The internal clock of a martial arts practitioner is a difficult thing to break. At exactly 4:00 AM, my eyes snapped open. There was no grogginess, only the sharp, disciplined readiness that Teacher had instilled in me. I slipped out of the plush bed and looked around the room.
The "Choyun" I had replaced was wealthy beyond anything I had ever seen as an orphan. I opened a massive walk-in closet filled with high-end athletic gear. I picked out a simple black compression suit and running shoes, marveling at the quality of the fabric. I stepped out of my room and began to navigate the house. Calling it a house was an insult; it was a fortress of marble and glass.
Alfred, the British butler my grandfather had assigned to the household, was already moving through the lower levels like a well-oiled machine. He gave a slight, stiff bow as I passed him in the hallway.
"Good morning, Master Choyun. You are up quite early."
"Gotta do some workout, Alfred." I replied, my voice carrying a new, steady weight.
I stepped outside into the cool morning air of the estate. The grounds were massive, surrounded by high stone walls that kept the chaos of Gangbuk at bay. I started to run. In my mind, I was back in India, running through the dusty outskirts of Delhi. But reality hit me within ten minutes. Choyun's body was pathetic. Despite being "good at PE," this body lacked the explosive stamina and the "core fire" of a true warrior. By the fourth lap around the estate, my lungs were burning and my legs felt like lead.
"Push through it, Arya," I hissed, forcing myself into a fifth lap. "This is your foundation."
After the run, I found a flat, paved area near the garden. I dropped into the Simhasana—the Lion Pose. I began to move through the Meippayattu body control exercises. As I struck the air, I thought of Teacher . He would be disappointed to see me using a "System" to gain skills, yet he always taught me that a warrior uses every tool at his disposal. I practiced the "Reverse Roundhouse Kick" I had gained from the card. The snap was perfect, the power was there, but the body groaned under the sudden tension.
I missed my friends. I wondered if Rahul was still failing his chemistry mocks or if Sameer was still obsessed with his mobile games. A stray tear mixed with the sweat on my face. I was alone in a world of giants.But no matter what… this is the life I've chosen and I'll live it on my own terms.
The past is something I have to let go of. My previous life, my regrets—none of that matters anymore.
There are only two things that will guide me forward now.
First, the martial arts I've already mastered.
Second, the knowledge I possess about this world. With those alone, I'll carve my own path.
7:00 AM,
The sun was beginning to crest over the walls. I headed back inside, drenched in sweat. My mother, Kim Ji-won, was already up, sitting at a long mahogany dining table. When she saw me, she nearly dropped her tea.
"Choyun? You... you're early. And you're exercising?" Her eyes searched mine, filled with a sudden hope. The old Choyun only ever woke up to study and that too in his room. Seeing me physically active was a shock. "Is this because of what happened at school?"
I wiped my face with a towel. "I just realized I can't protect anyone if I'm weak, Mom. Not even myself."
She said, "You don't need to do that. I'll arrange bodyguards for you. And as for the boy who did this to you—"
Before she could continue, I cut her off.
"I know we can hire bodyguards," I said calmly. "But strength should be my own. I can't walk around with guards following me twenty-four seven, can I?"
She smiled, a genuine expression that made her look ten years younger. She immediately turned to Alfred. "Alfred! Forget the study room expansion. I want the east wing converted into a full home gym for Choyun. Get the best equipment, protein supplements, custom training clothes—everything he needs. Now."
"Yes, Madam," Alfred replied with a crisp nod.
I showered and changed into my school uniform. I went down for a quick breakfast, which Alfred served with silent efficiency. My mother waited until he had retreated to the kitchen before leaning in.
"Choyun... about what happened. Do you... do you want me to look for a maid? Someone your age?"
I choked on my juice. "What? Why would you ask that?"
"Well," she said, "The school called me before you woke up yesterday. They said you... you kissed a girl in the hallway. A random girl. I was going to go there and to lecture you about proper behavior" ,
She looked furious, as if she was about to lecture me right then and there.
"How could you do something like this?"
she snapped. "Are you trying to become like your father or grandfather? Is this what I taught you?"
Her voice shook—not just with anger, but with disappointment.
"If this was because of urges, I would've understood," she continued sharply. "You're at that age. It's normal. But that doesn't mean you go outside and do something reckless."
She clenched her fists, struggling to keep her composure.
"You could've been taken to the police station for molesting a girl," she said, her voice dropping dangerously low. "Do you have any idea of your future that would've been destroyed? This matter was resolved only because of our family's influence—and because I personally went and apologized to that girl."
Her eyes burned as she looked at me.
"If you really needed something like that, you should've come home. I would've arranged a personal maid for you. But you don't go around ruining your life like this."
Then her voice faltered.
"But when I heard you collapsed in school … and they told me you were taken to the infirmary…"
The anger drained from her face, replaced by fear.
"That's when things got messed up "
I sighed, rubbing my temples. "Mom, it was a misunderstanding. I was... in a daze. I didn't mean anything by it. She just happened to be there and Please, no maids."
"But Choyun—"
"I'm late for school, Mom. I have to go." I stood up, grabbing my bag.
"Let the driver take you," she insisted. "It's safer after what that Myeonghoo boy did."
I shook my head. "No. The school is practically a five-minute walk from the gates. I need a walk."
"I'm going now, Mom," I said, heading for the door. I turned back at the threshold and waved. "See you later."
Seeing her wave back with such a bright smile felt good. The original Choyun had been a cold, ungrateful brat. I wasn't him. I was Arya, and if I had a mother who cared this much, I was going to cherish it .
I walked through the massive gates and onto the streets. The school loomed ahead. My vision was sharp, my legs were ready, for the confrontation with Myeonghoo . As I reached the school gate, I stopped. Someone was standing there, waiting . Someone I know by my memory.