The room they brought me to was massive. Lush carpets in vibrant red covered the floor, matching the various pieces of furniture arranged throughout the space. A window leading out to a balcony nearly spanned the far wall.

“Is it to your liking?” The guard who’d escorted me shifted between his feet, unease clear. I nodded before he could panic.

“It’s perfect. Thank you for bringing me here.”

A beat of shocked silence passed before he bowed and backed out of the room. “Of course. If you need anything, just press your palm to the rune on the wall. It’s linked to the staff room. Someone will be with you shortly.”

For a world that didn’t seem to have technology, they sure figured out room service quickly. Then again, magic would probably make a lot of things possible that weren’t on Earth.

Shaking that aside, I sat on the plush mattress and rubbed my eyes. I needed to get in contact with Karma, first and foremost. There were too many unknown variables, and she would probably be able to identify the catalyst. If it was the army, she could tell me how to handle it before the entire apocalypse nonsense started.

If it was whatever or whoever the king summoned here… well, we’d deal with that however we had to.

And really, what was he thinking, summoning something from another universe like that?! In the best-case scenario, he could pull someone strong and willing to help him, but surely there were monsters he could also pull through!

Was I about to deal with a real-life giant squid monster or some kind of horror from the ancient depths of the universe?

My stomach rolled, and I quickly abandoned the thoughts before I could spiral. It did no good to freak myself out. Karma would know what to do, so I just…had to contact her. Easy.

Before, she said she’d be appearing in my head at random. Maybe the connection worked both ways?

Internally shrugging, I forced my mind to clear. With everything going on, it was easier said than done. Thoughts pinged off each other like pin balls, refusing to settle. When I’d achieved the closest that I’d probably get to a clear mind, I sent out a thought and hoped it reached her.

“Karma, are you there? I found a few things that could be the catalyst and I could really use some help figuring this out.”

Silence.

Minutes ticked by, sliding like a snail in molasses, and when no answer came, I tried again.

“Karma, if you can hear me, I need some kind of direction here!”

Again, nothing, and I stopped trying. For all I knew, I was just screaming into the void. She hadn’t told me how to contact her, or if there even was a way. Maybe the connection only worked one way, and I had to wait for her to get in touch with me. We hadn’t had time to talk about the logistics of all of this before I’d been thrown into Nexus.

Flashing back to the last time I saw her, the exhaustion that pressed down like cement on her shoulders, a new, wriggling unease twisted into my gut. She’d seemed tired from pulling me here, even going so far as to change the subject when I asked about it. Maybe she…couldn’t hear me?

Stolen story; please report.

If that was the case, there was no telling how long it would be until I had help.

Then, like a bolt of lightning, I remembered. She said she would send Time soon because she would need to rest.

Fuck.

No matter how much I tried, she wouldn't hear me until she woke up from her nap. Did spirits sleep like humans, or would this be a ‘I’ll get back to you in a few years’ kind of thing? Damn it all, I hated not having information!

Frustration raked over my nerves, and I gripped my knees, breathing through the urge to punch the nearest piece of furniture. All I’d get from that was a busted hand, and I couldn’t afford an injury right now.

Though, hadn’t Karma said I would have some kind of healing magic? Now that I was alone, I should probably take stock of what I could do. It wasn't like I had many leads to work from, after all…

Moving to the window, I focused on my reflection. The hood was still up, covering most of my hair, but some of the long brown strands escaped to rest near my shoulders. Tired green eyes stared back at me, the bruise-like bags under them making me cringe. Not even a day into this new life, and I already looked sleep-deprived. Not a good start. Shaking that aside, I focused further until the menu popped up. Then, I pulled forward the second one, ignoring my basic information for now.

Quests

Reputation

Skills

Spells

Stats

There were only five options, but somehow they seemed impossibly overwhelming. Taking a breath, I started at the top. Quests flashed before expanding outward. There was only one, thankfully:

Find the Catalyst to the Apocalypse

Contact Karma or Time

Gather Information on the Approaching Army and the Summoning Ritual King Silas Used

Well, that was at least a place to start. Obviously, getting a hold of Karma wouldn’t be in the cards yet, but I could try to get more information. Setting that aside for now, I moved to the next.

Reputation:

Waterglade - Magical Savior From Another Universe, King Silas’s Only Hope

No pressure or anything…

The rest was blank, but it would probably fill out as I explored.

Skills:

Poison Resistance - Become resistant to most poisons.

First Aid - Using rudimentary materials, patch up most basic wounds.

Stealth - Move silently and avoid detection.

Premonition - Sense a fight or threat before it happens, allowing for more reaction time.

That was it? I mean, I did just arrive here, and I hadn’t really had time to do anything to build skills, but for my years of medical school to boil down to one skill was…demoralizing. At least

stealth explained why the guards hadn’t noticed me. I didn’t even have to think too hard about how I’d gotten it and the last skill. Years spent tiptoeing around foster homes for fear of catching unwanted attention apparently worked in my favor now.

Shaking the morbid memories aside, I closed that menu and went on to the next.

Spells:

Fast Forward

When cast, all enemies within the area of effect rapidly age, crumbling to dust. How wide the area of effect is varies with the amount of mana expended.

A shiver of unease trailed down my back, and I hastily moved on to the other spells listed that I hadn’t bothered looking at before.

Crop Growth, Level Two Spell

Healthy dirt will grow a crop native to the place the spell is cast in. Will only grow seasonal crops.

Mana Cost: 5

Verdant Renewal, Level Two Spell

Moss covers a minor or moderate wound, speeding up the person’s natural healing until the injury closes.

Mana Cost: 5

Bramble’s Embrace, Level Two Spell

Thorn vines surge up from the ground to hold an enemy in place, doing damage for every minute they’re held and potentially poisoning them.

Mana Cost: 10

Okay, I could work with this. First thing on the agenda? Get some information. With that stealth skill, it hopefully won't be too difficult. Taking a breath, I eased out the door and surveyed the hall.

No one was standing guard. Good. That'd make this easy…