From the grey darkness, James floated. He thought he was dead falling into the caress of the ocean but the sea’s currents carried him toward shore. His time in the trials was not over. He heard the sounds of seagulls making their squeaking noises.

James felt sand beneath him. Somebody flopped him onto his back. It was too bright for him to see who stood over him. He saw a silhouette of a child and then a voice said, “He’s still alive like the prophets said.”

“Yes, my child we need to get him to the healer's hut.”

He croaked, “Who are you?”

A woman’s voice said, “Don’t worry. You’re safe here.”

James closed his eyes. He heard more footsteps coming closer to him. He was lifted from the ground and placed on a stretcher. Opening his eyes, he saw a vast beach. And then the terrain changed. He was taken through a jungle path. Something cold was placed on his head and then he lost consciousness.

He awoke in a bed and he thought for a brief second he was back in the hospital in Los Angeles. But the brightness of the interior was different. The walls were the color of dirt with patches of oak which James realized was mud plastered on the wood.

“Do you need water?”

James saw an older woman standing close to him. Trying to move up, his body didn’t seem to work. He nodded to the lady. She came closer and held a wooden cup and place it on his lips. Drinking greedily, he slurped the liquid. She took the water away from him.

He said, “Where am I?”

“Oh, first let me introduce myself. My name is Narla, I’m a healer. You’re in the village of Orvall. You have been delivered to us,” she said.

He looked at Narla and noticed she had long pointy ears and oval eyes. A text message appeared over the lady.

Narla Level 5 Healer. Elron species.

James almost forgot he was in a Gaming Trials System.

Narla said, “Rest now. You’ll need your strength.”

The healer left the room. The blanket he was in was soft and conformed to his body.

He said, “Meryl, where are you?”

The fairy appeared. She stood on his chest looking at her nails.

She said, “So, you survived. But barely.”

James was waiting for a snarky comment from the AI as well but it was silent for now.

“So, show me some of my menus and how to navigate them,” he said.

Meryl walked back and forth. He barely felt her weight on his body.

“Okay, but we didn’t think you would survive the quest,” she said shaking her head.

“Yes, what was that quest? The creatures almost killed me.”

“Well, the Dominion wanted to test you. We’ll get to that.”

She flew upwards and around the room. And then back toward him.

She said, “First, this place is a safe room as well as the village beyond.”

“So, that means nobody can attack me in here?”

“Yes, unless the village is attacked then this place changes to the normal world and anybody can attack you.”

He nodded for her to continue.

“So, let’s start with your menus or HUD.”

“Finally,” he groaned.

“Hey, don’t be glib.” The fairy paused and flew closer to his face. Waves of air struck him.

She continued. “I want you to focus on yourself and think of a menu or stats.”

James concentrated and thought about his menu. Nothing happened for a few seconds.

Meryl laughed and then fell on his chest laughing. “Sorry, I wanted to see your face.”

The fairy stood up again and then dusted her dress. “Just say the word menu for the first time. Then afterward you can just think it.”

“Nice,” James said. “You’re such a joker.” He shook his head. “Menu.”

A screen appeared in front of him. On the left side was a picture of his face on a three-quarter view. Next to this portrait was a description reading Human Monk Level 1. And underneath were his stats:

Strength 15

Intelligence 18

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Defense 14.

James understood this menu. It shows all his attributes. Under his portrait. It showed:

HP 15

KP 5

Experience 4

James said, “I only got 4 experience points for completing that Quest.”

Meryl giggled. “Who said you completed the quest?”

“I killed the boss,” he pleaded.

“Your actual quest was to save the Royal ship, Jasper, from the pirates but you destroyed it with everybody on board. The pirate’s vessel wasn’t damaged and the remaining pirates could just dive and get the gold from the sunken ship.”

James almost yelled a retort. But he stopped himself. He should be happy he got 4 XP.

Meryl said, “You also have a journal. Since you opened the Menu just think of your Journal.”

James nodded and thought of the journal. The menu of his stats changed to a picture of a ship and next to it another description:

Trial Quest: Save the Jasper ship from the clutches of the evil pirates. ** Failed.

Meryl said, “You can archive your quests or try to complete them.”

“So, I can go back to the pirate ship and stop them?”

“Yes, if you like.”

He weighed his options and thought it would too difficult to get a ship and go back out to fight the pirates. He should level himself up first.

He said, “Where is the menu for my Monk powers?”

“It’s in your main menu under powers.”

He brought up his menu and saw his face with his stats. There were other tabs near the top over his face. The menu where he had a tab picture of his face in a miniature. The next tab had a fist. He clicked on it. Two items appeared:

Fast Reflexes - Lev 1 Auto

Strong Punch - Lev 1 (+5 Attack) 1 Ki Point

Ah, he nodded. He understood. His Fast Reflexes were automatic. A power he didn’t have to use. Yet, the Strong Punch monk power was not automatic and used KP to use. He thought and brought up his main menu. James saw that he had only 5 KP. So, he could use it only 5 times.

He muttered to himself. “What is the cooldown?”

“Ah,” Meryl said, “Good question. Go back to the monk power menu and focus on the power you want to see.”

James did. His menu changed back into the power menu. He looked at the Strong Punch item and another screen came up. It was smaller more like a popup.

The Strong Punch power gives the user + 5 attacks to his punches only. The cooldown is 10 seconds.

“Good.”

“Who are you talking to?” Narla said. The healer came back into the room and was staring at him.

“Oh, nobody,” he said. “Do I owe you anything for healing me?”

James looked around and didn’t see Meryl. She disappeared.

Narla smiled. “No, I don’t require money for my services. I serve all and the Goddess Athena.”

“Thank you.”

James felt great and moved his feet over to the side. His body was healed and he wanted to test his newfound skills. He also wanted to level himself up. If he could fight a few creatures or get another quest he could reach the next level.

He said, “Does anybody need help?”

James didn’t know where to start.

Narla wrung her hands. “You’re a royal guard?”

He didn’t know how to respond but he said, “Yes.”

She was seen to hesitate. “The prophet told us you would come and help us. But I’m not sure. Other warriors had come to our lands but they couldn’t help us.”

“What do you need?”

“You’re still mending. And I think you need to wait. When you think you’re ready talk to the Village Elder. His home is in the middle of the town.”

James played a lot of role player games and this sounded like he needed to level himself up before he could get the next quest. He was about to stand up but realized he was nude.

He quickly sat back down. “Do you have any clothes for me?”

“Yes, I’ll have somebody bring you some.”

The healer left the room. Meryl came back. She appeared next to him on his bed.

“Oh, you’re still here. I thought you left.”

“You can’t get rid of me that easily,” the fairy said. “I told you I’ll be here for your training phase.”

“Okay, Meryl let’s get some training done,” he said.

He almost stood again. His eagerness to try his skills was making him excited. He needed to be patient. James knew if he didn’t keep his eagerness in check he could hurt himself or somebody else. Narla came back holding a couple of folded garments and sandals in her hands. She moved closer and placed it on the bed.

The healer said, “If you want to give any money, you can contribute it to the temple.”

“I don’t think I have any money. I think.”

He felt a hand on his arm. Looking down he didn’t see the fairy, but he knew she was there, hidden from view. James instantly brought up his menus. It was getting easier to navigate. He thought of his inventory and another screen came forth. He did have some money. It was 2 gold. He looked up and Narla left him alone.

Standing up, he felt the cool rush of the air hit him.

“Wow, so that’s what humans look like under their clothes,” Meryl said.

“Hey, no peeking.”

He instantly grabbed the clothes and put on the pants, sandals, and shirt.

“Well, I like you better without the clothes on,” she said.

“I don’t think the villagers would like me walking around naked,” he said.

Flexing his arm, he realized he had muscles. His bicep protruded.

He said, “Wow, this was different.”

He placed his hands on his stomach. He had a six-pack of abs. Lifting his shirt, he saw the muscles and couldn’t believe it. He had never had a six-pack.

Meryl flew around him. “Not bad.”

“Alright, that’s enough,” he said.

Walking into the hallway, he saw other doors on the left and right. He wondered which way to go. He turned to look for the fairy but she was gone. Then he saw a light up ahead. His body felt a feeling of peace as if a wave of calmness came over him. He walked along the corridor to a large, long room.

He saw the ceiling was semitransparent letting in the sunlight. It took him a few minutes to get used to the brightness of the room.

There were several rows of chairs all pointed toward a woman statue on a large platform. Narla was standing before the statue.

She smiled at him. “This is the Goddess, Athena, she heals for free. If you want to donate you can.”

James nodded to her.

He said, “Narla, I wish to give some donations.”

A screen came up.

How much do you want to donate?

He took out 2 gold coins and handed them to Narla. The coins disappeared. She bowed to him. “Please accept this.”

In her hand was a small vial filled with red liquid, over the bottle he saw the word. “Minor Healing Potion.”

“Thank you.”

James saw in his inventory the healing potion appeared. He nodded to her and walked outside. The light was as bright as inside the temple. The first thing he heard was children playing. He noticed the children were of different types of races: humans and other types of creatures that looked like dwarves, elves, and hobgoblins.

“Hello, stranger, do you need directions?”

A man who was taller than him said in his directions. He was tall with dark brown skin. Tusks jutted out of his mouth.

“Yes,” James said. But he didn’t know where to begin. He should talk to the Village Elder but he wanted to find the nearest shop to look at their wares. Two large brutish creatures who looked like the man speaking to him came toward him. These new interlopers wore armor and swords.

They stood before him. The man speaking to him left in a hurry away. James didn’t want to fight in the middle of this village in front of the kids.

One of the soldiers said, “Stranger, what is your name?”

He didn’t want to lie. “My name is James Rue. I’m a monk.”

“The village elder wants to speak to you.”

“Sure lead the way,” he said.