Molting the Mortal Coil Chapter 1: New Life

There was a gun barrel against his head. Sage was thrust into what he could only describe as his worst nightmare. A cold sweat ford on his back as he blinked his eyes, staring up into the darkness of his bedroom. His eyes crossed as he tried to stare at the object pressed between his eyes. As hard as he tried, nothing ca forth from his lips, and the look of utter terror was pasted on his face.

Sorry kid. You saw sothing you werent supposed to see.

That voice seed to co from the darkness itself before he heard a loud bang and everything went white.

Is this a dream? Have I died?

There was only silence.

Whats going on? Where am I? How long have I been here?

It felt like an eternity had passed before a soft voice rippled through the silence. It seed to co from nowhere and everywhere at the sa ti.

Theres a karmic bond between us. In order to sever it, I give you this second chance now.

What? What the hell is that supposed to an? Who are you? Why cant I see and why does it feel like youre talking in my head?

Sages questions werent answered. The whiteness simply dimd, everything gradually went dark. A dim flicker of hope was the only thing left in Sages mind, wanting to believe that disembodied voice.

As luck had it, he was right. Sage suddenly sat up. The sheet and blankets on the bed seeming like a terrible restraint that he fought to break free of. Blinking his eyes, he realized he was alive. His senses had returned. Such sudden contrast had him testing his eyes, clapping his hands, sniffing the air, rubbing the blankets, even picking up the sheet and giving it a lick. It was only then that Sage finally believed he was alive again and that whole thing had been a terrible nightmare.

That was until he actually took a look at his surroundings. It was no longer his bedroom.

Whered my TV go? Where did this asian wardrobe co from? Why does the room and bed feel so big?

A few minutes later, Sage realized he was sowhere else. Holding up his hand, he stared down in amazent. It was the hand of a child. He let out a prepubescent shriek, his voice echoing in the sparsely decorated wood floored room. Reaching his hands up he tried to feel his face and other features, finding them different than what he rembered. Stranger still, there was a cloth of so sort wrapped around his head. Fortunately, before his terror rose even further, the door to the room swung open.

Shenger! Youre awake! How are you feeling?

An older looking gentleman walked in, looking like a giant to the child sized Sage. He had to turn his head upwards to et the gaze of the man. Confusion shining in his eyes as he realized that the language the man spoke wasnt english. What confused him even more was that he understood him perfectly.

What language is he speaking and how can I understand it?

Where am I?

Sage had no idea if hed be understood but when he started speaking the words ca out in the sa language as the one the man used. This developnt caused another wave of confusion to cross his face before the stranger ca to his bedside and reached out to touch his forehead.

Good, your fever has gone down.

Seeing the still confused look on the boys face the man continued, Youre in your room, Shenger. Youve been unconscious for days now. We almost thought we lost you. Who told you it was alright to delve into the old mine?

Sage had far too many thoughts running through his head at this point to create a response. The older man saw the look of contemplation on his face and thought he was rembering the events of that day. The boy had been out for near a week now and at one point they thought he was never going to wake up. Smiling to the boy, he stood and walked back over to the door.

Ill bring you so nice congee to help you recover.

The door closed again after the man left, Sage still seeming confused as he started examining his body again. Noticing a small hand-held mirror sitting on the desk across the room he pulled himself out of the bed. It was then he realized how sore his body was. It was like every muscle in his body had been given a battering. He was covered in bruises. Shuffling over to the desk he picked up the mirror and examined his face.

Since when does a middle-aged white guy go to sleep and then wake up as an asian child? What kind of elaborate joke is this? Did sobody drug ?

The door opened again and the older man ca in with a food tray. Setting it down on the desk beside him, he pointed at the bowl of white soup.

Heres your congee, Shenger. Eat up so you can get your strength back.

Sages confusion had turned into numbness. Simply choosing to accept things as they were and figure out what the situation was.

Who are you? Who am I? I cant rember anything.

Since this was a dream, he might as well play along and enjoy it. Treating it like a video ga, the first step is to learn about the setting and then figure out your status.

Shenger you. You really dont rember anything?

After more questioning the man finally nodded with sad acceptance on his face as he started to explain. Sage decided that being a sudden amnesiac was much better than telling people he was in soone elses body. The old man introduced himself as Uncle Zhang, the brother of Shengs deceased father. The body he was in now was nad Lang Sheng. Lang, the Mantis Clan and Sheng which, conveniently, ant sage. He was eight years old this year and his parents were both deceased. Shengs mother had died in childbirth, while his father had died a few years ago serving the clan. It seems he was now an orphan, raised among the common children of the clan and looked after by his only remaining close kin, Uncle Zhang.

Okay, thats enough for now. Youll probably rember everything soon enough, eat your congee and go back to bed. You got real banged up in those mines and Im sure youll feel better with more rest!

Sage was still amazed at this whole situation so he didnt have any more real questions, wanting to figure out how to wake up from this silly dream as soon as possible. With these thoughts in mind, his face was twisted uncomfortably and Uncle Zhang misinterpreted his feelings.

I know you went down there because you heard legends of treasures, but you have to be more careful! A treasure cant make up for real strength. Once youre better again its ti you start cultivating.

Cultivating? What is that? Do I have to grow sothing?