Rebirth of a Scholar

Consciousness returned slowly, as if rising from a deep, dreamless sleep. The first thing he felt was the gentle warmth of sunlight against his skin, a sensation so unfamiliar that it took him a moment to recognize it. His eyes fluttered open, and he found himself lying in a field of wildflowers, a soft breeze carrying the scent of earth and grass. The sky overhead was a brilliant shade of blue, scattered with clouds that drifted lazily by.

It was peaceful, serene—and completely wrong.

Where am I?

His last memory was sharp and vivid: his death. It had been sudden, painful, and final. He had lived in a world of towering skyscrapers, glowing screens, and endless noise. He had been just a scholar, fascinated by stories of fantasy worlds and magic systems. He'd especially been enthralled by the novel Supreme Magus, the intricate lore and rules of magic that governed the world Lith Verhen had once reshaped. He'd spent countless hours reading every word, studying the complex nature of cores, spells, and affinities.

Yet now, here he was, in a place that looked straight out of a medieval fantasy world. And the strangest part of it all? He knew exactly where he was.

"This… this is Jiera, isn't it?" he muttered aloud, his voice trembling.

It couldn't be possible. The landscape, the gentle hum of magic in the air—it all matched the descriptions from the book. Jiera was the very world where Lith's journey had begun, the land that had seen wars between magi and monsters, gods and mortals. And now, somehow, impossibly, he was here.

He sat up, his heart racing as he took in his surroundings. The field stretched for miles, bordered by dense forests in the distance. A faint shimmer in the air betrayed the presence of magic—he could feel it, like an itch just beneath his skin. Instinctively, he tried to focus on it, to see if he could tap into the same energy the magi in the story used.

But nothing happened.

"Of course," he muttered. "I don't even know if I have a core."

His hands trembled slightly as he looked at them. His body felt unfamiliar, smaller, weaker than his previous one. Glancing down, he realized with a start that he was much younger than before—no more than a teenager. His clothing was simple, rough-spun wool, the kind worn by peasants in this world.

"What happened to me?" he whispered. "Why am I here?"

Memories from his past life flooded his mind—his fascination with the Supreme Magus world, his in-depth knowledge of its magic systems, the twists and turns of Lith's journey, and all the key figures who had shaped the world. But more pressing was the knowledge of just how dangerous this world could be. Jiera wasn't a place of peace—it was a land teeming with monsters, rival magi, and political factions that would crush anyone who stood in their way.

But he also remembered something else: in this world, if you had a core, you could shape your destiny with magic. Power was everything. And knowledge—knowledge was the key to survival.

"I know this world," he said slowly, a spark of determination flickering to life within him. "I know its secrets."

If he truly had been reborn into Jiera, then he had an advantage that few others could ever hope for. He knew about the mana cores, how to train and strengthen them, how to manipulate the elements, and most importantly, the dangers that lay ahead. Lith's story had given him insight into the power struggles that shaped this world, and now, armed with that knowledge, he could carve out a place for himself.

The only question was: how would he begin?

Pushing himself to his feet, he scanned the horizon. He needed to find a town, or at least some kind of civilization. If the timeline was anything like the novel, then the events he remembered were either in progress or about to unfold. That meant opportunities—and risks—were looming.

He took a deep breath. "First things first. I need to figure out what kind of core I have. If I don't even have a core, then I'm dead before I even get started."

Suddenly, a flicker of movement caught his eye. From the edge of the forest, a shadowy figure emerged. It moved with predatory grace, its glowing eyes fixed on him. A Var, a creature from the lower ranks of magical beasts, but deadly nonetheless.

His heart leaped into his throat. He had no weapons, no spells, and no idea how strong his body was in this new world. But running wasn't an option—the Var would catch him in seconds.

"Damn it," he muttered, stepping back. "I just got here!"

The Var charged, its muscles coiled like a spring, leaping towards him with claws outstretched. Time seemed to slow as adrenaline surged through his veins. In that split second, all his knowledge of the world flooded his mind—he knew what this creature was, how it hunted, and how it could be killed.

If only I had magic…

Desperation flared within him, and instinctively, he reached deep inside himself, searching for something, anything to defend himself with. And then, to his shock, he felt it—a flicker of power, faint but undeniable. It pulsed within him like a heartbeat, responding to his will.

With a burst of clarity, he thrust his hand forward, summoning that energy.

A blinding flash of light erupted from his palm, striking the Var in mid-air. The creature howled in agony as the magic seared through its flesh, sending it crashing to the ground. It writhed for a moment before falling still, its body smoking from the attack.

Panting, he stared at his hand in disbelief. "I… I did it," he breathed. "I actually did it."

It wasn't much—just a simple, instinctual release of energy—but it was enough to confirm one thing.

He had a core.

And now, he had a fighting chance.

---

This is just the beginning of the journey. Over time, this character could delve deeper into the world's magic system, face political intrigue, develop alliances, and perhaps even cross paths with familiar faces from Lith's story while forging their own path to power.