Kyle wandered down a winding road, sparks of magic flickering weakly from his fingers. The village behind him shrank into the distance, and he realized he needed a place to stay.
Up ahead, a tall stone building with a wooden cross on top caught his eye. Its windows glowed softly, and the scent of burning candles drifted into the street. Hesitant but tired, Kyle stepped inside.
The interior was warm and quiet. A few people moved calmly, tending small tasks. An elderly man with sharp, kind eyes approached.
"You're new," the man said. "You look lost."
"I… uh… yes," Kyle admitted. "I… I think I've… lost my memory. I don't remember anything."
The man raised an eyebrow but nodded. "Then you can stay here. Help around the church, eat with us, sleep where you must. That's enough for now."
Kyle nodded slowly. The thought of a safe place made him feel lighter than he had in weeks.
Over the next days, Kyle settled into the church. He helped with chores, repaired small things, and practiced magic quietly in the yard. Lira often visited, guiding him through both magic and swordsmanship, patiently explaining everything as if Kyle had no prior knowledge.
"You're tense," Lira said one afternoon, watching him fumble with a spark. "That's why your magic is weak. Breathe, relax… just let it happen."
Kyle hesitated, then whispered, "I… I don't remember any of this… so I don't know what to do."
Lira blinked, slightly shocked. "Wait… really? You've never practiced at all?"
Kyle nodded. "I… I don't remember anything. I have to start from scratch."
Lira shook her head in disbelief, though she smiled faintly. "Alright… we'll start from the basics then." She demonstrated a tiny flicker of magic above her palm. "See? Just ask for it. Let it happen naturally."
Kyle raised his hands, trying to imitate. A weak flicker appeared, hovering briefly before fading. "I… did that?" he asked in surprise.
"Barely," Lira said with a smirk. "But yes. Now grab a wooden practice sword. If you want to survive here, sword skills are just as important as magic."
Kyle swung clumsily. Lira corrected his stance, step, and grip. Day by day, he alternated magic practice with sword drills, slowly improving despite frequent mistakes.
During his free time, Lira explained more about the world. Because Kyle "lost his memory," she told him about the kingdom, its royals, and the politics between regions. She spoke of demons that attacked villages, and the legendary Demon King, who controlled the strongest demons and shaped the course of wars.
Kyle listened, wide-eyed. "This… all feels so unreal."
"It's real," Lira replied calmly. "Magic, demons, the kingdom, the royals—this is life here. You'll need to understand it if you want to survive."
Kyle also learned the history of the royal family, how some royals could wield magic and command armies, and why the villagers respected them. Each day, the lessons helped him slowly fit into the world, while he continued to practice magic and swordsmanship.
Meanwhile, far away in the real world, tension exploded.
The USA team had reached the AI world headquarters, silently bypassing defenses and scanning for Fluctlight signatures.
Inside, Dr. Leonard Vale barked orders. "Lock it down!" Barriers shimmered across the AI world, sealing regions and preventing intrusion.
"Move to the secondary command room," Vale instructed his second-in-command. "Security is higher there. Let them try."
Vale vanished through a hidden doorway. The second-in-command monitored the systems, ready to respond to any threat.
Back in the AI world, Kyle practiced in the church yard. Sparks flickered weakly from his hands. Wooden swords clashed. He stumbled and laughed at his mistakes, but each success made him feel stronger.
"Don't rush," Lira said, adjusting his grip. "Step properly, breathe, focus. Magic and swordsmanship are part of life. You'll need both."
Kyle nodded. He had lied about losing his memory, but for now, pretending gave him a reason to learn everything from scratch. Slowly, he began to understand the world he had entered.
Far beyond the mountains, tension was rising. Shadows from the real world pressed closer to the AI world's heart, unaware that its protectors waited—and that Kyle, clumsy but learning, was slowly stepping into his own power