PROLOGUE

Daniel Hawthorne's life on Earth had never been particularly exciting. A 28-year-old man with a heavyset frame, short brown hair, and a thick beard, he worked as a data entry clerk at a small accounting firm. His days were spent hunched over his computer, mindlessly entering numbers into spreadsheets, and his nights were often spent alone in his small, cluttered apartment. He had a close group of friends, but they were all busy with their own lives, and Daniel couldn't help but feel that he was being left behind.

One Saturday evening, Daniel's best friend, Lucy, a vibrant, red-haired woman with a contagious laugh and a lilting Irish accent, decided that enough was enough. She insisted that Daniel join her for a night out on the town, promising him that it would be a night to remember. Reluctantly, Daniel agreed, hoping that a change of scenery might help him break free from the monotony of his daily routine.

As they entered the crowded bar, Lucy excitedly pulled Daniel toward the dance floor. "Come on, Daniel, let's dance! You need to loosen up and have some fun for once!"

Daniel hesitated, his eyes scanning the throngs of people, their bodies swaying to the beat of the music. "Lucy, you know I don't dance," he replied, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "I'd hate to break any hearts with my impressive moves."

Rolling her eyes, Lucy grabbed his hand and pulled him onto the dance floor. "Don't be such a downer, Daniel. Just follow my lead and enjoy yourself!"

Despite her best efforts, Daniel felt out of place and uncomfortable, self-conscious about his appearance and his lack of rhythm. He tried to keep up with Lucy, but he couldn't help but notice the sidelong glances and amused smirks from the other patrons.

Frustrated, Daniel excused himself and retreated to the bar, nursing a drink as he watched Lucy dance the night away. As he sat there, feeling more alone than ever, a stranger approached him, a tall, muscular man with a confident smile and short-cropped, dark hair.

"Hey, man, you should get out there and dance," the stranger said, clapping Daniel on the back. "Don't worry about what anyone else thinks. Just have fun."

Daniel forced a smile and replied, "Yeah, maybe I'll give it another shot once I've had a few more of these." He raised his drink and took a sip, hoping the stranger would get the hint and leave him alone.

The stranger laughed and patted Daniel's shoulder. "That's the spirit! Life's too short to worry about what other people think. Enjoy yourself!"

Noticing that Daniel was struggling to make conversation with the people around him, Lucy took it upon herself to introduce him to a group of her friends. They were friendly and welcoming, but Daniel couldn't shake the feeling that he didn't belong there. As the night wore on, he tried to engage in small talk, but his sarcastic and cynical humor seemed to fall flat. He couldn't help but compare himself to the others, who were having a great time, laughing and dancing without a care in the world.

At one point, Lucy approached Daniel with a concerned look on her face. "Hey, are you okay? You seem a bit out of it tonight."

Daniel forced a smile, attempting to reassure her. "I'm fine, Lucy. Just not really in my element, I guess."

Lucy gave him a sympathetic pat on the back. "I know it's not your usual scene, but I thought it might be good for you to get out and meet some new people. Just give it a chance, okay?"

Daniel nodded, feeling a pang of guilt for not being more appreciative of Lucy's efforts. "I'll try, I promise."

As the night progressed, Daniel made a genuine effort to participate in conversations, to laugh at the right moments, and even to dance a little. But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't shake the feeling that he was an outsider looking in, watching everyone else enjoy a life that he could never quite grasp.

Lucy and Daniel decided to leave the bar after one last round of drinks. As they were making their way out, a tall, muscular man with a confident air approached them. He had clearly been watching Daniel all night and seemed eager to provoke him.

"Hey, man," he said, smirking at Daniel. "You've been standing there like a wallflower all night. Didn't anyone ever teach you how to have a good time?"

Daniel raised an eyebrow, his sarcasm already bubbling to the surface. "Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't realize I was here to entertain you. Please, forgive me for not living up to your expectations."

The man's smirk turned into a scowl. "You know, there's no need to be a smartass about it. Maybe if you didn't have that stick up your ass, you'd actually enjoy yourself."

Daniel's temper flared, and he shot back, "Maybe if you didn't spend your time critiquing other people's lives, you'd have a better time yourself. Just a thought."

The man's face reddened, and he shoved Daniel, sending him stumbling backward. Before either of them could throw another punch, Lucy stepped between them, her eyes flashing with anger. "Hey, knock it off! We're just trying to have a good time. If you don't like it, go bother someone else."

The man scowled but backed off, clearly not wanting to risk getting into a fight with a woman. Daniel brushed himself off, feeling a mixture of anger and shame at having let the situation escalate so quickly. With a sigh, he followed Lucy out of the bar, eager to put the whole ordeal behind him.

As they walked back to Daniel's apartment, Lucy attempted to lighten the mood. "Well, that was interesting. You really know how to make an impression, don't you?"

Daniel chuckled bitterly. "Yeah, I'm a regular social butterfly."

Finally, the night came to an end, and Daniel found himself trudging back to his apartment, his body aching from the unfamiliar exertion of dancing and his heart heavy with the weight of his own inadequacy. He yearned for something more, for a place where he could truly belong, where he would be valued and appreciated for who he was.

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Exhausted and emotionally drained, Daniel collapsed into bed, his thoughts swirling with doubts and regrets as he drifted off to sleep.

And that's when everything changed.

Daniel found himself standing in a place that seemed to defy reality, where the air shimmered with the colors of the rainbow and a sense of limitless potential hung heavy in the air. As Daniel stood in the strange, ethereal place where the world seemed to pause, a series of translucent windows appeared before him. Each window contained detailed information about a variety of races, their appearances, histories, and abilities, as well as their starting stats.

The first window read:

"Welcome, Daniel Hawthorne. You have been chosen to embark on a journey through the world of Elythria. Here, you will have the opportunity to select a new race and appearance, as well as a new name. Choose wisely, as your decision will shape your destiny in this magical realm."

As Daniel read the first prompt, his initial reaction was disbelief, confusion, and a flurry of questions. How was this happening? Was this some kind of bizarre dream, or perhaps a hallucination? He couldn't accept the situation so easily. He looked around and asked aloud, not really expecting a response, "What is going on here? How did I get here, and why is this happening to me?"

Unexpectedly, the text in the window changed as if someone had been listening to him and answering his questions directly. "This is an opportunity for change, growth, and self-discovery. You have been chosen, but the reasons for your selection are beyond the scope of my knowledge. Please proceed with the character creation process."

Daniel's cynicism and sarcasm bubbled to the surface as he mused, "Great. Not like I had any plans for my life or anything."

Daniel was not satisfied with the response, but he decided to continue, hoping to find more answers as he progressed.

As he cycled through the various races, Daniel couldn't help but marvel at the diversity and uniqueness of each one:

1. Draevari: Tall, lithe beings with elongated limbs and features, the Draevari had skin that shimmered like opals, and eyes that glowed with an otherworldly light. Known for their exceptional intelligence and wisdom, they were skilled in various forms of magic and had a rich cultural history. Daniel's starting stats as a Draevari would be: Str: 5, Dex: 10, Agi: 10, Con: 5, End: 5, Int: 15, Wis: 15, Lck: 3. "Huh, pretty," Daniel commented sarcastically, "but not really my style. I've never been the brainy type."

As he focused on the stats, Daniel found that more information about them appeared:

Strength (Str): Determines physical power and affects melee damage output.

Dexterity (Dex): Governs fine motor skills and impacts ranged attack accuracy.

Agility (Agi): A measure of nimbleness and reflexes, affecting dodging and evasion.

Constitution (Con): Indicates overall hardiness and influences maximum health.

Endurance (End): Represents stamina and affects resistance to fatigue and physical exertion.

Intelligence (Int): Denotes mental capacity and determines proficiency with magic.

Wisdom (Wis): Reflects knowledge and understanding, impacting magical defense and resistance.

Luck (Lck): A mysterious stat that influences various aspects of life in subtle ways.

"Great," Daniel muttered, his cynicism shining through. "Now I get to worry about numbers defining my life. Just what I always wanted." “As if being an accountant wasn’t enough time spent with fucking numbers.” Daniel grumbled thinking of the last several years he spent all but swimming in numbers.

The thought of stats governing his abilities in this new world both intrigued and annoyed him. "At least I'll know why I'm good or bad at something now, right?" he said, attempting to find a silver lining but still dripping with sarcasm. "Can't wait to see how my Luck stat screws me over."

As he learned more about the stats, Daniel continued to browse through the other races, considering how each one's strengths and weaknesses might suit him:

2. Goranth: Stout and muscular, the Goranth possessed a thick, stone-like skin that provided them with natural armor. They were known for their impressive strength and durability, making them excellent warriors and blacksmiths. Daniel's starting stats as a Goranth would be: Str: 20, Dex: 5, Agi: 5, Con: 20, End: 10, Int: 3, Wis: 3, Lck: 3. Daniel smirked, "Now, there's a race that knows how to throw a punch. But I'm not sure I want to look like a walking boulder."

3. Selurians: A race of aquatic beings, Selurians had sleek, scaled skin in varying shades of blue and green, with webbed hands and feet. They were highly skilled in water magic and navigation, and had a deep connection with the ocean and its creatures. Daniel's starting stats as a Selurian would be: Str: 10, Dex: 10, Agi: 10, Con: 5, End: 5, Int: 10, Wis: 10, Lck: 5. "Oh, great. Who wouldn't want to be a fish person?" Daniel remarked, rolling his eyes. "I've never been a strong swimmer, anyway."

4. Vesperae: These nocturnal beings had large, bat-like wings and a natural affinity for darkness and shadow magic. With sharp features and an air of mystery, the Vesperae were skilled in stealth and deception, often serving as spies or assassins. Daniel's starting stats as a Vesperae would be: Str: 5, Dex: 20, Agi: 20, Con: 5, End: 5, Int: 10, Wis: 10, Lck: 3. Daniel raised an eyebrow, "Now that's an interesting race. But the whole brooding, shadowy thing might get old after a while."

5. Astariel: A lost race, the Astariel had an ethereal beauty about them, with silver, red-black ombre hair, deep violet irises, and glowing blue pupils that contained swirling black and silver stars. Astariels were known to have great potential in various skills and magic, with a balanced and versatile nature. Daniel's starting stats as an Astariel would be: Str: 10, Dex: 10, Agi: 10, Con: 10, End: 10, Int: 10, Wis: 10, Lck: 7. Daniel couldn't help but feel drawn to the Astariels. "There's something about them… A sense of potential, of possibilities."

Daniel hesitated, his finger hovering over the Astariel window. He thought about the life he'd left behind, the frustrations and disappointments that had plagued him. He considered the opportunity that lay before him now – a chance to reinvent himself in a world of magic and adventure, where he could be anything he wanted. His cynicism and sarcasm seemed to fade as he pondered the decision before him.

As Daniel selected the Astariel race, a new window popped up in front of him, offering a multitude of options for his appearance. He felt a tingling sensation throughout his body, as if his very essence was being reshaped and transformed. The tingling grew stronger, almost unbearable for a moment, before subsiding into a gentle, warm glow.

He looked down at his hands, which had changed to match the ethereal beauty of the Astariel race. His once squat and heavyset human form had been replaced with the tall, slender, and graceful body of an Astariel. He could feel the newfound strength and agility coursing through his veins, a testament to the transformative power of the character selection process.

As he glanced through the various appearance options, he was drawn to the silver, red-black ombre hair. He had always found that color combination intriguing and otherworldly, and it seemed to fit his new identity perfectly. He chose the deep violet irises with the glowing blue pupils containing swirling black and silver stars, feeling a connection to their mesmerizing, mysterious beauty. It was as if the eyes held the secrets of the universe, a reflection of the untapped potential that now resided within him.

Having made his selections, he turned his attention to the new name offered to him. He felt that his old name, Daniel Hawthorne, no longer represented who he was or the journey that awaited him. Instead, he chose the name Caelum Aetheris, feeling that it held a sense of the endless possibilities that lay before him in Elythria.

Caelum Aetheris gazed at his new reflection, marveling at the transformation he had undergone. It was a physical representation of the fresh start and new life that awaited him in Elythria. With renewed determination and a sense of wonder, he stepped into the unknown, ready to embrace the adventures that lay ahead.