Warm air brushed against Elena's skin as if greeting her return.
She sat frozen at the edge of the enormous bed, the System's last words echoing in her head:
> [Your destined mate awaits your awakening.]
Mate.
Healer Core.
Transmigrated.
Another world.
She shook her head. "This can't be happening. I'm hallucinating. I must be."
But hallucinations didn't have temperature-controlled air.
They didn't show landscapes that stretched beyond the laws of physics.
And they definitely didn't speak inside your mind with perfect clarity.
Elena exhaled shakily and forced herself to look around the room again.
This time, she noticed details she had missed in her panic.
The ceiling was curved and supported by wooden beams that pulsed with faint lines of blue light, like energy veins woven into the structure.
The stone walls were smooth, etched with geometric patterns that glowed softly.
Near the bed, a carved stand held strange metallic objects—some looked like weapons, others like tools from an ancient fantasy.
Everything here felt ancient… and futuristic at the same time.
Elena slid off the bed, her bare feet sinking into a soft, fur-like rug.
The moment her toes brushed the fabric, a gentle warmth spread upward, adjusting exactly to her body temperature.
She gasped quietly.
The room… responded to her?
"System," she whispered, "is this… place alive?"
> [The room is attuned to your Core signature.]
[The Valley adapts to its inhabitants.]
She frowned. "I don't even know what a Core signature is."
> [You will learn.]
The reassurance did nothing to calm her.
---
THE BATHROOM OF LIGHT
Needing something familiar to latch onto, Elena headed toward the dark wooden door she spotted earlier.
It slid open with a soft hiss the moment her hand neared it.
Inside was a bathroom straight out of a dream.
A large stone tub sat in the center, overflowing with gently steaming water.
The aroma—fresh, clean, faintly sweet—calmed her nerves despite her fear.
A waterfall-like stream continuously refilled it, and the water shimmered with faint green light.
When she dipped her fingers in, the water instantly shifted from warm to the exact comfortable temperature she preferred back home.
Her breath hitched.
"What kind of technology… is this?"
> [Energy responsiveness. Common in the Core Age.]
"Core Age…" Elena repeated softly.
Her reflection caught her eye.
She stepped closer to the mirror—an oval of polished metal-like glass—and her heart stilled.
The woman staring back was her… but not her.
Her skin was fairer, glowing faintly as though lit from beneath.
Her lips were fuller, naturally rosy.
Her eyelashes darker, thicker.
Her hair fell in softer waves.
Her figure looked subtly more graceful, more balanced.
And on the inside of her wrist, a faint symbol glowed—like a tiny pulse of green light beneath her skin.
"What happened to me?"
> [Physical enhancement triggered by the Core awakening.]
[Your Healer element synchronizes with your mate's bond.]
Elena snapped her head up.
"I told you—I don't know him. I don't even know his name!"
The System's tone remained calm:
> [You will. He is approaching.]
Her heart stopped.
"A—approaching? Coming here?"
> [Yes. He sensed your awakening the moment your Core stabilized.]
[He is returning from the battlefield.]
A spike of panic shot through her chest.
"I'm not ready to meet someone who thinks I'm his—his—mate!"
> [Calm yourself. Your bond ensures safety.]
"That's not calming!"
She paced the room in agitation, hands shaking.
But no matter how she tried to deny the situation, something deep within her responded—an instinctual pull toward something vast and warm, like a tether pulling her heart quietly forward.
This world… recognized her.
This room… welcomed her.
This bond… waited for her.
She didn't understand any of it.
---
THE HALL OF SCREENS
The air suddenly shifted—just enough for her nerves to tighten.
A faint vibration hummed beneath the floorboards, then the wall opposite her flickered to life.
A massive panel expanded into a clear image—like a holographic CCTV feed.
Elena startled. "What is that?"
> [Valley surveillance. Status dashboards. Common in private quarters of high-ranked individuals.]
The screen displayed:
– People walking on bright pathways
– Armored guards training
– Children practicing energy control
– Workers mining glowing crystals
– Machines repairing towers
– Floating platforms moving between buildings
It looked like a living city… a kingdom powered by electricity itself.
"This… is all real," she whispered.
She touched the screen without thinking—her fingers passed through it like smoke.
Then suddenly—
A soft tap sounded on her shoulder.
Elena jumped and spun around.
---
CLARA — THE FIRST FRIEND
Standing behind her was a small girl with bright green hair styled into puffy twin-tails, sparkling emerald eyes, and a cute round face. She wore a short tunic with glowing silver patterns.
She smiled warmly. "Oh! You're awake! Finally!"
Elena blinked. "You… can see me?"
The girl tilted her head. "Should I not?"
Elena flushed. "I—I just… didn't expect anyone here."
The girl giggled. "I'm Clara! Wife of Martin—the electric general. Don't worry, I'm harmless. And I've been waiting to meet you."
Clara approached with gentle steps and looked Elena over as if examining a rare treasure.
"We found you near the Valley wall a while ago… your soul form, actually. You looked completely different then. It's nice to finally see your body too."
Elena stiffened.
"My soul… what?"
Clara clasped her hands. "Oh, you have amnesia, right? It's okay! You can ask anything."
The System whispered:
> [Maintain the amnesia act. It keeps you safe.]
Elena nodded slowly. "Yes. I… don't remember much."
"That's alright!" Clara said brightly. "Everyone here is dying to meet you, but the Commander said to give you space."
Elena's breath hitched at "Commander."
Clara didn't notice.
She grabbed Elena's hand gently. "Come! You must be hungry. Let's get you something to eat before he returns."
"He… he's coming?"
Clara's smile softened knowingly.
"Oh yes. He's rushing back the moment he felt your Core spark."
Elena's pulse hammered.
Clara squeezed her hand.
"Don't worry. Aren never hurts what he protects."
Aren.
So that was his name.
The name of the man whose energy resonated with hers… the one she was bonded to… the one who ruled this valley.
The one who was coming for her.
And as Clara led her out of the glowing room and into the future she never believed in, Elena felt her heart race with fear, curiosity, and something else—
A strange flutter.
A pull.
A recognition she didn't yet understand.
Whatever awaited her in this world… had already chosen her.