Ryan slowly opened his eyes.
The first thing he noticed was the smell, a mixture of grass, wood, leather, and the faint fragrance of perfume. Sunlight filtered through the cloth of the tent, casting a warm golden glow over the interior.
For several seconds, Ryan simply stared at the tent roof. Something felt strange. Not painful or uncomfortable, just strange. He had the distinct feeling that he had forgotten something extremely important.
"Ryan?"
A soft female voice came from beside him.
Ryan turned his head and saw a young woman sitting beside the bed, looking at him with some annoyance mixed with concern. She had long brown hair and delicate features, while her clothes were clearly those of a noblewoman, though they had been somewhat hastily put on. Seeing that Ryan had finally opened his eyes, she immediately frowned.
"You finally woke up."
Ryan blinked.
Then his memories came rushing back.
The journey, the kingdom they had left behind, his father, the academy, the carriage, the camp, and this girl.
"Serena…"
The name naturally surfaced in his mind.
Serena Valmont, daughter of Count Valmont. She had been acquainted with Ryan for several years and, like many young noblewomen around him, had always shown a particular interest in him.
Yesterday, after another long day of travelling, they had shared a tent, and one thing had led to another.
Ryan rubbed his forehead, then suddenly froze.
His eyes widened as memories that did not belong to this world appeared in his mind.
A vast metal city, machines flying through the sky, artificial intelligence, spaceships, the Earth, his childhood, his studies, his family, his career, and finally—
The explosion.
Ryan's expression gradually became serious as everything returned to him. He remembered dying in the enormous energy reactor explosion, the blinding light, and the AI ship that had accompanied him.
At the same time, he realized something even more astonishing.
These memories had not belonged to some stranger. They belonged to him.
The Ryan who had lived in this world until now was not another person. He was Ryan—the same soul, the same personality, the same consciousness. The memories of his previous life had simply remained dormant until now.
"Ryan?"
Serena leaned closer.
"You look strange."
Ryan looked at her, then smiled.
"I'm fine. I just had a strange dream."
Serena narrowed her eyes.
"You've been sleeping for far too long. We were supposed to leave soon."
Ryan glanced outside the tent. The sunlight told him that quite some time had passed, so he slowly sat up.
His movements were smooth and powerful, which immediately attracted his attention. Looking down at his hands, he realized that these were not the hands of his previous life but those of a young man who had trained his body for years.
Ryan's memories quickly confirmed it. He was eighteen years old, the son of Duke Ryan Hartwell, one of the most powerful nobles in the kingdom.
Unlike the original owner of Leylin's body, Ryan had never been a useless noble who relied entirely on his family. His father had invested heavily in his education and Knight training from an early age, allowing him to reach the Knight realm and develop physical abilities far beyond those of ordinary people.
Now Ryan understood why.
He had lived this life for eighteen years, studying and training, socializing and attending noble gatherings, travelling, making friends, and enjoying himself. He had simply never remembered Earth until today.
Ryan closed his eyes.
A familiar feeling suddenly appeared deep inside his mind. It was faint, almost imperceptible.
Then—
[Beep!]
A mechanical voice sounded inside his consciousness.
Ryan's body stiffened.
He knew that voice. He had not heard it for an unimaginably long time, but he could never forget it.
"The AI Chip…"
His eyes slowly widened.
Unlike his Earth memories, which had returned all at once, the AI Chip had apparently remained dormant alongside his consciousness, and now it had awakened as well.
[Beep! Awakening sequence complete.]
[Re-establishing connection with Host consciousness.]
[Connection established.]
[Beginning preliminary scan.]
Ryan stared blankly ahead before a smile slowly appeared on his face.
"So you came with me after all."
Serena stared at him.
"What are you talking about?"
Ryan looked toward her.
"Nothing."
He stood up, feeling the strength, stability, and health of his body. It was nothing like the frail body described in the memories of the original Leylin from the other world.
Ryan's eyes flashed.
"AI Chip. Scan my body."
[Beep! Command accepted.]
[Beginning scan.]
[Scan complete.]
[Host: Ryan Hartwell]
[Strength: 2.4]
[Agility: 2.2]
[Vitality: 2.5]
[Spiritual Force: 1.8]
[Status: Healthy.]
[Physical condition: Knight.]
Ryan's expression became strange.
Even before awakening his memories, this body was already considerably stronger than an ordinary person, and now he possessed the AI Chip. This world suddenly became much more interesting.
Serena watched him suspiciously.
"Are you sure you're alright?"
Ryan laughed.
"I've never felt better."
Serena rolled her eyes.
"You slept through half the afternoon."
Ryan looked outside.
"Then I suppose we should hurry."
Serena stood and adjusted her clothes.
"That's what I've been telling you."
Ryan smiled.
As they left the tent, he looked toward the distant horizon. The world was no longer merely the one he had known for eighteen years. It was now a world where supernatural power existed, a world where Magi existed, and somewhere ahead was the academy.
Ryan's eyes gradually became sharper.
He had once been a scientist on Earth. Now he had been given another life, and this time, he would not waste it.