Kaine stepped out of the room with Ella at his side. The hallway stretched before them like something from a palace. High ceilings with carved decorations, marble floors that gleamed under crystal chandeliers, and paintings covering every wall. The place was huge, bigger than any house he'd ever imagined.
As they walked, his eyes caught a portrait hanging prominently near a grand staircase. It showed a younger version of himself, maybe twelve or thirteen, dressed in elaborate clothes that looked expensive but old-fashioned. Not quite medieval, but definitely not modern either.
Next to it hung another portrait. A man who looked remarkably like Kaine, but older and harder. His eyes were cold, calculating, with the kind of expression that suggested he didn't smile often. The resemblance was unmistakable.
'That must be Kaine's father,' Kaine thought. 'He looks like someone you wouldn't want to cross.'
"Young Lord?" Ella's voice broke through his thoughts. She seemed nervous, fidgeting with her hands. "How are you feeling? Are you experiencing any pain or dizziness?"
Kaine hesitated. He didn't trust his own voice yet, wasn't sure what this Kaine person was supposed to sound like. Better to keep things simple.
"I'm fine," he said quietly.
Ella nodded, but her eyes stayed worried as they continued down the corridor.
After several minutes of walking through what felt like an endless maze of luxury, they reached a set of ornate double doors. Ella pushed them open, revealing what she'd called a bath.
Kaine's jaw dropped. This wasn't a bathroom. This was something else entirely.
The room was massive, dominated by what could only be described as a small pool. Steam rose from the crystal-clear water, and the air smelled like lavender and something floral. Marble columns surrounded the space, and soft light filtered down from skylights above.
But what really caught his attention were the two women standing beside the pool. They were both beautiful, dressed in thin white gowns that left little to the imagination. One of the women's gown had slipped, revealing her breast completely, while the other remained somewhat covered.
"They will be your assistants for today, Young Lord," Ella said matter-of-factly.
"Huh?" Kaine's voice cracked. "My what?"
Ella looked at him strangely. "Your bathing assistants. One will help wash your back while the other tends to your body. This is how it's always been done."
Kaine's face turned red instantly. His mind raced with thoughts that definitely weren't appropriate for the situation.
'Holy shit,' he thought. 'Is this really happening? This can't be real. But if it is... maybe dying wasn't the worst thing that could have happened to me.'
"I... okay," he managed to stammer.
The two women smiled and began helping him undress. Their hands were gentle, professional, but Kaine felt like his entire body was on fire. When they guided him into the warm water, he thought he might actually faint.
'This has to be heaven,' he thought as one of the women began washing his shoulders with a soft cloth. 'There's no way this is real life.'
The woman in front of him leaned forward to reach something, and water splashed across her thin gown. The fabric became completely transparent, revealing her breasts in perfect detail.
"Oh shit," Kaine whispered, his eyes going wide.
He tried to look away, really tried, but his teenage brain had completely short-circuited. He kept stealing glances, then looking away, then looking again. He couldn't help wishing it was the other woman, the one with the larger chest, but he wasn't about to complain about his current situation.
The women seemed completely unbothered by his obvious staring, continuing their work with professional efficiency. Kaine spent the entire bath trying not to embarrass himself while simultaneously wondering if this was all some elaborate dream.
When they finally finished and helped him out of the pool, Kaine felt like a new person. Clean, relaxed, and definitely more awake than he'd been since arriving in this strange new world.
Ella was waiting with fresh clothes. Not his usual jeans and t-shirt, but elaborate garments that matched the old-fashioned style he'd seen in the portraits. The fabric was soft and expensive, fitting him perfectly.
"You look very handsome, Young Lord," Ella said with a genuine smile.
"Thank you," Kaine replied, adjusting the unfamiliar collar.
As they walked toward what Ella called the dining hall, she kept glancing at him sideways. Something in her expression had changed, like she was seeing him differently.
'Something has changed about the Young Lord,' Ella thought to herself. 'He seems... different somehow. More humble, less demanding. I hope this continues.'
The dining hall was another massive space with a table that could seat twenty people easily. At the far end sat his mother, looking elegant in a dark dress that made her black hair shine like silk. Behind her stood a tall man with gloved hands, obviously some kind of personal guard or butler.
Kaine took his seat across from her, still adjusting to the formal atmosphere.
"How are you feeling, my darling?" his mother asked, her voice warm with maternal concern. "The physician said you should take things slowly for a few days."
"I feel better," Kaine said simply.
She smiled, clearly pleased to see him up and moving. "Wonderful. I've had the kitchen prepare all your favorite dishes to celebrate your recovery."
A parade of servants began bringing food to the table. Kaine's eyes widened as dish after dish appeared. Roasted meats, elaborate vegetables, fruits he didn't recognize, and breads that smelled incredible. At the center of the table, they placed an entire roasted pig's head, complete with an apple in its mouth.
One of the serving maids approached with a small dish of what looked like spices. She gestured toward it and said something about special ingredients, but Kaine barely heard her. He was staring at the spices themselves, which were glowing faintly with their own light.
'What the hell is that?' he thought, his eyes wide as dinner plates. The glowing ingredients looked like something from a fantasy game, not real food.
Before he could process that fully, another servant approached with a large piece of raw chicken. She held her hand over it, and suddenly flames erupted from her palm, cooking the meat in seconds. The chicken went from raw to perfectly roasted in the time it took Kaine to blink.
His mouth fell open. 'Did she just... did she just shoot fire from her hands? What kind of world is this?'
As the servants finished preparing the table, his mother raised her wine glass. "Tonight is special," she said genuinely. "My son has returned to us, and we should all celebrate together. Please, join us."
The servants looked surprised but pleased. A bald man who was obviously the head cook grinned widely and sat down at the table.
"Young Lord," the cook said with a theatrical bow, "I've prepared your favorite honey cakes for dessert. Though I may have accidentally made them sweet enough to knock out a horse!" He laughed at his own joke, and several of the other servants joined in.
"Thank you".
The atmosphere became relaxed and joyful. Servants shared stories and jokes while Kaine tried to process everything he was seeing. Throughout the meal, he noticed Ella watching him carefully, and the guard behind his mother never took his eyes off Kaine either.
'At least they seem to care about this Kaine person,' Kaine thought, feeling somewhat relieved despite the strangeness of everything. 'And that magic... I really need to understand what's going on here.'
After what felt like hours of eating and casual conversation, Ella escorted him back to his room.
"Sleep well, Young Lord," she said softly. "Tomorrow will be a new day, and I have a feeling it will be quite different from today."
Alone in his room, Kaine looked around more carefully. The space was enormous, with a four-poster bed, expensive furniture, and dozens of portraits covering the walls. All of them showed different stages of Kaine's life, from childhood to the present day.
He walked to the large windows and gazed out at the city below. At night, it looked even more magical. Lights twinkled like stars, and the massive wall surrounding everything was illuminated by torches that burned with different colored flames.
After a few minutes of taking in the view, Kaine turned back toward the room.
"System," he said aloud.
[Yes, Host?] The text appeared immediately in front of him.
"Am I ready to know what's really going on now?"
[Yes, Host. You have adapted sufficiently to your new circumstances. Let us begin the explanation. This world is not the Earth you knew...]