I turned and headed for the narrow staircase at the back. The steps creaked under my boots—old wood protesting every weight. Upstairs, a dim hallway lit by a single oil lamp. Doors lined both sides, numbered in peeling paint.
Number 7 was at the end. I slid the key in, turned it with a rusty click, and pushed the door open.
Small. Barely bigger than a closet.
A single narrow bed hugged the right wall—thin mattress, patched blanket, lumpy pillow. On the left sat a battered wooden chest, lid slightly askew. Above the bed, a small window—glass streaked with years of grime—let in a sliver of moonlight and the faint glow of the city beyond. That was it. No chair, no table, no washbasin.
I stepped inside, closed the door behind me, and turned the lock with a heavy thunk.
"Fuck me," I muttered, leaning back against the wood. "Even my shithole of an apartment was better than this…"
The adrenaline had finally crashed. Every bruise, every ache, every smear of mud and blood suddenly weighed twice as much. I slid down the door until I was sitting on the floorboards, head tipped back, staring at the cracked ceiling.
Thirty silver richer. One dead elf. One forest fire. One night closer to… whatever came next.
I closed my eyes.
Just for a minute.
Then I'd figure out the bath, the bed, the points, and how the hell to survive another day in this world.
Okay… time to see what leveling up actually means.
I focused on the stat screen, and it expanded in front of me like a glowing blueprint of my new reality.
Okay… time to see what leveling up actually meant.
So, I had one point to spend on either STA, HP, or MP. But it seemed like I couldn't upgrade them directly. Instead, there were five classes to choose from, and I could put points into each class however I wanted. When I got a class to a certain level, it would apparently reward me with something, according to the little box that appeared next to me.
Well, of course I was going to choose Mage.
╔═══════════════════════╗
> LEVEL UP: CLASS
────────────────────────
[0] Warrior: Strong in melee combat, high HP
────────────────────────
[1] Mage: Masters magic, high INT and MP
────────────────────────
[0] Rogue: Fast and stealthy, excels in critical hits
────────────────────────
[0] Cleric: Supports allies, heals and wards
────────────────────────
[0] Ranger: Skilled with ranged attacks
╚═══════════════════════╝
Next, the stats screen updated.
╔═══════════════════════╗
> Ace | LC: 7 | EXP: 8/133 | LVL 2
╠═══════════════════════╣
> HP ▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▱▱ 84/100
> MP ▰▰▰▰▰▰▱▱▱▱ 79/70
> STA ▰▰▰▱▱▱▱▱▱▱ 33/80
────────────────────────
> UNSPENT POINTS
╠═══════════════════════╣
> [ BAG ] [ MAP ] [ SHOP ] [QUESTS]
╚═══════════════════════╝
Giving a point to Mage put ten points into my mana pool. Nice. And two spells unlocked automatically; Fireball and Heal. I could already feel them waiting in the back of my mind, ready to be used with focus and will.
Now that it was over, I had to see what perk points meant, and how to spend them correctly. Since I only had Mage class available right now, the other options were grayed out, leaving me with only one path.
Another screen popped up when I focused on Mage. This one was a massive skill tree. The available choices were drawn as small circles that branched out to new perks. For example, right now I could either choose +10% more mana regen or +10% more magic damage.
Each circle had a picture in it. The regen one had a blue tear-like symbol and to the left of it, there was a plus sign. The damage one had two palms clapped together, finger to finger.
"Well… more damage wouldn't hurt… ironically."
I chose 10% more damage and confirmed it.
╔═══════════════════════╗
> Ace | LC: 7 | EXP: 8/133 | LVL 2
╠═══════════════════════╣
> HP ▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▱▱ 84/100
> MP ▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰ 70/70
> STA ▰▰▰▱▱▱▱▱▱▱ 33/80
────────────────────────
> Class: MAGE
> Known Abilities:
• Fireball
• Heal
────────────────────────
>PERKS
• +10% More magic damage
╠═══════════════════════╣
> [ BAG ] [ MAP ] [ SHOP ] [QUESTS]
╚═══════════════════════╝
That was it, I suppose. I wanted to see my new spells… but I was too lazy to test them. Or better yet, too beaten up to care about anything other than sleep. My eyes were closing on their own.
"Well… I need to level up, then," I muttered as I got to my feet. "But for now… sleep."
I collapsed onto the uncomfortable bed. Damn, it really was uncomfortable. Still, my mind was buzzing with thoughts of stats, spells, and perks, so I didn't care. I closed my eyes, and within seconds, I was asleep, leaving the night behind me.
ꨄ︎ꨄ︎ꨄ︎
I woke up slowly, the unfamiliar mattress creaking under me as I shifted. For a split second—just one heartbeat—my eyes searched for the cracked, water-stained ceiling of my old bedroom. Then reality slammed back in. No dream. No nightmare. Still here. Still in this strange world where nothing made sense and tomorrow could bring anything.
"New day, new me…" I muttered, voice hoarse. The words tasted like a lie.
I swung my legs over the edge of the bed, rubbed sleep from my eyes, and glanced toward the grimy window. The sun was just rising, painting the sky soft orange and pink. Early—probably seven or eight. Cold air seeped through the cracks in the frame, biting at my skin. The room still stank of mud and dried blood clinging to my clothes.
"I need a bath…" I groaned, standing up. My muscles protested with every stretch and yawn. Yesterday had been hell: elves, murder, fire, near-death. A hell of a first day.
I still hadn't tested the new spells—Fireball and Heal—but torching a tavern room with Fireball sounded like a quick way to get thrown in a dungeon. Breakfast and a hot, soapy bath first. Then maybe I'd find somewhere safe to experiment.
I unlocked the door, turned the knob, and pulled it open.
And froze.
Leaning against the opposite wall in the narrow hallway stood… something. Not human. Definitely not human.
She was tall, easily seven feet, built like a warrior carved from stone. Her skin was a deep, ashen gray with a faint metallic sheen, like polished slate kissed by frost. Thick, curving horns swept back from her forehead in smooth, symmetrical arcs, ivory-white and gleaming faintly in the dim hallway light. Her face was sharp-featured, almost regal, with high cheekbones and golden eyes that seemed to catch every scrap of light. Long silver hair was braided loosely over one shoulder, strands escaping to frame her face. She wore simple but well-fitted leather armor over a dark tunic, arms crossed casually over her chest, one boot propped against the wall. She looked bored, patient—like someone waiting for an appointment.
"Shit…"