Rowan spent the day exploring the city, marveling at the towering buildings and the hum of technology. Even though his memories of this world were intact, experiencing it firsthand was different.
'Not a bad place to live at all.'
Still, he had things to figure out, but that could wait.
With nowhere else to go, he headed back to his apartment complex. The taxi ride nearly drained his wallet, and he muttered under his breath,
"I really need some money."
The building was modest, with a broken elevator, so he took the stairs. By the time he reached his floor, he was patting his pockets for his keys when he noticed someone behind him.
A woman.
Ms. Smith.
His neighbor.
She was older, mid-thirties, maybe, but stunning. Blonde hair, curves in all the right places, and a mature allure that made her even more attractive. She lived alone with her young child, and though Rowan didn't know much about her situation, he knew enough to recognize opportunity when he saw it.
'Calm down.'
He pushed his door open when her voice called out—
"Rowan!"
He turned, feigning surprise. "Oh, hey Ms. Smith. Didn't see you there. Got a lot on my mind."
She seemed nervous, which intrigued him. In his past life, he'd dealt with every kind of woman, shy, bold, obsessive, but Ms. Smith didn't strike him as the timid type.
She cleared her throat. "Uhm… Rowan, I remember you said you were a personal trainer, right?"
'Oh? Where's this going?'
He nodded. "Yeah, I am. What's wrong? You okay?"
"Well, I've been thinking of getting in shape," she admitted, shifting slightly. "I was hoping you could help me? Guide me, I mean. Of course, I'll pay you!" She laughed nervously. "Hahaha, I won't take advantage of you."
It was almost cute.
Rowan studied her, a slow smirk forming in his mind.
'If life gives you lemons… you make lemonade.'
"Oh, of course, Ms. Smith. I can help."
"Really?" Her eyes lit up. "Are you free tomorrow? I just bought some training clothes." She held up her shopping bags, some filled with groceries, others with sportswear brands.
"Yeah, I'm free. Just tell me the time. I'll prepare some stuff, and we can go through some questions tomorrow to see how we move forward."
Her smile brightened. "Thank you so much, Rowan! You're such a savior."
She gave a small wave before turning toward her apartment, leaving Rowan standing there, staring at her door.
'Well. Seems the plan laid itself out.'
Rowan entered his apartment and looked around. The place wasn't bad, but it had seen better days. It was spacious enough, and John was still paying the rent.
Rowan sighed. 'Aren't we relying too much on that man? He doesn't seem like a bad guy, but a man should stand on his own two feet. We should stand on our two feet.'
He stretched and walked into the bedroom. A tall, cracked mirror stood against one wall, long enough to show his full reflection.
Rowan quickly stripped naked and stood in front of the mirror.
'Damn… what the hell is this?'
He stared in disbelief. This body had a micro penis.
'Man… who did you offend in your last life?' Besides the tiny issue between his legs, the body was clearly unfit.
'Personal trainer my ass.'
While clothed, it wasn't obvious. But naked, the soft belly and lack of muscle tone were plain to see. His face was tan, with black eyes and black hair. The bone structure wasn't bad, but it was hidden under a layer of facial fat. His skin was decent, though, just a little rough.
Despite all these shortcomings, Rowan didn't seem upset or hopeless, just disappointed.
He had a plan.
'Mmmh… in my last life, I had a strong magical physique. I wonder if it came with me. But ever since I've been here, I haven't sensed any magic or felt any energy. Is it that weak here, or is there none at all?'
In his previous life, he'd been talented, but early mistakes with resources had forced him to rely on… unconventional methods to grow stronger.
Sex with women.
Through a secret ability he had, he could absorb vital energy from women during intimacy. The more intense the connection, the more energy he drew. He refined that energy to purify his body, enhance his physique, and even alter his appearance over time.
'But I need to gather some energy and cleanse this body. Even if it's small.'
If he could collect enough energy, even from a world with thin or dormant magic, it might awaken his old gifts. That would fix more than just the pinky situation downstairs. He'd improve all around. Even if this world's energy was faint, he'd find a way.
He got dressed again, a calm resolve settling over him.
'Or maybe Ms. Smith is exactly the opportunity I need.'
Rowan sighed deeply, glancing down at his body. 'But with this pinky down there… I might not even get anywhere in the first place. I need to find a better position.'
He pulled his shirt off and sat down on the floor, crossing his legs in a meditation pose. Closing his eyes, he focused on his breathing, trying to tap into the energy of this world.
'Theoretically, as long as I can absorb energy, I can bring my talents back,' he thought.
He sat quietly, his breathing steady, trying to feel the air around him. At first, he felt nothing, just the silence of the room and the faint hum of the city outside. But then, slowly, he began to sense something.
Energy. Faint, barely there, but energy nonetheless.
The problem was how excruciatingly slow it was.
In his previous world, the energy had been abundant, flowing freely through the air and the earth. Here, it was like trying to sip through a straw in a desert.
'Damn, this is dragging,' he thought, frustrated. 'No wonder I preferred the unconventional methods.'
He opened his eyes, his brow furrowed as he ran through his options. He needed energy, and he needed it fast. Meditation wasn't going to cut it.
'I could try cultivating over time,' he mused, 'but that'll take months, years, even. And by then, I'll still be stuck with this body.'
Another thought crossed his mind, and he frowned.
'The fastest way would be through intimate energy exchange… but with this body, who would even want to? Unless…'
The idea crystallized.
'Unless I pay for it.'
Prostitutes. It wasn't ideal, but it was practical. He didn't need love or connection, just energy. It was transactional, straightforward, and effective.
But there was one glaring issue.
'But first… I need money.'
He leaned back, staring at the ceiling.