With a mountain of pillows, Michael lay sprawled on his bed, his legs comfortably elevated. With his laptop balanced precariously on his knees, a soft, ethereal glow illuminated his face as he immersed himself in the world of a sci-fi thriller.

Michaels roommate and best friend Neal had entered the room like a shadow, hardly noticeable against the backdrop of Michael’s movie. The creak of the door and Neal’s concerned voice punctuated the tense atmosphere of the film.

“So... You’re seriously considering dropping out of college?” Neal’s voice held a mix of disbelief and worry as he leaned against the doorframe, arms folded across his chest.

Michael paused his movie then turned to face him. “Why not? I’m barely scraping by in class anyway,” he retorted nonchalantly. “Besides, college is useless. I don’t really feel like being in debt for my whole life. It’s a complete rip-off if you ask me.”

Neal’s sigh resonated with frustration as he stepped further into the room. “I worry about you, man. You’re smart, but sometimes you act like you don’t give a damn about anything.”

“I care,” Michael countered, his attention already drifting back to the movie. “Just not about this.” He gestured vaguely at the chaotic mess of textbooks and papers strewn across his desk.

“Then why even apply to begin with?” Neal asked, his voice tinged with exasperation. “It just seems like you wasted your time here.”

Michael shrugged. “Don’t ask me. My parents wanted me to apply.”

“Then maybe it’s time to figure it out,” Neal suggested, his tone softening. “You’re too smart to just drop out man. Have you thought about talking to a counselor? Maybe they can help you find a major that actually interests you!”

Michael glanced at Neal, skepticism in his eyes. “You really think that’ll help?”

“It could,” Neal pressed on. “Or how about joining a club or taking a class outside your major? Something that sparks your interest. There’s gotta be something here worth sticking around for.”

Michael shook his head, a determined look settling on his face. “Neal, I appreciate what you’re doing, but I just don’t see the point. I’ve made up my mind. I’m quitting.”

Neal’s shoulders sagged, a resigned sigh escaping his lips. “Alright

With a resigned shake of his head, Neal let his arms fall to his sides. “It’s your call, I guess. Just don’t come running to me when it all falls apart.”

Michael waved him off dismissively, already engrossed in the unfolding plot on his screen. “I’ll be fine, Neal. Stop worrying.”

Neal lingered for a moment longer, deep concern etched in his features. “I really hope you know what you’re doing,” he said, his voice heavy with worry. “Just don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

As Neal departed, the door closing softly behind him, Michael felt a pang of guilt. He thought back to their high school days, when their friendship had first taken root. They had met in freshman year, both new to the school and struggling to find their place. A shared moment of defending a classmate from a bully solidified their bond, setting the stage for a friendship that would weather countless storms. They had all-nighters studying for exams together under the flickering lights of the library and spent endless nights sharing dreams of a brighter future.

In the dimly lit confines of his dorm room, Michael felt the tendrils of sleep begin to wrap around his consciousness. The glow of his laptop screen danced hypnotically, casting shifting shadows across the walls as he drifted into the realm of dreams.

Yet, as sleep began to overtake him, Michael felt the gradual pull of his consciousness slipping away. The hum of his dorm room faded into a distant murmur, replaced by the comforting embrace of darkness. His body felt heavier, as though sinking into the mattress, and his limbs grew numb. The sensation was akin to drifting on a gentle tide, rocking him further into slumber.

In this twilight state, somewhere between waking and dreaming, Michael’s mind floated. Thoughts became disjointed, merging and fading into each other like fleeting wisps of smoke. He felt the odd sensation of falling, not abruptly, but slowly, as though descending through layers of thick, warm liquid.

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His breathing slowed, deepened, each inhale and exhale a soft rhythm that lulled him deeper. Somewhere in the recesses of his mind, a flicker of awareness persisted, a small part of him that knew this was no ordinary sleep. The feeling was not unpleasant, but there was an underlying current of unease, a sense that something was about to change.

Then, without warning, the sensation of weightlessness enveloped him completely. It was as if the ground had vanished beneath him, leaving him suspended in an endless void. Michael’s stomach lurched, a reflexive response to the sudden loss of support. He tried to move, to grasp onto something, but his limbs felt distant, unresponsive.

A creeping coldness seeped into his being, the comforting warmth of his bed replaced by an inky void that pressed in on all sides. Panic began to claw at his chest as he struggled to draw breath, the absence of air a palpable presence in the darkness. His heart raced, each beat a frantic drum in the silence.

Yet, when awareness finally returned, it was not to the familiar comfort of his bed. Instead, Michael found himself enveloped in an inky void, the sensation of weightlessness unsettling in its unfamiliarity. The disorienting transition from the warmth of his dorm to the cold expanse of nothingness left him gasping, his mind reeling as it tried to make sense of the impossible.

“Oh God! Why can’t I breathe? Am I... dead? What the fuck is happening?! Michael’s voice shook with fear, trying to wrap his head around the crazy situation.

A sudden burst of brilliant blue light shattered the oppressive darkness, casting an eerie glow across the void. Michael recoiled instinctively, his movements clumsy as he stumbled backward and landed unceremoniously on his rear.

The pixelated form of a blue screen hovered before him, similar to the ones in the old Final Fantasy games. Michael’s heart pounded in his chest as he stared at the screen, a sense of unease settling over him like a shroud.

“What... What on earth is this?” Michael’s voice trembled with uncertainty, his eyes darting nervously across the screen’s glowing surface. It seemed to pulse with an otherworldly energy, its presence both mesmerizing and deeply unsettling. Michael felt drawn into it.

Words began to materialize on the screen, appearing as if by magic in a rapid flurry of text.

[Warning: Gained the status effect —Transference--. 2 minutes remaining]

Michael’s mind was reeling with confusion and fear. “Transference? What does that mean? Is this... a dream?”

“Of course, it was a dream. I always stay up late and play old video games. This isn’t the first time I’ve had dreams like this,” Michael thought to himself, rubbing his head as a slight headache appeared.

Another screen materialized beneath the first, smaller but no less ominous in its implications.

[ Transference - the action of transferring something or the process of being transferred.]

[Status effect --Transference-- remaining time: 1:24]

Michael’s pulse quickened as he read the words. His thoughts raced to comprehend the gravity of the situation. “What... What’s being transferred? Is it... me?”

With each passing second, the countdown on the screen seemed to mock him, a relentless reminder of the impending unknown.

[Status effect --Transference-- remaining time: 1:00]

As the final minute ticked away, yet another screen materialized. This time it was black, a blur of scrolling text that defied Michael’s attempts to decipher its meaning.

“Character? Importing? What... what is happening?” Michael’s voice rose in panic. “This is a bit weird for a dream, even mine,” his eyes darting frantically between the screens as the countdown reached its climax.

Moments passed as the screen continued to be a mess of words until it suddenly stopped, landing on two words. These two words would be imprinted on Michael’s mind forever: “Good Luck!”

[Status effect --Transference-- remaining time: 0:05]

[00:4]

[00:3]

[00:2]

[00:1]

The darkness enveloping him began to dissipate, unveiling a vast expanse adorned with glistening crystals and precious gems. The gems adorning the cavern ceiling gave the impression of stars within the cave with him.

Michael’s breath caught in his throat as he fought to regain the ability to breathe. His mind grappled with the surreal experience unfolding before him. He stood on a rocky island within an awe-inspiring cavern, encircled by glistening water. The cavern, vast and magnificent, offered only the company of diminutive trees that dotted the rocky terrain.

“This... this can’t be real. This has to be a dream.”

Pinch.

“Ouch. Real. Guess I didn’t need to pinch myself that hard.”

Michael scanned the surroundings once more, seeking an escape route from the rocky island. He approached the water encircling him.

“Hmm, I think I can swim across. It doesn’t seem too far to the other side, and maybe I’ll find my way out of here.”

A small grin formed on his face as he began to walk backward. “If I’m going to be swimming, I might as well have a little fun,” he thought to himself. He started running, ignoring the pain of the tiny pebbles embedding into the soles of his feet as he ran.

“Cannonball!”

Splash!

It didn’t feel right. The moment he landed in the water, it didn’t feel normal. It was as if he was swimming in a thick goo. It burned.

“Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!” Michael shouted as he emerged back on the rocky island from the water.

“Jesus Christ, that was awful!” Michael said as he sprawled out on the ground, struggling to catch his breath.

At that moment, another screen appeared.

[Warning: gained status effect --Toxic--]

[Toxic-- You entered a lake contaminated with harmful toxins. Exposure results in a 25% decrease in HP per minute.]

[Suggestion-- Don’t do that again]

“Oh, shit.”