Ethan spent the rest of the day in deep meditation, only waking the next morning after he had totally lost track of time. He stretched, his muscles protesting as he looked out the window at the dew-kissed morning. "Ugh, my back hurts from sitting in the same position for too long," he groaned. "Tsk. Never again. I don't care how it affects my absorption; I'm taking a comfortable position next time."
He sighed, the reality of his situation settling in. "Ughh... looks like it's morning already. Wow, the second day. It really sinks in now—I'm really in another world. Just yesterday, I can remember complaining about work..."
"hmppfff." He couldn't hold his laughter in, thinking about the absurd contrast between his previous life and Talruy.
"I'll have to accept being an ascendant now, I guess. And honestly, I can't afford to die early, not when I finally have the opportunity to live for myself. Regardless of what Leo wants, I'm only doing this because I owe him for the opportunity. I'm living for no one else this time. I only want to see the limit of what this Path has to offer, and nothing is going to stop me." A look of fierce determination settled on his face.
He stood up, but immediately lost his balance as his vision blurred into a dizzying swirl. "What the... was I poisoned?...
I can't control my body.
No, no, no, no! This can't be happening to me!"
Trying his absolute best to grab onto something—anything—but his limbs refused to obey. He collapsed, hitting the floor with the full weight of his body, a sharp, intense pain blooming from the impact.
"No... what is this? The door is still locked.
The window is open, but this is the second floor... no one could have come in."
Panic seized him. I have to call someone! Immediately, he remembered. Yes, Sansa! I need to call her... my soulband can do that....
His thoughts were frantic. Now I just need to fiddle with it a little. Why.....why is it so hard to move my body?... Am I gonna die here?
"No! I just started this Path! I refuse to die like this, without anyone knowing!" With red eyes blazing with anger and tears almost spilling through, he finally pulled enough control to move a single finger, swiping desperately at his soulband interface to call Sansa.
The call connected instantly. He heard her voice, calm and clear. "Open your door with your soulband."
He could barely process the command. "Huh?"
"I said, use your soulband to open your door. I'm waiting outside right now."
She's waiting outside? Without another thought, grabbing onto this lifeline, he found the door control on his interface and clicked it. A soft click echoed from the lock. He let out a ragged breath, his body still paralyzed on the floor.
Sansa walked in slowly, a smile on her face that looked threatening to the defenseless Ethan. Before he could speak, he heard a second pair of footsteps behind her and immediately fell silent, his thoughts whirling. The initial panic subsided just enough for suspicion to creep in.
What is she doing outside my room? It's still early, and it's not time for our tutoring. Who is that with her?
A new wave of anger and helplessness washed over him as he strained his neck to see the newcomer.
Don't tell me she's behind this, and I just let her in to finish me off without thinking. So much for my overconfidence as a main character, huh?
The second person spoke, pulling him from his thoughts. "Wow, I don't think I'm ever gonna see you in this condition again. I better keep a picture for myself. Hehe."
Hearing the mockery, Ethan's anger threatened to boil over. He heard a click and knew the stranger was taking pictures. What pissed him off more was Sansa's silent complicity.
What is this? Who is this person?
Then, a realization dawned. The voice sounded familiar.
In that moment, Sansa finally spoke. "Alan, that's enough. Stop teasing him already. And you, Ethan—do you need my help?"
Ethan finally calmed, the tension draining as he recognized Alan's voice. He took a deep breath. "Yes, please. I need your help, as you can see. I can't move at all. Using my finger is the absolute limit of my energy."
Sansa laughed. "Well, of course. Did you think using your breathing technique didn't have a toll at all? Hehe."
Ethan sighed in exasperation. "I thought I was paralyzed, or worse! You know, you could have mentioned this yesterday while explaining the breathing technique, right?"
Sansa laughed again, taking a seat on his bed. "Well, I could have, but you never asked, and I totally forgot about a minor detail like that. But of course, now that the topic has been brought up, I can explain what happened to you as your tutor.
Would you like to hear the reason now?" Her voice was laced with a teasing chuckle as she strained the "now" dropping subtle hints.
Taking another breath, he replied, "Yes, of course, I'd like that. But before that, I'd love to be able to move again. Is there a way, or do I have to lie here until I recover my strength?"
Sansa chuckled. "Well, of course, there's a way to recover, and it's pretty easy. You just need a recovery potion from the Order store. You can purchase one, and it'll be delivered to your room within the day. But of course, if you can't wait that long for the potion..." She let the sentence hang.
Ethan, realizing the setup, decided to play along, accepting his loss. "Let's hear it, Lady Sansa. I'm sure you know I can't wait long like this for a store delivery."
Hearing him call her "Lady," Sansa understood he knew what was coming but continued regardless. "I happen to have one of my potions here with me, if you need it. Thirty points only, and you'll be fine immediately."
Ethan was quiet for a moment, then decided to try something. "Alan, you're quiet?"
Sansa replied before Alan could. "Of course. Both of you were supposed to be in the same condition. But somehow, I realize you boys are even more monstrous than your affinity talent. Imagine finding out I'm tutoring someone with an Elemental Body! Isn't that amazing?"
Ethan was quiet for a moment, before finally replying, "I see... I'll take the potion."
Immediately, Sansa stood up, clapping twice. "Thank you for your patronage! Here." She threw a green-colored vial to Alan. "He just needs to drink it. As soon as I get my payment, I'll let you boys be until it's time for your lessons."
Alan caught the potion and rushed to Ethan, turning him over and emptying the contents into his mouth. Ethan contemplated resisting for a second but eventually gave up. The effect was almost instant. He felt energy slowly return to his body, and soon he could move. He slowly sat up.
"Thank you, Sansa. Here are your points." He swiped his interface, sending the payment.
"I 'owe' you one," he said with an eerie smile that broke Sansa's composure for a moment. She shrugged and catwalked out of the room. "Of course, anytime. See you boys later."
After she left, Ethan slowly stood up and walked into the bathroom for a shower without a word to Alan, silently fuming at his loss. Ethan was fiercely competitive; he was always the one playing pranks, not the victim.
This first experience of its kind in a new world—a world without Earth's restrictive rules—angered him, but also served as another wake-up call. This world wasn't for the faint of heart.
Smiling in the shower, he almost felt grateful to Sansa for the lesson. "No... I'll have my day. She's not gonna get this win."
Turning off the water, he walked out naked, forgetting Alan was still in his room.
Alan looked up. "Come on, man, cover up! I'm still here, you know!"
Ethan, stuck in his thoughts, turned with a silly look on his face. "Oh... sorry. So, tell me, did you find anything about the Blue Mountains?"