Leo decided to go out and explore the city. He rummaged through the drawer, selecting a set of worn but comfortable clothes, and dressed quickly. The wooden stairs creaked under his weight as he descended, and he noticed his mother busying herself in the kitchen, her back to him.

“Um, Mom, I’m heading out for a bit. I won’t be long,” he called out, trying to sound casual.

“Okay, sweetie, just be careful,” she replied, her voice carrying a note of concern. After a brief hesitation, she added, “Do you need any money?”

Leo paused, observing the weary lines etched on his mother’s face, wondering if their financial struggles were weighing her down.

‘Is our situation causing her this much distress?’ he pondered, feeling a twinge of guilt.

He reached for the door, the cool metal of the handle grounding him. “No, I don’t need money,” he assured her, stepping out.

Then he shut the door, leaving his mother puzzled. He began walking down the street. At first, the street was made of clay, but after going a little further, the paved parts became visible. The houses were made of wood and small amount of stone and were quite old. There were people on the street wearing old, dirty clothes. Leo was certain he was in a poor neighborhood. He could see clean buildings made of stone and bronze-like iron in faraway places. People and buildings became cleaner as he progressed. There was a lamp near the street every 20 meters that was connected to the ground. The sun was shining brightly, and the lights were turned off. He even saw a carriage on the street being pulled by two horses.

The further he went, the more he noticed that people's clothes were changing; he knew what he had seen up to this point was common and poor people, but the clothes of middle- and upper-income people were completely different. The majority of them wear a top hat, a long coat, and a cane; some even wear a monocle.

Leo grinned.

'I do not dislike this style of apparel.'

As he strolled through the streets, a gang of local children converged on his path.

“Look who it is, guys—the pauper,” jeered the largest boy, a sneer spreading across his face as his cohorts erupted in cruel laughter.

Leo’s eyes narrowed slightly as he sized up the ringleader. ‘So, he’s the one calling the shots,’ he thought.

The boy’s taunting continued unabated. “I thought I made it clear—I don’t want to see your grimy face around here. You’re a blight on this city, a walking stench. Want another thrashing, or will you scurry back to your filthy mother?”

The other children’s laughter intensified, but Leo’s calm remained unshaken. He felt no deep bond with the woman they called his mother, yet the insult stung—a challenge to his dignity.

‘I can't just sit there and let them insult my mother, can I?’ he resolved internally.

With a year of self-defense training under his belt and the wisdom of his 29 years, Leo knew he wasn’t defenseless, even in this unfamiliar body. A confident grin spread across his face.

"What are you laughing at, stinky boy?"

He approached Leo, ready to punch him, which was exactly what Leo wanted. Before he could even react, Leo kicked him between the legs.

His face turned red. He collapsed to the ground, gasping for air. The other kids were taken aback. They weren't expecting Leo, a coward, being able to counterattack. Another large kid ran up to Leo and punched him. Leo took a step to the right, dodged the punch, and used his knee to attack the boy's belly. The second boy collapsed as well.

Leo looked around at the other boys. They were both surprised and terrified, He chuckled.

"Anyone else want to try?"

Nobody responds.

"Then come and get these two and get out of my sight."

After about 2 or 3 seconds, the other boys came to their senses. They dashed over to the two boys on the ground, picked them up, and fled. When they were sufficiently separated, Leo winced as he sat down and gingerly reached for his throbbing knee.

'Awo… It hurts. What kind of body is this? Perhaps because I have indigestion,’ He pondered, trying to understand the unfamiliar sensations of his new body. But as he winced, a more pressing concern surfaced in his mind. ‘I need to figure out a way to earn some money—that’s the priority right now.’

Leo glanced back at the street he had come from, ensuring he wouldn't lose his way on the way back. There was no name for the street. Resuming his walk, Leo continued on his way. There was a crossroads at the end of the street. he was contemplating his next move when he noticed people gathered in the street, Straight across the intersection. This street was given a name, It was Ashburn Street. He went to where the crowd had gathered. People moved aside when they saw him to avoid getting dirty. As a result, he was able to easily reach the center.

Murmurs of “sorcerer” and “magic” fluttered through the crowd like elusive butterflies. At the heart of the gathering stood an elderly gentleman, his attire—a long coat and top hat—speaking of a modest, middle-class status. Leo edged closer, curiosity piqued, trying to catch snippets of the hushed conversations.

“Do you recognize the old man?” someone nearby asked.

“Oh yes, he is famous,” another replied with a nod. “He’s a wandering magician, travels from city to city performing his magic to earn his keep.”

“Indeed, he makes his rounds to Flesa every month,” chimed in a third voice.

‘Flesa? So that’s the name of this place,’ Leo thought, filing away the information.

The magician, oblivious to the whispers, raised his voice, beckoning the onlookers. “Gather round, one and all! Today, I shall unveil a spectacle of fire magic to dazzle your senses!” His words, laced with the promise of wonder, drew the crowd closer like moths to a flame.

When the old man said this, he raised his hand in the air and snapped his fingers, and a fire appeared out of nowhere above his fingers, lit up for a second, and then vanished. Everyone, including Leo, was taken aback. The elderly man smiled as he continued.

“Let me show you my pet, who is going to help me in this show.”

The old man raised his hand in the air once more, and a small fireball appeared in his palm. He closed his eyes, after about a minute the fireball began to change shape. After some strange movements, it transformed into a fish about the size of the old man's palm. When the old man opened his eyes, the fish began to move very quickly in the air. After passing over people's heads and circling briefly, the fish returned to the old man and sat on his shoulder. People began to cheer and laugh. The old man bowed gracefully before resuming his performance. He then made some fire rings and made the fish swim through them. He also made a few small explosions, and the show ended after about an hour.

Some people start to go near the old man and throw some coins into the hat on the ground.

“Thank you, thank you.”

‘So you can use magic like this too, to make money’

After a few minutes, when Leo was certain there was nothing else for him here, he began to walk again. He took a tour of the neighborhood; the other two streets at the crossroads were Orchid Street and Justice Avenue, and the city was surrounded by a wall. Orchid Street ended at the city wall, while Justice Avenue led to the city gate. There were no shops inside Orchid Street and the street where his house was, but there were several fruit and grocery shops inside Justice Avenue, probably because this street is connected to the city gate. In addition, Ashburn Street was linked to the city's upper reaches. Leo decided to return because it was already sunset. Also, he was trying too hard to remember the way back; he got lost. He arrived home after an hour or two of searching, by which time darkness had already settled.

He went to open the door, suddenly the hair on the back of his neck stood up. He had the impression that someone was watching him. He turn around. There were other people on the street, but no one was looking at him. He turned around, opened the door, and rushed in. The house was dark, and it appeared that his mother was still at work. He looked around; Rosie was nowhere to be found.

'Perhaps mom takes Rosie with her.'

Leo went upstairs, sat on his bed, and thought about today.

"So, magic actually exists in this world. I need to find a way to learn it, no matter what it takes. On top of that, I discovered the name of this city—Flesa. I’ve also started figuring out the layout of the streets and alleys near my house. But one question keeps nagging at me: what happened to my body back on Earth? Did I die there? Am I just... gone?"

Leo’s thoughts were abruptly interrupted by the slow creak of the door behind him, pulling him back to the present. His mother’s voice drifted softly up the staircase, breaking through the haze of his reverie.

“Leo, sweetie, are you there?”

Rising from his bed, Leo crossed the room and opened the door with a gentle pull.

“Yes, Mom, I’m here,” he replied, his voice steady.

“Come downstairs in 10 minutes; I’ll whip up something for you to eat,” she called out from below.

“Okay,” he responded, already mentally sifting through his wardrobe for something comfortable to wear.

Ten minutes later, freshly attired, Leo descended the stairs to find his mother bustling about the kitchen, while Rosie lay curled up on the sofa, lost in slumber.

“You’re here. Could you wake Rosie?” his mother asked without turning from the stove.

Leo approached the sofa, observing Rosie’s peaceful expression. The concept of having a sister was new to him, an unfamiliar dynamic that he was still learning to navigate.

“Rosie, time to get up. dinner is ready,” he said, nudging her gently.

“Mmm… just five more minutes,” she mumbled, snuggling deeper into the cushions.

Leo’s tone took on a playful edge. “If you don’t get up now, I am going to eat your food too.”

That did the trick. Rosie’s eyes flew open, and she sat up abruptly. “I’m awake, I’m awake!” she exclaimed, ensuring her meal was safe from her brother’s teasing threat.

They went into the kitchen and sat at the small, worn table. In front of him was a bowl of soup, steam rising from the surface. Leo glanced at the dish—a simple vegetable soup with leafy greens and a few roots, but no mushrooms or other luxuries. It was another reminder of how little they had. He quickly averted his gaze, not wanting his mother to notice and feel ashamed.

He lifted his spoon and began to eat. Despite the humble ingredients, the soup was surprisingly good. The taste was balanced—mild but flavorful, comforting in its simplicity. He couldn’t help but appreciate how much care had gone into making it.

After finishing, he looked up at his mother. "Thank you for the meal," he said with quiet sincerity, offering her a small but genuine smile. She returned the gesture, clearly relieved, though the weariness in her eyes was hard to miss.

Leo excused himself and headed back upstairs to his room. His body felt heavy, the day’s thoughts weighing on him as much as physical exhaustion. Without much hesitation, he collapsed onto his bed, his mind still swirling with unanswered questions about this world, and about Earth.

'I need to look for work tomorrow, I can't believe I'll need to look for work as soon as I'm reborn.'

While reviewing today's events once again in his mind, he fell asleep.

…

The persistent knocking roused Leo from his slumber, a rhythmic intrusion that seemed too insistent for the usual morning wake-up call.

‘Could that be Rosie? But it’s far too early for her antics,’ he mused, groggily.

The knocking intensified, a staccato beat that now seemed to echo throughout the house.

Leo’s eyes snapped open, and he realized the sound wasn’t emanating from his bedroom door at all.

Footsteps, soft but deliberate, paced the hallway, their origin unclear in the stillness of the house.

Then, the unmistakable sound of the front door latch gave way, and the door creaked open.

“Hello?!” a voice called out.

“Hello, are you Ms. Lisa Mantine?” another voice inquired, its tone official.

Leo lay still, listening as his mother’s voice, tinged with apprehension, responded to the stranger.

“Yes, how can I assist you?”

“We’re here to see your son, Leo Mantine. Is he present?”

“Yes, he’s here! What’s the matter, officer? Has he done something wrong?”

Leo’s heart pounded against his ribcage, his mind racing with possibilities.

‘What have I gotten myself into? They can’t possibly be here about the altercation with those kids yesterday, can they? But there’s more than one set of footsteps at the door…’

“No, ma’am, we just need to speak with him. Could you call him down?”

“Of course, I will.”

Footsteps approached the staircase, but Leo was already on his feet, anticipation coursing through him.

“Oh, you’re already awake. Some Paladins are here to speak with you,” his mother said, her voice laced with worry.

“Paladins?” Leo echoed, feigning surprise as he descended the stairs. His mother followed, her hand resting on his shoulder—a silent gesture of support.

Together, they approached the door to face the unexpected visitors.

Leo looked out the door and saw four men. Two were on the back, wearing medium golden and white armor. They weren't wearing helmets, so their faces were visible. Their armor wasn't particularly heavy, and they both carried a sword on their left side. The one on the left possessed dark eyes and short, black hair, standing at approximately 180 centimeters tall with a strong build. Meanwhile, his counterpart on the right had short brown hair and brown eyes, with a slightly larger nose. Despite sharing similar height and a muscular build, his physique seemed even more formidable.

There was one man in the middle who was bigger and brighter than all four of them. He stood about 190 centimeters tall and carried a large sword on his back. Leo looked at him. He had no mustache or beard and appeared to have shaved only a few days ago. His hair was black and short. He had a large nose that was slightly curved to the right, and his eyes were medium to small and black. His overall appearance was rough.

And there was one more man in front of them, near the door. He was the one who was speaking. He had a bright smile on his face. He was also wearing armor, but it was much smaller than the other on the back. It was golden and white and looked more like light armor. On the right sides of his legs, he had a book and on the other side he had a dagger. He was a little shorter than the middle man. Leo examined his features.

He had long blond hair and big blue eyes. His lips were thin and his nose was slender. His ears were under his hair.

"Hello, sir, how can I help you?"

"Hi, you must be Leo."

His voice was beautiful as well, He took some photographs from his pocket.

"Do you know these boys, Leo?"

Leo took the photos, which were more like drawings than photographs. He took a look at them. It was a photo of the bully kids from the day before, He was scared. But he tried not to let it show on his face.

"Yes, I know them; they are bullies who always beat me."

Suddenly The three men in the back became less serious, their previously stern expressions softening.

"All right, thank you for your honesty, My name is Liamond Hammart, We need you to accompany us to confirm something."

his mom’s grip on his shoulder became tighter.

“Come with you where?!”

“Don’t worry ma’ am, nothing dangerous and in the mean time my colleague Mr. Frank Rove will stay with you.”

Leo turned to face his mother, then to Liamond.

"Ok, let me get ready."

Liamond nodded.

Leo went upstairs to his room. He quickly changed into more suitable clothes, brushed off the weariness from the day, and splashed some water on his face to feel a bit more refreshed. After collecting his thoughts, he made his way back downstairs.

Once outside, he stepped next to Liamond. At that moment, one of the men in the back—specifically the one on the left—began to approach.

'He has to be Mr. Rove .'

"Don't worry, we will bring your son to you soon."

After Liamond said that, they went to the carriage, which was close to the house. The other paladin opened the door and they entered one at a time. Liamond stood there staring at Leo. He pointed at the door, meaning to go inside.

Before going inside, Leo glanced back at his mother. She looked concerned, and Frank stood beside her, still as a statue. Leo gave her a reassuring smile, and her expression softened, some of her worry easing.

He then returned his gaze to the carriage and entered. Liamond followed Leo inside and shut the door. The carriage began to move.

His mother was staring at the carriage, which was moving away. Until she could no longer see it.