It seemed as if I was transported far into the future when I awoke. The ground I was laying on had a rough rocky feel that was definitely not my driveway, and the sky was a bright blue; with the sun high in the sky. Large white clouds drifted around in the sky; so close it seemed as if I could reach my hand out and touch them.

I moved my hand in front of my eyes; shielding them from the bright white mass that was the sun. Strangely, I noticed as I moved to get up, I felt perfectly fine. In fact, I felt better than ever. Which was weird since my last memory involved me blacking out due to some strange energy impacting Earth.

Speaking of which, I believe I’m on a mountain. Huh. Not the reaction I was suspecting. Looking around all I saw was massive stone mountains; my vision was filled with shades of gray, no trees growing on any of the mountains in sight, scattered shrubs instead grew on the mountains. The mountains created a large valley, equally empty and gray, where a long river winded its way through.

It was so empty. Yet I felt fine. Perfectly calm. But, I knew I shouldn’t. I mean I woke up on a freaking mountain! What happened to my house, to my car!? I just fecking paid it off! Yet, I can’t even enjoy that small fake outburst; I feel nothing but a serene calmness.

So, I had to focus, to think of something, to use this once in a life calmness. For starters, how about figuring out how in the hell I’m going to get down this mountain. I mean my small outcropping barely allowed me to move around. I could try to climb down, maybe reaching another ledge, but I’ve never climbed a mountain in my life. And those rocks look pretty loose.

Fuck it. What else can I do?

I moved to the rock wall, putting my hands into a crack between two large stones, and moved my legs slowly off of the outcropping feeling for a rock that can hold my weight. It was all or nothing now. Finding what felt like a good rock to support my weight, I begin to work my way down, the calmness that I felt was helping a lot in this situation. Slowly but surely I moved down, my body pressed close against the rocky wall.

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I continued moving further down, every few seconds having to find another rock that would make a good foothold, until an hour later- with my arms screaming in pain- I reached a small ledge.

I immediately sat down in pain, taking long breaths. This had to be the longest I’ve exercised ever in my life, and I still had far to go yet. Looking over the side of the mountain I-

Out of nowhere, a soft ding~ entered my ear, and deep in my chest, I felt something move. A wave of surety came upon me with rock climbing. Of what I had right and was effective, and what was wrong.

Closing my eyes I tried to focus on this feeling in my chest. I could feel that this was the energy that changed Earth. That this was the energy that has been all around me all along, without me taking notice.

In a short second, a screen appeared in front of my eyes.

SYSTEM

Status: Strength- 9 Constitution- 7 Agility- 6 Dexterity- 6 Intelligence- 11 Wisdom- 8 Mana: 10/10

Race: Human

Level:0

Skills: Rock Climbing Lvl. 1

Effects: System Calmness

It looked oddly like a character sheet out of a tabletop game. And it was so strange to see myself laid out like that. It also seems I gained a skill? Was that the strange feeling I felt earlier? Gaining a skill? So weird… But, It’s not like I learned anything new, more like I gained a reassurance of what I’m doing right. That alone is a big help, pointing out flaws is big indeed. Then there is that effect… System calmness. Is that why I’m so calm? Because of this system? Again, so weird…

It also mentioned Mana, and I could feel intuitively that this was a different source of energy than whatever makes up the system. Yet, when I try to feel for a different source of energy, it’s like its hiding. I can fell that it’s there inside of me, now that I have the system to point it out, but I can’t find where.

Okay, so another problem for another time. I closed my eyes tightly before reopening them, just to see if it’ll close the System screen, and luckily it did. I let out a breath, I rested for long enough and the System is something that can be dealt with later.

It was time for some more climbing.