*Alarm*
“Hrrughh…damn, already?” Jay can barely crack his eyes open to see his phone blaring the same irritating noise as always on the nightstand beside him. While fighting through sleep that still is clinging to his numbed brain, he manages to turn the alarm off before dragging himself to the edge of the bed to sit. Forcing himself to check the time shows a glaring 5:30 AM.
With another groan and a shake of his head, Jay thinks today might be the day. He might have been out of a classroom for over a year while substitute teaching, but there is always the chance that today could be the day a school reaches out with a job offer.
Jay heaves his weight onto his feet along with a tired sigh before walking to the door, but he stops before rushing back to the bed to give his dog a well-earned pat.
“I’ll be right back, good boy.” Jay stands and feels his way through the dark hallway of his apartment with a comfortable smile until he reaches the bathroom to turn on a light. He glances up at the mirror as his morning ritual begins with brushing his teeth and sees a plain-looking face with brown hair and green eyes staring back at him. Jay turns his head left and right, examining his face for blemishes before nodding to himself and finishing his routine by hopping in the shower.
Dressing quickly and eating a breakfast consisting of a banana smushed between two pieces of toast allows Jay to walk out the door with time to spare. With some inspiration, he makes a snap decision to go and grab a coffee before heading into the school today. Another satisfied smile crosses Jay’s face as he decides to treat himself.
Things are beginning to look better.
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Pulling into one of his favorite coffee shops proved difficult with all the traffic in the city, but he eventually managed to squeeze himself through a small gap between a pair of cars. Inside did not prove to be any better, with the line stretching halfway to the door. Thanking his foresight, Jay proudly strides past all the plebians waiting in line while he walks by to pick up his order from the online section-
“It’s gonna be 15 more minutes. Sorry.” With a very unapologetic look, the busy barista turns away to rush back and help her fellow soldiers fight a losing battle against this unending tide of caffeine addicts.
Ducking his head, Jay shuffles to a nearby seat to wait for his order. He peeks at the other coffee lovers after hiding his face in a phone for a few minutes. Letting his mind drift into people watching, he cannot help but make up some stories about each person.
Like the person in the suit, most likely a businessman, being up this early could mean he cares about his job. He may be a family man at home. He could even be on his way to court and face charges for all kinds of crimes.
Or take the neat woman in the blouse and skirt. This woman could be the leader of a crime ring that places bets on bare-knuckle fights. Jay can only chuckle at the absurdness of that one.
He finds his mind wandering to the various people around him. He looks towards the man with a green hoodie playing a game on his gaming laptop with headphones. A mother and teen daughter chatting and laughing about their weeks. A group of 20-something guys making a scene but having a blast doing it.
He gazes past all of these people and looks around the shop while enjoying the simplicity of his morning. Suddenly a wisp of white catches the corner of his eye on his right. As Jay whips his head around to look, there is another flash to his left.
Before he can even think about what is happening, the entire world around him flashes and goes black.
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A gentle laugh begins to grow until it shakes and rattles the air as [Skills] flair to life after withering for a few decades. The Titan Ro’Tan, known as the Wanderer, World Trader, and Friend of All, looks up to see a flash of mana penetrate the skies.
Ro’Tan feels [Meetings of Fate] begin to stir from this event. Another laugh booms out from the great lungs of a titan, and he begins to move toward the closest bundle of Fate in the world. This era might not be too boring after all.
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A great bell begins to chime on a lonely island with two broad and boorish bridges connecting it across a long distance to separate continents—the sound rockets through the air and through a desolate city that occupies the island.
The few adventurers brave enough to enter this place look toward the chiming bell and begin to flee in the direction of the closest bridge. Any change in this old and terrible place is enough reason to fear. It is unwise to disturb the Scylis, after all.
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Fire explodes to life inside a hearth of a simple temple—smoke billows out the top for the first time in over a century. Monks of all species turn to look at this new sign that fills the sky, and they all bow their heads as one. It is time to prepare for a turning of an era.
Mist flows out far into the ocean from their secluded island temple to protect them in the coming conflict and strife. The temple’s philosophy is simple. While they will not seek a fight, they will also never back down from one.
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Mysterious bubbles rise from the sea floor. A lighthouse flashes after over a century of being unlit. Winds howl across a whistling castle. Volcanoes erupt that have been long dead. An old and hidden magical race all look toward the skies as they see a flash.
Some make plans and schemes, and some activate plans laid long ago. Emotions are complicated around the world of Eshor, but one thing is clear to all who can read the signs. Change is coming; Travelers are coming.
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Nations of old begin to move, and powers not seen for millennia appear once again. One group does not react to the news of Travelers like the others—the once vast nation of Agra. Halflings are much like their ancestors, the Agran. While short in stature, they possess a will unlike any other.
The Agran left them a gift in their absence. A Halfling village is rare to appear for those who are not invited through illusion and shadow.
However, it is difficult to anticipate the weavings of Fate, and soon the world will begin to shift in ways never thought possible.
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“Guh!” Jay screams with the feeling of having the wind knocked out of him. Without a chance to do more than open his eyes, a screen appears in his vision.
Welcome Traveler to Eshor!
Beginning initiation into the System…
Initiation into the System is complete!
As a Traveler, you are offered a Class choice upon initiation.
Beware Traveler, a class affects the holder in unpredictable ways…
Blinking in confusion, Jay tries to swipe a hand through the screen but only touches air. He begins reading to the end of the message, which results in it disappearing with a new screen to take its place.
Class Choices
Harbinger
Change is forced upon the world through peace, death, or fire. Let those who stand against perish or stand aside for the inevitable. The world waits for your touch…
Slayer
Through blood and carnage, only oblivion awaits those who stand in a Slayer's path—walking unfettered across the world without fear of the living, dead, or those between.
Nature Mage
Life and growth follow those with this alignment to the world.
Nature is bent to enact the will of those who walk this path.
Rune Caster
Use the power of runes to alter magic and the fabric of reality.
Champion
A symbol of the people. Stand strong against all opposition with the power of faith.
Worldy Warrior
Adventure and travel the world through the power of martial might.
No secret is left untouched, and no path is untrod.
Worldy Wizard
Adventure and travel the world through the power of magical might.
No secret is left untouched, and no path is untrod.
…
More
“Wha…what?” This…is this real? Unable to restrain his curiosity despite the rising fear and anxiety. Jay begins to read through the initial options before his eyes fall on the last spot. Once his focus landed on ‘more,’ another list of options appeared with the same layout as the last. Before he could continue his search through this seemingly unending list, a gasp nearby drew his attention.
Taking his focus off the list caused the class choices to disappear, and a bright blue sky reveals itself in his vision. Jay starts to push himself up while looking around to see that he is in a clearing surrounded by tall grass. As he gets to his feet, Jay turns around to see someone else sitting in the grass close by.
The stranger appears to be the suited man from the coffee shop, and as Jay looks over, they lock eyes. Seeing a similar confusion, Jay opens his mouth to speak, “Do you-”
A *WHOOSH* and a widening of the stranger's eyes were the only warning Jay had before a massive figure flew from the edge of the clearing towards the suited man. With only a short moment to process, Jay quickly notices what looks like a giant red-colored lion with a length of 5 meters? I’ve never seen a lion in person before, but there is no way they get that large.
Lacking another moment, the lion slams into the other man and sends him flying while its claws come away bloody. Jay’s instinct to run finally overpowers the fear of this fatal threat before him. Beginning to turn around, the lion leaps for the stranger again, but Jay cannot force himself to do anything except run for his life.
A scream rings out behind him while Jay focuses on pumping his arms. The feeling of gaining distance from that horror is fleeting as the scream cuts off suddenly. A sense of dread overwhelms Jay as he can hear the lion kick off toward him.
Panic has a tight grasp on Jay as his feet tangle and trip him up. Letting loose a scream on his way to slamming into the ground, he hears a familiar rush of air as it whistles just above his fallen form.
*Whoosh*
Whipping his head up shows a horrifying sight as the lion catches itself and turns back in his direction. Jay can’t help but feel a sense of appreciation for the magnificent creature, along with his overwhelming fear.
Muscles bulge from its massive red frame, and each paw has terrible 50 mm long claws. A flowing mane like the deepest depths of night, the vicious snarl and glowing bright red eyes paint a daunting specimen. The lion pounces, interrupting Jay’s admiration, and the terrifying red…ruby? Yeah, a more that’s more of a ruby red. The ruby-colored figure begins to fill his vision before pain erupts throughout his shoulder and neck.
His consciousness starts to drift, but Jay can make out short figures bursting from the grass atop…are those mice? Black collapses into his vision, interrupting any questions he might have.
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“Oi, Gram! Get yourself over here!”
A fuzzy patch of brown hair removes his focus from the chain puzzle in his hands, and he looks up to show bright green eyes. “It’s time?”
Gram looks around to see a group of his fellow Halflings in leather armor that almost seems to blend in with the plains surrounding them. A kind smile can be seen beneath the cowl of one figure, Falco, as he yells back, “Yup, the mission finally got approved by the council. We head out as soon as we’re saddled up.”
“Well, let’s get to it then.” With that, the group begins to climb atop their [Giant Plains Mice], and a heavy sigh puts Gram on his feet. He walks over to a mouse that sticks out due to its larger size than the others and heaves himself onto the beast. Settling himself into the lead position, Gram looks back at the procession of soldiers and finally smiles, “Time to hunt, boys.”
After a round of ready cheers and Gram at the lead position in the formation, the group sets off into the tall grass. Their mounts can stretch their legs vertically while running, allowing the riders to be just above the grass line. The tall grass of the plains can be an excellent method for stealth, but the predators that roam think the same.
Keeping that thought in mind, the group cautiously proceeds through the plains in search of their query. Eventually, Falco overtakes Gram once they notice signs of the target due to his class as a [Plains Tracker]. He’s a good kid, if not a little quick to rush into danger. They steadily make progress following their tracker; soon, they hear screams in the distance and pick up speed in that direction without prompting.
The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
A short time passes when a clearing comes into view with a tragic sight waiting for them. What appears to be a human in strange clothing has already been mauled by the beast they hunt. Another scream echoes in the distance, and without another thought, the group sets out in that direction while spreading out into their hunting formation used for taking down a large predator.
Drawing near presents another strange sight—a human staring down the [Carnage Lion] as he lay helpless in front of it.
Just as the hunting group reacts to the beast, it pounces at the human and takes hold of his shoulder in meaty jaws. Projectiles and magic landing from all directions force the beast to release its prey.
A grey light shines on both the hand of one of the hunters and across Jay’s body to protect him as the storm of attacks land on the lion.
Arrows that seem to flicker pierce deep into its hide. Arctic blue ice shatters and splinters into the beast's flesh, and a glowing white fire roars across its face towards the mane with almost a mind of its own.
The [Carnage Lion] weathers the attacks while receiving lacerations along each flank and a severe burn patch still eating at the once glorious mane. The lion attempts to jump away to retreat, but at this exact moment, Gram steps in with his skills waiting.
[Restrictive Tether] [Gravity Multiplied] [Depravation Field]
Without pause, a one-meter-long spike materializes and slams into the ground. At the same time, a thick opaque chain snaps out towards the [Carnage Lion]. While the chain closes in, the beast jumps to the side to dodge what can only be an attack. The other skills begin to land before the lion can complete its dodge.
Gravity begins to push down on the lion heavily, resulting in a stumble due to the unexpected increase in weight. The beast can barely propel itself a meter to the side as the pursuing chain makes a slight adjustment mid-flight to slam into it.
Shock and confusion are apparent in the eyes of the lion as the chain winds around its midsection multiple times and appears to lock it into place. A thick air seems to surround the lion in another blink of an eye. This air visibly weakens the lion before it drops to the ground, becoming awash in light as one of the soldiers shoots a particularly intense arrow that pierces the once magnificent beast straight through the skull.
After waiting a moment to be assured the [Carnage Lion] was dead, I’ve seen some trick hunters with these kinds of tricks. Gram turns his attention to the human bleeding on the ground some distance away. …this might be a long day.
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“You will be notified if any more important information is required for you to know. Return to the village with the human in tow, but be sure to retreat with haste. Follow normal protocol for a Category 5 situation.”
“Yes, sir. We will be back with no distractions.”
“Good, Captain Gram. Do not forget what I have told you. Urgency is key.”
“Yes, sir.”
“With the Agran’s will…”
“...may your feet tread lightly.”
Setting down the communication stone that connects back to the village, Gram turns his attention back to the task at hand and sees his team dismantling the [Carnage Lion] for any harvestable parts that can still be used. Raising his voice so they all can hear him, “Finish up! I’ve just been notified that this is a Category 5 situation, and we must bring the human back as alive and well as possible. We leave as soon as the scouts have returned from the perimeter check.”
Gram begins to think about the repercussions of what the Council Head told him. Why is this human so important? How did he even reach this far across the border without our patrols catching sight of him? No human in their right mind would attempt to breach Halfling's land after the results of the War for Agra.
His thoughts turn to the human as he notices him unconscious upon a stretcher quickly fashioned from tools brought by the hunting team. The significant size difference between most other things and Halflings is substantial enough that they prepare for any situation possible. This paranoia-bred need to over-prepare allowed the Halfling hunting party the ability to make the stretcher glide over the tall grass of the plains with ease.
Gram can’t help but shake his head as the human’s injuries flash through his mind. Thinking to himself, we went through two healing potions before he stabilized…and that is taking into account the slow-acting aspects of the potion.
With that thought, Gram grunts before walking over to the healer watching over the now-important human. “How is he, Evroul?”
The healer directs his attention to the approaching Gram, “Alive, but he’s been through hell.” Evroul looks back down at the unconscious figure. “If we didn’t arrive the moment we did, then his neck would’ve snapped without another thought. Even now, it is hard to say when he will wake up…maybe a week? Two? His body requires more rest than one that has been through a war.” As he finishes speaking, the healer stands and wipes his hands along the leather armor that drapes his form.
“Can he move in his condition?”
A contemplative look flits across Evroul’s face. “Yes, but not without further injury. We obviously can’t leave him here to heal, and a careful approach could mitigate more damage.”
“Good. We need to get moving. We are handling this as a Category 5, so make preparations.”
Evroul shows a surprised and cautious look, “Category 5? Say no more.” Not needing another word, he calls for assistance from the other team members. Soon they have the stretcher hooked up behind one of the [Giant Plains Mice] and with a bit of added magic to the enchantments. The stretcher floats up a couple of feet into the air.
With the added height above the ground and a ramp-like shield at the front, this stretcher is ready to plow through the tall grass with them. Everything looks good. Another glance around shows the team prepared to move out on his mark.
A brief walk around the camp reveals his team is muttering to each other about this strange human. Wondering where he came from and how the timing seemed suspicious with the recent declaration of war from the Kingdom of Wind. He isn’t dressed like a Kingdom [Spy], but who knows what tricks they are getting up to now…maybe a lost traveler? That still wouldn’t explain his ability to appear in the middle of Halfling lands.
Gram refocuses on the issue at hand and gathers the hunting team by the mounts now that the stretcher is attached to the appropriate [Giant Plains Mouse].
“Alright, lads and ladies, protective formation around the human. No danger reaches him, and we make a fast dash back to the village with no sign of our passage. That clear, Waldrada?” With a pointed look at our rogue, or [Stealth Specialist], who simply shrugs her shoulders with an embarrassed look as they all remember her last blunder. A blunder that resulted in a multiple-day-long chase by [Tracker Wasps] because someone couldn’t remember to alter their methods to hide from insects.
“I feel the need to say I was vastly under-leveled at that time, but…aye, Captain Gram. None shall follow in our footsteps. We’ll simply be a breeze rolling across the hills. I assure it.” Waldrada showed a look of confidence that only caused the others to groan in remembrance of the wasp incident.
Gram drops the issue with a nod and a slight grin before leaping onto his mount. “Let’s make haste back home.”
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The group proceeds through these vast plains without any issues due to the combination of skills brought forward. Halflings already possess uncanny ability with stealth, so members of the team amplify their instinctual skills.
Their village is revealed to them as a ripple of magic touches their skin. An illusion barrier prevents unwanted intrusions from poking around. Any incoming Halflings must enter from a variable direction that changes each day. While the barrier keeps eyes from finding the village, it also operates as a nigh-indestructible defensive barrier that takes siege-level magics to tear it down if approached from the wrong side.
Gram always admires the defensive beauty of his home when returning from missions. The ability to hide in plain sight was the Halfling's secret to survival in recent days.
As they near the village, Gram disperses the team. However, Evroul and Waldrada must stay for the report due to their positions as lieutenants. The others race off in different directions with waves in their direction. Still, the three maintain a calm pace towards the neatly arranged village with a trailing human stretched behind their formation.
They pass through some farming areas and finally reach the first of many stone houses, with a lack of wood due to their presence on the plains and inability to travel far from home. The Halflings use their [Stone Mages] to create homes for people. It allows them to provide low-cost and easy-to-maintain homes to a significant number of their population.
Halflings quickly realized that the intricacies of the stone magic, when utilized by experts, granted them the ability to personalize their homes to extreme degrees for little cost. Thus, walking down the streets in a Halfling village provides a unique and peculiar view of the owners' personalities. Some buildings possess flowing arches that weave through each other with a strange sense of balance and flow. Others have more unique styles. Such as a magical garden with a depth and detail impossible to replicate without magic. The plants are brought to life down to the smallest fiber of a leaf and the twist of the branches.
Not all of the buildings in the village are works of art, but the lack of them can be another indication to the owner. The cobbled stone streets are well maintained and clean of debris while Halflings go about their daily lives. Gram looks towards the market square and sees dozens of people arguing over the prices of various items. He spots some merely walking through to observe the coordinated chaos or to stretch their legs.
As their three-man and stretcher procession march through the streets on their mounts, passersby stop and stare at the human atop the pulled stretcher. Surprise and fear is evident on their faces as they pass by. Drawing closer to the center of town reveals a clearing and a park. Many Halflings can be seen stretched out across the grass in peace or simply enjoying the quiet part of nature. They don’t even know the horrors that await them in a border village with war approaching.
Gram shakes his head to rid himself of these intrusive thoughts before they take hold and continues towards the looming building in the distance.
While the buildings before were a personalized take on artistry. The village hall stands alone in the majesty shown in the design.
Two peculiar-looking Halfling statues stand guard on either side of the entrance. Those aware of the nation Agra’s history will notice the differences between traditional Halflings and these mighty statues. They belong to the ancestors of their race, the Agran. They were a wise and mighty race that died out because of their great sacrifice to the world—allowing the System to integrate itself with all life. Gram knew that the other races lost essential parts of themselves too, but looking upon these statues always causes him to feel a sense of loss. If only they had more time…what they could have taught us could end our conflicts with other nations.
Besides the two inspiring statues, the rest of the building gives off an aura of grandeur. The village hall took on the theme of the plains around them. Giant stalks of stone in the shape of the tall grass that occupies the plains hold up each corner of the building. The walls depict a thick barrier of vegetation with [Giant Plains Mice] and Halflings peaking out. Some are armed to the teeth with threatening, while others look like simple villagers looking out toward the world.
Atop the entrance is their nation’s emblem, a star overlooking a city that sits on a vast plain. Pride swells through Gram as he gazes upon the symbol, and he can’t help but whisper to himself, “With the Agran’s will, may your feet tread lightly.”
That simple phrase gives him strength, and they ride up to the entrance, where a Halfling comes out to greet them with a raised arm and smile. “Hello! Leave your mounts here, and I’ll have some attendants see to them. They’ll be fed and watered while you go about your business.” He waves over some people standing to the side and throws a pointed look toward the stretcher with his last words.
The Halfling man waves them on before disappearing back through the entrance, and shortly after guards flow from the opening towards them to bring the unconscious human to the healer’s hall.
Gram dismounts while handing the reins to the nearby attendant and glances at the human being taken down one of the other streets they did not come into town on.
He lets loose a sigh. Let’s see what old Hartmut and Huebald have to say about this whole Category 5 mess they riled up among my team. To drag a human of all people back to a border village is a fundamental error. The reason must be good.
After that thought, Gram nods at Falco and Waldrada before marching into the village hall to see the Council Head and Head Mage for the village.
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“So, the human is a Traveler….” Dread overwhelms Gram as he begins to think about the implications of this new information. Hartmut’s decision to have Falco and Waldrada wait outside seems wise now. The Council Head foresaw the sensitivity of this news. “So…you’re telling me we brought a Traveler kilometers through the plains to our village.”
With a heavy nod, the Council Head, Hartmut, affirms Gram’s statement. “Yes, and I understand how this can be troubling. We needed to keep this news quiet, and you are only being told now because of your history assisting Huebald and me during the War for Agra. Can we count on your discretion before we move on?”
Gram grants his assent at Hartmut's pointed look. “Aye, you can be assured my lips are sealed. I’ve kept our previous missions in the war confidential.”
Huebald, the Head Mage, adds from a seated position at the side of the room, “While that may be true, lad. With this kind of news, we could cause a panic on par with the first Breaks.”
Simply nodding again in Huebald’s direction, Gram turns his attention back toward Hartmut with a slightly raised brow. “What’s our situation?”
Hartmut hesitates a second while analyzing Gram with a careful look before saying, “We do not want or need a Traveler’s help. Word has come from the Capital that we are to treat him fairly and allow him time to acclimate to this world. After that, the Traveler must be removed from our lands. His presence will draw too much attention, and we are already rushing to prepare for the Kindom of Wind’s investigation into the magical anomaly where he landed.”
At this point, Hartmut looks toward Huebald while gesturing for him to continue the report. Clearing his throat briefly, “I will offer advice to the Traveler in his class choice if he has not already chosen. From past occurrences, we know Traveler’s are granted the chance to select any class in the System’s near-infinite record of starting classes.
“Hartmut will watch for any signs that he has chosen a dangerous class and eliminate the problem, while I will probe him with questions to test his personality. It is important to remember that Traveler’s are known to grow rapidly, so we must understand who we now house under our roofs.”
Hartmut jumps back in at Huebald’s signal. “Thank you. We will accommodate him in the same manner as all guests, so process and treat him as such. Watch him for now Gram, and send word at the first sign of his waking.”
Gram firmly nods at Hartmut and Huebald before walking out of the office towards the healer’s hut.
At least things will be exciting around here for a while.
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Jay begins to wake with a groan as pain aches in various parts of his body, particularly his shoulder and neck. The pain confirms what was a fleeting hope a moment ago, definitely not a dream or simulation. This pain is too real, and that…that man died…
Grief and loathing radiate at himself as he thinks about his choice to run. I know there was nothing I could do…but I didn’t even try…maybe I could’ve looked for a weapon like a stick or attracted its attention somehow.
Before he can sink more into a pit of his despair, a noise catches his attention nearby. Jay cracks his eyelids open to see an unfamiliar stone ceiling lined with an intricate design of overlapping circles.
Slightly shifting his head causes ripples of pain to echo from his shoulder through his body, and a gasping whimper slips from Jay’s lips.
Jay can hear a scramble of feet and voices start to come in his direction, but he has trouble focusing on the words through his pain. Panic from the unknown begins to solidify as realization sets in that he has no idea where he is, what kind of monster he was attacked by, or who these people are. I guess saving me does give them a big ol’ 1-0 on the lion.
His self-directed joke calmed Jay enough to focus on what was being said around him now that the voices were closing in.
One of the unknown voices speaks from his right, “Don’t move if you can hear me. I’m sure you are confused and afraid but know we are here to help.” Afraid to turn his head to look at the voice due to the pain, why won’t they stand closer where I can see them? They haven’t moved closer since the one voice started speaking. At least the voice sounded like an ordinary woman.
Jay opens his mouth to ask who they were and where he was, but all that came out was a croaking gag.
The same feminine voice sounds as it draws near, “Please do not panic, but we are not sure how most humans react to our presence.” Humans? What…what the hell is going on?
Curiosity overpowers his common sense, and Jay turns his head toward the voice. Pain rockets through his body once again, but he pushes himself through it. As the darkness creeps into his vision, Jay is able to catch a glimpse of the speaker. A 4-foot-tall human-like woman's figure stands close to the bed he is in with bright, near-glowing blue eyes, a slim figure, and leathery bare feet.
All Jay can think before he drifts off is his favorite book and a particular race within. One whose story drives the entire world.