This strange, window like thing, had appeared in front of my eyes, and it felt odd, like it’s a part of me but still an other. There wasn’t much I could tell about it aside from the fact that it knew my name and was apparently a “system.” The word itself felt alien to me, like something from beyond the reach of the stars, yet it was staring me in my eyes. Yet as I look at it that energy that settled within where my mana is stored seems to pulse in recognition. I don’t know how to feel about all of it, but as I focus on it I can feel the potential within that nugget of power. With a little nudging from it I reach my hand towards the window, expecting it to pass through the nothingness, but instead I feel a solid glass.

  System booting

  ….

  ….

  Welcome User Ava

  Generating Statistics

  Name: Ava

  Race: Elf

  Level: 20

  Energy: Mana

  Error, secondary energy detected

  Secondary Energy: [Aether]

  Class: Mage

  Affinities: Ice, Earth, [FATE]

  Skills:

  Conjure Ice: (Class)

  Manipulate Earth: (Class)

  Identification: (Intrinsic)

  Alert new skill gained due

  to absorption of [Aether]

  From an [Aether Font]

  I blink slowly as I look at the information as it reads through my abilities. Two things catch my eye in this matter, first is that it has identified...something about my other sense that I wish it didn’t. Secondly is that it said I gained an extra skill from getting….[Aether]

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

  I blink a few times, the word felt weird in my mind, like some kind of foreign word was forced through my lips. I follow through with trying the other word, thinking [FATE] it feels similar, if not even stranger, like whatever was forcing the other word could barely comprehend this one itself. I don’t really know anything to compare it to, it’s such a strange feeling and I can feel it starting to cause me a bit of panic. Turning my head away from the whole mess on that window I turn to the elemental, it...he, seems just as confused as I am. The fact I can tell his emotions or that he is a he is another oddity that has found its way into my head. Let alone being able to understand him, though he has yet to talk again after realizing that, seemingly in his own mess of panic and or contemplation.

  Looking from him to the core, I take stock of what I see, and what I see is that it...he, odd, is dormant. How I know that is hard to comprehend but I am starting to feel out a mild connection between myself and the dungeon. Maybe because of the [Aether] or the fact that the dungeon might be this [Aether Font]? They are questions I can’t really get answered right now as the dungeon is non responsive as of right now. It frankly feels like a bit too much for me, and I turn to just start leaving, the elemental doesn’t seem too happy to let me leave. Despite that I leave the room non the less, to see my friends just about to rush back in, though they stop and relax as I do leave. Just in time for everything to catch up to me all at once, and I collapse into one of them as everything goes dark.

  “so how are you enjoying the book?” She looked at me, excitedly anticipating my response.

  “It’s not bad, but honestly I’m not sure if I can finish it” no point in lying to her, she would know anyway.

  “Oh come on ╛╩┬? the ending is the best part” She sounded annoyed but the smile on her face told me everything.

  “Okay Okay” I giggle a little at the small fake pout she has on, “I’ll keep going” That gets a genuinly massive smile on her face as I turn back to the book. It’s a nice story, but I can’t help but feel a bit put off by it. Maybe it is being told to read it, maybe it’s the promiss of something good I cannot see, but I trust her. She knows what I like and I can tell she is excited for me to continue so I have no reason not to, she has yet to steer me wrong.

  I blink and now we are moving along a dirt road, moving quietly through what appears to be a forest, though I can smell old smoke. I...can’t remember why we are here but I can tell I have been leaning against her for awhile. It’s helpful because I can barely keep my feet under me right now and I’m afraid if I move too quickly without her support I will topple over. She is laughing about something and I realize that I’m smiling like a madman with her. The smell of old smoke is slowly replaced by the more potent smell of alchahol on my breath, I must have been drinking. That explains why my legs aren’t cooperating.

  We are back at the fire pit, all of us talking around it, 5 or so of us still here, a small group of friends who have found ourselves enjoying the company. I lost track of the conversation awhile ago as I stare idely into the fire, it’s fine, these lot can carry the conversation for now. There was too much to think about anyway, and too much bear in my system to care.

  “╛╩┬?”

  My eyes look up to her, she is smiling as she speaks to me.

  “you alright A╩e??”

  “yeah” I nod slightly “just in my own head”

  “yeah, that sounds like you” She smiles “well Better not stay in there too long, or you will get stuck in it, won’t you Alex?”