As Lila emerged from the dark room behind her still squinting, she took a moment to acclimatise to the blinding ethereal light that shone down from a massive white ball of energy in the sky but once she did her jaw dropped at the beauty that surround her.

An ethereal plane unfolded before her, revealing a world adorned with vibrant colours and natural beauty. Above, the sky stretched out in a majestic expanse of endless blue, dotted with wisps of ethereal clouds that seemed to dance with the wind.

Giant trees towered around her, their majestic branches reaching towards the heavens. Their lush foliage provided shade and shelter, creating a serene ambience that enveloped the landscape. Lila marvelled at the sheer size and age of these ancient sentinels, their trunks adorned with intricate patterns and glowing runes.

The terrain beneath her feet undulated in gentle green hills, covered in a carpet of soft grass and colourful wildflowers. The sweet scent of nature filled the air, accompanied by the melodious songs of unseen birds and the gentle murmur of nearby streams. Crystal-clear waters cascaded down rocky slopes, their murmurs a harmonious melody that resonated with the very essence of Aetheria.

As Lila stood, marvelling at the breathtaking vistas that unfolded before her, the voice in her head cleared its throat, a subtle interruption that snapped her out of her reverie.

"Ahem," the voice sounded, politely trying to capture her attention. "When you're ready, Miss Lila, I believe I might have some additional information to share with you."

Shaking off the enchantment of the scenery, Lila couldn't help but respond with a touch of mischief in her tone. "Er, why did you just make that sound?" she quipped, a hint of amusement lacing her words. "You don't possess a physical form, let alone a throat to clear."

The voice chuckled softly, its amusement resonating in Lila's mind. "Ah, you caught me, Miss Lila," it admitted, its tone tinged with a playful undertone. "Indeed, as a disembodied presence, the act of clearing one's throat is purely a theatrical gesture on my part."

Lila couldn't help but smile at the response. There was something oddly endearing about the voice's attempt to convey human-like expressions despite its lack of physicality. It brought a touch of levity to their mysterious circumstances, reminding her not to take everything too seriously.

"Well, I suppose theatrics can be quite entertaining," Lila replied, a hint of amusement colouring her voice. "So, what fascinating tidbits do you have to share with me, dear voice in my head? I'm all ears... metaphorically speaking, of course."

The voice chuckled again, its amusement mingling with a genuine fondness. "Metaphorically speaking, indeed," it echoed. "On a more serious note though as soon we left the room it was as if I had remembered lost knowledge, not a lot of knowledge but it's better than nothing."

"It certainly is. Are you gonna share this info or just keep me guessing? Lila remarked.

"of course, forgive me." the voice quickly responded, "Firstly due to the intricacies of this world there is a system in place to help lost souls like yourself comprehend it with a little bit more ease."

A shimmering holographic display materialized before Lila's eyes, showcasing an array of options and statistics. The voice continued its explanation, blending guidance with a touch of unintended humour.

"As you can see, Lila, the menu grants you access to things like attributes, skills, and inventory. It's like your own personal control panel. You can allocate experience points to enhance your abilities, customize your skills, and acquire new ones as you progress." the voice explained.

"Navigation of the system is fairly simple just concentrate on what you want to see or access and it will appear."

Lila's brows furrowed as a sense of familiarity washed over her, she felt like she had seen this kind of thing before but had no recollection where.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

**[Main Menu]**

[1] Character Details

[2] Attributes

[3] Skills

[4] Inventory

**[Character Details]**

Name: Lila

Level: 1

Experience: 0/100

Class: None

Subclass: None

Health: 100/100

Mana: 50/50

Stamina: 100/100

Health Regeneration: 2 per second

Mana Regeneration: 1 per second

Stamina Regeneration: 5 per second

**[Attributes]**

[1] Strength: 8

[2] Dexterity: 8

[3] Intelligence: 8

[4] Constitution: 8

[5] Agility: 8

[6] Charisma: 8

[7] Luck: 8

**[Skills]**

No skills available.

**[Inventory]**

[1] Weapons: None

[2] Armour: None

[3] Consumables: None

[4] Quest Items: None[

5] Materials: None

"Why does it feel like I have seen this kind of thing before?" Lila queried with a touch of confusion.

"I don't know for certain but taking an educated guess it is probably something you are familiar with from before you arrived here." the voice suggested "making it easier to understand."

"Oh, that would make a lot of sense. Anyway, you said that there were a few bits of knowledge you had gained," she responded inquisitively. "care to share with the group?"

"Of course Lila, it would be my pleas-" started the voice before Lila interrupted.

"Wait I've just realised I don't even know who or should I say what you are and why are you in my head?" she exclaimed.

The voice chuckled softly, "Ah, my dear Lila, I apologize for not introducing myself sooner. I am Remus, an entity intricately intertwined with this realm. I possess small chunks of knowledge of Aetheria and will serve as your trusty guide." quickly adding "Or I could just be a voice in your head and you could be standing here talking to yourself."

Lila couldn't help but crack a wry smile at Remus' unwitting humour. The voice in her mind had taken on a distinct personality, a mix of levity and wisdom.

"Remus, huh? Well, I suppose an unintentionally funny personal assistant might be just what I need in this bewildering place," Lila remarked, her tone tinged with amusement. "But tell me, why am I here? Why did Aetheria choose me?"

Remus' voice turned sombre, the unintended humour fading into empathy. "Ah, my dear Lila, that is a question that eludes both of us. Aetheria has a way of drawing lost souls like yourself, those with forgotten pasts and unanswered questions. Perhaps the answers lie in the echoes of your own story, waiting to be unravelled."

"Anyway we are getting off-topic," Remus said "Allow me to shed some light on your current surroundings," Remus began, his voice a blend of guidance and anticipation. "You find yourself in what we call a starter area, an ethereal plane that is intricately latched to the side of Aetheria. It serves as a gateway for lost souls like yourself to acclimatize to the realm before venturing further."

Lila absorbed Remus' words, her curiosity piqued. "So, this place isn't quite Aetheria itself?" she asked, seeking clarification.

"Exactly," Remus confirmed. "The starter area acts as a buffer, a place where newcomers can find their footing and uncover the path that will lead them to the heart of Aetheria. It is here that you must make your way to the dome at the centre. Within its confines, you will have the opportunity to make some important choices."

"What kind of choices?" Lila asked with confusion.

"Unfortunately that is yet another piece of information slightly out of reach," responded Remus slightly despondent.

"Ok so this dome, how do we get there?" Lila asked, "I know you said the centre but how do I find it?"

"Well, all I know that may help is if you follow the Echoes of Aetheria they will help guide you," Remus replied with a hint of anticipation.

"Right, so that way then," Lila said randomly pointing towards the trees.

• • • • •

"Integration seemed to go well." Stated the tech analyst.

"It would seem so" replied the programmer with a tinge of relief "and it's about damn time it did. Over 3500 attempts so far and this is the first to survive the integration process."

"Yeh, all those people before." said the tech analyst despondently "How the fuck did they cover that up?"

"Money obviously, it's always about money." the programmer said. "Anyway, the doctor will probably come by at some point to check on the progress, make sure you have some to show him"

"Ugh, do I have to be the one to deal with him?" the tech analyst replied.

"Well I'm not fucking dealing with him, so yeah it's down to you." Stated the programmer before hurriedly walking away.

"Great" Sighed the tech analyst.