Chapter 2

"Arthur!." 

A hoarse voice called out, but Arthur was unconscious. The stranger walked up to Arthur and tapped his cheeks, making Arthur sneeze.

Arthur's muscles felt like no blood was rushing through his veins.

"What is happening to me?" He was shivering.

His lips parted in extreme curiosity, and his eyes, which felt as though it have been clenched shut for a day, suddenly opened. 

He found himself standing in the middle of the ocean, and all he could hear was the sound of his feet at every movement and the splashes of water like raindrops. 

"Where is this place?" Twitching of great fear rushed through his spine, making goosebumps all over his body as his eyes kept gawking around. 

"Arthur," The same voice called out to him again, and when Arthur's gaze drifted around, it suddenly met that of a man with long white hair.

Arthur's heart skipped at that moment. "Who are you?"

"Arthur," The man's smile widened, "You have been chosen, my descendant."

Arthur could only stare in bewilderment. "Chosen? Descendant? Who are you?"

The man chuckled softly. "I am your ancestor, your master in the world of magic. It seems that the time has come for your powers to awaken."

"Magic?" Arthur stammered. "I don't understand."

The man's eyes glinted with an otherworldly light. "You are not an ordinary man, Arthur. Our lineage is filled with those who possess great magical abilities. But Arthur, your powers lay dormant until now."

Arthur tried to understand the man's words, but it all felt like a dream. "What do you want from me?"

The man's expression turned serious. "I want to guide you, to help you unlock your potential. There are challenges ahead, and your powers will be crucial in facing them."

He extended his hand towards Arthur, who hesitated for a moment before taking it. As their hands touched, Arthur felt a surge of energy coursing through his body. It was as if he was about to burst open.

"The transformation is underway," the man said cryptically.

Arthur's surroundings started to blur and distort. He felt like he was being pulled in different directions. 

He closed his eyes, trying to make sense of it all. And then, Arthur's eyes snapped open, and he found himself in the hospital room. 

He was breathing heavily. As soon as he felt his hands, he sat on the bed and panted his chest. 

His leg was wrapped in a bandage, and the bruises on his face were hurting. Arthur noticed that even his arm was bandaged. 

His eyes became moist as he stared at his leg hung on above his bed.

"Are you okay?" A beautiful woman who seems to be in her twenties asked him.

Nicole sat on the sofa by the window. As her eyes met Arthur's, she placed the magazine she was holding on the sofa and walked closer to Arthur. 

"Who are you?" Arthur asked.

"That's sure a way to thank your rescuer." She smiled. 

"You saved me?"

"I found you lying by the river under the bridge." She sighed, "Did you jump?" 

Arthur suddenly became defensive, "Of course not." 

Nicole stared at Arthur for a while, but then, her phone suddenly rang. 

Nicole picked it up and only listened to the person on the other end.

Her eyes unconsciously became moist and started to blur.

"I'm on my way back." She finally let out a word before hanging up.

"You seem fine now, and I guess I can leave." Nicole sighed and picked up her magazine.

"What's your name? And please allow me to return the favor." Arthur pleaded.

"My name is Nicole. You want to return the favor?" She scoffed.

Nicole shrugged with a smile on her face. Then she glanced at Arthur with compassionate eyes.

Only then did she noticed the man's appearance. He had a diamond shaped face, and his eyes were bright and attractive pulling her into an abyss of intoxicated romance.

"Allow me, please." Arthur pleaded. 

Nicole sighed and sat beside him on the bed. Her eyes wavering around and filled with excitement, but that was short lived as her phone beeped and a message appeared on her screen-

'Don't come to the house, meet us at the hospital. He collapsed again.' 

Nicole felt shut of breath. 

"Is there a problem miss?" Arthur asked seeing how Nicole suddenly became quiet.

Suddenly, tears trickled down Nicole's cheeks, making Arthur even more curious of her.

"I saved you," Nicole began softly, "because of my grandfather. He's been battling a terminal illness, and he uses a wheelchair. The doctors say he has only a few days to live."

"I just hope that by doing good deeds like this," Nicole continued, her voice quivering, "I can somehow trade them for a few extra days of life for him. Every moment with him is precious, and I'll do anything to keep him with us a little longer." Nicole smiled.

As Nicole looked at the bruises on Arthur's cheeks, she paused when she saw an unexplainable thing happening.

Arthur's cheeks were healing!

"What's happening to you?" Nicole paused. She walked closer to Arthur and sat beside him. 

Her fingers clenched at the already wrinkled sheets in amusement.

Her eyes suddenly glinted excitedly as she asked, "What are you?" 

Arthur felt the change happening to him. He could no longer feel the pain in his leg that was bandaged. 

His broken bones were repaired, and there were no scars or bruises on his body. 

When Nicole tried to touch him, he held her hands.

"I need to leave the hospital. Take me with you, and I can help your grandfather."

On hearing this, Nicole breathed a sigh of relief. "You can help my grandfather?"

Arthur nodded. "I know a little of medicine despite not practicing, but I can help your grandfather."

Nicole wondered if she should take Arthur or not, but the more she thought about it, she realized.

She has nothing to lose. If he could cure her father, she'd give it a shot. " Fine, come with me." 

Arthur smiled as he quickly unwrapped the bandages on his legs.