Adam looked around. Three sorcerers stood not far from him. Their faces were alert, yet none of them moved. "Where is this?" he asked softly.
They exchanged glances briefly, then one of them spoke, "You are in the basement of the Elberia Kingdom's castle."
Adam scanned the room again, taking in every corner lit by the dim glow of torches on the walls. He then stood, stepping confidently toward King Elberia and Oswald. His hand extended, touching the thin, glowing membrane that separated him from them.
"Oh… is this magic?" he murmured in awe.
Oswald stared at him intently. "You're Adam, right?"
Adam shook his head slightly. "No. I'm Nathan. My name is Nathan Greyson, from Vietnam."
Oswald still hadn't lowered his magical barrier. His gaze sharpened. "Are you insane?"
Nathan replied calmly, "No, I'm not insane, Oswald."
Hearing his name, Oswald finally lowered his defenses. The glowing membrane dissipated like smoke in the wind. "You… how do you know my name?"
"Of course," Nathan nodded. "You are Oswald. That woman is Marigold, and the tall man with glasses is Erneld. Right?"
The three exchanged glances, unsure that the figure before them was really Adam. Nathan then looked at them, brow furrowed. "Who is Isna?"
All three were shocked simultaneously. "You don't know Isna?" asked Oswald.
Nathan shook his head again. "When Adam died, he mentioned her name," he said softly.
Marigold stared at Adam in astonishment. Adam mentioned his own name? she thought. With her hand, she pushed her wheelchair closer. "Your name is Nathan?"
"Yes. Nathan," replied Adam, whose soul was now Nathan, firmly. "Why do you look at me and call me Adam?"
Marigold took a deep breath. Now she was more convinced that the person in front of her wasn't Adam, even though the body was the same. The arrogance that had always lingered in Adam's eyes was gone, replaced by a warm, innocent, curious gaze.
"Where's Adam?" Oswald asked suddenly.
"I don't know," Nathan replied. "The last time, we met Goddess Hestia, and there was a—"
"Wait, Goddess Hestia?" Erneld interrupted quickly. "She's real?"
"She is," Nathan nodded. "She sheltered us in her domain. But… I wonder, after that pillar of light, where did she go?"
The King of Elberia, who had been silent until now, could only shake his head slowly. "You are Adam."
Nathan—now in Adam's body—looked confused. He looked down and realized he had been completely naked all along. His face turned red instantly. "Oh my God!" he exclaimed and quickly hid behind a large brown barrel.
Marigold tried to suppress her laughter, but eventually couldn't. "Hahaha! You just realized you're not wearing clothes, Adam?"
Nathan shook his head vigorously, bowing even lower. "H-how is this…?"
"Better I call you Adam," Marigold said with a smile. "Even though your soul isn't his, at least now you are him, Nathan."
Erneld removed his white cloak and threw it toward Nathan. "Cover yourself. And I don't want to see you in front of me again. I need Adam, not a stranger wearing his body."
BANG!
A book landed on Erneld's head.
"Aww! Mari! You did that on purpose, didn't you?!" Erneld shouted, rubbing his head.
Marigold frowned. "You're acting mean. He doesn't even know why this happened!"
Nathan adjusted the white cloak Erneld had just given him, then looked back at the three. "So, who is Isna?" he asked again, curious.
They exchanged glances, seemingly deciding who should answer. Finally, Oswald spoke. "Isna is Adam's wife," he said calmly.
Nathan's eyes widened. Wait. That means I have to go home and meet… wife?! he screamed in his mind. "W-wife?" his voice stumbled, a mix of shock and panic.
Oswald nodded casually. "Yes, your wife. Why? You're not married?" he asked, looking suspicious.
Nathan shook his head quickly. "No."
"In your previous life, you were single?" Marigold leaned forward, eyes full of curiosity.
"Yes," Nathan answered briefly with a bitter smile. I can't tell them I like guys… ah, pathetic, he thought.
The King, who had been observing, suddenly stepped forward and grabbed Nathan's hand—or rather, Adam's hand. "Then perhaps this will succeed," he said firmly. "A hero named Nathan, inhabiting Adam's body, has arrived in Elberia. To defeat the Dark God, Ash. Perhaps this is destiny."
Nathan shook his head vigorously. "No, I'm not a hero."
"I believe this is your fate," the King replied, gazing at him with certainty.
Nathan remained silent. His lips curved into a small smile, either in acceptance or surrender. Soon, he turned and left the three behind.
"If you need anything, you can come anytime," Erneld said, but deliberately looked away.
Marigold nudged him with a mischievous smile. "You said you didn't want to see him again. You need Adam, not a stranger, right?"
Erneld glared. "I just pity his cluelessness."
"Hahaha, silly Erneld. Of course, I'll come to you," Nathan said, turning and smiling broadly.
"Si-silly, you say?!" Erneld's face turned red. Ugh, if only the real Adam were like this… He sighed, pushing the thought away.
Nathan then left the castle for the marketplace. His eyes immediately fell on the row of stalls. He searched for clothes that were simple and easy to wear. Stopping in front of a clothing store, the shopkeeper reacted immediately. "You… Lord Adam?" he asked in surprise, clearly recognizing Adam.
Nathan was startled but quickly recovered, smiling politely. "Are you selling clothes here for me?"
The shopkeeper nodded. "Yes, sir. What would you like?"
"Casual clothes," Nathan replied, muttering to himself, Why are people afraid of Adam? What should I do to be liked by everyone… The shopkeeper opened a box and pulled out some clothing.
"These are casual clothes," he said proudly.
Nathan looked at them. The style seemed gaudy and strange, far from what he knew. "Anything more casual? Available?" he asked cautiously.
The shopkeeper shook his head. "This is an elf robe. Green robe, white shorts, and white shirt. Lord Adam likes white, right?"
Nathan just nodded to avoid suspicion. Only Oswald, Marigold, Erneld, and the King know I exist. I must not stand out. Everyone thinks I'm dead.
He then remembered payment, but before he could ask, the shopkeeper spoke first.
"You have plenty of savings, sir. Just tell me, I'll access them at Vortos Bank, in the middle of Asyr IV Street."
"S-savings?" Nathan was shocked.
The shopkeeper nodded. "You forgot? You always came here and avoided Vortos Bank because it was tedious."
Nathan took a deep breath. "I'll take these. I'll go to Vortos Bank; can you wait?"
The shopkeeper looked puzzled. "It's the first time Lord Adam acts like this. Are you happy?"
Nathan chuckled lightly. "Eehehe, maybe."
The shopkeeper handed him the box. Nathan tried on the clothes inside the store. Seeing his reflection, he nodded slightly. Surprisingly, they fit, though not his taste. I need to get used to this. This is Adam's body, not mine.
Nathan stepped out of the clothing store. The evening breeze carried the scent of baked bread from a shop across the street. I'll go there later, he thought, eyeing the bakery. He took a deep breath and glanced at the large sign across the street: Vortos Bank. As he pushed the thick glass door, the bell jingled. Several neatly-uniformed employees turned, greeting him warmly. A middle-aged man with a thin mustache and slightly protruding belly hurried toward him.
"Ah, Lord Adam!" he exclaimed cheerfully, patting Nathan's shoulder. "The hero who stopped the Logia Dragon! Welcome!"
Nathan flinched. Hero? Logia Dragon? Oh God, this must be about Adam.
"Ready to claim the gold the emperor awarded?" the man asked, eyes sparkling.
Gold? How much wealth does Adam have? Nathan paused, thoughts spinning.
"How are you, Lord Adam?" the man's voice interrupted his reverie.
Nathan forced a nervous smile. "Uh, I forgot the amount. Hehe…"
The man stared sharply, ensuring he wasn't joking. "Lord Adam, you received one million gold coins from the emperor for helping stop the Logia Dragon. You forgot?"
Nathan's eyes widened slightly but he quickly masked it with a small laugh. "Ah, yes. I remember now. Just joking earlier."
The man laughed heartily. "Hahaha! Don't joke about that; it's unexpected wealth! How much gold do you want?"
Nathan glanced at his outfit—clean white shirt, black vest, and a striking green coat. "Before that… may I ask the price of the clothes I'm wearing? I'm withdrawing money for the first time here."
The man observed Adam's body head to toe. "The shirt and vest… about forty silver. The green coat about sixty silver. So one gold coin is more than enough if paying all at once."
Nathan nodded slowly, then after a moment's thought, said, "Then… I'll need a hundred gold coins."
"Very well, Lord Adam," the man replied, smiling. He turned to a young employee near the desk. "Open Lord Adam's safe. Prepare one hundred gold coins."
Nathan was led to a soft bench at the side of the room. He sat, fingers tapping his knees unconsciously.
So Adam really is a hero… even respected like this. But… where is he now? What is he doing? A faint smile appeared on his lips, whether from admiration or longing for the original owner of this body.
UCLA West Valley Medical Center, Los Angeles, USA — August 26, 2024, 21:05
The night sky over Los Angeles glimmered with city lights, but inside the UCLA West Valley inpatient room, only silence reigned. Pale white lights illuminated the sterile room, and the monitor beside the bed emitted slow beeps, like a heartbeat reluctant to hurry.
Adam—now trapped in Nathan's body—slowly moved his eyelids. His vision was blurry, gradually focusing. He stared at the plain white ceiling, letting consciousness crawl upward.
"What is that?" he murmured softly, puzzled by the dim ceiling light above.
He straightened his body, feeling the cool sheets against his back. His eyes swept across the room—clean, strange, and nothing reminiscent of Elberia. He then turned to the large window by the bed. Beyond the glass, thousands of city lights twinkled, forming rivers of light along the streets, interspersed with faint traffic noise.
"T-this isn't… Elberia?" His voice faltered, full of uncertainty.
His attention shifted to an object on the small table beside the bed: a lamp with a white shade, shining brightly. "What is this?" He reached for it, pressing the top. "AW!" He winced, pulling back. "Hot! Not a lantern? Not a torch? What is this?" he murmured, staring as if it were an alien artifact.
Before he could investigate further, the door suddenly opened.
"UWAAA!" a man standing in the doorway screamed. Bags of groceries tumbled to the floor. "Nathaaaannn!"
The man, Julian, rushed over and hugged Adam tightly. "I was so worried—OOEEKKHH!!"
BAM!
A sharp punch landed squarely on his face. Julian fell backward, clutching his cheek in shock.
"Keep your filthy lips off my face!" Adam shouted. "Don't you have any self-respect kissing another man? Disgusting!"
Julian staggered to his feet, still rubbing his cheek. "WHY DID YOU HIT ME?!"
"Because I'm not gay!" Adam retorted firmly, eyes piercing.
Julian froze, staring at Nathan—or rather, Nathan's body—confused. "You… Nathan, right?"
Adam shook his head and lifted his chin with confidence. "My name is Adam Velcroft, the strongest sorcerer in Elberia! You should be ashamed comparing me to a disgusting man claiming to love me!"
Julian could only blink in disbelief, then reached out to touch Adam's forehead. "You're not crazy, right?"
Adam pushed the hand away roughly. "Take your filthy hand off me!" He jumped down from the bed, moving his hands in a magical formation. "You must be punished for your disrespect! Jasticus Selentum!"
Nothing happened.
Adam squinted, trying again.
"Aestros!" No ice crystal magic emerged.
"Virepus Bestia!" He aimed his hands at Julian, hoping to summon a magical beast to tear him apart. Still, nothing. "My magic!!" he shouted in hysteria.
Julian stared at him like he had gone mad. "Magic? You're insane? I know you've been reading Harry Potter lately, but there's no spell like that in Harry Potter."
"Huh? Harry Potter? What's that?" Adam narrowed his eyes.
"A fictional character, a wizard from England. The novels are very popular here," Julian explained.
"Magic… is a novel? So everyone reads it?!" Adam was astonished.
Julian nodded casually. "Of course, because in this world, there's no magic."
Adam sank to the floor, pale. "A-a world… without magic?"
"You read too many fantasy novels. You must have dreamed this while in a coma."
Adam stared sharply. "Coma? What's that? How can punctuation become a state of being?"
Julian nearly laughed. "Oh my, a coma is a state between life and death. You just came out of it."
Adam froze. "Between life and death. So that's it… Goddess Hestia… soul synchronization… failed?" he murmured softly. He lifted his head. "Who are you?"
Julian smiled warmly. "My name is Julian Miguel. I'm your boyfriend. I know you have amnesia, and maybe—"
"BOYFRIEND?! You mean my guy PARTNER?!" Adam exclaimed in shock.
Julian looked at him strangely. "Yes, of course. Totally normal here in Los Angeles. We've been dating for ten years."
"Los… what?"
"Los Angeles. We're at UCLA West Valley hospital. We were hit by a container truck. You were in a coma; I only had broken bones and some injuries." Julian showed his bandaged hand and several unhealed facial wounds.
Adam fell silent, memories drifting to the divine realm with Nathan and Goddess Hestia. Slowly, he nodded. "I see…."
"Are you okay, Nathan?" Julian asked.
Adam looked at him for a long moment, then softly said, "I'm fine, Julian."
But in his heart, he thought, So I'm in Nathan's body… wait… He walked toward the door, but Julian blocked him.
"Where are you going?"
"Just out for a bit, I can manage," he replied flatly, brushing Julian's hand aside.
Adam descended the stairs to the first floor and stopped in front of a mirror. Nathan's reflection stared back at him: neat hair, handsome face, sturdy body.
Nathan's quite handsome… eh, he murmured, then shook his head. Focus! I need to make sure he survives in Elberia.
A soft voice called from behind.
"Mr. Nathan." Adam turned, giving a faint smile.
"Yes? What is it?" he asked politely.
A woman in a white uniform approached, her steps light but deliberate. "My name is Ami. I'm your nurse," she said quietly, almost in a soothing whisper. "You're not allowed to wander around like this yet."
Adam raised an eyebrow. "Nurse? You mean… doctor?"
Ami looked at him with a confused expression, as if she had just heard an archaic term. "Doctor? No, I'm a nurse. If doctor is an old term, nowadays we call them doctors. A nurse is a doctor's assistant. Your head is okay?"
"I'm fine," Adam replied casually, shaking his head. "I just want some fresh air. The cold in my room isn't comfortable." Without waiting for an answer, he walked toward the first floor. Once there, his eyes were met with unfamiliar sights.
"Wow!" he murmured in awe at the small green plants growing in tiny containers. "Plants put in such a small space!" His steps continued. He noticed a glass table. "Glass table?" he said curiously. Then his gaze stopped at a pair of elegant shoes. He picked them from the rack and tried them on. They fit perfectly.
"Shoes in this world are more stylish… I like it. But the clothes…" He wrinkled his nose in disgust at his hospital gown. "These are like prison uniforms. I need regular clothes, something that doesn't stand out."
"Sir!" A voice called from the reception desk, stopping him.
"Yes?" Adam replied, turning around.
"Are you looking for something?" the receptionist asked politely.
"Do I not have proper clothes to wear?" Adam asked bluntly, showing the pale blue hospital gown.
The receptionist lowered her head, opening an archive. "Your name?"
"Nathan Greyson."
The woman checked the data and pulled out a file. "Ah, your clothes are in the laundry. Mr. Julian already put them there, and they're currently in the dryer."
Adam furrowed his brow. "Laundry… dryer?" he repeated, confused.
The receptionist stifled a laugh. "To get to the laundry room, go straight from this left turn, then the fifth door. There's a sign: 'Washing Room.' That's where the dirty clothes are collected."
Adam nodded briefly and hurried to the Washing Room.
When he arrived, he saw a business card hanging nearby. "Julian Miguel… ah, this…" He reached for the clothes inside the large machine. "What is this machine?" he murmured.
"That's a washing machine," came a voice from the doorway. Julian leaned there, arms crossed. "You really are amnesiac, huh? I'll forgive that, dear."
Adam shivered. "W-what did you just say?" he asked sharply.
"I called you 'dear, Nathan.'" Julian smirked.
Adam's expression hardened, a mix of disgust and disbelief. "Could you just call me by my name, Julian?" he demanded, eyes piercing.
Julian raised both hands in surrender. "Okay, okay, fine. I won't call you 'dear' again. Sorry, Nathan."
"Good," Adam replied shortly. He grabbed a black shirt and white jeans. "I'll take these, okay?"
Julian smiled faintly. "Take them? They're yours. Take everything. I already put them in the machine so you can wear them soon."
Without hesitation, Adam removed his hospital gown inside the Washing Room, lowering his pants and underwear so nothing remained on his body. Julian's eyes widened, trapped by the sight of fair, smooth skin, a muscular but proportionate body. A surge of wild desire sparked in his gaze.
Adam noticed it. "Hey, don't look at me like your wife would in the shower," he said casually, putting on the new clothes.
"W-wife? Since when do you have a wife?" Julian asked, stammering.
"Since ten years ago, up until now. We're still close, talking, supporting each other, kissing, and doing intimate things in bed," Adam replied flatly.
Julian's chest ached with jealousy. "What's her name?"
"Isna. Isna Morgeen."
Julian frowned. "That… doesn't sound like a current name."
"Of course. Not in this era. I've been separated from Isna… wait… what year is it now?"
"2024."
Adam paused, calculating quickly. "Wait…"
Julian stared at him, frozen. If he's thinking like this, he's kinda handsome, he thought.
When Adam finished calculating, he was shocked. "I've been separated from Isna for about five hundred and fifty-four years?!"
"Hah?" Julian looked at him like he'd gone insane.
"Nathan, enough. I'm tired of you acting like this."
"Why? Are you leaving me?" Adam challenged.
"No, idiot! I just don't want you hallucinating like this!" Julian shouted.
Adam narrowed his eyes. "You fool. You think my situation is a hallucination? You think I enjoy being trapped in this body? Without magic, without the King, without my three friends, Oswald, Marigold, Erneld? You think I enjoy hallucinating having a wife named Isna?"
He stepped forward, standing right in front of Julian. His gaze was sharp, challenging. "If I could use magic, the first person I'd erase from under the sky would be YOU!"
Adam roughly pushed Julian, making him stumble.
"Nathan… I—"
Adam raised his hand, palm facing Julian as a stop gesture. "I'm leaving this hospital. You handle the rest."
He turned and walked away, leaving Julian frozen in the doorway, eyes following him with mixed emotions.
To be continued…