Hearing the sound of water droplets hitting the floor, my cautiousness slowly returns from the murky abyss. As I try to open my heavy eyes I notice something weird, my Body feels light and empowered, yet at the same time weird and ticklish. I have the feeling that it is definitely my body, yet it feels so far, so changed...

"Guaaaarhh!!! UUuuuAAAaaaaa!!!" (Arin)

Before my train of thought can continue I'm suddenly struck with a piercing headache, as though something that does not belong tries to force a way in. I Scream out in pain as it is, but am shocked still at what I heard, or better...felt.

My scream didn't sound like it came from the weak me, it sounded as though a Lion was hit and howled. The Yell sounded out around me and traveled through the atmosphere as though it was everywhere, carrying pressure with it. I don't know what I should think about, but because of the shock from my own howl, the pain was like blown away.

As the pain lessened, I finally realized what caused the pain. What entered my head seems to be the knowledge and memories Lumi left me, yet they are still rather murky and don't feel like my own. I guess I'll get used to them sooner or later.

As the time passes, I slowly open my eyes and take a look around. What I saw wasn't a grass-plain nor the sun or moon in the sky, but only what seems to be the roof of a cave. Weirdly enough, even though the whole cave is only dimly lit, I could see perfectly. Is this Nightvision?

I would have liked that ability back in the Orphanage, I would be able to keep reading even when Maria turned off the Lights...

"ueee, Sniff, sniff" (Arin)

Tears started to gather in the Croner of my eyes as I understand that my Situation isn't favorable.

I am in another world, another dimension even, and at the moment hundreds of meters under the surface. No friends or caretaker is around, even Lumi is gone. Though I know all this, I still want to deny it... why did this have to happen?!

Sitting down I keep crying as my tears flow down my cheeks and make a dropping sound when hitting the water surface. A cold and lonely feeling creeping up from the depth of my heart.

Yet I didn't even realize that I was halfway submerged in water, as tears kept flowing down my cheeks. Only after having cried for about five minutes did the clouds in my heart give way to a bit of light as I regained my awareness of my surroundings. Finally realizing that I was actually sitting in the water I raise myself up, just to notice that I was lying on something immensely comfortable. To be honest, the feeling of my soft blanket at home can eat dirt compared to this.

As I look down I realize that I was stark naked, I didn't have any clothes on me, but that was only secondary. As I stand up I come across the reason for the comfortable feeling beneath me. Actually, there is an extra weight on the back of my body, it's light and barely noticeable, but it's definitely there. When I look down on my back, what greets me are multiple Tails with really beautiful silver fur. The Surprises don't end there, as those tails were connected to ME. Yes, seriously, when DID I GROW TAILS?!?

As I am thinking to myself where those tails come from I can hear the sound of water in the distance, like a small waterfall. It was there the whole time, yet I only notice it now. Plus, since when is my hearing so good? I have many questions and no answers.

I look down again at my feet who are still submerged inside this... Liquid? I could not see a reflection, but the water was completely see-through and shining in many different colors, it is like one of these soap-bubbles that reflect light or something similar. Fact is, it looks beautiful. Mesmerized by the Bubble-Liquid, named so by myself, I notice a little late as a cold air-current flows past me while rustling up my hair and hitting my skin.

I still don't have any clothes on, but aside from the fact that my skin seems whiter and purer than before, and the fact that I have tails now, not much seems to have changed. However, even as I can tell it is cold down here with the wind, I don't seem to be freezing, not even shuddering in the cold. Though it seems I can't feel cold right now, I would still prefer to have my hoodie back, I feel more comfortable with clothes on. Even the scarf Anna gave to me is gone. I can't walk around naked like that.

As soon as my thoughts started to form, the liquid beneath me started to shine and bubble up. I don't know what triggered it, but it suddenly starts to climb up my body and fixing itself into different positions.

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

I really wanted to run away, witnessing this. But my shock was too great, and somehow I could tell it didn't mean me any harm. I felt as though it is attracted to me, for whatever reason. However, all those new sensations and senses overwhelmed me at that moment, causing my head to ache.

In the meantime, when the bubbly, glowing liquid finally came to a halt, the light dispersed and what appeared in my sight are the clothes I wore before I fell into the Dimensional Hole.

"Ouch, hey!" (Arin)

What I didn't realize was that my pants got in the way of my tails and kept pressing on the root, which as a result was quite painful. In my mind, I hoped for my tails to be free, as that subtle pain was really offputting, and as if following some kind of command that part of my pants pressing down on the tail-root lit up and slowly dissolved before integrating itself into the rest of the clothes. Astonished and confused I looked down on the change for a while, at least until my head hurt from looking at that weird angle. Still, having noticed what caused the change I felt exhilarated, I can use this!

I now realized that this liquid, for whatever reason, formed itself depending on my mind or Imagination, and I am sure I can do some nifty things with this...

2 hours and 32 minutes later...

As I was completely absorbed into playing around with my new mobile wardrobe, I accidentally step on my own tail. The Pain that was sent through my Body definitely isn't fake, those were my tails and what happened until now wasn't a dream. I don't know, everything felt so unreal.

Now having regained myself, I want to know what changed of my appearance aside from my newly gained Tails, especially so since I always feel 'something' move on my head whenever I focus on listening. As I stand up, I reform my mobile wardrobe into the first set consisting of a hoodie, work-pants and outdoor-shoes. Thinking about it, I felt neither hungry nor thirsty until now, nor do I feel sleepy or tired... Weird. Anyway, pushing such thoughts to the back of my mind, I raise myself, trying to follow the sound of flowing water I can hear from one of the caves leading out of here.

However, I as take my first few steps, suddenly something pops up in my mind. I don't feel uncomfortable walking! I wasn't limping, weakened or falling over, just one step at a time without shacking...

With an expecting smile on my face, I increase my speed into a light jog, but even after a distance of several meters, I still didn't feel anything weird. It can't be, my legs are healed?!! Happiness and excitement fill my heart, nearly to the point of shedding tears. Oops, I think one managed to get through. Still, in my blind excitement, I start to run, running like never before. The wind hitting my face didn't bother me, neither did the darkness of the cave. But just as I was about to try making a sharp turn, I fall over my own tails and skid over the stone floor.

Having returned to reality thanks to this, but still filled with excitement, I realize that I have barely any control over my tails as I am not used to them yet. Learning from my mistake, I stand up and just walk into the direction the sound came from while paying attention to my feet.

Yet, not long after I started walking I catch the scent of water in the air. Wait, what?! Before I can make heads or tails of my newfound sense of smell, I already arrived in front of what seems to be a pond with a small waterfall coming through a hole in the ceiling, splashing water on the rocks beneath before then flowing into the pond.

Around the pond between rocks, several luminous flowers grow, some of which are similar to those I saw in the grove I woke up in. Thanks to them however and my strengthened vision, I didn't have trouble witnessing the whole scene, even thinking that it was magical seeing something like this.

What I did next was obvious, as I curiously looked into the pond of water to see my own face, and what looked back was a pair of shining emerald green eyes, together with the face I knew. My skin became cleaner and I would say I look better? At least I look healthier, as my previously pale skin now has a bit more of a rosy color.

(AN: "You're a shota Harry... umm, I mean Arin." I just wanted to make a joke. Evaluating: he is cute with a hint of majesty, for those wondering)

What was new was that even my hair turned silver, looking like the moon in the darkness, it looks cool. As for what surprised me, it where the tall, triangle-like fox-ears on my head. Touching them felt comfortable and ticklish and even made me blush a bit. I stopped at that point as I realized that my human ears were gone. To be honest, it feels kinda weird, suddenly having something you hadn't had before while losing what you are used to. Maybe I am still in shock... I mean, a part of me is still screaming that all this is a dream and can't be real...

Sitting next to the Pond, I try to recollect what happened until now.

I woke up, have now fox-ears and -tails, gained a mobile wardrobe and my legs seem to be healed and even in top condition. Even my eye-color seems to have become more prominent and my hair turned silver. Additionally, my senses seem to have strengthened to inhuman level and I don't feel uncomfortable with my new form.

Counting down with my fingers, I noticed late that I don't even know how many tails I have.

Turning around, I try to count them. Sadly, due to my concentration on the tails, they kept jumping and moving around, making it hard to count them. But in the end, I had a number. I have a whole ten tails, which is surprising considering Lumi only had nine. I wonder why...?

Feeling kinda uncomfortable with beeing unable to control my own tails, I start to concentrate on them and try to move them by my will.

About an hour had past when I slowly got used to the feeling of my newly acquired tails. I can already move them as a unit, but moving a single one of the bunch is too hard at the moment. Feeling mentally tired, I search for a nice sleeping place. Using my tails as a mattress I made myself comfortable. Hoping I could have a blanket, somehow three of my tails extend and wrap themselves around me.

I don't know how my tails exactly work yet, nor how I even ended up with a body like this. But somehow, I don't feel the slightest bit unnerved by it. I guess it has to do with what Lumi tried to explain? Anyways, being rolled up in my own tails feels like heaven. I don't want to ever sleep in a normal bed anymore.

While I have such last thoughts, my eyelids close and my mind drifts off into the world of dreams.

However, my mind unlocked some of the hidden knowledge Lumi provided me with while I slept. But I would only figure this out on the next morning.