The screen updated, displaying a new option:
Species or Interspecies?
Aster frowned. “What does that mean?” he asked.
“Ask the screen,” Gelsomina suggested. “It’s definitely more knowledgeable on the subject than I am.”
Now fully adopting his new identity, Aster turned to the screen. Immediately, it split into three sections:
* In the center: Species or Interspecies:
* On the left: Adeva Species or Adith Species?
* On the right: Adevaith Interspecies or Aditheva Interspecies?
Confused, Aster asked for further explanations. Four additional screens appeared, each corresponding to one of the two species or interspecies. The first screen explained:
Adeva:
Available races: Elf, Human, Dwarf, or Adeva Hybrid.
As soon as Aster saw "Elf," he stopped reading the other options and chose Adeva Species without hesitation.
The next screen led him to select a race. Naturally, he chose the elven race.
Diploma:
A new list appeared:
* Weapon Arts
* Nature Arts
* Divine Arts
* Magic Arts
* Martial Arts
* Fine Arts
Aster paused to consider. Since his goal was to enjoy a vacation, he chose what he thought would be most useful: Magic Arts.
Gelsomina congratulated him but added, “The elven hero Aster, on the other hand, had a diploma in Nature Arts.”
Hearing this, Aster reconsidered. “Can I change my choice?” he asked the screen.
The screen went back, allowing him to modify his decision. This time, Aster opted for a Diploma in Nature Arts.
“Excellent choice!” Gelsomina exclaimed. “Now, there’s just one last thing before we take you to Encrypted, the world of Source Code.”
Aster nodded and looked at the final screen. At the top, it read:
Degree: ...
Aster read through the available degrees one by one. They were all related to nature: Rare Species Conservator, Beast Caller, Ecosystem Architect, and many more, totaling twelve in all. They seemed like specializations of his diploma, so he took a moment to evaluate them carefully.
Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.
He focused particularly on those that might prove useful for a relaxing vacation. After much thought—and after consulting each informational screen that popped up and disappeared before him—one degree name stood out as particularly fascinating: Botanical Guardian of the Woods. It seemed like the perfect choice for someone who wanted to explore and enjoy an enchanted world without too many worries.
Gelsomina watched curiously as Aster made his decision. “Well?” she asked with an amused smile. “Have you made your choice?”
“I’m making it now,” Aster replied, then turned to the screen and declared decisively, “Botanical Guardian of the Woods.”
As soon as he spoke those words, the floral screen glowed, surrounding him in a warm, pulsating light. Within moments, Aster felt a slight pressure in his ears. Looking at his reflection in the screen—now serving as a mirror—he noticed the change: his ears had become long and pointed, a defining trait of elves.
“Well, here we go. Now I’m an elf,” he said in a tone somewhere between irony and fascination with his transformation. “Although… I look pretty much the same, except for these ears.”
Gelsomina giggled. “They suit you perfectly. You look even more... elf-like!” Then, with a pirouette, she floated back up onto her flower. “But now we can’t waste any more time! Are you ready to go to Encrypted?”
Aster took a deep breath, trying to prepare himself for what lay ahead. “Yes, I’m ready.”
“Then off we go!” Gelsomina exclaimed excitedly, leaping onto Aster’s head as her personal vantage point.
All around them, the endless white void began to shift. A cascade of numbers, symbols, and lines of code came to life, dancing in the air like a rain of colorful lights. The world seemed to dematerialize, dissolving into a spiral of data that reconstructed itself into something new.
Within moments, Aster found himself in the middle of a city straight out of a fairy tale. The buildings were a fusion of elven elegance and dwarven sturdiness: slender towers made of crystal and living wood stood side by side with solid stone structures engraved with glowing runes. Majestic trees grew directly through some houses, intertwining with suspended bridges and balconies.
The streets bustled with people of every imaginable race: elves, dwarves, humans, creatures with horns or wings, and even figures that were half-animal, half-human. The shops were just as diverse: market stalls selling glowing potions, armories filled with shimmering weapons, and dusty bookstores overflowing with ancient tomes.
Aster was left speechless, his eyes widening in awe as he took in the vibrant world around him. “Wow…” he whispered, unable to contain his amazement.
He was so mesmerized by the scenery that he didn’t immediately respond to Gelsomina’s welcome to Encrypted. He admired every detail of the city: the storefronts gleamed under the light of two suns, people of all races chatted animatedly along the streets, and even the air itself carried a scent of magic. It was only when Gelsomina spoke again, her tone playful and teasing, that he snapped back to reality.
“Hey, did you disconnect or something?” the fairy asked, flying right in front of his face.
“Sorry,” Aster replied with a smile, still enchanted. “It’s all so... beautiful.” Then, he looked up at the sky and noticed the two suns intertwining as if dancing. “Even the sky is breathtaking.”
As he observed the suns, something momentarily blocked his view: Gelsomina had flown down from his head, now sitting on her floating flower. But something had changed. She and the flower were no longer metallic—they no longer looked like artificial constructs. Now, they were alive.
Gelsomina’s long violet hair, shaped like flower petals, swayed gently. Her skin was a luminous pale green, and her transparent wings shimmered like glass, refracting light in dazzling colors. The flower she sat on no longer had a robotic appearance but was now a living sunflower, its golden petals emitting a delicate fragrance that Aster could sense even from a distance.
Aster’s jaw dropped in surprise. “Wow, you… you look way cuter like this!”