Chapter 2 - New Reality

As I slowly regained consciousness, my surroundings started to come into focus. The blinding pain in my head had subsided to a dull ache, and my vision cleared enough to reveal a room that was unfamiliar yet oddly comforting. It felt like I was in a cozy bedroom, adorned with soft colors and familiar trinkets. But how did I get here? More importantly, why did that woman refer to me as her son, Alex?

Confusion and disbelief swirled in my mind as I attempted to make sense of the situation. I blinked a few times, trying to shake off the remnants of my previous migraine. My gaze shifted towards the woman, who was now sitting on the edge of the bed, concern etched across her features.

"Alex, are you feeling better now?" She asked gently, her voice a soothing balm to my disoriented senses.

I swallowed hard, my voice hoarse as I responded, "I...I think so. What...what happened?"

She smiled, her blue-amber eyes reflecting a mixture of relief and tenderness. "You had us quite worried, my dear. You were screaming and clutching your head in pain. I thought your headache might have come back."

I struggled to recall the sequence of events that led up to this moment. It was all so jumbled, as if my memories were playing tricks on me. I reached up to touch my head, my fingers brushing against the spot where the pain had radiated from. It felt real—too real to be a mere figment of my imagination.

"Mom," I began hesitantly, the word unfamiliar on my lips, "I don't...I don't understand why you said you're my mother.

Her expression shifted, a mixture of surprise and concern crossing her face. She reached out and placed a gentle hand on my arm, her touch warm and reassuring. "Alex, honey, are you feeling alright? You've been acting a bit strange lately. Is something bothering you?"

Tears welled up in my eyes, but I held them in as I looked at the woman who claimed to be my mother. "I'm sorry, I don't know what's happening to me. I think I had nightmares or something; it was a very strange dream, but it was also very real. But...that can't be real, can it?"

She held my gaze with a mixture of compassion and understanding. "Alex, sometimes the mind can play tricks on us. Dreams and memories can feel so vivid, even when they're not real. You're safe here, and I'll take care of you. We'll figure this out together."

Suddenly, a tide of memories swept over me—this realm of magic and mysticism mirrored the beloved fantasy novels from my old life. The body I inhabited bore the same name as mine, Alex. As Alex's recollections flooded my mind, his existence fused seamlessly with my own. His childhood in the house, learning swordsmanship from his father, the affectionate warmth of his mother's embrace—it all felt real and tangible.

In these borrowed memories, I found a new home. I saw this woman before me, creases of worry lining her brow, and felt that familiar pang of love as she clasped my hand.

Her words were a lifeline, grounding me in a world that felt both foreign and familiar. As I struggled to reconcile my old life with this new one, the weight of uncertainty began to lift just a little. With her by my side, maybe I could unravel the mystery of this surreal existence and find my place.

"Now rest for a bit. I'll be going to the guild now," Mom said. "I came here to check on you."

"I know it's weird, but what is the name of this planet?" I asked.

"Alex, what are you talking about? It's Europa."

Ah, Europa. This was the fantasy world I had read about.

"I see. Well, good luck with the guild," I said as she left me alone to think. One was that I had reincarnated in a novel I had read. Second, what was I going to do now? Third, I needed to learn more about myself and this family. My old memories were fading as Alex's became clearer.

I knew what novel I was in: "Burn the Blade," a typical fantasy with various magical races coming together. The kind you could find anywhere. But this was my new reality.