The day Kai got pulled into Exardium was supposed to be perfectly average. He’d woken up, checked his notifications, poured himself a bowl of cereal, and sat down to waste time online. The way he saw it, he had exactly zero obligations and endless hours to fill. The only thing on his calendar was a reminder to water the half-dead cactus in his windowsill.

He hadn’t signed up for any virtual reality games—actually, he’d been actively avoiding them. Too many unknowns, too much hype, and definitely too many horror stories about people spending weeks in virtual worlds, only to return dazed and practically allergic to sunlight. And yet, here he was, blinking in confusion as a soft, lavender mist surrounded him.

“Oh, lovely,” Kai muttered, staring at his semi-translucent hands. “I’ve either discovered a new level of stress hallucination… or I’m dead.”

As if in response, the mist parted, and he was suddenly hovering over a vast, surreal landscape. From high above, he could see the contours of a forested valley dotted with strange lights, odd creatures, and towering trees that seemed to sway of their own accord, casting shadows that rippled and shifted unnaturally. He drifted weightlessly, like a feather caught on an invisible breeze, and he felt an odd buzzing energy in his limbs—or what he assumed were limbs. A faint, mischievous giggle echoed nearby, though he couldn’t see its source. It felt like the whole place was in on a joke that he hadn’t quite caught.

Then, a cheerful message blinked in front of him:

Welcome, New Lifeform!

You have been granted the Class: Mystic Wisp (Tier 1)

“Wait… Class? Tier?” Kai frowned, squinting at the text, as if it might suddenly start making sense. The words Mystic Wispfloated there like a label he might peel off if he reached hard enough.

The display scrolled on.

Health: 10/10

Stamina: 3/3

Mana: 1/1

Base Attributes: Virtually nonexistent. Good luck!

Kai sighed, casting a glance at the dark forest below. “Great. I’m stuck in another dimension as a… ‘Mystic Wisp.’ Sounds tough.”

More text appeared in an encouraging but slightly condescending font.

Abilities:

• Luminescent Flicker: Produce a faint, unsettling light. Mostly for decorative purposes.

• Wisp Drift: Move in any direction, very, very slowly. Ideal for evading snails.

• Tiny Spark: Summon a spark of energy. Perfect for mildly distracting critters.

Kai rubbed his translucent temples. “Right. So, I’m not just a wisp—I’m a glorified glow stick.”

Just then, a final message blinked into view, in bold, sparkly letters:

Hint: Your path is yours to forge. With clever thinking and a little luck, you might one day ascend to greatness. Or, you might stay as a slightly glowy puff of mist forever. Best of luck, Mystic Wisp!

The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

He shook his head, half-amused. “Right. Time to… ascend to greatness, then.”

Gingerly, he drifted downward, wobbling slightly as he tried to figure out how to steer his new form. Beneath him, the forest buzzed with life. Strange noises echoed from every direction: croaks, chitters, the rustle of something unseen slithering through the underbrush. Kai’s new “body” didn’t feel like much—just a faint, barely tangible form that occasionally shimmered in the low light. He wasn’t cold or hungry, but that buzzing energy inside him made him feel strangely jittery, like he was meant to be doing something, but hadn’t figured out what.

Just as he was starting to wonder what exactly he was supposed to doas a Mystic Wisp, something moved in the brush nearby. A dark shape with glowing red eyes slithered closer, its scales shimmering faintly as it approached.

“Uh… hi there?” Kai said, though he wasn’t sure if he had an actual voice. “I’m just… passing through. Nothing to see here…”

The creature’s eyes narrowed.

Warning: Low-level threat detected. Use your abilities wisely.

“Oh, now you tell me,” Kai muttered. Desperate, he summoned his Tiny Spark. A faint, flickering light appeared at the tip of his form, casting a shadow no larger than a firefly’s. The creature paused, its red eyes fixed on the spark with mild confusion, which gave Kai just enough time to activate Wisp Drift and slowly—agonizingly slowly—back away.

As he inched through the forest, the absurdity of his situation began to sink in. Here he was, in some otherworldly forest, as a “Mystic Wisp,” with a grand total of one mildly useful skill and the survival capabilities of a glow-in-the-dark sticker. Still, he drifted onward, determined to find out if there was any purpose to this unexpected adventure.

After what felt like hours, he spotted a small, furry creature rummaging in a pile of leaves. It looked vaguely like a squirrel, except for the single, glimmering eye at the center of its head, and it seemed oblivious to his presence. Kai hovered closer, realizing this might be his chance to test out his “scary” Luminescent Flicker.

Taking a deep “breath” (if only for morale), he activated the skill. His form began to glow faintly, casting a pale light around him. To his surprise, the creature actually looked up, startled by the glow.

Kai leaned in, floating a bit closer, trying to look as “unsettling” as possible. And to his amazement, the creature’s eye widened, and it emitted a terrified squeak, dropping a few shiny seeds before bolting into the forest.

“Well, well,” Kai murmured with a grin. “Looks like I have the power of slight inconvenience. I’m unstoppable.”

As he moved to gather his spoils, he heard that faint, giggling laugh again. It echoed from the trees, elusive and teasing, as though someone—or something—was watching him. He couldn’t shake the feeling that he was part of some cosmic prank.

Shrugging, Kai continued on, leaving the seeds behind. He drifted further into the forest, becoming more comfortable with his slow, floaty movements. Every so often, he encountered other creatures: some were large and intimidating, while others were more curious, watching him with wide, glimmering eyes before scuttling away.

Just as he started to feel he might actually be getting the hang of “Wisphood,” a bright light appeared up ahead, illuminating the forest in flashes of gold. Curious, he drifted closer, and as he did, he felt a strange warmth radiating from it.

The light belonged to another creature—a large, golden butterfly with wings that glowed like embers. Its eyes locked onto him, and Kai’s heart, if he still had one, skipped a beat.

Warning: Mid-level threat detected. Do not engage.

“Noted,” Kai whispered, trying to edge away. But as he drifted backward, the butterfly advanced, its wings casting sparks of light into the air.

Desperate, Kai activated Tiny Spark again, hoping to startle it. The butterfly paused, its antennae twitching in mild annoyance, before continuing forward with even more intensity.

“Okay, bad idea!” he muttered, activating Wisp Drift in the other direction.

As he drifted through the forest with the butterfly in pursuit, he spotted a hollow tree ahead, its roots forming a small opening. Without thinking, he ducked inside, squeezing through the narrow space and wedging himself deep into the wood as the butterfly hovered outside, its glow casting ominous shadows inside the hollow.

After a long, tense moment, the butterfly finally lost interest, fluttering off into the forest. Kai waited until the light faded, then exhaled in relief.

“So… not as unstoppable as I thought,” he admitted, peeking out of the hollow.

He emerged slowly, mentally adding “beware of glowing butterflies” to his survival strategy. But despite the near miss, a spark of determination flickered inside him. Sure, he might be small and unimpressive now, but if he played his cards right, he’d find a way to make this wisp form work.

As he drifted deeper into the forest, he couldn’t shake the feeling that his unexpected journey had only just begun—and that the laughing, invisible presence watching him was waiting to see what he’d do next.

Author’s remarks:

Here’s a crafted author’s note that covers each of the points you’d like to address:

Author’s Note:

Hello, dear reader! 🌟

Thank you so much for giving my story a chance. This is my first dive into writing, and I couldn’t be more thrilled (and a little nervous!) to share it with you. Your support truly means the world to me, as every reader is a huge encouragement to keep going.

I’ll be posting at least three chapters each week to keep the story flowing, and whenever possible, I’ll aim to share even more. Your enjoyment is my goal, so please feel free to leave any feedback or thoughts—whether it’s big or small. I’ll do my best to listen and incorporate your suggestions where I can, shaping this story alongside you.

Thank you again for reading, and I hope you’ll stay with me on this journey!