Chapter 2: Familiar World

As the last wave of disorientation began to fade, Leon's eyes finally calmed. The realization that he wasn't dreaming sent shockwaves through his body, and before he knew it, he rolled off the bed, instinctively bracing for impact with the cold, hard ground. But instead of crashing onto the floor, Leon caught himself, his hands gripping the edge of the bed, and his feet planted firmly beneath him.

"Huh?" Leon stammered, startled by his newfound ability to stand. A rush of emotions surged through him as he took in his surroundings, a room he had never seen before. Gone was the familiar, stale and dim room where he had spent so much time confined to a wheelchair. Instead, he found himself in a cozy bedroom with vibrant colors and a warmth that seemed to radiate from every corner.

"Breakfast is ready!" called an unfamiliar voice from beyond the closed door. Leon's heart began to race as a mix of confusion and excitement coursed through him. Was this really happening? He couldn't help but imagine all the possibilities. Could he have been transported to another world, just like all those popular novels in his previous life?

"Coming!" Leon replied hesitantly, driven by a sense of urgency to uncover the truth about his new reality. He stumbled through the unfamiliar room, his legs shaky from years of unfamiliarity, and stopped in front of a mirror.

For a moment, Leon stared at his reflection, unrecognizable even to himself. His once-dull eyes were now a piercing blue, framed by short silver hair that shimmered in the morning light. He looked strong, capable, and nothing like the broken boy who had been confined to a wheelchair.

“Is this me?” he mumbled to himself.

His heart pounding, Leon took a hesitant step toward the mirror, unable to tear his gaze away from the stranger with silver hair and piercing blue eyes staring back at him. He blinked, half expecting his reflection to morph back into the round figure he had just moments ago. But the handsome young man remained.

"Could it really be another world?" Leon whispered to himself, his voice barely audible above his thoughts. Remembering the unfamiliar voice summoning him to breakfast, he needed answers fast.

Gathering his courage, Leon exited the room and cautiously made his way down the hallway. With each step, he slowly regained his motion skills, learning to walk once more. As he reached the kitchen, the smell of fried eggs filled his nostrils, directing his eyes towards the kitchen table.

"Ah, there you are, Noel!" the woman exclaimed as she looked up from her plate, her smile warm and inviting. "Hurry and eat before your eggs get cold"

As the name 'Noel' reverberated through Leon's mind, it triggered a sudden wave of memories that threatened to overwhelm him.

He stumbled, his legs momentarily buckling under the weight of these new memories. As he reached out to grab the wall for support, he couldn't help but notice how oddly familiar the faces of the two strangers eating breakfast seemed to be.

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"Are you alright?" the woman asked, her brow creased with concern.

Leon quickly nodded, not wanting to draw attention to the storm of memories raging inside him. "Yeah, I'm fine" he responded, doing his best to sound convincing despite the turmoil in his mind.

As he sat down to eat, Leon tried to piece together the fragments of memories swirling through his mind. He knew he was no longer Leon, he was now Noel Nettle, a name that now felt both foreign and familiar at the same time. And these strangers were his parents, their faces etched into his memory like a long-lost photograph.

"Is something bothering you?" his mother inquired gently, her eyes searching his face for any signs of discomfort.

"No" Leon lied, offering a weak smile. "Just a slight headache. I didn’t sleep much"

“Ok, but make sure to let me know if you start feeling unwell” His mother stated, gently patting his silver hair that perfectly mirrored her own.

Settling into his seat, Leon took the chance to examine his new parents. The womans beautiful braided silver hair seemed to match perfectly with her vibrant yet calming green eyes, she was Mina Nettle, his mother in this world.

Beside her sat his father Noland Nettle, A handsome man with brown hair and sharp blue eyes.

Leon couldnt help but think that If these two existed back in his old life, they would be considered a power couple just based on their appearances. From his new memories, Leon knew that his mother was currently 36 years old, with his father being a year older.

"Good morning" Leon said cautiously, trying his best to fill his new role. He felt strange, yet somehow comfortable.

"Morning, Noel" Noland replied casually, smiling towards his son.

Leon picked up his fork and began to eat, chewing each bite while keeping his eyes focused on his plate. He didn't want to raise suspicion by staring at his newfound family, or making the situation awkward.

Mina shot him a worried glance but remained silent, giving him space to navigate his thoughts. Leon could sense her concern but was grateful for her restraint, he had enough on his mind without having to explain himself.

"Thanks for breakfast" Leon mumbled, pushing his empty plate away and standing up. "I'll be in my room".

"Alright, dear" Mina said with a nod. “Your father and I will leave for work soon. Try to get a little more rest”

As Leon retreated to the safety of his bedroom, he couldn't help but overhear his father's reassuring words to his mother: "Don't worry, Mina. He's probably just stressed because of the Sanctuary Trial coming up"

The door clicked shut behind him, and Leon sank onto his bed, his heart pounding in his chest.

“Sanctuary Trial?” he muttered, his eyes widening in shock as the gravity of his situation settled in.

He was now Noel Nettle, living in the world of his favorite game ‘World Of The End’. A world filled with violence and constant battles, as humans fought to protect their world from the eerie black void nicknamed “The Ominous”. A strange black energy slowly corrupting the beings of this world and turning them into mindless monsters.

As for the Sanctuary his father mentioned, it was the world famous academy that was in charge of training the future talents of this world. It’s also the school where the main characters attend, and where the story of ‘World Of The End’ begins.

“Crap..” he muttered, knowing the future of him and this world were far from safe.