…Ugh!

…Why am I... So sluggish?

…Gradually...I can feel my body responding to me...

…Slowly...My brain...I can feel my senses coming back to me...

…Argh! Everything is aching and feels so heavy…

...My eyes...Are they working properly?

…!!!...

…I slowly look around, but all I can see is a never ending abyss. I start to panic right away since I have no idea where I am. I can hear the increasing soft beats of my own heart echoing in the darkness. I can't see anything in the vast emptiness so I don’t know if anything is wrong with my stiff body.

Wait! Why should I be worried about my own body? There shouldn't be anything wrong with it last time I checked. I know my eyes are working correctly because I can feel myself blinking as I try to look around. I try calling out to anyone in the silent void, but my mouth doesn’t respond to my thoughts. “Where am I?”

Bit by bit I realize that for some reason I am confined in a small space of some sort. I tried to move around a bit, but nothing worthwhile comes out of my actions. I discover rather quickly that I am floating freely within the dark confinement. To be more exact, it feels like I am floating in some sort of liquid like substance...

“Huh? What is this feeling? It’s...like…is this feeling coming from inside my mind or brain? Hmm. How can I…umm…know these things. I am pretty sure...I never…damn! It’s hard to describe this sensation. Wait! What is that? Is that a transparent screen? Where the hell did it come from?

…Congratulations!

…You have been born!

A floating screen pops up out of nowhere in front my face; however, I get the feeling that the screen isn’t in front of me, but rather it feels like it’s deep inside my mind. “This is getting more random and stranger by the second. Why am I getting congratulated for? I have been...born? Something is off…”

…Activating Creation Start Up Program...Loading…Confirmed activation!

…Loading Predesignated Stats.

…Stats have been loaded…ERROR!

…Special Skill *Random Luck* has been activated!

…Randomizing Stats with Special Skill…Confirmed!

…All Stats have been successfully loaded!

“Start Up Program? What are these Stats and skills? What Special Skill is it talking about? *Random Luck*? I am not familiar with these words. Wait?! I know words? How do I know words? This is so baffling. Ick! This is hurting my head way too much. Why do I understand…things? It feels so...weird. Just what the hell is going on?!

…Starting Name Generator...

…Creating or picking own name is currently unavailable!

…A name will be generated for you.

…Activating new name…Loading…Confirmed!

…Your name is now Malas! /mæl•lahs/

…Welcome Malas to this World!

“Huh? What is generating? My name? So it is Malas? I am Malas…just Malas and nothing else?  Should I be complaining why it’s so short and dull? How come I can't create or pick my own name? That is really unfair. What world? Nothing is making sense here. I am getting more confused by the second. WILL SOMEONE JUST TELL ME WHAT IS GOING ON!?...I…I think…I think I am hyperventilating?! Hmm, that is one strange word."

…Activating and Determining Racial Characteristics…Loading Race…Confirmed!

…Congratulations!

…Your Base Race is now: Drazilcin! /drə•zil•kin/

…Classified as Reptilian Humanoid!

…Also known as Lizardman. /liz•ərd•mæn/

“So Race or Base Race…is that what I am supposed to be? I am a Lizardman…no…I am a Drazilcin. What’s the difference? Reptilian humanoid? Does that mean I am…there goes another queer word. Wait! Humanoid…That oddly looks familiar for some strange reason.

...ERROR!

…Due to the "unnatural" location of your current species home…You have been granted Special Racial Stats!

…Special Racial Stats Loading…Confirmed!

…Your Base Race is now: Arctic Drazilcin! /ark•tik-drə•zil•kin

…You are an Ice Variant (subspecies) of the Lizardman!

“What unnatural location? What is a variant and why Ice? So I am now an Arctic Drazilcin? Hmm…Special Racial Stats…I guess that is a good thing? Damn it! Why am I slowly accepting this weird situation? It seems so natural that I know this stuff. Déjà vu? Wait how do I know what Déjà vu is?” I start taking a long deep mental breath to calm myself down. "All I want is to leave. Is that too much to ask? Can I leave this place? WAIT! WHAT DOES A DRAZILCIN EVEN LOOK LIKE?!”

…ERROR!

…Due to your Special Skill *Random Luck* All Stats have been randomized including Special Racial Stats.

…The Stat Screen can only be seen by you in your mind unless using a special tool or skill.

…You can command the Stat Screen to open up with just a single thought.

“I am getting a lot of errors…Is that a good thing or a bad thing? Stat Screen in my mind huh? Well that makes more sense now. Out of all the Special Skills I could have been given…why *Random Luck*? What thoughts or commands am I supposed to use to open it up?”

…To progress to higher levels of power, you need to gain Experience Points (EXP).

…Experience Points can be either "found" or "achieve" through various actions.

…Any other information can be found in the Info Tab on the Stat Screen.

…Any information not found in Info Tab, must be discovered on your own.

…All information will be automatically updated in your Info Tab.

…This concludes the Creation Start Up Program!

…

…Loading Countdown…Confirmed!

…Countdown Engaging!

…Please escape before the countdown ends!

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

…Good Luck Malas!

…10…9…8…7…

“Ok…So those are what I am guessing...are numbers? Countdown for what?! That doesn’t sound good at all. Wait a minute! I can leave here? Finally! ...I feel like I am missing something important…whatever. Come on Malas. You’re the one that wanted to leave, so let’s get MOVING! Hmm…Why do I get the feeling that…what was that skill again? *Random Luck*? Why does it feel...like that skill will bring me more trouble than I want?”

I start moving my body with seriousness effort, trying to escape the invisible shackles of my imprisonment. While wiggling around, I notice suddenly that I can move my own body with ease. There ahead of me in the distance seems to be a crack in the darkness. Light slowly filters through the crack and I waste no effort trying to move towards it. I begin to hear various crackling sounds all around me as I press on. I stop caring why I knew strange words, and various things for some strange reason. I just painfully accepted the mysterious knowledge. 

“No! I can’t be distracted at all! I need to leave before the countdown finishes. I have a bad feeling in my gut…If I don’t escape on time...something bad is going to happen to me. I don't know why I feel so desperate to leave. I JUST NEED TO LEAVE!!! WELL, FREEDOM HERE I COME!!!...wait…what is freedom?”

-------------------

[Arctic Drazilcin Grand Elder Duleveros /Du:l•we:.rus/ POV]

I sigh to myself as I see two Drazilcin Elders moving around the room nervously. "Be still you two. The new generation isn’t going to be born quicker if you pace around like that. I know that this is the first time you are participating in a Hatchling Ritual since becoming the newest elders of this village, but what have I told you about being patience? We must set a good example for the rest of the village. If you don’t heed my words, I’ll have no other choice but to show my famous smile that even the Gorgon’s fear."

I chuckle to myself as I see two Drazilcin turn pale and took to their seats imminently without uttering a single voice of compliant.  I return my attention back to the multiple of eggs that are packed tightly together in a perfect circle. Surrounding the eggs is a short snow wall made from magic that keep the eggs from rolling away. The eggs themselves are all the same shape and size, but each individual egg have unique markings on them. Only between siblings and other family members do they have slightly similar markings to each other. Shortly after my scolding to the two elders, one of the eggs near the center start shaking violently and the three of us snap our attention to the single egg.

“Hohoho. The young ones finally look like they are ready to hatch. These old bones of mine tell me that this generation will bring this village great fortune and success. That one in particular looks really eager to hatch.” I happily nod to myself as the female Drazilcin Elder named Maka /Mah·Kah/ to my left voices out her concern about the shaking egg.

“Don’t you think that one is rushing a little too much? It might hurt itself as it hatches. Oh no! It might even get horrible scars. Am I worrying too much? Grand Elder Duleveros, should I even cast magic to help them hatch? Ah! What if I cause more harm than good? No, its my duty as an elder and a mage to help them in their time of need."

Before I could say anything reassuring to the female Drazilcin Elder, a loud bolstering laugh came from my right where the male Drazilcin Elder named Pharis /Feh·Ri·Hs/ was sitting.

“HaHaHa! What are a few scratches going to do? If nothing else, it’s a badge of honor for its first battle coming to this world. Plus, having scars means your tough and strong. Only the strongest of warriors lead the way and get the greatest glory in battle. I look forward to seeing this egg hatch. I say let the hatchling hurt itself so it can learn a good lesson and become a great warrior.”

I smile softly at the two Drazilcin Elders as they look at each other with raised eyebrows when their opposite natures clashed. Ever since their own Hatching Ritual long ago, they have been constantly fighting with each other. Its hard to believe that they are actually siblings and that they care deeply for each other even when they are mocking each other like children.

“Maka the kind mage and Pharis the ferocious warrior. They are in the complete opposite end of the spectrum of each other. I still can’t believe it that they both achieved the status of Elder at the same time in their own respected fields, let alone being the the youngest ever to become Elders. I wonder if it is still too early for them to have such responsibility.” The two elders bickering brought me out of my deep thoughts.

“Hah! All you ever think about dear brother is glory, and food. The last thing we need in this village is more battle-seeking youths that do nothing else but eat and fight. Magic is much more elegant and useful on so many levels. Tell me something my dear Phairs, who heals the wounded, makes the village itself grow bigger, help clear horrible weather and help in the hunts?” Maka had a gentle smug look on her face as she retorted Pharis logic.

“Humph! Who needs hatchlings that hide in back when things look too dangerous or who use cheap tactics at the enemy. Where is the thrill in that?” Pharis grunted his reply before taking on a high pitch voice full of sarcasm. “Ohh! Look at me. I am a sage that is too weak to protect myself in battle. I need a strong warrior to protect me while I take my time to cast magic. Pfft!” Then returning to his normal voice, he thumped his chest with pride. “What we need are honorable warriors that know no fear!”

Before the two elders could continue to bicker, the one egg that held our interest starts shaking even more violently then before like it’s about to explode. Before we can do or say anything, egg shells and mucus burst all over the room. We all look down dumbstruck as this has never happened before in any of the previous Hatching Rituals. There sprawled out in the center of the eggs laid a very bewildered hatchling that looked very unnatural as its eyes dart around the room like it was searching for something.

Before Maka or I could do anything, Pharis took the young one by its tail while using his free hand to wipe the mucus and shells from his face. “Bah! This one is puny and looks weird. Here I was hoping for a warrior and all I find is a runt. There isn’t even scars on it. What a letdown. I don’t need this one, but I will admit this one has spirit. It will not pass as a warrior.”

The hatchling is struggling around in frustration and glaring up at Pharis while giving soft cries of disbelief. It looks like its trying to get away from Pharis with all its strength. I can not help but smirk at its actions.

“Careful you brute! All hatchlings need to be treated with care regardless if they look...odd. Now let’s see if you have what it takes to use magic.” Maka handles the young one with care like it was something very valuable unlike Pharis and starts chanting magic words. A blue circle with symbols appears under and over the hatchling as it looks scared to death at the situation. Maka closes her eyes and the magic circles glow brighter for a few seconds before the light disappearing completely.

Maka frowns slightly and shakes her head as she hands the hatchling to me gently. Then she elegantly wipes herself from the drying mucus and shells. “This one has too little mana to use any sort of spells in general. I am shocked to learn this one will be useless in magic and I sensed something not right with this one. It will not pass as a sage."

I look down at the young one who is trying to squirm away and I begin to grin widely. I am very old and I have been told that my toothless grin or full smile with my wrinkle face could be counted as one of the northern regions most horrible terrors. The young one looks up at me and suddenly his skin color turns into an impressive pale blue. The young one chest starts fluctuating rapidly before passing out due to sheer horror.

After chuckling a bit, I see the two young elders flinching at my toothless grin. I also notice that the

pair lost a few shades of color and they were shaking a bit. Ignoring them and acting as if nothing

was wrong, I use my Special Skill *Identifying Eyes* on the unconscious hatchling. A basic information screen appears before me in my mind.

Basic Stats Screen Name: MalasGender: MaleTitle: NoneJob: None Level: 1Special Skill: ??? Stats: ??? Information: An Arctic Drazilcin hatchling. Just born not too long ago in the Northern Region. It has passed out from a horrible sight. Currently in a comatose state.

“Oh! This one is a male and is named Malas. What an irregular name. Hmm, that is weird. I can usually see the hatchlings basic Stats and Special Skill, but I can’t see his. I wonder why. I am very curios what his Special Skill is.” I begin to shake with anticipation that even my tail was thumping in agreement. “Lets see. If its not going to be a warrior or mage, then perhaps a gatherer or a crafter? No. This hatchling looks too weak to do hard labor for long periods of time. Hmm, for now we shall put him as a Dovia /doe·vi·ah/. We shall see how he progress later.” The other two elders nod at my conclusion.

After putting Malas down carefully in the nest, we proceeded to give jobs to the rest of the hatchlings that hatched one by one. Only I could see the basic information of the hatchlings, so I told my finding with the other two elders. Maka wrote down the names and stats while Pharis wrote down the jobs and any other note worthy information.

I reminded the other two elders that there are only four jobs that can only be given out during the Hatching Ritual. Warrior’s if they have high strength, Mage’s if they have high Mana, Gatherers if they have high agility, and Crafters if they have high intelligence. “Dovia is a term used for any Drazilcin that doesn’t have a specific job that they excel in or are labeled undecided during the Hatching Ritual. It’s not strange to change jobs later on, but for now we have to keep it simple.”

It is not till the end of the Hatching Ritual that I wipe myself from the already dry mucus and shells. Besides Malas being the only Dovia and with unknown information, all the other hatchlings show great promise, but I still haven’t found one to take my place.

“Well I still have a few more Hatching Rituals to go through before I have to take one under my tail. I just hope to find one with the right Special Skill or find the right successor before I pass away from this world. Hopefully nothing bad happens till then. I wonder… What if… Could it be Malas is the one I am looking for? I’ll have to keep my eye on him for now.”