Noah stood at the entrance of the hospital. He had been discharged after staying there for the entire day.
He was wearing a plain navy-blue T-shirt and black trousers. His white hair was still slightly messy. He stood around 182 cm tall, nearly six feet, with a well-built physique.
Honestly, when Noah saw himself in the mirror that morning, he had been both baffled and delighted. He was extremely handsome. So, of course, he was happy.
He had also received his money back, along with additional compensation. He was delighted about that.
Noah began walking through the city streets.
He was currently in a city called Crythos. He had been living there for the past two months.
Noah stepped onto the main street, the city unfolding before him in steel, glass, and light.
Towering skyscrapers stretched toward 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 the wide roads, their engines humming softly. Some were completely 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 the aroma of roasted coffee mixed with freshly prepared street food.
Holographic traffic signals flickered at intersections, adjusting automatically as the crowds thickened.
Above the roads stretched an elevated bridge, where a metro train glided across without making a single sound.
Everything felt alive. Life was fast and efficient, just like in his previous world.
'It doesn't feel much different from my world. The only difference is that it's a magical world... with a monarchy instead of a democracy.'
Beneath the city's modern appearance, Noah could sense it.
Mana flowed invisibly through the city like veins beneath skin.
Security drones hovered lazily overhead, scanning for unstable mana cores or unauthorized spell usage.
Mana was the primary source of energy for almost everything.
A group of teenagers walked past him laughing, one of them 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 get to my apartment.'
Noah arrived at the bus station and waited for the bus.
He glanced at the storage ring on the index finger of his right hand.
'It's amazing to have technology like this. I can carry so many things without any trouble.'
He was amazed, though not overly shocked.
That was mostly because he was gradually inheriting the original Noah's memories.
Just then, the bus arrived, and Noah boarded with the other passengers. Many of them glanced at him, especially the women.
He paid for the ride using the payment machine beside the driver. His destination was Navor.
Taking a seat by the window, Noah watched as the bus slowly pulled away and drove through the clean streets.
The city looked beautiful.
'Oh, I haven't checked my status yet.'
The moment the thought crossed his mind, a translucent blue screen appeared before him, visible only to his eyes.
===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 Lv. 1], [Spearmanship Lv. 1]
Technique: None
Affinity: Ice
Spells: [Ice Shard], [Frost Bind]
Innate Ability: Ice Creation
===
Noah studied his stats while folding his arms across his chest.
"It's okay, I guess," he muttered.
In truth, he was rather disappointed with them.
He was still at the Dormant Core rank.
It was the very first stage of mana core development.
In other words, he was at the bottom.
At least he had reached the High stage, meaning he could soon break through to the Awakened rank.
In this world, everyone was born with mana inside their bodies.
However, they did not become truly aware of it immediately.
They had to circulate their mana and gradually form a mana core as they grew older.
Not everyone succeeded in forming one.
But those who managed to awaken a Dormant Core gained access to a status window that displayed their physical attributes, abilities, and potential.
At the Dormant Core level, a person could only perform ordinary physical feats along with a few basic low-level spells.
Physical enhancement through mana was extremely limited.
Mana control was also difficult and often unstable during use.
Noah was already at the High stage of the Dormant Core, which meant his mana control was relatively good.
In addition, some people awakened an Innate Ability upon forming a Dormant Core.
It was rare.
Not everyone possessed one.
Fortunately, Noah did.
"As far as I know from Noah's memories... having an Awakened Core during the first year at the academy is very common. Being at the High stage of Dormant Core is considered ideal."
He closed the status window.
Soon, the bus came to a smooth stop at Navor Street.
The doors slid open with a soft hiss.
Noah stood up, adjusted his shirt slightly, and stepped onto the pavement.
The bus pulled away almost immediately, merging back into the steady flow of traffic.
Navor Street was much quieter than the city's main roads.
The towering commercial buildings had given way to 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 relaxed pace.
Streetlights stood evenly spaced along the sidewalks, their bases etched with faint rune patterns that glowed softly as evening approached.
The atmosphere here felt calmer and less hurried than in 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 yet modern, with gray concrete layered between dark glass panels.
A digital security panel stood beside the entrance.
Noah tapped the screen before pressing 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 the marble-patterned floor tiles.
A reception desk stood off to one side, though it was unattended, as most of the building's operations were handled 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 the button for the eighth floor.
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 corridor a peaceful atmosphere.
His footsteps echoed faintly as he walked toward his apartment.
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 wasn't very large, but it was comfortable.
Perfect for someone living alone. A small living room greeted him first. A dark gray sofa faced a large black television. A simple glass coffee table stood between them.
To the right was a compact kitchen with clean countertops, a two-burner induction stove, a small refrigerator, and neatly organized cabinets.
To the left, a short hallway led to the bedroom and bathroom.
The bedroom contained a queen-sized bed with plain white sheets, a study desk positioned near the window, and a built-in wardrobe.
The window overlooked the city skyline, now bathed in the warm orange glow of the setting sun.
It wasn't luxurious. But it was peaceful. The place felt familiar.
Noah closed the door behind him and let out a slow breath. "So... this is my current home," he muttered under his breath.
"For now, at least."
Just as he was about to rest for a while, his phone began to ring.
Beep!
Beep!
Noah took out his phone to see who was calling.
"Father?"
His eyes widened slightly.
[A/N: Sorry for the excessive descriptions. I wanted to give you all a better view of the city so you could visualize it more clearly.]