Neil spent the next few days acclimating to his new reality. The infirmary had been a quiet bubble, but the main dormitory was a different world—noisy, crowded, and governed by the unspoken rules of adolescent boys.
He kept mostly to himself, observing the dynamics of the orphanage. The interface provided basic identification for the other children and staff, but offered little insight into their personalities or relationships. That, Neil realized, he would have to figure out the old-fashioned way—through observation and interaction.
The memory integration process continued slowly, providing fragmented glimpses into Neil Chambers' past. He learned that the original Neil had been a quiet, withdrawn boy, often sick and unable to keep up with the others. He had few friends, preferring the company of books and the solitude of the small herb garden.
This explained the surprised looks he received from the other orphans. His current demeanor—calm, observant, and surprisingly healthy—was a stark contrast to the boy they had known.
Thomas Reed, the boy who had spoken to him on his first morning back in the dormitory, seemed to be the closest thing the original Neil had to a friend. Thomas was a lanky boy with a perpetually worried expression, often found with his nose buried in a book.
Neil decided to approach Thomas during the midday break, seeking information under the guise of lingering confusion from his illness.
"Thomas," Neil began, trying to sound casual. "I was wondering... my memory is still a bit hazy from the fever. Could you tell me a bit about the classes here?"
Thomas looked up from his book, surprised. "The classes? They're the same as always. Reading, writing, arithmetic, history... Brother Michael drones on about the Founding Wars, Matron teaches basic etiquette... you know all this."
"Yes, but..." Neil searched for a plausible excuse. "I feel like I've forgotten some things. What are we studying in history right now?"
Thomas sighed, but closed his book. "We just finished the chapter on the Unification Treaty. Brother Michael is probably going to start on the Age of Exploration next week."
"Age of Exploration?" Neil asked, genuinely curious.
"Yeah, when the first wizards started charting the outer territories beyond the Kingdom of Eldoria. Before the Sky-Gates were discovered."
Wizards? Sky-Gates? Outer territories? The terms were new and intriguing. The interface remained silent, offering no explanation. This world was clearly far different from Earth.
"Right, of course," Neil said, trying to cover his ignorance. "Thanks, Thomas."
"Are you sure you're okay, Neil?" Thomas asked, frowning. "You seem... different."
"I'm fine," Neil insisted. "Just taking a while to get back to normal after being so sick."
Thomas didn't look convinced, but he returned to his book. Neil retreated, his mind buzzing with new questions. He needed to find the orphanage library, if one existed.
He spent the afternoon exploring the orphanage grounds, guided by the simple quest prompt from his interface: "Explore St. Clement's Orphanage." The building was larger than he'd initially realized, with multiple wings, a central courtyard, a chapel, and extensive gardens at the back.
The herb garden, where he was scheduled to start working soon, was tucked away in a quiet corner, surrounded by a low stone wall. It was small but well-tended, filled with a variety of plants he didn't recognize.
As he walked, Neil focused on his surroundings, trying to trigger the interface. Occasionally, it would provide a simple label: "[Location: Main Courtyard]" or "[Building: Chapel]." It offered no detailed information, but it confirmed that the system was active and responsive to his focus.
He also noticed his physical improvement. The chronic weakness and shortness of breath that had plagued Neil Chambers were gone. He could walk briskly without tiring, and his breathing was clear and easy. The transmigration, whatever its nature, had healed the body he now inhabited.
This physical well-being was a revelation. In his previous life, Neil Harrington had always been healthy, but he had taken it for granted. Now, inhabiting a body that had known constant illness, the simple act of walking without pain or breathlessness felt like a gift.
He found the library tucked away in a quiet wing. It wasn't large, consisting of a single room lined with dusty shelves, but it contained more books than he had expected. Most seemed to be religious texts or basic primers on history and philosophy, but it was a start.
He spent an hour browsing the shelves, pulling down books at random. The interface occasionally identified a title or subject, but offered no summaries or analysis. It seemed the system expected him to do the learning himself.
He found a basic history of the Kingdom of Eldoria and settled down at one of the worn wooden tables to read. The book described a world shaped by magic, where wizards held significant influence and magical creatures roamed the wilder lands. It mentioned the Awakening at age sixteen as the time when latent magical potential manifested.
This confirmed what the interface had hinted at. Magic was real here, and he was apparently destined to awaken his own potential in two years.
The prospect was both exhilarating and daunting. Magic! The stuff of fantasy novels in his old world was a fundamental force in this one. Yet, he knew nothing about it. He was starting from scratch, just like everyone else, despite his adult mind and past experiences.
As he read, the blue window flickered:
```
[Memory Integration: 25% Complete]
```
More fragmented memories surfaced—Neil Chambers struggling through lessons, being teased by older boys for his weakness, finding solace in the quiet corners of the orphanage.
Neil pushed the memories aside, focusing on the history book. He needed practical knowledge now, not the ghosts of a past life that wasn't his.
He learned about the major cities, the ruling monarchy, and the powerful Wizard Guilds that regulated the use of magic. The book mentioned Westhollow, the town where St. Clement's was located, as a small, unremarkable settlement on the kingdom's eastern border.
By the time the bell rang for evening chores, Neil had a slightly better understanding of his new world, but his questions had only multiplied. How did magic actually work? What determined one's potential? What opportunities existed for an orphan with no connections?
The interface offered no answers, only the persistent quest prompt: "Learn about your new world."
That evening, during the communal dinner in the noisy refectory, Neil focused on observing the other orphans and the staff. Matron Helsa presided over the meal with a stern but watchful eye. Brother Michael, the history teacher, led the evening prayers. Sister Agnes supervised the serving line.
Neil ate his simple meal of stew and bread, listening to the chatter around him. The conversations were mostly about mundane things—chores, lessons, petty squabbles. There was little talk of magic, suggesting it wasn't a common topic among the younger orphans, or perhaps it was simply taken for granted.
He noticed Thomas Reed sitting alone, reading while he ate. Neil considered joining him but decided against it. He needed to maintain a low profile while he gathered information.
After dinner, the orphans had an hour of free time before lights out. Neil returned to the library, hoping to find more useful books. He discovered a small section on "Natural Philosophy"—the book from Neil Chambers' trunk belonged to this category. These books seemed to be the closest thing to science texts the orphanage possessed.
He found another book titled "Introduction to Herbalism." As he opened it, the interface flickered:
```
[Skill Identified: Basic Herbalism (Incomplete)]
```
It seemed Neil Chambers had indeed been studying herbs, likely trying to find remedies for his illness. Neil began reading, absorbing the information about local plants and their properties. This, he sensed, could be useful.
As lights-out approached, Neil returned to the dormitory. He lay in his cot, staring into the darkness, his mind racing. He had survived death, crossed worlds, and landed in the body of a sick orphan boy just two years shy of potentially awakening magical powers.
It was an impossible situation, yet it was his reality. He had no resources, no connections, and only fragmented knowledge of this world. But he had his intelligence, his experience, and a mysterious interface that seemed designed to help him.
He wouldn't just survive; he would thrive. He would learn about this world, prepare for his Awakening, and find a way to achieve success, just as he had done before.
Tomorrow, he would start working in the herb garden. It was a small step, but every journey began with one.