I woke up, sitting on a park bench with a throbbing headache. What had happened last night? Had I gone drinking? I looked around, squinting my eyes in the bright morning light, not recognizing my surroundings.

Groups of people walked past me minding their own business, dressed in an odd assortment of clothing. It all seemed old-fashioned like you would see in a renaissance fair. 

I stood up, slamming my palm on my forehead as my headache spiked, and wobbled over to stop a passerby coming in my direction.

“Excuse me!” I mumbled, my voice slurring slightly as I waved at a man to stop. “Would you mind telling me where I am? I woke up here.. I think.. and can’t remember how I got here.”

My face must have conveyed some of my confusion as the man looked me over and grimaced. “You look like hell, son! Must’ve been a fun night you had!”

I groaned as the man chuckled. “Oh to be young… You, sir, are in the city of Numeri!”

“And where is that?” I asked. The name was familiar, but I was pretty sure there wasn’t a city named like that anywhere near my town.

The man looked at me for a moment, like I was an idiot, before continuing: “Numeri. The greatest city in Gabriel? Are you from Balahir?”

Numeri. Gabriel. Balahir. This sounded too familiar now, but for the life of me, I couldn't place the names anywhere on Earth.

“I am sorry sir…” I tried to remember where I could've heard those names. “But I’m afraid that I don’t know what you are talking about”

“Are you one of those outworlders?” He asked, now with a curious expression.

“Outworlders?” I asked, really feeling stupid. “Like immigrants?”

“No..” He paused for a moment, clearly thinking of his next words carefully. “I am sorry to say that I can’t help you much with this. I know very little of the topic, but I can share what I do know.”

“Please. I just woke up on that bench and I’m totally lost. Where am I?”

“I’m sorry to have to tell you this, but… you have died in your own world.” The man looked pained for having to tell me this information, but he pressed on. “According to the temple, there are many worlds besides our own. And sometimes when people die in those worlds, they are transported to ours. It is something to do with not being able to move on to their afterlife. So they are sent here to be tested and tried. “

I was confused. What was he talking about? He must be joking. But his face was very serious, and I couldn’t detect even a hint of humor in his expression.

“No… No, you are just kidding, right? A little jest to tease me? Is this a prank?!” I exclaimed in pseudo panic, looking for any hint of mischievous glee in the man’s eyes.

“I am quite serious, young sir.” He said seriously. “As I said, I am no expert in this matter. Frankly, I know just the bare minimum to help anyone like you I may come across. But for all it’s worth, I am sorry.”

I didn’t believe him. There was no way. This was just a dream I had… but it all seemed so real. I closed my eyes and bit my lip, drawing a drop of blood, fully expecting to wake up in my own bed. But when I opened my eyes, I was still standing in front of the man, who was looking rather concerned at this point. Why hadn’t it worked?

“Sir… You are not dreaming.” Even his voice sounded pained. He coughed, clearing up his throat, before adopting a happier tone, most likely trying to cheer me up. “So… Allow me to be the first one to welcome you to the nine rings of Ebenoss. You are in the central ring, Acedia, in the province of Gabriel.”

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At that moment, it all clicked. My mind went blank, and I barely managed to mumble thanks to the man, as I turned around and walked towards the bench I had woken up on. I needed to sit down. I heard him shouting something behind me, but the words didn’t recognize in my head.

I sat on the bench, trying to clear my head. It was too wild. Things like this happened only in fantasy novels, not in real life. And if they would happen in real life, they wouldn’t happen to me.

I was supposedly in a world of my own creation. I was in Ebenoss. But I couldn't be. How could I? The whole world was just a bunch of maps, notes, and character sheets on my computer and notepads. This, whatever this was, was too real. 

I tapped the wooden bench deep in my thoughts, hearing the sound of my palm striking the surface, and feeling the aged wood on my fingers. It felt real. And the city around the small park fit perfectly to the description of what I had written about Numeri, down to the last detail. Eighteenth-century architecture? Check. People wearing fantasy medieval clothing? Check. No pollution or smell of car exhaust in the air, and no sign of electric poles, or wires.

So if this was my world, it would surely mean that i could control it. Right? But how? Just imagine things to become reality? I had to test it. I focused on the ground below my feet, picturing a small cube of earth forming where I stared at. And surprisingly, nothing happened! I was sure it would’ve worked. Oh well. If you first don’t succeed, try and try again. So I did. 

I focused on the ground for what it felt like fifteen minutes before giving up. If I was indeed in control, I didn’t know-how. But the more likely option was that I simply wasn’t anymore. Now that I was here, I was just a simple occupant.

‘Well that wasn’t entirely accurate’ I thought to myself. Even if I couldn’t influence the world around me with a simple thought, it was still my world. And if all the rules i had set in held true, I had a great advantage that I would certainly abuse.

But first I needed to clear my head and form a plan. It was hard because my head was a mess and I didn’t know what the plan was for, but it would be comforting to have a goal. Sitting still would help no one and before I knew how and why I was here, I could do nothing about it. Even so, adjusting to my new reality was going to take time.

I stood up and for the first time, I did a body check on myself. 

Pencil in my headband, lint, and a couple of crumpled receipts in my pockets, and loose-fitting clothes on my body. I let out a small curse for my bad luck. I didn’t have my smartphone. It would’ve been so useful, but noo! I didn’t keep it in my pocket when I was home.  

I sighed loudly and started moving down the street while thinking of my feeble inventory. Not exactly artifacts to brag with, but at the very least I had a pencil and some paper to write notes down.

Soon I had crossed the park and found myself on a busy street. I took a moment to admire the architecture of the city. I had made it after all, so I took my time to appreciate the sight.

The houses were inspired by eighteenth-century British apartment houses, built from sturdy bricks and covered with a layer of smooth plaster. Hints of gothic elements were visible in the form of gateway arches and even a few gargoyles were on the roofs of the more ornate buildings.

Small courtyards were fenced off in front of the buildings with a heavy cast iron gate allowing entrance to the residential buildings. Large window displays lined a row of various shops, showcasing their goods for the people walking the streets. Clothing, baked goods, and a herb shop were all neatly packed in one block. 

I didn’t recognize the names of the shops, so they must’ve been background places with nothing of value to sell. At least for the people that I had made this world for. 

My stomach grumbled as I was watching the bakery, and just as I was about to take a step towards the shop I remembered that I had no money to my name. Well poo. How was I supposed to get money here? I could always ask for the baker to let me do some chores for them in exchange for a quick snack, but that wouldn’t solve my long-term problems.

I racked my still faintly throbbing head, trying to remember details of the area. I needed more paper to write down the essential stuff for long and short-term plans, like answers to some of the puzzles in the dungeons, locations of hidden and powerful artifacts, and key details of some of the NPCs I planned to take advantage of. Oh right! And if the power gain system I set in the world was still in place, I needed to find a quick cache of Sin.

This was going to be difficult. But first things first. Food.