in him, because her arms loosened around him just slightly, her hand stilling where it rested against his hair. She didn’t pull away completely, though. Instead, she tilted her head to look down at him, her voice soft in the quiet room. “Roman?”

His name hung in the air between them, and for a split second, he didn’t know if he could answer. He tried to clear his throat, but it only made him more aware of how close they were. “Yeah?” he finally managed, though it came out more like a croak.

Lexi’s hand hesitated before it fell gently to her lap. “You okay?” she asked, her tone filled with that same calm concern, but now there was something more there—something quieter, something almost… uncertain.

He nodded quickly, too quickly, and awkwardly shifted again, sitting up just enough to put a little distance between them. “Yeah, yeah. I’m good. Thanks for…” His words trailed off as he scratched the back of his neck, unsure how to even finish the sentence. Thanks for comforting me? Thanks for holding me while I had a breakdown?

Lexi didn’t push, didn’t ask for more. She just smiled softly, pulling her legs up onto the bed as she sat back a bit, giving him space. “I’m glad,” she said, her voice still as gentle as it had been the entire time. But there was something in her eyes—something that made Roman’s chest tighten again.

Silence settled between them, but this time it felt different. Roman didn’t know what to do with it, and the longer it stretched, the more he could feel the awkwardness creeping in. He wanted to say something, anything, to break the tension he’d just imagined into existence. But all he could think about was how close they’d been a moment ago, how natural it had felt to be in her arms, and how unnatural it suddenly felt now that they weren’t.

His hand hovered awkwardly in his lap, and for the first time, Roman wasn’t sure if he should be relieved or nervous that Lexi had been the one to step back. The yearning to get up and take her into his arms kept building and it was baffling. Lexi had always been there and of course he had had thoughts of her…she’s gorgeous but…it was more like a quick oh she cute, he never really had time to think anything more about it so why was his mind now acting like he had had a crush on her for years?

Wait! Is this emotional maturaty? Am I finally stopping to think about how I feel instead of just acting on stuff? He thought to himself with a chuckle which made Lexi tilt her head in confusion.

“S-sorry, I was just thinking about something and I think I finally reached a level of emotional maturity. Was just feeling proud of myself, but thank you so much Lexi. I really needed that.” He said sincerely.

“Oh ok, You’re welcome Roman.” She smiled softly. “Do you want to talk about it?” She asked.

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“I do but….I can’t right now, I don’t have the energy. I feel too raw right now.” He replied.

“Ok no rush. I’m here whenever you’re ready.”

“Thank you, I really mean that. Thanks.” He said grabbing hold of her hand and looking into her eyes. Before that could start getting awkward again someone cleared their throat to roman’s left and he turned to look.

Master Wong moved with slow, deliberate steps, his hands clasped behind his back as he walked. On the surface, he looked every bit the old, frail man—his skin weathered, his silver hair tied back into a neat knot at the base of his neck, and his posture slightly hunched. His face was etched with deep lines, evidence of a life lived long and hard. His faded, loose robes fluttered lightly in the breeze, making him seem almost weightless as he moved across the ground.

To any casual observer, he would have appeared weak, perhaps even fragile, the kind of man who might struggle to lift a wooden staff. But Roman… Roman knew better.

The moment Master Wong came into view, Roman felt it—a dense, overwhelming presence, like the air itself had thickened around the man. There was a stillness to Master Wong, an unshakable calm, but beneath that serene exterior, Roman could sense an ocean of power, vast and unyielding. It radiated from the old man in waves, though nothing in his outward appearance gave it away.

Roman’s muscles tensed instinctively, every fiber of his being alert. It wasn’t just power—it was mastery. He had felt strong people before, fought warriors whose skills far exceeded his own, but this was different. This was like standing in front of a mountain that could shift at any moment. Roman couldn’t tell if he could win in a fight against him. In fact, he wasn’t even sure if he would survive one.

Master Wong’s eyes, sharp and piercing despite their age, briefly met Roman’s. In that fleeting moment, Roman felt as though the old man could see through him, past the physical, right into his soul. There was no malice in Wong’s gaze—just an ancient, calm knowing, as if the man had seen a thousand battles and come out of each one unscathed. Roman swallowed hard, his body refusing to relax, even as Master Wong’s expression softened into a faint, almost amused smile.

Roman blinked, trying to shake the uneasy feeling gnawing at him, but the sheer weight of Wong’s presence was impossible to ignore. He had never felt so small in front of someone who looked so unassuming. It was as if Master Wong had complete control over every aspect of the world around him, yet he walked as if it were nothing more than a leisurely stroll.

The contrast between the man’s appearance and the power that Roman could sense was unsettling. He wasn’t sure if he would ever be able to gauge Wong’s limits—if there were any.

“Oh, Roman this is my Master that trained me to fight, Master Wong, this is my new friend Roman. He’s super strong and took on most of those monsters out there on his own.”Lexi said proudly introducing the two.

“It is nice to meet you Sir.” Roman said respectfully.

“You as well, young Roman. I do have a few questions for you if you’d allow me to skip the pleasantries.” Master Wong said, still looking deep into Roman’s eyes.

“Of course. What would you like to know?” Roman asked, while knowing he wouldn’t win against this man…he still felt no fear of him.

“Who taught you to form that core?” He came right out and said it. Roman paused for a sec not really sure what he was asking then it clicked.

“Uh…nobody. I taught myself.” Roman said.

“Mmhmm. In the world you come from was there magic?” He asked and Roman’s blood went cold. He froze and looked around. “Relax. No one else knows but its not something that you need to hide either. We have had some people from another world here before, not sure if it’s the same world you’re from though. Are you from Earth?”

“U-uh…” Roman wasn’t sure what to say. How did this man know so much?

Master Wong’s piercing gaze never wavered as he waited for Roman’s response, his eyes betraying no surprise at Roman’s hesitation. It was as if he had already pieced together the truth before Roman even arrived. There was no pressure in his tone, no malice—just a deep, unshakable curiosity, like a man who had seen too much of the world to be fazed by any revelation.

Roman cleared his throat, trying to compose himself. “Y-yeah. I’m from Earth.” The words felt strange coming out, as if saying them aloud somehow made his situation even more surreal.

Master Wong nodded slowly, a faint smile playing on his lips. “I see. So, the veil between worlds is thinning again.” His voice was soft, contemplative, as though he were speaking more to himself than to Roman.

Roman’s mind raced. People from Earth have been here before? His thoughts spiraled for a moment, but he forced himself to stay focused. "Wait—what do you mean by ‘again’? Has this happened before?"

Wong clasped his hands behind his back and began to pace slowly, his movements deliberate and calm. “Indeed. You are not the first, nor will you be the last, I suspect. Travelers from your world have crossed into ours many times, though it is a rare occurrence. Some come here by accident, others by design.” He paused, turning back to face Roman.

Master Wong’s gaze softened as he watched Roman, his hands still clasped behind his back. "People from other worlds have always fascinated this realm," he began. "You see, the power you possess is not unusual for those like you. In fact, people from other worlds thrive here. You and others like you are sought after by kingdoms, empires—anyone who understands the true value of your potential."

Roman blinked, his confusion only deepening. "Sought after? Why?"

Master Wong’s expression remained calm, but there was a spark of something in his eyes—knowledge that few others possessed. "Because your kind—the travelers from other worlds—are the reason this world has magic at all. And from what I’ve read, anyone in your party or that fights alongside you gets exponentially stronger at an astounding rate."

Roman’s heart skipped a beat. "What do you mean?"

Wong smiled faintly, his voice taking on a more reflective tone. "Long ago, when the veil between worlds first broke, it unleashed a flood of magic and mana into this realm. Before that event, there was no magic here, no leveling system, no abilities like the ones you’ve discovered. The arrival of people from other worlds—people like you—changed the very fabric of this reality. Mana pooled from your presence, and the world adapted to it, forming the monsters you’ve been fighting and then strengthening humans and forming the magical system we rely on today."

Roman felt his breath catch in his throat as he processed what Wong was saying. The very world he had been thrust into—its magic, its leveling system—existed because of people like him. “So… I’m part of the reason why this world is the way it is?”

Master Wong nodded. “Exactly. That first influx of mana reshaped the world, and now every traveler that comes here brings their own potential, their own spark. Some kingdoms even prepare for the arrival of such individuals, knowing that they often possess powers that far exceed those born here. Those from other worlds often grow stronger and faster, adapting to the magic like it’s second nature. You’ve already demonstrated that yourself.”

Roman thought back to how quickly he’d learned magic, how his body seemed to just know what to do. It had felt instinctual, but now, it made sense. He wasn’t just learning; he was unlocking something deep within himself, something tied to the very essence of this world’s magic.

“You and others like you are a gift to this realm,” Wong continued. “You bring new energy, new life to a world that once had none. The leveling system, the magic you see—it is all a reflection of your kind’s influence. But with that power comes great responsibility. Those who learn to wield it wisely thrive, as you have. But without guidance, that power can consume even the best of people.”

Roman swallowed hard, understanding the gravity of what Master Wong was telling him. "So… I’m not just some anomaly?"

Wong shook his head. "No, Roman. You are the continuation of a legacy—one that has shaped this world into what it is today. And your potential, much like the others who came before you, can change the course of this world’s future."

Roman took a deep breath, feeling a strange mix of awe and responsibility settle over him. The revelation that he and others like him were the catalysts for this world’s magic was staggering, but it also made sense of so many things. His rapid growth, his ability to adapt—it wasn’t random. It was part of something much larger.

Lexi, who had been quietly listening, spoke up, her eyes wide with wonder. "So… travelers from other worlds are why we have magic at all?"

Master Wong nodded. “Yes. And it is why you, Roman, possess such incredible potential. Your connection to the mana in this world is different from ours. You can shape it, bend it to your will, faster than anyone born here. That is why kingdoms seek out people like you—to harness that power.”

Roman looked down at his hands, still processing everything. “But… I didn’t even know what I was doing half the time.”

Wong chuckled softly. “That’s what makes you dangerous, Roman. You don’t even realize the full extent of what you’re capable of yet.”

Roman’s heart raced as he met Wong’s gaze. He didn’t know how to feel—whether it was fear, excitement, or something in between. But one thing was clear: he wasn’t just a visitor in this world. He was a part of its story, its magic, and its future.