Prologue
Reflected on the surface of a motionless lake was a large blue and green planet. Known to its inhabitants as Earth, yet to those on the outside, it was known as a breeding ground for greatness. Since the dawn of time, unsuspecting earthlings with potential had been whisked away to beyond the stars where their destiny awaited.
Standing on the shore overlooking the lake where a pair of incorporeal figures. One looked to be the embodiment of darkness. While the other the personification of light. The two opposites stood there together in perfect stillness and harmony.
“Are you sure about this? Going about things in such a roundabout way... ” An ethereal voice asked as it cast its gaze out across the waters.
“No need for concern. I’ve been studying them for a while now. There’s a surprising amount of little ones that dream of such things.” A deep and raspy voice answered the former. “I have my eyes set on a few that could fill the requirements we’re searching for.”
“Then let us not waste any more time. Set the plan into motion.” The ethereal voice said willing to support its partner's decision.
Casting a glance over the lake once more, the ethereal voice chucked, “I hope you're prepared for this test, little ones.” Then with a flash of gray light the pair vanished and the lake dissolved into nothingness.
The Beginning
Chapter One: Choices of a Man Named Larson Reed
If you had said over a year ago that he’d been spending the rest of his days in a hospital, Larson would've laughed in your face. Being in his early twenties and with a love for adventure, he was positive that his life was just beginning. Though he would deny it, he was an attractive man. Nearly six-foot-tall and with an athletic build he looked like something off the cover of Men's Health magazine. He was nearly always surrounded by friends and known to be the life of the party.
Yet that was a far cry from his current state. A drunk driver had stolen all that away from him in the blink of an eye. The birthday party to remember turned into a living hell. Even with the best doctors and medicine money could buy, all they could do was keep him alive. If one would call it that. Being confined to a bed with an uncountable amount of wires and tubes attached to him. With only darkness, the beeping of machines, and his mother’s occasional sobbing to keep him company.
After a year of wondering if a life like this was worth it, a second chance arrived. A game company called ‘Seis Pillars Inc.’ approached the hospital with a proposal. They were looking for people trapped in a paralyzed state to test out a full body immersive experience. The game developers would provide all the needed equipment as well as cover any medical cost afterward. After the hospital informed Larson’s parents of the chance they eagerly jumped at the opportunity.
Fast forward a few months and the moment of truth arrived. Blinking to signal that he was ready the anxious crowd in the room waited with baited breath. A technician sent from the company pressed the power button as Larson closed his eyes. The next thing he knew he found himself looking out over a white void.
“Welcome Larson Reed, to the Void of Choices.” A systematic voice rang out from all around him. Before he had the chance to question the voice, a line of bodies of all shapes and sizes appeared before him. Each body had the name of its race floating above it. As they passed slowly before his eyes the voice from the void spoke out again.
“Please choose your race.” In shock, he glanced over the line up straight out of a fantasy role player’s dream. As if following his thoughts, the lineup moved before him, slowing down and speeding up when he wished. Everything from the basic dwarfs and elves to races he’d never heard of before. Giants, pixies, lizardmen, beast-men of every shape and size, the list of bodies when on and on. He even took the time to see if he could switch between male and female characters. He could. Thankfully there wasn’t a time limit as he continued to pursue the list.
He was just starting to agonize over the sheer number of choices when finally, one caught his attention. Situated between a bear beast-man and a high elf was the body of a man of the Dragonling race. Seeing the Dragon part got him excited as he mentally clicked in the body. The figure floated before him and a list of traits appeared in his mind.
Race:
Dragonling
Born with the blood of the mighty dragons the Dragonlings are a proud and reclusive race. Though Dragonlings have a humanoid form they, like elves, are a very long-lived race with a low birth rate. Rumored to be able to transform into the mighty beast of legend once they reach maturity many of the other races see them in a fearful light. Unlike the other races the Dragonlings get their elemental affinity from their parents and are born with the blessing of the Elementals. As such they do not need to go through the Awakening Ceremony.
Physical Traits:
Mostly known for their horns, some Dragonlings have sporadic scales on their bodies. The color of their horns and scales, as well as most of their physical traits, are heavily influenced by their elemental affinity.
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[Stats and race bonuses are decided by elemental affinity.]
After reading over the information Larson was even more excited. Never being one to think too much, he quickly chose this one in his mind. Right on cue, the system voice rang out again. “You choose the Dragonling race? This choice cannot be undone later.” Only pausing for a moment, he agreed, the idea of being able to transform into a dragon overriding anything that might come later.
With a flash of light, the remaining bodies vanished as the voice rang out again. “Please choose the preferred method of character creation.” Then just like with the Dragonling information, another set of information appeared in his mind.
Character creation options:
The Transcendent: Travelers from a world unknown they have descended upon this land to carve out a new life. Choosing this option will let you start your adventure with a character molded after your current appearance and physical traits. Allows few customization choices. Will receive a random or race based elemental affinity upon awakening.
The Natural Born: Transcendents that lost their bodies during their travels, who by some miracle managed to be born naturally into the world. Choosing this option will make you start your adventure as an infant. Your appearance will be based on the appearance of your parents. However, the parents you receive in the game with be random depending solely on your race. Your elemental affinity will be revealed upon your Awakening Ceremony unless your race dictates differently.
Seeing the choices Larson was stunned. “What kind of game doesn’t let you design your own character?” He thought with a hint of bitterness.
“To keep your adventure as realistic as possible we believe that, much like in nature, such choices should be left up to chance.” The systematic voice rang out as if to answer his thoughts. Sighing to himself he kept the system's words in mind as he went back to staring at the two options.
The Transcendent option sounded like the most preferred choice. Yet the ‘molded after your current appearance and physical traits’ line, caused him to have a second thought. What if he chose that one only to awake in the world just as paralyzed as in reality? When the system didn’t answer his question like the last time he took it as a silent agreement. Deciding not to risk it, either way, he chose the natural born option without hesitation.
“You choose to be Natural Born? This choice cannot be undone later.” Facing the confirmation of the system he wholeheartedly agreed. Following that, another flash of light occurred before eight emblems appeared before him. They each had vastly different designs, yet somehow managed to balance each other. Taking a second look he got the feeling that they probably represented the Elementals that he’d seen mentioned a few times so far.
“Please choose which territory you wish to begin in.” With the systems prompting he gazed at the emblems. White, black, red, blue, green, brown, yellow, and gray. It was easy to figure that what the first seven probably stood for, but the eighth gray emblem left him pondering. Unlike with the races where he had to choose one before he got any info, after a moment of thinking information about each emblem enters his head.
Territories:
The Territory of Light, Lumokal: A land blessed by the High Elemental Lumos. A land that’s rich with the element of light, the holy land of Clerics and Knights.
The Territory of Dark, Drakus: A land blessed by the High Elemental Drkas. A land that’s rich with the element of Darkness, a gathering place for assassins and necromancers.
The Territory of Fire, Flenton: A land blessed by the High Elemental Flamel. A land that’s rich with the element of Fire, where those that are hot blooded and one’s that fear no flame can be found.
The Territory of Water, Aquilla: A land blessed by the High Elemental Aqual. A land located under the raging waves and rich with the element of water, those of aquatic descent can be seen throughout.
The Territory of Wind, Bezin: A land blessed by the High Elemental Bersus. A land found floating among the clouds rich with the element of wind, known as the safe haven of all winged creatures.
The Territory of Earth, Metalton: A land blessed by the High Elemental Metalas. A land rich with the element of earth, known as the paradise of blacksmiths and miners, the mountains here reach the clouds.
The Territory of Wood, Natagil: A land blessed by the High Elemental Natulis. A land rich with the wood element, covered with an endless sea of trees, this land is the known home of elves and treants.
The Territory of the Forgotten, Zerxon: A land without the blessing of any High Elemental. Throughout its lands, an equal amount of elements can be felt. Known as the world's mixing pot, it is the largest territory and hosts a variety of creatures.
[Please be aware that the territory that you choose may influence your character element affinity.]
Remembering that he’d chosen to be a Dragonling, he quickly scratched both Bezin and Aquilla off the list. Not really wanting to risk being a stereotypical fire dragon either Flenton was also a no go. That left Lumokal, Drakus, Metalton, Natagil, and Zerxon. The thought of being either a dragon cleric or an assassin was very tempting, but so was the idea of being a blacksmith. Even though it didn’t give much information he was sure each territory had its own perks.
After about an hours’ worth of going back and forth with himself, he finally made a decision. Steeling his heart he picked one and immediately said yes to the system's prompt. With a flash of light, the void around him faded into darkness as the systems final words rang in his mind.
“Welcome to the World of Waylim.”