As I woke up, the numbing cold of the morning greeted me, sending a shiver through my exposed feet. The sound of chirping birds filled the air outside, and rays of early morning light seeped through the cracks in the shuttered windows. Sitting up in bed, I stretched and rubbed the remnants of sleep from my eyes, completing my morning ritual. I glanced down at my shoes on the floor, contemplating them.

"So, it wasn't a dream."

I had hoped that yesterday was nothing more than a vivid dream. One so real it defied all logic and reasoning. I was wrong. A wave of unease washed over me as I realized I was truly alone in this world, without family or friends. I couldn't help but wonder if others from Earth had been transported here as well, and if so, were they also trapped inside their game character's bodies? If they were, they must be somewhere in this world. But what if I don't find anyone?

"Pfft."

I chuckled to myself, attempting to suppress the rising panic within me. Raising my hands to my cheeks, I gave them a hard slap.

"Oww, I need to clear my head and think of things differently. In a way, this is... refreshing. I'm in a new world with thaumaturgy, monsters, and gods. Who knows what's waiting for me out there?"

I said as I rubbed my cheeks, hoping to alleviate some of the pain and stress. However, the question still lingered in my mind, echoing through the empty room.

"But still, what can I do in this world? What should I do?"

I pondered, aware that I needed to find a purpose and direction. If I didn't have one, well, I'd be stuck. The possibilities were nearly endless, and though I'm not sure what's waiting for me in this world, it's worth taking a look. It's exciting.

Building a few connections and befriending some trustworthy people is a good start. Having someone to rely on in this world could prove beneficial. However, I should maintain a certain distance until I have a better grasp of my situation. There was so much to unravel and consider. The city I was in was supposedly Veinbor, but it looked nothing like it did in the game. It's far larger and more complex at first glance. That said, I have other questions about how I ended up in this world and the reasons behind it?

"There are so many questions but no one to ask. It's pointless to dwell on these them right now."

I sighed as I shifted my gaze downward, observing the shape of my body beneath the robe, all the way down to my bare feet.

"Shit, this is weird."

The gender swap was going to take some getting used to. It wasn't the swap itself that troubled me. I mean, I was still myself, and I wasn’t horribly crippled or anything. What troubled me was the tangible sense of change, the awareness of what was different and what remained the same. I wasn’t human anymore, or at least I don’t think I am. It was unnerving. These harns added another layer of peculiarity. In the game, horned characters were usually associated with beast races or obtained through accessories. Yet, my character's race was human. Did the horns and dark elf-like skin alter that? I need more information to make sense of it all. I'm operating on the assumption that this was the game world rather than a world similar to the game. There were no familiar features like menus, skill bars, or quest journals. Nothing.

"Maybe I can find someone around town for answers. Perhaps that girl from last night? She was so pretty. What was her name again? Mel...da. Melda, right?"

She and Phen seem like they'd be nice enough to give me some info. Maybe they'll have some information on other people from Earth. Or about the adventurer's guild. I hope that's a thing here. After all, it was one in the game.

"I'll ask Melda."

Resolved, I took a moment to stretch and fully awaken my tired muscles before slowly sliding out of bed. As my feet touched the cold wooden floor, a chill shot through them, causing me to retreat back onto the warm bed. I realized I had no slippers here. Leaning off the bed, I reached down and grabbed my shoes, which were more like leather boots with flat soles. I slipped them on and finally stood up. However, on the floor next to the bed, I noticed my broken bra. The latch was still connected to one end. I had left it there all night.

"I should get it fixed or find a new one. Though, I'm in no rush right now,"

I said, picking up the broken bra from the floor and shoving it into a large pocket on the robe. I straightened out the covers on the bed, patted down my robe, and checked the coin pouch hanging from my waste. Finally, I picked up my gray witch's hat from the bed, put it on, and ensured I didn't leave anything behind before leaving the room.

As I entered the tavern, I immediately noticed the notable absence of customers compared to the hubbub last night. The tables were empty, with chairs turned upside down, someone likely swept or mopped. As I made my way further into the room, the clinking sound of glass on glass rang out from behind the bar. I caught a glimpse of someone's head. Their chestnut-colored hair swayed from side to side. I hadn't expected Melda to be working so early in the morning, but it looked like she was very devoted to working here last night. I approached the bar and lightly rapped on the wooden counter to get her attention.

"Um, Melda?"

I called out, surprising her as she looked up from behind the counter with surprise and curiosity written on her face. Behind her, I noticed her stacking mugs under the counter, likely for easier access while serving customers.

"It's you, Ciel. Not many people are up this early. Are you a morning person, by chance?"

Melda asked, her voice carrying a tone of surprise.

"Not particularly; I just happened to wake up earlier today,"

I replied to Melda's remark.

"I see; that's a shame. I thought I found another fellow morning person," Melda said, a hint of disappointment in her voice.

Another? Who would be up this early in the morning? Just then, shuffling came from the kitchen, and Phen emerged. His hat was gone, and he now sported a full head of gray-brown hair.

"Melda, who are you talking to? Oh, well, if it isn't the little, I mean, Ciel,"

Phen greeted me, stumbling over his words. It seemed he had grown accustomed to calling me "little lady." This old man has gotten used to calling me that.

"Morning, Phen. I came to return this," I said, holding out the key to my room and placing it on the counter, ready to slide it over to them.

"Wait, Ciel, you have until the end of the day. There's no need to return the key this early."

Melda interjected. She had a point. Though, I don't plan to return to the room today. I should keep it and get another night. I need to gather information or at least decide on what I should do today. Speaking of which, I should ask about the adventurer's guild.

"I may not return until the end of the day, but I'd like to stay another night," I said.

"Oh, that's wonderful news! That'll be one silver coin, please,"

Melda replied, her enthusiasm evident.

"Um, that's less than yesterday. Is that alright?"

I asked, a bit puzzled by the reduced price.

"Yes, that's fine; no need to worry about it,"

Melda reassured me. That seems like bad business to me, but I'm not going to look a gift horse in the mouth. Cheap room aside, they don't seem to have many residences. Do they make more from the drunkards? I imagine they wouldn't need to fill rooms if every night were like last night.

"By the way, Ciel, when are you returning to Osyla Dorathor?"

Melda asked.

"Melda, don't pry into customers' personal business,"

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Phen interrupted, his voice carrying a hint of sternness. He stood beside Melda and placed his hand on her shoulder to grab her attention.

"It's fine, and no. I may stay in Veinbor for a little while. Is there a place I can gather information around here?" I asked, hoping to learn more about the city and the world I found myself in.

"Information? Are you talking about the adventurer's guild? They're present in every major kingdom, so there's bound to be a lot of information exchange between them. Are you an adventurer, Ciel?" Melda inquired.

Answering her question is a little tricky. Technically, I was an adventurer, having traveled throughout the entire continent in the game. Players in the game's lore were considered adventurers, born among the various races to combat the rising threat of monsters. However, explaining all that would be a long story, and it might not be relevant in this world anymore.

"No, I'm not an adventurer, per se, but I have visited every country on the Wridirian continent," I responded with a simplified answer.

"Are you serious, Ciel? That's unbelievable! You have to tell me about your travels!" Melda exclaimed, her eyes widening with excitement.

Melda had a twinkle in her eyes as she leaned over the counter, seemingly captivated by my words. Phen, on the other hand, appeared surprised, pausing his cleaning of a mug momentarily. When did he start cleaning a mug?

"Is traveling the continent really that impressive?"

I couldn't help but ask, feeling a tinge of doubt creeping in. Their confused expressions mirrored my own, prompting Phen to provide an explanation.

"Well, traveling the continent would take at least a decade. The journey would be strenuous for anyone due to the expanding monster habitats,"

Phen replied, offering a similar explanation players received in the game. The world of Zenith Rising was vast and time-consuming to explore. It would take players hours to traverse the main continent of Wridiria alone, not accounting for the sea and other continents. Teleportation wasn't a prevalent feature in the game, so traveling required considerable time, resources, and patience.

"Yes, it did take quite a long time. But it didn't pose much of a threat back then," I responded, remembering the hours of traveling I did.

"Ciel, how long ago did you travel the continent?" Melda curiously asked.

Honestly, I'm not sure. I hadn't paid much attention to the game's calendar dates. They represented the game's major updates. I was a casual gamer, if not less than that, and didn't keep track of the in-game time. However, there was one recent event that I remembered—the Gleshmar campaign. It was a world event where almost every player, including myself, participated.

"It was during the Year of Gleshmar, I believe," I answered uncertainly.

The moment those words left my mouth, Phen dropped the mug he was cleaning, and it shattered on the ground, sending glass fragments flying behind the counter. Melda jumped back in surprise, startled by the sudden noise. But what caught my attention the most was the shock on Phen's face—he stood there, eyes wide open and mouth agape.

"Whoa! What are you doing, father?! I know you're getting old, but you can't go dropping mugs like that!"

Melda exclaimed, breaking the silence. She seemed mature and composed most of the time, but in tense situations, she seemed to struggle with reading the room.

I might've said something I shouldn't have. But is it that big of a deal? The Gleshmar calendar year was named after the event, which was a monumental undertaking by the game developers. In an interview, they mentioned that the servers almost crashed irreparably due to the event's scale, leading them to declare it a one-time occurrence until they could develop a better system for massive events.

"Ciel, you're a long-lived race, yes?"

"No, I'm human," I replied, confused.

"Human?"

Feeling a bit trapped by the unexpected turn of the conversation, I tried to come up with an explanation that wouldn't raise too many eyebrows or lead to further probing questions.

"Well, you see, in a way, I am a dark elf. It's just that... there are certain unique circumstances that make it a bit complicated to explain," I replied, attempting to be vague.

Melda's curiosity seemed piqued, but Phen appeared more confused than ever. He scratched his head, trying to make sense of what I had just said.

"A mix-born, then? I've heard of such things, but they are quite rare. Are you saying you have both human and dark elf heritage?" Phen asked his tone a mix of skepticism and fascination.

I hesitated for a moment, unsure of how much I should reveal. After all, I didn't fully understand the nature of my current situation either. But I decided to give them a partial answer that wouldn't delve too deeply into the complexities.

"Yes, you could say that. As I said, it's a bit complicated. I don't fully understand it myself," I replied, hoping that it would satisfy their curiosity without raising more questions. Melda, on the other hand, leaned closer, her eyes shining with intrigue.

"That's fascinating, Ciel! I've never met a mix-born before! I'd love to hear more about it sometime if you're willing to share!"

I smiled faintly, grateful for her interest, but at the same time, even I didn't know what a mix born was.

"Maybe another time, Melda. It's a long story.”

One I may have to lie about. The concept of a hybrid race wasn't a thing in the game. The character creation menu provided options for different races, but there was no specific choice for hybrids. My character's appearance could be customized to some extent, including skin tone, facial features, and accessories like the demon horns I possessed. But that was all. There was only so much players could do about racial appearance outside of using accessories.

“Why should my being a mix-born matter?” I asked as a follow-up.

"I'm shocked you don't know. Do you realize the year of the Gleshmar happened over two hundred years ago? You'd have to be of the long-lived races to be alive now. The only way you could travel then was if you were a part of the great continental alliance. Only armies, adventures, and the chosen ones dared to participate in the campaign." Phen replied.

Okay, now that was unexpected. The Gleshmar event happened a few days ago for me. Based on what he's saying, it seems like two hundred years have passed since then. I haven't played the game since because there was a special penalty imposed on every player. If you died during the three-day event, you couldn't revive automatically unless you paid for a revival cash shop item. I died just before the end of the campaign, so that could only mean I've been thrown two hundred years into the future since I last played the game! This explains why I couldn't recognize Veinbor and why I have gaps in my knowledge. I couldn't hide my surprise from Phen and Melda, which prompted Phen to ask yet another difficult question.

“Ciel, Who are you exactly?”

Phen asked pointedly, his gaze slightly intense. I hesitated, uncertain about how to answer his question. I could tell the truth and explain that I'm actually a human man from another world, now somehow trapped within the body of my female character from a game called Zenith Rising Online. I could say all that, but then I'd end up sounding like a crazy person. It might be, now that I think about it. This whole experience of mine could be some wild episode I'm having.

"Whoa, father, that's a bit direct! Why don't you take your own advice and not a personal question like that!"

Before I could come up with a response, Melda interjected on my behalf, scolding her father. Melda and Phen were both tall. Phen looked to be around a little over six feet, and Melda was roughly a head shorter. I was practically a toddler standing beside them as they towered over me.

"I shouldn't have asked such a direct question. I'll leave at that, at least for now."

Phen replied, relenting.

"I appreciate it."

I said, feeling the tension wash away.

“So what will you do now?”

Melda asked, her eyes brimming with curiosity. Her question helped to dissipate the awkward atmosphere in the room.

"I plan to pay a visit to the adventurer's guild," I responded, my uncertainty evident in my voice. After that, I'm not entirely sure what my next steps will be.

Melda, ever helpful and eager, chimed in with a suggestion.

"Oh! In that case, father, would you mind showing Ciel the way? I'm sure you'd be able to help her out."

Phen, who had resumed cleaning another mug, nodded in agreement. I couldn't help but wonder about him. There was something more to this innkeeper than met the eye. Was he an adventurer himself?

"Certainly, I don't mind," Phen replied, his voice carrying a hint of intrigue. "Melda, please retrieve my gear for me."

"Are you going to work this early? You usually stay until noon."

"I might as well. I'm sure we're holding up Ciel from conducting her business today."

Phen replied to Melda's question with a smirk. Smiling, Melda stood up from the table, walked to the bar, and disappeared into the kitchen. Meanwhile, Phen and I stood in silence, the bustling sounds of the outside seeping in. It's a little awkward just standing here in silence. After a moment, Melda returned carrying the gear that Phen had mentioned. He took it from her, and I watched as he adorned himself in the equipment. He wore a sturdy yet flexible leather vest with small iron plates for added defense and maneuverability. His thigh and shin guards boasted thick leather and iron plating, providing further protection. Lastly, Phen grabbed a pair of silver forearm guards, which I soon realized were gauntlets. They covered half of his forearms and the back of his hands, leaving his palms exposed, with a thick leather handle to hold onto.

"All set. Ready to go, Ciel?" Phen asked, his demeanor shifting slightly.

"Um, sure," I replied, my gaze shifting between him and his gear. "You're an adventurer, right?"

"That I am. Though I also work part-time here at the inn to help Melda build her business. She can't afford to hire anyone right now."

Phen said with a chuckle.

"Whoa! Father, you don't need to say that much!"

Melda's attempted to shove Phen but failed to move his large frame. He continued to chuckle at her while she struggled. The two of them have a great relationship.

"Well, anyway, there you have it. Shall we get going?"

Phen asked, addressing both Melda and me.

Feeling a bit hesitant to interrupt their family bonding, I stood still, unsure of what to do. Phen eventually got Melda to stop fusing over spilling the beans about the actual owner and her circumstance. I doubt she'll be relying on her father for long. She had the determination and dedication to run the shop on her own

Nodding in response to Phen's question, I followed him as he led the way toward the entrance. Melda stood there, bidding us farewell.

"Well, I hope you two don't get into any trouble, and Father, don't be mean to Ciel," Melda said playfully. Oh! Let's talk more about your adventures when you return, Ciel!"

"Sure, I've got many stories."

I said, waving.