A heavy, drowsy warmth filled Mio’s senses, thick and weighty, like a dense fog pressing her down. She couldn’t remember ever feeling this heavy before, even on her most exhausted days. Slowly, she forced her eyes open, her vision blurred as she took in her surroundings. Towering trees loomed above her, branches tangled in a dark canopy of leaves. Faint slivers of sunlight pierced through, casting a patchwork of light and shadow on the forest floor. The earthy smell of soil and pine filled her nostrils.

This was definitely not her cramped apartment.

Dazed, Mio lifted herself up, her hands pressing into the ground. Her whole body felt strange, solid yet soft in ways she didn’t remember. Looking down, she saw unfamiliar curves, fuller arms, and a softer, sturdier frame that seemed almost foreign. She brought her hands to her face, touching her cheeks, which felt rounder than she was used to, then brushed over her glasses, still miraculously perched on her nose. The sight and feel of herself seemed strangely familiar yet entirely new.

Slowly, the pieces clicked into place. This wasn’t her usual body. No—this was the body of her tabletop RPG’s test character, the plump, resilient adventurer she had designed as a prototype for her game. She had spent countless hours crafting every detail of this character’s abilities and attributes, envisioning a body that could endure long campaigns and powerful magic.

But how could she be in this body?

Her last memory was of her apartment, days blurring into nights as she worked tirelessly, pushing herself with little sleep, little food. She had been so close to finishing her game… and then the memory faded into exhaustion, darkness… death.

The reality hit her like a tidal wave. She must have died—her overworked, malnourished body finally giving in. Yet here she was, in a forest she’d never seen before, in the body she had designed for a fictional world. She wasn’t sure whether to feel relieved or terrified.

A sudden rustling in the bushes broke her thoughts. Instinctively, she froze, her gaze snapping to the source of the noise. From the underbrush, a shadow moved, and two glinting eyes stared at her. She recognized the gaze instantly—predatory, unblinking, and fixed on her. Her pulse quickened as the creature stepped out of the shadows, revealing a massive, dark-furred wolf, its muscles tensed, eyes gleaming with a fierce hunger.

Without thinking, Mio scrambled backward, her heart pounding as she fought against her panicked thoughts. She was unarmed, unprepared, and cornered. The wolf’s growl rumbled low, its body crouched, ready to pounce.

Every instinct screamed at her to run, and she obeyed, stumbling to her feet and bolting deeper into the forest. She heard the wolf’s paws thudding against the ground, gaining on her, its breath harsh and close. Her legs burned as she sprinted, ducking under branches and leaping over fallen logs. She didn’t know where she was going, only that she needed to get away.

But the forest floor suddenly dipped into a ravine, stopping her dead in her tracks. She was trapped, the sheer drop before her too steep to navigate. She spun around, backing up as the wolf approached, its eyes locked onto her, hunger burning in its gaze. She pressed herself against the edge, heart racing, her mind scrambling for a solution.

Then something inside her stirred, an instinct deeper than fear. She remembered—she had magic. She could feel it now, a faint pulse of energy simmering in her core, like a spark waiting to be ignited. In her desperation, she reached for it, focusing on the spell she had once designed for her game: Earth Spike.

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She thrust her hand forward, shouting the spell’s name as she released the mana. The ground shuddered, and a jagged spike of earth shot up from the forest floor, catching the wolf mid-leap. The creature yelped in surprise, colliding with the spike before collapsing in a dazed heap on the ground.

Breathing heavily, Mio stared at the fallen wolf, her heart pounding as the reality of what she had just done sank in. She had cast a spell—a real spell, not something imagined or written on paper. Her hands trembled, and her whole body felt as though it were buzzing with the lingering effects of magic.

Slowly, she calmed herself, regaining her composure as she approached the wolf’s unmoving form. She had survived, but barely. This world was clearly dangerous, and if she was going to make it, she needed to understand her abilities, and fast.

The wolf’s body lay at her feet, and she felt an unexpected surge of curiosity. She had created spells for every scenario she could think of when designing her game. Now was her chance to see if she could wield them here, for real.

Kneeling beside the wolf, she placed a hand over its body, drawing on her mana reserves. They felt boundless, a vast pool of energy she could access without hesitation. Focusing, she whispered an incantation from the Necromancy school—a spell meant to reshape flesh and bone.

A soft, greenish glow emanated from her hands, wrapping around the wolf’s body as her mana flowed into it. Slowly, the creature’s bones shifted, realigning as its flesh morphed and compressed. The transformation was unsettling yet fascinating, and she watched as the body gradually reshaped into something new.

When the spell finished, a slender, dark staff lay on the ground before her, its polished surface smooth and gleaming. At the top, two hands clasped in a prayer-like gesture, their detailed fingers holding the air with a solemn elegance. It was a staff she had visualized many times, the perfect focus for her spells, and now it was real.

She picked up the staff, feeling a rush of satisfaction as it settled in her hand. But there was one last step. She channeled a second spell, weaving her mana into the staff to animate it. The hands at the top flexed slightly, responding to her will, ready to assist her in casting.

Testing the staff, she felt a surge of confidence. She wasn’t helpless in this world—far from it. She had her magic, her staff, and a well of boundless mana, just as she had designed for her character. The forest no longer felt quite so menacing.

Eager to understand her limits, she decided to test each of the schools of magic she had created. Holding the staff steady, she began with Water, summoning a small sphere of liquid that hovered between the praying hands. The water glistened, catching the light, as she guided it through the air.

Next, she tried Fire, conjuring a small flame that flickered brightly, its heat warming her face. Air followed, a gentle breeze swirling around her, and then Light, casting a soft glow that illuminated the shadows. She even dared to summon Darkness, a shadowy veil that dimmed the world around her, lending a sense of mystery to the forest.

One by one, she worked through each of the eleven schools of magic she had designed, feeling the power of each spell flow effortlessly from her boundless mana. Every element responded to her will, each spell as potent as it had been in her imagination. Finally, she called upon General Magic, crafting a protective shield around herself, one that shimmered faintly before fading away.

By the time she finished, Mio was beaming, her heart pounding with exhilaration. This world was not the exact one she had created for her game, but it was one she could shape, explore, and—if she dared—master. She took one last look at her staff, the praying hands at the top now a symbol of her newfound strength and resolve.

With a final glance around the clearing, Mio set off, the forest stretching ahead of her. She didn’t know what awaited her in this strange world, but she was ready to find out. Whatever mysteries or challenges lay in her path, she would face them with courage and magic at her side.

After all, this was her world now.