???

That was the most unsettling experience of Aira's life. It was unheard of for the System to act so strangely. Not being able to provide any information. How was that even possible?

These glowing letters that appeared in her vision were the foundation of her day-to-day life and even her survival. Without them, it was incomprehensible how one could be a full-fledged battlemage. She wouldn't know where to go and what to do if she hadn't had her quest system and other helpful hints. Like when to meditate to improve mana reserves and restore health or which moment to choose for an all-in attack.

With every passing moment, Aira sensed the connection getting weaker. The information she could access was faltering and fracturing. Soon, nothing was left there, the last letters vanishing from her sight, leaving Aira alone in the darkness.

A sudden jolt pulled her out of this trance-like state, and she felt a solid surface beneath her once again. Aira opened her eyes and let out a sigh of relief. The darkness was gone, and the world around her was full of colors, as it should be.

She found herself lying on the cold, damp ground. The air was thick with the mixed scent of earth and decay. But not as it was in a dungeon. It was the smell of an autumn forest. Above her, the canopy of dense trees filtered the sunlight, casting eerie shadows all around.

Aira looked around, trying to figure out where she appeared. Maybe the last message of the System was just a vision, hallucination, or a dream? However, the place she found herself in wasn't the location of the dungeon's entrance. It couldn't be in the same region. Everything was wrong, even if you didn't mind the different season. The year was definitely coming to an end in this place, with nature slowly preparing for winter.

"Inter-world transfer, what was that? "Aira thought, not being able to erase from her memory one of the last things System showed her. "There are other worlds out there? What?!?"

Groaning and feeling heavy and sluggish, Aira pushed herself to a sitting position. She took a more thorough account of her surroundings. You never knew what minor detail could save your life. Not that it helped her when she tried to exit that damned dungeon!

She was in a glade, and the landscape was unlike any forest she had ever seen. However, it wasn't like Aira visited every forest in her world. Maybe it was just some unfamiliar place. For now, she couldn't say if it was otherworldly in any specific way. Just new.

"What the hell happened?" she thought, trying to summon her stats. She focused, waiting for the familiar letters to appear before her eyes. But there was nothing there.

Panic began to creep in as she tried repeatedly. The System remained inaccessible.

"Great," she muttered, but only low growls escaped her mouth. She touched it with her hand in awe.

"What's happening?" she thought. "No System, no magic, and no speech? Where am I? What am I?"

Disoriented, Aira dusted off her jacket, trying to regain some sense of normalcy with this mundane action. Coming out of this strange void, she dropped right on the forest floor, gathering some dirt and debris with her clothes and even her hair.

She tried to make herself at least a bit presentable. In the process, her gaze caught an unfamiliar birthmark on her wrist. So, she didn't just imagine it. The same symbol—the last thing she saw before leaving that damned dungeon—has now branded her skin. Aira touched it, but there was no pain, no irritation. It felt like it had always been there.

Feeling that her body was violated, she inspected it more thoroughly. But this symbol on her wrist was the only mark of the recent events. There were no other visible changes, but it seemed there were much more profound differences. Her movements were surprisingly sluggish, and her limbs stiff. That first impression when she tried to sit moments ago wasn't just a consequence of her unexpected journey. The strange sensation persisted as if it wasn't only her magic that had suddenly disappeared, but also the physical abilities of her body were severely diminished.

It couldn't be explained only by the lack of the influence of the System on her body and constitution. It was true that magic modified her stats according to her level, which was a substantial boost after you leveled up a few dozen times. However, it felt like she was debuffed much more than the loss of these bonuses would warrant. And this sluggishness wasn't something she normally experienced in her life. Unless she was affected by some spell or illness.

Aira hadn't yet taken a single step, but she was already overwhelmed by exhaustion and dizzy.

She looked around, searching for her belongings, but there was nothing there. She vaguely remembered dropping her prized warhammer in shock before she was transported. Now, it seemed that not only her weapon but most of her possessions were left in that damned dungeon or lost during the transfer.

At least she still had her clothes on her. She heard about people experiencing weird magic in some dungeons. And even while most of her spells didn't demand her to wear any protective gear, or just... to wear anything at all, it still was much more comforting to have something on you.

Aira couldn't help but chuckle at how much wilder the situation would be if she appeared in the middle of an unfamiliar forest absolutely nude.

"There's always a chance for things to be worse. I should never forget that," she thought, trying to find at least something positive in her predicament.

Aira took a deep breath and did what she would always do in strange and unsettling situations: started her meditation routine. She focused on her senses, trying to ground herself in the familiar sensations. The unfamiliar landscape even helped her when she needed to catalog all the new scents and sounds surrounding her. However, she quickly realized that something was amiss, incomplete. Her perception was dulled. As if previously, it has been heavily influenced by her magic.

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She never considered that. How many benefits did the System give her? Throughout her life, she relied on the consequences of having access to magic. Was it even possible to survive without it?

Aira pushed forward, not allowing herself to despair, getting closer to the last part of the routine. Determined at least to find some sense of balance and control amidst the chaos. As she reached the final stage, she hesitated to move forward for a moment. Now, she had to immerse herself in the magical energy.

But, of course, this time, she was met with only a frightening void.

Her whole life, magic was something that defined her. It motivated her to study, take quests, and become more powerful. Without it... What remained of her old self?

Aira's concentration faltered as uncertainty and confusion overwhelmed her. Never before had she experienced such a complete cutoff from arcane powers. Her shoulders slumped as she let out a heavy sigh.

She needed to make herself busy and couldn't afford to waste more time. Magic or no magic, she had to survive and forge a new path for herself. Aira had to find others in this damaged world. All that while being vulnerable and almost defenseless compared to what she had been just a moment earlier. She had no weapons, didn't know where to find shelter, and had no idea where to look for allies.

Aira chose a direction at random. There was no benefit in second-guessing the choice. She couldn't even theorize whether the foliage and trees followed the same rules here as in her world. She wasn't a druid, after all. So, she pushed her way through the dense underbrush. Every branch and twig tried to scratch her skin as if even nature was against her.

Despite not being able to see her stats, she could feel that each puncture made by thorns and each clumsy movement affected her constitution and health much more than before. Even without those numbers, she knew the effects of her new condition were there.

The ground was damp and slippery; it had probably rained earlier in the day, making Aira's progression even slower, her stance more unsteady. Each step only emphasized the changes in her degraded abilities. All that was effortless before now felt like a struggle. Even her breaths came out labored and heavy.

She hoped to find signs of civilization but only saw gnarled trees, tangled vines, and overgrown foliage. It didn't look like anybody besides animals visited this part of the forest. The thought of wildlife reminded Aira of a good steak and made her stomach grumble a bit. Provisions were among the things she lost along with her warhammer during the transfer. With her analytical mind, she knew that if she wanted to survive, she had to find a way to replenish her provisions, and soon. Especially water.

But there was that one thing. When she carefully assessed her state, Aira realized that she didn't really want to eat. She knew it was past time to have a meal, especially after the intense fights of the morning and this hike. But she wasn't famished.

Trying to distract herself, Aira attempted to figure out how much her stats were reduced in this world. She was so used to having access to the numbers at any moment. But what was important, besides them, was some hard math. She knew her stats even without accessing any menus. So, she should be able to calculate the base level for her old race and some other things as well.

Previously, she was a human. What was she now? That was anyone's guess. But it wouldn't be a wild guess to say that it affected her capabilities.

Still, even without seeing the updated stats, she knew the situation was dire. She felt weaker, and she was getting tired much faster. This meant that her strength and endurance were affected at least a bit. But the worst was the situation with her agility. Just a few hours earlier, in the dungeon, she could move tenfold faster. Never before has she been this slow, even when ill or wounded.

Was she cursed to spend the rest of her life in that state?

Aira continued her slow walk through these desolate lands. After what seemed like an eternity, she stumbled upon a small clearing. In its center stood a crumbling stone monument covered with vines and moss.

"A mysterious stone monument?" thought Aira. "Again?!?"

She approached it cautiously. Without hesitation, Aira extended her hand to touch it. But before she felt the cold surface under her fingers, a jolt of fear passed through her, making Aira snatch her hand back. Just a few hours ago, her life was changed forever when she touched another mysterious stone object. Would it be a mistake to do that once again?

Her palm left a faint imprint on the damp moss. But there was no reaction from the remnant of a bygone era. No energy flowed through her touch. She was left with only a sense of emptiness.

Aira felt both relief and anger at the same time.

Briefly, she thought she felt something—an echo of her lost power. But after waiting a bit more for it to manifest, Aira realized that her mind was playing tricks on her. Her magic was gone. And at a moment of such a glorious achievement!

"Great, a complete dud," she thought, unsure if she was addressing herself or the monument before her. "And to top it off, it feels like I'm half-dead now."

Aira removed moss to uncover some of the letters hidden beneath. They were unlike anything she had ever seen before but didn't match the runes on the doorway and altar she saw in that damned dungeon. At least the mere existence of this object meant there had to be a civilization in this world. There were intelligent people here.

Hopefully, not too long ago.

***

She continued her slow and unsteady march until the moment the sun began its descent. Since finding this ancient monument, Aira felt as though she was walking through the territory of an old settlement, but it was abandoned so long ago that no buildings remained. And she could only guess where the old pavement had been years ago because trees were not as dense there. The forest spread around her in all directions with no end in sight. The branches of the trees cast long shadows across the ground and seemed to reach out to Aira as if to grasp her. The air grew colder, and she could feel the chill seeping through her clothes. She needed to find shelter and do that as soon as possible. Aira hugged herself, trying to return some warmth to her body, though it did little to comfort her.

"Fantastic," she thought. "Out of mana, out of skills, and now out of warmth. Could this day get any worse?"

Immersed in self-pity, she didn't even notice the building until she almost hit its wall with her head. It was a dilapidated cabin, barely visible through the dense underbrush. Its wooden walls warped and weathered with time, the roof sagging. But the state of the hovel didn't upset Aira. On the contrary, she allowed herself a glimmer of hope; tonight, she'll have at least some protection from the elements.

Aira made her way toward the cabin, her steps cautious. The door was left slightly ajar, but in her current state, it took almost all powers Aira had left to pry it open a bit more. She had to clear the way first, as undergrowth and branches were getting in the way. But then, unwillingly, the door submitted to her efforts.

Faint rays of light filtered through gaps in the walls, barely illuminating the interior. Even while she saw the desolate state of the cabin, Aira couldn't help but expect that cozy feeling she usually got upon entering a house. But here, the years erased even the smells of decay.

The floorboards creaked under Aira's steps, a constant reminder of the fragile state of the structure. The remaining furniture was scattered haphazardly around the room: a shattered chair, a wobbly table, and a narrow bed tucked away in one of the corners.

"Not exactly a welcoming sight, but it'll have to do for now," Aira thought, stepping inside and closing the door behind her. Exhaustion washed over her, only amplified by her new condition. It was as if shaking it off, even with a long rest, was impossible.

She took a step forward and then looked back at the door. "What a stupid action, to close the door, when not all of the walls are in place!" she thought.