Elara blinked, her vision coming into focus as she stared up at an unfamiliar ceiling. The ceiling had shimmering blue light emanating from geometric forms and circles that were edged into the material. It was mesmerizing, yet entirely foreign to her. She pushed herself onto her elbows, the cold metal beneath her sending a shiver down her spine.

As she sat up, Elara took in her surroundings. The large, round room was unlike anything she had ever encountered before. The walls were smooth and bare, except for the occasional flicker of light that seemed to dance across their surface. While the atmosphere remained quiet, the sound of her breath and the thumping of her heart grew louder.

Elara swung her legs over the platform's edge and cautiously stood up, her muscles aching from the hard surface she had been lying on. She took a tentative step forward, her footsteps echoing in the vast emptiness of the room. The coolness of the metal floor seeped into her feet, creating a stark contrast to the cozy softness of her carpet at home.

Questions raced through Elara's mind as she tried to make sense of her situation. Where was she? How did she get here? And most importantly, why was she here? She searched her memory for clues, but the last thing she could recall was falling asleep on her sofa, safe and sound.

Elara's eyes darted around the room, searching for any sign of an exit or clue about her whereabouts. Yet, the room appeared seamless, lacking any visible doors or windows. The only source of light came from the glowing sigils above, casting an eerie blue glow over everything.

Elara's gaze drifted back to the golden platform where she had awakened. The surface had a smooth and cold texture, lacking any markings or sigils like the ceiling. She ran her fingers along the edge of the platform, searching for any irregularities or clues, but found none.

Turning her attention back to the room itself, Elara scrutinized the walls more closely, hoping to spot a hidden passage that she had missed. She walked along the perimeter of the room, her hand gently exploring the smooth surface, searching for any slight indentations or seams that could reveal a concealed entrance. But as she completed her circuit, she realized that the room was truly seamless, with no apparent way in or out.

Elara, frustrated and confused, tilted her head back and stared at the ceiling. The intricate sigils continued to emit their soft, pulsing glow, the only source of light in the otherwise dark and featureless space. She squinted, trying to make out any patterns or meanings in the alien symbols, but they remained inscrutable to her.

Questions swirled in Elara's mind as she stood there, bathed in the eerie blue light. What was the purpose of this room? Who had brought her here, and why? The lack of answers only heightened her unease, and she could feel a knot of anxiety forming in the pit of her stomach.

As Elara stood there, lost in thought, a sudden *Ding* reverberated through her mind, startling her. The sound was crisp and clear, as if she were wearing high-quality headphones, yet she knew she had nothing on her ears. Elara's eyes widened as a light blue screen materialized before her, floating in the air like a holographic display.

Congratulations!

Your keen observation and attempt to decipher a Divine-level Glyph has unlocked a new General Skill: Novice Glyph Insight.

Novice Glyph Insight allows you to perceive and understand the patterns and meanings behind glyphs and sigils, granting you a deeper insight into their mystical properties and applications. With this skill, you'll be able to unravel the secrets of ancient symbols and harness their power to aid you on your journey.

Elara blinked, her brows furrowed in confusion as she read the message. The screen looked like something straight out of a virtual reality game, with its sleek, futuristic design and glowing text. She reached out and her fingers passed through the screen, as if it was nothing more than light and air.

"What the hell?" Elara said under her breath, her mind racing to make sense of the bizarre situation she found herself in. This was unlike anything she had ever experienced. Unlocking skills and deciphering glyphs felt more like a game than reality.

Elara reached out, her hand passing through the glowing blue screen once more. She waved her arm, trying to dismiss the notification, and to her surprise, the screen vanished, leaving no trace of its existence. The room fell silent once again, save for the soft hum of the pulsing sigils above.

Elara’s gaze darted back to the ceiling, where the intricate sigils continued to pulse with a soft, mesmerizing glow. With her newly gained Novice Glyph Insight, she wondered if she could now understand the meaning behind those mysterious symbols. The thought both excited and unnerved her, as she realized that this strange place where she landed might hold secrets far beyond her comprehension.

Moments slipped away, and just as she was ready to quit, a familiar *Ding* echoed in her mind.

Elara's eyes snapped open, and she stared at a new blue screen, this one slightly different from the first. The message read:

Skill Level Up!

Your Novice Glyph Insight skill has increased to Level 4.

With each level, your ability to perceive and decipher the meaning behind glyphs and sigils grows stronger. You can now understand more complex symbols and unravel the secrets they hold with greater ease.

The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

Continue to hone your skills, and you may one day become a true master of the mystical arts.

Elara's heart raced as she read the message, her mind struggling to comprehend the implications of what was happening to her.

She glanced up at the ceiling once more, the intricate sigils now appearing clearer and more defined to her enhanced perception. Previously, random patterns now held purpose, as if communicating to her. Elara's fingers twitched, itching to trace the lines and curves of the glyphs.

She stood in the center of the room, her mind reeling from the sudden appearance of the blue screens and the mysterious messages they conveyed. She couldn't shake the feeling that she had somehow stumbled into a real-life video game, complete with skill unlocks and level-ups.

As she pondered the implications of her newly gained Novice Glyph Insight skill, a thought struck her. If this place worked like a game, there must be other screens she can access.

Elara closed her eyes, focusing her thoughts on the word "Settings." She imagined a screen appearing before her, filled with options and configurations that would allow her to customize her experience. But as she opened her eyes, she found nothing but the empty room and the pulsing sigils above.

Undeterred, Elara tried again, this time focusing on the word "Status." To her surprise, a familiar *Ding* echoed through her mind, and a new blue screen materialized before her. The screen divided into several sections, each displaying different information about her current state.

At the top of the screen, Elara saw her name, below that, a series of numbers showed her health, stamina, and other vital statistics. She noticed that her health was full, as well as her stamina and mana.

Further down the screen, Elara saw a list of her skills and abilities, only showing her newly gained skill, Novice Glyph Insight. Each skill had a small icon next to it, showing its level. She noted that her Glyph Insight skill was already at Level 4, just as the previous message had indicated.

As she studied the Status screen, she couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and wonder. The place operated on familiar yet foreign rules and mechanics. She understood the idea of leveling up skills and unlocking new abilities. However, witnessing it happen in real life was both thrilling and unnerving.

She waved her hand, dismissing the Status screen, and focused her thoughts on the word "Inventory." She waited expectantly for the familiar *Ding* and the appearance of a new screen, but nothing happened. Frowning, she tried again, this time concentrating harder on the concept of an inventory, imagining a screen filled with items and equipment. Despite that, there was no response.

Puzzled, she turned her attention to another idea. She closed her eyes and thought about the word "Skills," wondering if this screen would provide more information about her newfound abilities. Right on time, the familiar *Ding* echoed in her thoughts, and a blue screen appeared.

The Skills screen was far more detailed than the Status screen. The screen featured distinct categories: Passive Skills, Combat Skills, Bodily Enhancement Skills, and General Skills.

Under the General Skills section, she saw her Novice Glyph Insight skill, along with a detailed description of its effects and level. The other categories, however, were empty, with no skills listed under their respective headings.

Her brow furrowed as she pondered the differences between the skill categories. Passive Skills, she reasoned, must be abilities that were always active, providing her with constant benefits and enhancements. Combat Skills likely referred to abilities that she could use in battle, such as special attacks or defensive maneuvers.

General Skills, she guessed, must be skills that do not fit into the other three. It sounds vast. Finally, Bodily Enhancement Skills seemed to imply abilities that would directly improve her physical capabilities, such as increased strength, speed, or endurance.

In the room’s center, she stood, her mind reeling from the appearance of blue screens and mysterious messages. She gradually realized the gravity of her situation. The thought of never escaping this room, with only pulsing sigils and eerie blue light, brought forth a deep sense of dread and despair.

She took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart and clear her mind. Knowing panic was useless, she focused on finding an exit. Determined, she searched the room once more, seeking any clue or exit to escape.

Elara walked along the perimeter of the room again, her fingers trailing along the smooth, seamless walls. She meticulously inspected the entire surface, looking for any signs of hidden doors or passages. Despite her thorough search, she found no sign of an exit.

As the minutes turned into hours, Elara felt her frustration and desperation growing. She had circled the room countless times, her feet aching from the hard, unyielding metal beneath her. The walls remained as smooth and impenetrable as ever, mocking her efforts to find an escape.

Her mind raced as she tried to make sense of her situation. She knew she must have entered this room somehow, which meant that there had to be a way out. It seemed illogical to her that someone would create a completely inaccessible space with no means of entry or exit. There had to be a purpose to this room, a reason for its existence, and she was determined to uncover it.

Elara, exhausted and disheartened, went back to the golden platform where she had initially awoken. She sat down on the cold metal surface, hugging her knees to her chest as she tried to gather her thoughts. Elara felt her eyelids growing heavy. The soft, pulsing glow of the sigils above bathed her in a soothing light, a result of the day’s events catching up with her.

She lay down on the platform, her body sinking into the cold, unyielding metal. She stared up at the ceiling, her eyes tracing the intricate patterns of the glyphs that adorned the surface. The soft, pulsing glow of the sigils cast a mesmerizing light over her, and she found herself drawn into their hypnotic rhythm.

While studying the glyphs closely, Elara observed a difference in her perception. She found that her eyes now followed the lines and curves of the symbols with greater ease, as if her mind had become attuned to their intricate patterns.

Her gaze roamed over the glyphs, taking in their every detail. She marveled at the intricate patterns intertwining and overlapping in a dance of light and shadow. Every symbol had purpose and meaning, like a puzzle piece waiting to be solved.

Despite her enhanced perception, she knew that the Divine Glyph was still far beyond her current level of understanding. The glyph’s intricate patterns and shapes were complex and layered, defying comprehension. She wondered what secrets the Divine Glyph held, and what power it might grant to those who could unravel its mysteries.

As she lay there, lost in thought, a familiar *Ding* echoed through her mind. A blue screen materialized before her, floating in the air like a holographic display. The message read:

Skill Level Up!

Your Novice Glyph Insight skill has increased to Level 5.

With each level, your ability to perceive and decipher the intricate patterns and meanings behind glyphs and sigils grows stronger. You can now understand more complex symbols and unravel the secrets they hold with greater ease.

Continue to hone your skills, and you may one day become a true master of the mystical arts.