Lucas stood at the entrance of the house, staring down at his old shoes.
Worn at the edges.
The sole slightly loose.
He hadn't gone for a run in years.
In his previous life, his body had been shaped by long work hours, not exercise. Strength gained through exhaustion, not health. By the time he had thought about taking care of himself, it was already too late.
He took a quiet breath and stepped outside.
The summer air was thick and warm. Cicadas screamed from the trees, their sound filling the quiet neighborhood. A few people were already outside, an old man sweeping the road, a woman hanging clothes.
Lucas lowered his head slightly and began to jog.
At first, it felt… awkward.
His steps were uneven. His breathing shallow. His body unfamiliar with the movement, as if it didn't quite understand what he was asking of it.
Slow, he told himself.
Just go slow.
After barely a minute, his chest tightened.
His breath grew rough.
His legs felt heavier than he expected.
"So exhausted already…" he muttered under his breath.
Sweat quickly forming on his forehead, trickling down his neck. His old shoes rubbed against his heels, each step slightly uncomfortable.
He wanted to stop.
The thought came naturally, almost gently.
You can stop.
This is enough.
No one is watching.
But another memory surfaced.
A factory floor.
The smell of oil.
His mother's pale face.
His brother forcing a smile while saying he wasn't hungry.
Lucas clenched his teeth and kept moving.
Each step felt like it was scraping something raw inside him.
His lungs burned.
His vision blurred slightly.
His pace slowed to something barely faster than walking.
A couple of kids passed him on bicycles, laughing.
Lucas felt his face heat up not from shame this time, but from effort.
It's fine, he thought.
I'm not competing with anyone.
After a few more painful minutes, his legs finally gave in.
He stopped near a quiet corner of the street and bent forward,his hands on his knees, breathing heavily.
"Haa… haa…"
His whole body trembled.
This wasn't heroic.
This wasn't impressive.
It was pathetic.
And yet—
He straightened slowly and looked up at the sky.
Blue, Clear and Endless.
"I didn't quit," he whispered.
At that moment, a familiar sound echoed in his mind.
[DING]
Beginner Mission Completed:
✔ Accepted reality
✔ Stabilized mental state
✔ Complete a simple run
Reward Acquired:
+1 Mental Endurance
+Minor Emotional Resistance
Lucas didn't feel stronger.
His legs still aching.
His chest burning.
But something inside him felt… steadier.
The heaviness in his chest had lightened just a little.
Not gone.
Just quieter.
He began walking back home at a slow pace.
Each step felt more grounded than the last.
This was enough for today.
One run.
One small promise kept.
As he reached his house and placed a hand on the door, Lucas paused.
"This time," he said softly,
"I'll move forward no matter how slow it is."
The cicadas cried again.
Summer continued.
And Lucas Cole took his first real step into his second life.