Morning light slipped through the wooden window, soft and quiet.
Aarav opened his eyes.
The same ceiling greeted him.
For a few seconds, he didn't move.
*Maybe… if I go back to sleep…*
*I'll wake up in my room.*
He closed his eyes again.
Waited.
Then opened them.
Same wooden roof.
Same small room.
Same quiet sounds in the background.
Aarav stared blankly for a moment.
Then sighed.
"…Yeah. Definitely not a dream."
He turned his head slightly.
Near a small table, Meera was grinding herbs inside a wooden bowl. A soft, earthy smell filled the room.
"You're awake," she said, not looking at him.
Aarav stretched lightly.
"Yeah… unfortunately."
Meera walked over and handed him a bowl filled with green liquid.
"Drink this."
Aarav stared at it.
"…Is it supposed to look like swamp water?"
"It helps healing."
"That doesn't answer my question."
Meera simply looked at him.
Silently.
Aarav sighed.
"Fine. If I die, I'm blaming you again."
"You said that yesterday."
"And I stand by it."
He took a sip.
Instant regret.
"…Wow."
He coughed slightly.
"That tastes like grass."
"Good."
Aarav frowned.
"Why is that good?"
"If it tastes bad, it works."
"That logic is very suspicious."
Meera didn't respond.
Which somehow made it worse.
---
After a moment, she stepped closer.
"Sit up."
Aarav carefully pushed himself up—
"AAH—!"
Pain shot through his chest.
He grabbed his side immediately.
"Okay—still not healed."
Meera ignored the complaint and began adjusting the bandages.
Aarav looked down.
"…Wait."
His chest was tightly wrapped in thick cloth.
"I remember getting hit, but… this looks worse than I thought."
Meera nodded.
"You had a deep injury across your chest."
"You also lost a lot of blood."
Aarav blinked.
"…A lot?"
"Yes."
He went quiet.
For a moment, something surfaced again—
The ruined city.
That monster.
The impact.
His body hitting the ground.
"…That didn't feel this bad there," he muttered.
Meera glanced at him.
"What?"
"…Nothing."
Aarav looked away.
*Why am I more injured here than in that place…?*
The thought didn't make sense.
And honestly—
He didn't want to chase it right now.
"…This whole thing is weird," he muttered.
Meera placed her hand gently over the bandaged wound.
"Stay still."
Aarav watched her.
Then—
Something changed.
A soft green light began to glow around her hand.
His eyes widened instantly.
"…Whoa."
The light spread slowly across the bandage.
Warm.
Gentle.
The pain in his chest began to fade.
Not instantly—
But steadily.
Like something was quietly repairing what was broken.
Aarav stared, completely focused.
"…Wait."
He pointed at her hand.
"Did your hand just start glowing?"
Meera didn't react.
She simply continued.
After a few seconds, the light faded.
She finished wrapping the bandage.
Aarav leaned forward slightly.
"…Was that magic?"
"It's not magic."
"Then what was it?"
Meera looked at him.
"It's called Aura."
Aarav blinked.
"Aura?"
"Yes."
"All living beings have energy inside their bodies."
"That energy gathers in something we call a Core."
"With training, people can control that energy."
She tied the bandage neatly.
"Healers use it to help wounds recover faster."
Aarav stared at his chest.
"So that green light…"
"Healing aura."
He looked at the herbs on the table.
Then back at her.
"…Then why do you still use these?"
"If you can do that, shouldn't you just… heal everything?"
Meera shook her head.
"A healer's aura cannot fix everything."
"It only helps the body recover faster."
"If someone loses too much blood, aura cannot replace it."
"If someone is poisoned, medicine is needed."
"And if the body is too weak… aura may not work at all."
Aarav leaned back slowly.
"Huh…"
"So it's not overpowered."
"No."
Aarav stared at his hand.
A slow grin appeared.
"…So this world actually has powers."
Meera stood up.
"You should rest."
She turned toward the door.
Then paused.
"And don't try to stand yet."
"Wow. You don't trust me at all."
"…Correct."
The door closed behind her.
---
Silence returned.
Aarav stared at the ceiling again.
Then slowly raised his hand.
"…Aura."
"…Core."
He pointed dramatically upward.
"…Hidden power system."
A grin spread across his face.
"Alright."
"If this is really another world…"
He pointed forward like a main character making an entrance.
"…then my overpowered ability should awaken any second now."
He waited.
Nothing.
"…Okay."
He adjusted slightly.
"Maybe it needs a better pose."
He tried again.
"…Awaken, legendary power."
Still nothing.
Aarav stared at his hand.
"…Wow."
"Not even a spark?"
He dropped his arm back onto the bed.
"…Great."
He sighed.
"New world. No powers. Amazing start."
For a moment, his eyes drifted again—
To that other place.
The ruined city.
The voice.
"You shouldn't be here yet."
His chest tightened slightly.
Then—
He exhaled.
"…Yeah. Not thinking about that right now."
It was easier this way.
Safer.
He turned his head toward the window.
Sunlight.
Voices outside.
Life.
A completely different world.
A small smile appeared again.
"…Fine."
"Take your time."
"But when I do get powers…"
He closed his eyes slowly.
"…they better be worth it."
Sleep came quietly.
And for now—
The questions stayed unanswered.
But the excitement—
That was new.
And it was real.
---
End of Chapter 7