As the morning light filtered through the canopy, my resolve hardened. I didn’t know what this place was, or why I’d been dragged here, but I decided I wasn’t just going to lie down and give up. Tugging my damp pyjamas tighter around me, I turned my gaze toward the distant horizon.
“Alright, creepy alien forest,” I said quietly. “Let’s see what you’ve got for me.”
The cold still gnawed at me, and my feet throbbed with every step. I scanned the forest floor for anything that might help my situation. Loose strips of bark clung to a nearby tree, their texture rough but pliable. A thought struck me. “Maybe… I can make something out of this.”
“Come on,” I said. “You’ve got this. Just think of it like… making something in a crafting game. Except I don’t have a crafting menu to help me.”
I rolled my sleeves up over my elbows, and set to work, peeling long strips of bark and gathering vines. My fingers fumbled with the unfamiliar materials, the cold making them stiff and clumsy, but determination kept me moving. Slowly, I wove the bark together, using the vines to secure the strips into crude soles with a string tying them onto my toes, flip-flop style.
“Not bad for a first try,” I said, slipping the makeshift sandals onto my feet. The rough texture wasn’t comfortable, but it was an improvement on walking barefoot. “Very… Tarzan?”
Talent Unlocked: Basic Crafting
Accept? Yes/no
I couldn’t help but grin. “Basic Crafting, huh?” I accepted the talent and swiped away the dialogue box, then took another step, wiggling my toes to test the sandals. They held together surprisingly well.
Condition: Cold. (-1 Physical, -2 Mental).
Recommendation: Seek warmth immediately.
I groaned, “No rest for the wicked, I see…” I pushed forward, my makeshift sandals crunching against the forest floor. The sharp chill of the morning air bit at my exposed skin, but I felt a flicker of pride at my small victory. My steps were much less painful, my bark-and-vine contraptions sparing my feet from the worst of the rough terrain.
The forest stretched endlessly around me, the towering trees seeming to close in with every passing moment. I winced as I took halting steps forward, searching around for anything, anywhere I might rest and find shelter from the cold and the monsters.
The towering trees gave way to another clearing, and my breath caught. Before me stood a structure, crumbling with age yet still imposing. Massive stones, covered in vines, formed the remnants of walls that seemed to hum faintly, as though the place itself were alive. Symbols carved into the stone pulsed faintly, not quite glowing, but just enough to make me squint. “That’s… something,” I said.
Unknown structure detected.
Analyse? Yes/No.
“Sure, why not? Let’s add creepy ancient ruins to the list of things I don’t understand.” I focused on “Yes,” and a new message appeared.
Information unavailable. Insufficient knowledge.
Talent unlocked: Sense Magic
Accept? Yes/No
“Wait, so you can’t tell me anything about the ruins but for some reason I get a talent for sensing magic? So… then that means magic is a thing here?” I shrugged, “well, I guess it makes about as much sense as anything else has done so far.”
I accepted the new talent and stepped cautiously into the ruins, the air growing colder as I passed through what might once have been an archway. The hum grew louder, resonating in my chest. Whatever this place was, it didn’t feel abandoned. Not entirely.
Something still resided here, among the crumbling stone and the overgrown structures.
The ruins were eerily silent, save for the faint hum that seemed to come from the stones themselves. I stepped cautiously through the crumbling archway. Vines hung like curtains from the broken walls, their leaves curling toward me, as though reaching for me. The air inside was colder than outside, sharp and biting, making my breaths fog.
“Why do I feel like I’m walking into a horror film?” I muttered. My voice echoed softly, as if the walls themselves were listening. I took another step, my eyes scanning the faintly glowing symbols etched into the stone. They pulsed with a rhythmic light, almost like a heartbeat, and I felt every pulse as though a tiny voice greeted me as I passed by.
my hands were shaking, though whether from the cold or fear, I couldn’t tell. I kept moving deeper into the ruins, my footsteps hesitant and unsteady. The light from the two moons barely penetrated this place, but the faint glow from the symbols provided just enough illumination to make out my surroundings.
I rounded a corner, and the space opened into what might have been a room—a square chamber with cracks spiderwebbing across the walls. In the center of the room stood a pedestal, its surface covered in dust and overgrown with moss. Something faintly glimmered atop it. I could feel some kind of pulsing energy emanating from it, and recognised that my “Sense Magic” talent had been activated.
“Well, that’s not ominous at all,” I muttered. But my curiosity got the better of me, and I approached the pedestal slowly, squinting at the object resting on it. It looked like a crystal, no larger than my fist, and it pulsed faintly with light. As I reached out to touch it, the humming in the air grew louder.
“Probably a bad idea,” I muttered, hesitating. But before I could decide whether to grab the crystal or leave it alone, the hum rose to a sharp pitch, and the light from the symbols on the walls flared brightly. I stumbled backward, shielding my eyes.
When the light faded, something moved in the shadows near the pedestal. I froze, my heart pounding.
“Who’s there?” I called, though my voice was more of a squeak than anything commanding. A soft, melodic trill answered. I blinked as the creature stepped into the faint light. It was small, no larger than a cat, with a sleek body that shimmered like liquid silver. Its luminous eyes shifted colours like oil on water, and delicate, feather-like appendages framed its head. The creature’s tail flicked behind it, trailing wisps of faint blue light floating in the air.
“What… are you?” I whispered, my fear was momentarily forgotten. The creature tilted its head, emitting another series of melodic hums. The sound was oddly soothing, resonating in my chest like the notes of a harp.
Creature: Lumora
Type: Magical Familiar
Bond Potential: High
Recommendation: Attempt communication
“Bond potential? Are you serious? What does that even mean?” I whispered at the system, swiping the notification away. I crouched down slowly, careful not to make any sudden movements. The creature didn’t back away. Instead, it stepped closer, its shimmering tail leaving glowing trails in the air. It was kinda cute, in a glowing alien creature kind of way.
“Hi there,” I said softly, holding out my hand. “I, uh, don’t know if you can understand me, but… I could really use a friend right now.” The Lumora chirped in response, its tone light and curious. It sniffed my outstretched hand, then pressed its soft, glowing nose against my palm. A faint warmth spread through my fingers, and another notification appeared.
Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.
Bond formed with Lumora.
Would you like to name your familiar? Yes/No.
“A familiar? Like, a magic pet? What am I, a magical girl now?” I asked, blinking at the screen. “Yeah, okay, sure. Why not? Let’s call you… Glowbug.”
The creature trilled, the sound bright as if it approved of the name. The notification floating over the creature had been updated.
Bonded Familiar: Glowbug (Lumora).
Abilities Unlocked: Resonance, Minor Illumination, Danger Sense.
Command interface available. Familiar will respond to mental commands.
I stared at the new information, half in disbelief. “Mental commands? Okay, this day just keeps getting weirder.” Glowbug chirped again and began to hum softly, a soothing melody that seemed to vibrate through the air. I watched, wide-eyed, as the pain in my feet eased. The cuts and scrapes I had earned during my frantic escape seemed to close slightly, and the ache in my limbs dulled.
“You can heal me?” I whispered, staring at the little creature. “Is that the… resonance thing? Oh, you are definitely sticking with me.”
Glowbug’s eyes flashed a bright green as it leapt lightly onto my shoulder. Its tail wrapped loosely around my neck, trailing faint light that made the darkness of the ruins a little easier to bear. It whirred a discontented noise, that seemed to say, “Something bad is coming!” A raspy, feral growl came from somewhere else in the ruins.
“Oh, great. Just what I needed.” I turned toward the exit, my new companion humming urgently in my ear. “Let’s go, Glowbug. Time to see how fast we can run.”
With the faint light of Glowbug’s tail to guide me, I sprinted out of the building and towards the forest, the sound of something heavy and menacing echoing in the shadows behind me. My breath came in ragged gasps as I stumbled over the uneven ground.
Glowbug clung tightly to my shoulder, its shimmering tail wrapping around my neck like a glowing scarf. The creature hummed urgently in my ear, a low, insistent tone that seemed to vibrate through my chest.
“Yeah, I know it’s getting closer!” I said, nearly tripping over a fallen stone. “I’m doing my best here!”
Danger Detected: Hostile Entity.
Recommendation: Flee.
“Not now!” I snapped, swiping the notification away. “I’m trying to not die, thanks!”
The guttural growl behind me grew louder, reverberating through the crumbling stones. I risked a glance over my shoulder and immediately regretted it. The creature—some sort of twisted amalgamation of claws, fangs, and too many limbs—was closing the distance, its glowing red eyes locked on mine. The thing moved unnaturally fast, bounding over debris as if it weighed nothing.
Creature: Shadow Ghast
Danger level: High
Recommendation: Flee
“Glowbug,” I gasped, “if you’ve got any tricks up your little glowing sleeves, now would be a great time to use them.” Glowbug let out a series of sharp, melodic chirps, its tail pulsing with light. The creature’s hum shifted to a higher pitch, almost like a whistle, and I felt a strange warmth spread through my body.
“Did you just do something awesome?” I whispered, a flicker of hope reigniting in my chest. The warmth spread to my legs, and suddenly, my steps felt lighter. I surged forward with a speed I didn’t know I had. The distance between me and the pursuing creature widened, though its growls only grew more enraged.
I darted around the corner of a crumbling wall, nearly slipping on the moss-slick ground, and found myself inside another broken ruin, a narrow corridor lined with glowing symbols. At the far end, I spotted a faint glimmer of moonlight—a way out. My lungs burned as I pushed myself harder, Glowbug’s humming in my ear urging me on.
Behind, the creature let out a bone-chilling screech, and a wave of air pressure slammed into my back. I stumbled forward, catching myself against the wall. When I glanced back, I saw the creature crouching at the entrance to the corridor, its massive form barely fitting between the walls. It hesitated, its red eyes darting to and from the glowing glyphs around it.
“Is it… trapped on the other side of those?” I whispered. Glowbug chirped in response, its tail flicking as if in agreement.
The creature let out another screech, but it didn’t advance. Instead, it clawed at the ground, tearing chunks of stone from the floor in frustration. I didn’t wait to see if it would change its mind. I turned and bolted for the exit, the cool night air hitting my face as I emerged into the forest once more.
“Not out of the woods yet,” I muttered as I leaned against a tree to catch my breath and rest.
The forest was no less unnerving than before. The towering trees loomed overhead, their shadows stretching like claws across the ground. I rubbed my arms, shivering as the chill of the woods bit through my skin.
“We need a plan,” I said, glancing at Glowbug. “You’re great and all, but I can’t keep running forever. That thing is still out there, and then there’s that other monster that was chasing me before, and I’m not exactly loaded with options.”
The little creature chirped and leapt from my shoulder, hovering in the air like a glowing wisp. Glowbug made a trilling noise, darting ahead and pausing, its glowing tail pulsing in a rhythmic pattern.
“You want me to follow you?” I asked, my voice hoarse. Glowbug hummed in response, bobbing in the air like a will-o’-the-wisp. I trudged after it, each step a painful effort as my muscles cramped up. The forest floor was uneven, the ground littered with roots and fallen branches, but Glowbug’s light provided just enough guidance. After what felt like an eternity, I spotted the outline of a rocky outcrop rising above the trees.
“Higher ground,” I murmured. “Good idea, Glowbug. I like the way you think.”
The climb to the outcrop was grueling. My hands scraped against rough stone, and my legs threatened to give out more than once. Glowbug hovered close, its light a steady reassurance. When I finally reached the top, I collapsed onto the flat surface, my chest heaving.
The view was breathtaking. The forest stretched endlessly in every direction, a sea of shadowy treetops illuminated by the twin moons. In the distance, I could see faint lights—perhaps a village or a campfire?—but they were far, far away. The air was cool but fresher than it had been below, and for the first time in hours, I could finally breathe easier.
“Great. Civilization exists, but it’s miles out of reach,” I said, resting my head against the cool rock. “That thing can’t climb, right? Please tell me it can’t climb.”
Glowbug chirped softly, nuzzling against my cheek. I sighed and patted its head. “You’re not reassuring me, but that’s fine. Thanks for saving my ass back there, little buddy. I owe you one.”
My heart still raced as I sat atop the outcrop, my eyes darting nervously to the forest below. Every snapping twig and rustling leaf made me flinch. Glowbug curled up beside me, its calming hum helping to dull my panic. My breathing steadied, though my exhaustion remained.
“Okay, Harriet,” I murmured to myself, “you’ve survived… somehow. But you can’t keep running. You need to think.” I glanced down at Glowbug, whose luminous eyes watched me intently. “Any ideas, buddy?”
Glowbug chirped softly and floated toward the edge of the outcrop, pointing its tail toward the faint lights in the distance. I followed its gaze, squinting. The lights flickered faintly, just out of reach.
“You want me to go there?” I said. “Figures it’s a million miles away. I’m going to need food, water, and maybe a miracle or two to make it.”
Condition: Exhaustion (-1 Physical)
Recommendation: Rest
“Rest? In case you didn’t notice, I’m in the middle of nowhere, hunted by monsters. Rest isn’t exactly on the menu.” I swiped away the notification with a roll of my eyes. Glowbug hummed, its tail brushing against my arm. Its soft, rhythmic tones carried a strange sense of reassurance, almost as if it was saying, You’re safe for now.
“Fine,” I muttered, leaning back against the cool stone. “I’ll rest, but just for a bit. Keep watch, okay?”
My fuzzy little friend chirped in agreement and hovered near the edge of the outcrop, its glowing form a vigilant sentinel. I closed my eyes, though sleep didn’t come easily. The sounds of the forest still set my nerves on edge, and the memory of the creature’s piercing screech echoed in my mind. When I finally drifted off, fractured and chaotic dreams filled my sleep—images of the towering ruins, the monster’s glowing red eyes, and the strange symbols that pulsed with life. At the center of it all was the crystal on the pedestal, its light growing brighter until it engulfed everything.
I woke up with a start, my body aching and cold. The twin moons had shifted in the sky, casting a softer light over the forest. Glowbug hovered near me, humming a low, soothing melody. Looking at the clock still counting down in the corner of my vision, it seemed I had somehow gotten four hours of fitful sleep.
“Not exactly a spa day, but I’ll take it,” I muttered, pushing myself to my feet. My legs trembled, but I managed to stay upright. I looked toward the distant lights, my jaw tightening with determination. “Let’s go, Glowbug. If there’s a safe place somewhere, I’m finding it.”
Name: Harriet Price
Age: 24
Type: Human
Titles: None
Classes: None
Professions: None
Talents: Basic Identify, Basic Survival Instincts, Basic Crafting, Sense Magic
Condition: Exhaustion (-1 Physical), Cold (-1 Physical, -2 Mental), Poor nutrition (-2 Physical, -1 Mental), Low muscle density (-3 Physical, -2 Social)
Attributes:
Vitality: 40/50
Physical: 10(-7)
Mental: 14(-3)
Social: 7(-2)
Luck: 10
Experience: 0/100