Dark,

Why can’t I see anything?

Cold,

Why can I only barely feel myself?

Dusty,

Why does my skin feel so dirty?

“Where… am I…?”

Silence,

Not a single sound around.

Silence,

Nobody answers me.

Silence,

I’m scared of even thinking out loud…

I took one step and that changed a lot of things.

Dim,

I can only see a starless night sky.

Windy,

I can hear leaves rustling.

Damp,

My feet are sinking into… the earth?

“This… isn’t my room… 

Mom… Dad…”

“Someone… help me.”

A voice…

I hear something calling out.

A voice?

What are they trying to say?

A voice!

There’s still hope for me after all!

But of all things that could’ve happened next, I tripped.

Blegh!

It stinks so bad…

Gwuh!

It’s so sticky and heavy…

AAaa-GH-gHHH…!!

WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?!!

“Please help

anybody…!”

I felt like I was drowning in something. Something I couldn't fully describe. It may have been shallow, but it was deep enough to swallow me. I didn’t even know what it was I was drowning in. I couldn't move and I was forced to take all these weirdly gruesome uncertainties. 

At the end of it all, I couldn't feel anything anymore. My vision bled red the moment I turned to look at the night sky. Starless. Moonless. There was no pain. But I wasn't allowed to see anything else.

“...I don’t want to die…”

. . .

"!!!" I gasped for air, sat up straight, clutched onto my chest with one hand, while the other grabbed onto the side covers of the bed.

The same nightmare plaguing me for months by now? Tonight…? There goes my nights-without-incident counter…

After I’ve caught my pacing breath, I bent down and buried my face into the mattress.

"GETOUTOFMYHEAD-GETOUTOFMYHEEEEEEAD-GETOUTOFMYHEAD!!" I screamed into it.

I sat up again, yawned, stretched my legs in front of me and put my palms in view.

It’s bad enough that I don’t understand what’s going on, but it just keeps coming back to me. As if, it’s a memory my mind had, probably, already forgotten, but something… I don't know what it is… that keeps reminding me…

I looked around my room. 

The gaping hole on the wall across my bed, hugging the southern wall side of the room, indicated it was still dark outside. On one corner desk table to my furthest right, was my adventuring outfit neatly folded into a pile (in order of appearance): a long white cape, its ruby-looking gem lock, a white vest, a blue rubbery tank top, a purple pleated skirt, a pair of white socks, and on top of it all was my magical belt bag.

A vibrant color combination that couldn't help but make me stand out in a crowd beyond my wishes, I'd admit.

On the end table nearest to my bed and the door on the eastern side of the room, was a standing clay figurine modeled after a tall and busty female mage. Very intricately detailed. Very sugoi. Such was gifted to me from one of my chance encounters outside this place. It was their reminder to stand strong even as a solo mage on the field I worked with.

Pinned to the wall behind me was a piece of paper with a few scribbles of numbers on it. Gist of it is about something I must pay.

Hmph. 

The grind never ends…

My only light sources were lantern-posts still burning outside and lights from other residences and businesses around… which all came through that same gaping hole.

Right, I was supposed to buy myself a lantern for this room… 

If I don’t forget again, then I guess I’ll get one later.

I laid down again and redid my covers.

I’ve got a lot more on my plate, than some foggy memory I have no business with.

I closed my eyes, turned to my side. But bright, blinking white lights passed by the gaping hole of my room, and it was a flash that reminded me of some past event: a random memory, of some light reflecting off a CD cover of the last game I played from when I was back at home…

~

One supreme being. 

Thirteen subordinates faithful to their higher. 

Two, once, warring sides of Creation have been quelled by their hands.

However, brief peace comes with yet another tragedy. 

One subordinate falls, as her Kingdom follows suit. 

Another subordinate turns into something sinister, as the same went for his own Kingdom. 

This transformation is dread personified as its mere existence threatens to expand his rule to all that remain untainted.

With the rise of this evil to our land, will you be the one to defeat the land's oppressor in-the-making? To halt the quelled dark ages of old from resurfacing? To preserve all those who have nothing to be but ignorant and blissful of impending doom?

Even if you don't know the answers, these questions are nothing but rhetoric.

You have no choice. 

Your journey for the fate of the world begins now. Alone or by banding together, you must succeed in your endeavors. Your choices. Your accomplishments. 

After all, in the end, it is your right to exact this land’s would-be Ruler, a ruthless Ruin.

~

I opened my eyes again and went to retrieve my notebook from under my pillow, to verify that random thought.

Hah. 

Not sure why I'm wanting to recall it now but… if this new life were as easy and predictable as that game I sunk so many weeks into…

I closed it, shuffled it back underneath and used a different pillow to bury my face under and actually get back to sleep.

…I wouldn't be such a hard-stuck Novice-ranked adventurer right now.