In a whirlwind of green lines and rapidly growing red lights, I fell. I don’t know how far I fell or for how long, all I knew was I was falling into a new world. The idea popped into my mind like a sudden faucet leak. A drizzling thought had pooled in the base of my skull and rushed to fill my head. A new world was rising to meet me and I raced down to it. Then as quickly as it happened, the falling stopped. I had landed on a platform of white light. The green and red glow still swirled around me.


    A new sensation came to me. A feeling I had never had before. It was strange yet empowering at the same time. This one didn’t start in my head but at the tip of my toes. My toes! I could feel my body again. I looked down and what I expected to see was far from what was there. No longer did I have human feet, instead they were long, slender, and covered in thin brown fur. They suddenly twitched as an involuntary reflex came over me. I felt my new toes spread and wiggle as I moved them around. The strange feeling left my feet and began to race up my legs. It was as if a hot knife was carving up my body.


    Muscular mouse-like legs sprouted out from under me. They curved in a way that was impossible for human legs to turn. Thick brown fur shimmered in the shifting red and green lights. The soft hair laid flat against my thigh and despite the layers of hair now covering my skin, I could see strong sinew flexing underneath as I moved my legs.


    Something whipped around my waist causing me to flinch. I thought a snake had appeared from nowhere and tried to bite me. It wasn’t a snake, rather it was my tail. I had a tail! It curled around me in rippling motions as if suddenly scared. It flicked against me several times and I attempted to calm it down. I don’t know how I did it but once I focused on the tail, as if it was another leg, it came to rest on the glimmering floor. In a burst of curiosity I could only describe as muscle memory, I made it move.


    I couldn’t help but let out a fit of laughter. Now I knew this was a dream. No way any of this was real. It had to be or else I was having the crazy hallucination from eating some spoiled meat. That must be it! The beef I had for dinner. Who knows how long it was sitting in the freezer. I laughed again and something brushed my cheek. I reached up with my hand expecting a spider-web or loose hair. A paw touched my long nose as my newly gained whiskers twitched in surprise. I screamed. My voice was loud. Too loud. Having experienced eternal nothingness to being bombarded by the harshness of my yell took me out of my stupor. I went silent.


    It was all real. The fur, the legs, the swinging tail. It was all a part of me now. They were me. I had been transformed into some kind of animal. Some kind of mouse. A Brighteyes! It was the race I had chosen. A kind of human-mouse hybrid. I had seen something like it in one of those old sci-fi shows. Only it was a lizard combined with a rat, and by the end of the episode, it had turned into a monstrous creature. Was I being turned into a freak of nature? My large ears twitched and I knew I was no longer human. I thought about screaming again or using my strange new legs to run as fast as I could, but a voice spoke to me. It came in low. Like a distant melody echoing down the school hallway. Soon it took over my entire being and calmed me down. It was like an embrace of love and comfort. A familiar embrace.


    “Miles,” The voice called. “Miles is that you?”


    “Grandpa?” I asked. It sounded as if he were standing next to me but when I turned to look, I found myself alone. “Where are you?”


    “Miles… Miles why? How?” The voice of my grandfather asked.


    “I came looking for you. I… Well… Where are you? I don’t see you,” I said.


    “Miles you shouldn’t be here. This is wrong. You shouldn’t have come,” he said.


    “What is this place? Why can’t I see you?” I started to walk hoping he would appear from behind some dark shape or hidden wall.


    “Miles, you need to go back. Don’t come looking for me. I am fine. I am home.”


    “No, Grandpa. This… this… You need to come back with me. I don’t know what’s going on, but I will find you.” I started to run. I ran until my throat hurt and my heart pounded. Sweat dripped down my round ears and slipped off my whiskers. It was impossible to know how far I had traveled as my environment never changed. All I could see was the platform of energy below me and the swirls of Christmas-colored lights.


    “Miles… Miles…” My grandfather’s voice began to shrink off into the distance. Growing quieter with each step I took.


    “Where are you? Tell me how I can find you,” I yelled.


    “If… find… your… Briarfield,” His voice echoed.


    “What? I can’t hear you.”


    “Quest… get stronger…” His voice trailed grew softer until it finally went silent. I let out one final scream hoping wherever he was he understood no matter what, I would find him.


    The world shifted out from underneath me like a rug had been pulled out from beneath my feet. Everything turned in a flash and went dark. The green text appeared again but this time inside my mind rather than typed out before me.


    [World avatar creation complete]


    [Characteristics and Stats allocated]


    [Miles Forest Level 1 Brighteyes Grovewarden materialization initiating]


    [Materialization Process Completed]


    [Welcome to Phyrelia: MUD!]


    I will always remember the first sensation I had when I appeared under the rustling leaves of the Druid’s circle outside the town of Aurleaf. It was the light of the sun. Its gentle hand was upon my whiskers and its touch warmed my cold nose. The second thing I felt was the barrage of notifications appearing in my sight.


    [Feat Complete: First Steps]


    [Reward Received: Starter Loot Chest]


    [Feat Complete: The Druid Circle]


    [Reward Received: Common Loot Chest]


    [Feat Complete: Region Unlock - Briarfield]


    [Reward Received: Uncommon Loot Chest]


    “Hey… You awake? Hello, friend you still alive?” Another, harder hit, pushed against my side.


    “What?” The word stumbled from my lips. “Where… Who…”


    “Oh, look here. He’s still alive. Hold on. Hold on, friend. Take it slow. No need to be in a hurry and trust me. Hurries in my blood,” I felt a hand reach under my shoulder and lift me to my feet. “There you go. Slowly. Sit right here.”


    My vision started to come back, and the blackness of the old world started to shift into a blur of greens and blues. The notifications phased away and I found myself sitting on an old stone wall. I reached my hand out and felt its rough, stony surface. My head started to swirl, and I thought I was going to pass out. The stranger next to me was still talking. I didn’t know what he was saying but I knew for sure he was talking way too fast. It felt like I was trying to stave off a hangover. I had a headache; my eyes were unfocused, and I thought I was going to puke. I fell forward. Before I hit the ground, the stranger caught me.


    Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    “Careful friend. Woah easy. That’s it, sit down and take a moment to steady yourself,” The stranger said as they patted my back. I squeezed my eyes tight and let out a long breath. The haze of my mind began to fade and was replaced by the gentle singing of songbirds somewhere off in the distance. It was beautiful.


    “Thank you, I don’t know what happened. One minute I’m sitting at a computer, the next minute I’m…” my voice caught in my throat and I had to grind my teeth to keep from yelling. The largest rabbit I had ever seen was standing next to me only, it wasn’t exactly a rabbit. This thing was standing on its hind legs, its arms were folded over its chest, and it was wearing what I can only describe as the clothes of a traveling musician. He had on a green cloak threaded into the shape of layered leaves. On his back was a thick, wooden longbow that looked as if it had been carved directly from an oak tree. Its white bark was engraved with beautiful patterns which ribboned across its body. On his hip was a long quiver of arrows strapped to his leather tunic by a brown belt. Among all this, the strangest thing about him was how expressive his face was. It was entirely like that of a rabbit but with more freedom and expression. Right now, this long-toothed rabbit was giving me a look of concern.


    “You alright friend? Snapper got your tongue?” The rabbit chuckled to himself, his eyes flashed with joy then quickly dropped back to concern. “Okay, okay I can see you’re having a rough time right now. Let’s straighten some things out. First, do you know where you are?”


    “Umm,” I tried to recall what the green words had said to me. I was pretty sure I was in Briarfield, or at least I hoped so as I picked Brighteyes specifically for that reason. However, the system had told me another name. The name of a town. “I’m near Aur… uh Aurtree?”


    “You mean Aurleaf? If that’s what you’re saying then you’re dead on the mark. More so you’re in the Druid’s Circle on the outskirts of the region. Figured you to be a Druid and by the looks of you I’d say I’m right. Well?” The rabbit scrunched his small circular eyebrows and waited for me to respond.


    “A druid?” I asked as I rubbed my head.


    “Of course!” The rabbit exclaimed. “I mean you got the robes and the staff of one.” He pointed down on the ground a few feet away from me. Lying on a raised stone platform was a simple wooden stick. It looked to be about five and a half feet tall, and its frame was twisted slightly. “Wow, you really are messed up in the old nogging, huh? Let’s get you into town. They got healers there who can grow back an arm and a leg with the snap of their fingers. Well, not really but they’re pretty darn good. Let’s go, buddy.”


    The rabbit walked over picked up the stick and then handed it to me. “By the way, the name is Finn Ashburrow, Wayfinder extraordinaire. What’s your name?”


    “My name is… it’s Miles Forester,” I answered.


    “Nice to meet you Miles,” Finn gave me a wide smile. I returned it with my best effort. I took the staff from his paws and was greeted with a notification in the air.


    [Druid Level 1 Spells Acquired]


    Nature’s Grasp


    Verdant Mantle


    [Items Acquired]


    Twisted Staff


    Traveler’s Bag


    Wool Robe


    I stood and held the staff in my hands turning it back and forth. It was so strange to see my mouse hands so easily grasp the wooden staff. They were almost human. Looking down at the clothes I was wearing, I had on a simple brown robe with a hanging hood on the back. There were deep pockets on either side and a simple cloth strand around my waist. Over my shoulder, I had a leather bag. It was light which told me it was empty. As I inspected my items the green text faded away. I had a moment of anxiety as I wanted to learn more about the Spells the system said I had acquired. I looked up at the air hoping I could make them reappear.


    “You alright friend?” Finn asked.


    I realized I must have looked awkward staring up at the sky. “I’m trying to get the… you know the words to come back.”


    “You mean your Avatar Sheet?” Finn asked.


    “Uh… yes,” I said.


    “Wow, you must have hit your head hard or something. I don’t think I’ve ever met someone who doesn’t know how to use the system. What level are you?”


    “Level one.”


    Finn jumped in surprise. His eyes lit up and I could tell he was trying to stifle a laugh. “You’re joking, right? There’s no way you can be level one. Here let me inspect you,” Finn stared at me intently for a second before his eyes went wide. “You really are level one. How’s that possible? What have you been doing the last three years, hiding under a rock?”


    “Three… I haven’t been here for three years. I just got here, like two minutes ago,” I said. My answer must have been the last thing Finn expected to hear. His hair stood on end, his tall ears pointed straight up, and he chatted his teeth a few times.


    “You’re saying you only just got here?” Finn asked.


    “Yeah. Why… is that weird?”


    “Do you remember your life before this?”


    What a weird question.


    “Yeah, of course. Do you… Do you not remember? I mean you are from the real world, right?” Finn didn’t answer me. He started to thump his foot on the ground while sucking his lower lip with his long teeth.


    “Everyone I know has lived in Phyrelia for almost three years now and no one remembers their old life. Can I ask you a question?” Finn hopped a step forward. He stood a whole head taller than me and was looking at me with eager eyes. I nodded. “Is Miles Forester your real name?”


    “Yes, why?” I asked.


    Finn jumped back in excitement and began to bound around the ancient stonework spread out around me. We were standing in a large circular pattern of stone statues. Many of them resembled various animals such as bears, deer, birds, and other beasts I couldn’t put a name to as their surfaces were worn down and crumbling. To my left near the far end of the circle was a tall archway made of rocks. Each rock had an image carved upon its face. Images of different beasts and animals, the same as the statues surrounding us. However, the images looked to have charring around their edges as if some fire had spread through the linework.


    Finn finally came to a halt in front of me almost knocking me back. “I can’t believe this. This is incredible!”


    “What do you mean?” I asked.


    “Finn isn’t my real name. The thing is I don’t remember my real name. No one does. No one remembers anything about the old world,” Finn’s words ran over each other as he couldn’t hold back his excitement.


    “Hold on,” I put my hands up. “I have a question now. Are you saying you’ve lived here for three years?”


    “Yep,” Finn said.


    “Are you sure?”


    “Yes, I’m sure. There is a celebration fair happening in Aurleaf in two days to commemorate the first avatar created in Phyrelia. There will be food, games, and a special quest with a unique item to obtain for those who complete it. That’s why I’m heading there now. You should come with me. There’s someone you should meet. They’ll be very interested in getting to know you.”


    Finn pointed off towards a path leading off from my right. The path cut through a small patch of oak trees and to wide fields of flowing golden grass and tall corn stalks. “Let’s hurry friend, it’s still a long way to Aurleaf. If we hurry and leave now, we can get there before the sun reaches its peak tomorrow. Do you like camping? We’ll be doing some deep forest camping tonight. Don’t look worried. You may be level one but I’m nearing level twenty. I’ll keep you safe.”


    Without another word, Finn bounced down from the raised stone flooring and onto the dirt path leading away from the rock archway. I took a few steps after the leaping rabbit before I stopped and looked back at the burnt symbols on the rocks. As I stared at the animal carvings a swift wind picked up and shuffled the treetops. Leaves began to fall, and the trees groaned. It was as if the earth itself was calling me to adventure. Not so much in words but in a rush of confidence and encouragement. Even though I was in a foreign place with a talking rabbit bounding around with a bow strapped on their back, I didn’t feel alone.


    I held the staff firm in my right hand and held the bag strap with my left. I rand to catch up to Finn. I called for him to slow down which he apologized stating he always gets ahead of himself. We both fell into a walking rhythm but his steps were too wide and it forced me to skip every other step to keep up. Finn continued to ramble on about things I didn’t understand or even cared to know about. My thoughts were far away thinking about my grandfather and the last words he told me. “Get stronger.” Was it a warning or a suggestion? Did I have to gain more strength and power to find and save him? Finn himself was almost level twenty, and he had been living here for three years. How long would it take me to grow stronger? I had so many questions buzzing around my skull. I needed answers now.


    I spoke up, cutting through Finn’s constant rambling. “Let me ask you something.”


    “Sure, what do you want to know?” Finn asked.


    “How does someone level up? You know, grow stronger?” I asked. Finn gave me an amused smile while also shaking his head in disbelief.


    “Well there are a few ways to level up. You can complete quests and feats. You can fight mobs. Even exploring can give you the experience pointsyou need.” As Finn talked he pull out an arrow and twisted it in his hands.


    “Experience points?” I asked.


    “No way! There’s no way you don’t know about experience points. Okay… pay attention. When you complete quests or defeat an enemy you are granted experience points and sometimes loot chests. Gain enough experience points and you level up. The higher the level the stronger you are.” He ended his sentence by reaching back, pulling out the bow, and firing an arrow at a nearby tree. The arrow stuck deep in the center of the trunk.


    “Got it… and what are loot chests? I received a few after I woke up.”


    “Oh, they are rad! You can open them for items like gold, potions, and food. However, the higher-tier loot chests can contain some incredible weapons and armor. In fact, they are giving away loot chests at the First Avatar festival in Aurleaf. One of the reasons why I’m going.” Finn jumped off the path and ran up to the tree with his arrow. He bounded ten feet into the air and snatched it from the bark. He landed with a soft thump. He twirled the arrow in his hand then slotted it back in his quiver. With a final flair of his hands, he jumped back onto the path.


    “Who is the First Avatar?” I asked as we continued.


    “He was the first person to ever wake up in Phyrelia. Ten years before anyone else. He’s a legend and the most powerful player. The Great Cornelius!”


    “Did you say, Cornelius?”