The flickering fluorescent light of the office cubicle was the last thing Arthur Penwright, a man whose most exciting daily event was the 3 PM coffee run, remembered before the world dissolved into a kaleidoscope of colors. He landed, not with a thud, but with a gentle settling, on cool, mossy earth. The scent of pine and damp soil replaced the stale office air.
Blinking, Arthur sat up. Towering trees with luminous, sapphire-blue leaves formed a canopy overhead, filtering the light of two pale moons. Strange, melodious calls echoed in the distance. This wasn't his lunch break.
A translucent blue screen shimmered into existence before his eyes.
[Welcome, User #734! You have been selected for the Aethelgard System Initiative!]
"What in the...?" Arthur muttered, swatting at the screen. His hand passed right through it.
[System Initializing... Please remain calm.]
[Name: Arthur Penwright]
[Age: 32]
[Race: Human (Provisional)]
[Level: 1]
[Attributes:]
[Strength: 5 (Below Average)]
[Dexterity: 6 (Below Average)]
[Constitution: 4 (Fragile)]
[Intelligence: 8 (Average)]
[Wisdom: 7 (Slightly Below Average)]
[Charisma: 5 (Unremarkable)]
"Unremarkable? Fragile? Hey!" Arthur protested, though only the rustling leaves seemed to hear.
[Skills: None (Yet!)]
[Quests: 1 Available]
[New Quest: Survive the Night]
[Description: The Whisperwood is home to many creatures, not all of them friendly. Find shelter and avoid becoming dinner.]
[Reward: +50 EXP, Basic Survival Kit]
[Failure: Death (Permanent)]
"Permanent death? This isn't some VR game!" Panic began to bubble, cold and sharp. He was in a real, honest-to-goodness fantasy world, armed with nothing but his office attire and a slightly insulting stats screen.
The suns – or moons, rather – were beginning to dip lower, casting long, eerie shadows. The melodious calls from earlier now sounded decidedly less friendly. The "Survive the Night" quest suddenly felt very, very urgent.
Arthur scrambled to his feet. "Okay, System," he addressed the air, "any helpful hints? Like, a 'Shelter for Dummies' guide?"
[Hint: Utilize your surroundings. Observe. Adapt.]
"Thanks, real specific," he grumbled, but the fear spurred him on. He spotted a cluster of large, gnarled roots at the base of one of the sapphire-leaved trees. It wasn't a five-star hotel, but it offered some concealment.
As he huddled amongst the roots, another notification popped up.
[Observation Skill Unlocked! Level 1]
[Effect: +5% chance to notice hidden details.]
"Well, that's... something," Arthur admitted. He peered into the deepening gloom, trying to use his newfound "skill." He noticed the way the wind rustled the leaves, the distant snap of a twig, the faint, musky scent that hadn't been there before.
A pair of glowing red eyes emerged from the undergrowth, low to the ground. A guttural snarl followed. It was a creature that looked like a wolf, but twice the size, with matted black fur and wickedly sharp claws.
Arthur's heart hammered against his ribs. "System! Combat mode? Anything?"
[No combat skills currently equipped. Suggestion: Flee or Hide (Current choice: Hide - moderately effective).]
The creature sniffed the air, its red eyes scanning the darkness. It was getting closer. Arthur pressed himself further into the roots, trying to make himself as small as possible. He held his breath, every nerve screaming.
Just as the beast was about to investigate his hiding spot, a piercing shriek echoed from deeper in the woods, followed by a chorus of agitated howls. The red-eyed creature paused, its head snapping towards the new sound. After a moment of tense silence, it let out a frustrated snort and bounded away, disappearing into the shadows.
Arthur didn't move for a long time, even after the sounds faded. Finally, shakily, he let out a breath.
[Quest Updated: Survive the Night - In Progress]
[Danger Averted (Temporarily). +10 EXP for successful evasion.]
"Ten EXP..." Arthur whispered. "That's it for almost dying?" He was exhausted, terrified, and utterly out of his depth. But he was alive.
As the first rays of a dawn, painted in hues of lavender and rose by the twin moons, filtered through the sapphire leaves, a new message appeared.
[Quest Complete: Survive the Night!]
[Reward: +50 EXP, Basic Survival Kit (Claim?)]
"Claim!" Arthur said, a sliver of hope igniting within him.
A small, sturdy-looking backpack materialized beside him with a soft pop. Inside, he found a waterskin filled with clean water, some dried meat that smelled surprisingly appetizing, a flint and steel, and a small, crudely made knife.
[Level Up! You are now Level 2!]
[+2 Stat Points Available. +1 Skill Point Available.]
[Please allocate your points.]
Arthur looked at his stats. Strength and Constitution seemed like good bets for not being "fragile" anymore. He put one point into each. For the skill point, he hesitated.
[New Skills Available for Purchase:]
[- Basic Swordsmanship (1 SP)]
[- Basic Archery (1 SP)]
[- Herbalism (1 SP)]
[- Stealth (1 SP)]
Remembering the terrifying creature, 'Stealth' seemed like a very attractive option.
"Okay, System," Arthur said, a new resolve hardening his voice. "Let's do this. One point in Stealth."
The world of Aethelgard was dangerous and alien, but he wasn't entirely alone. He had the System. It was a strange, impersonal guide, but it was a guide nonetheless. And Arthur Penwright, former coffee-run champion, was determined to learn its rules and survive, maybe even thrive, in this impossible new reality. His adventure had just begun.