Noah stood at the entrance of the hospital. He was discharged now after staying there for the whole day.
He was wearing a normal navy blue t-shirt and black trousers. His white hair was still messy. Yet he looked too handsome. His height was around 182 cm, nearly six feet tall, with a well-built physique.
Honestly, when Noah saw himself in the mirror that morning, he was baffled and happy. He was extremely handsome. So of course he was happy.
He also got his money back with extra compensation. He was delighted about that.
Noah started to walk through the streets of the city.
He was currently in a city named Crythos. He had been living in this same city for the last two months.
Noah stepped out onto the main street, the city unfolding before him in steel, glass, and light.
Towering skyscrapers stretched into the pale sky, their reflective surfaces catching the afternoon sun.
Digital billboards wrapped around entire buildings, flashing advertisements for mana-tech devices, core stabilizers, and the latest combat gear brands.
Cars moved in steady streams along wide roads, their engines humming softly. Some were entirely silent, powered by refined mana batteries.
Citizens filled the sidewalks. Office workers in tailored suits, young students in school uniforms, and street vendors selling steaming snacks from compact metal carts.
The air carried a mix of roasted coffee and fresh street food.
Holographic traffic signals flickered at intersections, adjusting automatically as crowds thickened.
Above the roads, there was a bridge. A metro train ran across it smoothly without making any sound.
Everything felt alive. Life was fast and efficient, just like his past world.
'It doesn't feel much different from my world. The only thing different is that it's a magical world… with a monarchy system, not a democracy.'
Beneath the modern polish, Noah could sense it. Mana flowing invisibly through the city like veins beneath skin. Security drones hovered lazily overhead, scanning for unstable cores or unauthorized spell use. Mana was the primary energy source here for everything.
A group of teenagers walked past him laughing, one casually forming a small orb of flame in his palm before snuffing it out with a grin.
In this world, magic wasn't just imagination.
'I need to take a bus to go to my apartment.'
Noah reached the bus station and waited for the bus to come.
He checked the storage ring on his right hand's index finger. 'It's amazing to have such tech. I can carry many things without any problem.'
He was shocked, but not too much. Mostly because he was slowly getting memories from the real Noah.
Just then the bus arrived, and Noah climbed onto it with the other passengers. Many of them glanced at him, especially women.
Though most people here were very good-looking compared to his past world, Noah was especially more handsome and good-looking compared to many of them.
He paid for his ride on the machine beside the driver. His destination was Navor.
He took a seat near the window. The bus slowly started and ran through the clean roads. The city looked beautiful.
'Oh, I didn't check my status.'
The movement he thought about status. A blue translucent screen appeared in front of him which was only visible to him.
===STATUS===
Name: Noah Eldritch
Race: Human
Age: 19 years
Strength: 79
Speed: 67
Stamina: 84
Endurance: 61
Charm: 501
Mana: 640
Core Rank: Dormant (High)
Potential: Refined Core (High)
Profession: [Swordsmanship Lvl.1], [Spearmanship Lvl.1]
Technique: None
Affinity: Ice
Spells: [Ice Shard], [Frost Bind]
Innate Ability: Ice Creation
===
Noah observed his stats while folding his hands under his chest.
"It's okay, I guess," he muttered.
In truth, he was really disappointed with his stats. He was still at Dormant Core.
Which was the first level of core ranks. So he was at the bottom. At least he was at the high stage, indicating that he could soon break through to the Awakened rank.
In this world, everyone had mana inside their body since birth. But they did not gain true awareness of it immediately. They had to circulate it and try to form a core as they adapted and grew older.
Not everyone could form a mana core. But those who were able to form a Dormant Core could see a status window where their physical stats, abilities, and potential were visible.
At the Dormant level, a person could only do normal things and some low-level basic spells.
Normal-level body enhancement was very limited. Also, mana control was very hard. Sometimes it became unstable to use.
Noah was at the high stage of Dormant Core, which meant his control over mana was good.
Also, some people gained an innate ability once they formed a Dormant Core. It was rare; not everyone possessed an innate ability.
Noah was lucky to have one.
"As much as I know from the memories… having an Awakened Core in the first year at the academy is very common. Being at the high stage is ideal."
He closed the status window.
Soon the bus came to a smooth halt at Navor Street.
The doors slid open with a soft hiss.
Noah stood up, adjusting his shirt slightly before stepping down onto the pavement. The bus pulled away almost immediately, merging back into the flow of traffic.
Navor Street was quieter compared to the main roads. The towering commercial buildings were replaced with mid-rise residential complexes.
Cafés with outdoor seating lined one side of the street, while convenience stores and small mana-device repair shops occupied the other.
He walked at a normal pace.
Streetlights stood evenly spaced along the sidewalks, their bases etched with faint rune lines that glowed softly as evening approached. The air here felt calmer and less rushed than the city center.
After a few minutes, Noah stopped in front of a twelve-story residential building.
Silvercrest Residences, Block C – 118 Navor Street, Crythos
The building's exterior was simple but modern. Gray concrete layered with dark glass panels. A digital security panel stood beside the entrance.
Noah tapped the screen and pressed his thumb against the verification pad. A faint blue light scanned his fingerprint.
Resident Verified – Unit C-804
The doors slid open.
The lobby inside was modest but clean. Soft lighting illuminated marble-patterned tiles. A reception desk sat unattended at the side, replaced mostly by automated systems.
A pair of indoor plants stood near the elevator, their leaves unusually vibrant, likely enhanced by mana-infused soil.
Noah stepped into the elevator and pressed 8.
The ride was smooth and silent.
When the doors opened, a quiet hallway greeted him. Beige walls, evenly spaced doors, and muted lighting gave the place a calm atmosphere. His footsteps echoed faintly as he walked down the corridor.
He stopped in front of Unit C-804.
Pulling a small metallic keycard from his pocket, he tapped it against the lock. The door clicked open.
Noah stepped inside.
The apartment was not too big but comfortable, perfect for a single person.
A small living area greeted him first. A dark gray sofa faced a huge black TV screen.
A simple glass coffee table stood in front of it. To the right was a compact kitchen space. Clean counters, a two-burner induction stove, a small refrigerator, and neatly arranged cabinets.
To the left, a short hallway led to the bedroom and bathroom.
The bedroom held a queen-sized bed with plain white sheets, a study desk placed near the window, and a built-in wardrobe. The window overlooked the city skyline, now tinted orange as the sun began to lower.
It wasn't luxurious. But it was peaceful. He felt familiar with this place.
Noah closed the door behind him and exhaled slowly.
"So… this is my current home," he muttered under his breath.
For now, at least.
Just when he thought about resting for a while, his mobile started to ring.
Beep!
Beep!
Noah took out his mobile to check who it was.
"Father?"
His eyes widened slightly.