《Left Verisimilitude》


 Awakening in Ashes

    The first rays of dawn seeped through grime-caked windows, painting streaks of pale gold across a room that reeked of decay. I stirred, my limbs heavy, as if weighted by chains of lead. The air clung to my skin¡ªstale, thick with the sour tang of alcohol and sweat. My eyes blinked open, adjusting to the dim light, and the world sharpened into a tableau of chaos.


    An unfamiliar woman lay beside me, her face half-buried in a threadbare blanket, her dyed crimson hair fanned across a stained pillow. Scattered around us were crumpled tissues, empty bottles, and the detritus of a night lost to oblivion. Against the far wall, a mountain of trash festered: moldering pizza boxes, crushed cans, and a swarm of fruit flies dancing above it all. But none of this stirred me¡ªnot the filth, not the stranger, not even the throbbing ache behind my temples.


    Who am I?


    The question slithered into my mind, cold and clinical. My gaze drifted to a cracked mirror propped against the wall. Reflected there was a stranger¡ªa boy, soft and doughy, with a pallid face framed by greasy hair. His eyes, a dull hazel, stared back, empty as a doll''s.


    "A waste of space," I muttered, the words tasting foreign. Disappointment flickered, brief and distant, before dissolving into apathy.


    The woman shifted, her voice slurred with sleep. "What evenareyou? An animal?"


    I turned, studying her. No memories surfaced¡ªno lust, no regret. Only hollow curiosity.


    The stench of rot finally pricked my senses. I stumbled to the window, wrenching it open. Cold air rushed in, carrying the metallic bite of rain. But it was theviewthat froze me.


    Beyond the glass sprawled a surreal panorama: a gargantuan tree, its branches clawing at the clouds; a creature with iridescent scales and leathern wings soaring past, ridden by a man in armor; figures with gossamer wings flitting between neon-lit balconies.


    "D''you live under a rock?" The woman''s sneer cut through my awe. She gestured to a flickering screen across the alley¡ªa TV in a neighboring apartment. On it played a film: knights, elves, a dragon rider battling shadowy beasts. "Fantasy crap. No wonder everyone avoids you."


    Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    Dragon. Elf. Fairy.The words ignited something in my chest¡ªa longing sharp as a blade.


    "How do I ride one?" I whispered.


    She snorted. "Hopeless." Dressing hastily, she slammed the door, leaving me alone with the TV''s glow.


    I leaned closer, transfixed. The film''s hero¡ªa vengeful orphan¡ªclashed with a demonic general astride a dragon. The camera zoomed in on the villain: slit-pupiled eyes, serrated teeth, a smile that dripped malice.


    "Predictable garbage," a voice grumbled. A grizzled man smoking on a fire escape spat at the screen. "Hero''ll win ''causeplot armor. Waste of time."


    As if summoned, the dragon rider turned, his gaze locking with mine through the screen. His grin widened,knowing. Then¡ªstatic. The TV went black.


    The word "rent" meant nothing to me, but the landlord''s snarling tone carved its meaning clear:debt. My gaze flicked to the putrid trash mound. It was the only offense here worthy of such fury.


    "I moved it outside," I said. "You can collect it now."


    His jaw slackened. For a moment, he vanished into the alley''s gloom¡ªonly to reappear at my door seconds later, boots pounding like judge''s gavels. "Where?"


    I pointed to the reeking heap.


    His face purpled. Fists knotted my shirt, yanking me into the hall''s flickering fluorescence. "Think you''re clever, youmotherf*****g leech?" The first punch cratered my gut, the second snapped my head sideways. I staggered, my body a sluggish puppet, too numb to flinch properly. He was a storm of muscle and rage¡ªa predator to my lumbering prey.


    "Fat pig!" he roared, knee driving into my ribs. "Worthless bastard!"


    I cataloged each insult like a linguist dissecting dead tongues.Pig. Leech. Loser.Curious, how these syllables could twist a man''s face so.


    When he finally stilled, sweat-drenched and heaving, his eyes narrowed. "Why ain''t you cryin''? Beggin''?"


    I wiped blood from my split lip, studying the crimson streak. "Should I?"


    "I''ll pay," I rasped. This came out in survival instinct even I didn''t knew what I said and what I have to do to survive.


    "1,000Rs . By tomorrow¡­ or you''re cooked."


    He left, his threat hanging like a stormcloud. I touched my split lip, mesmerized by the copper smear on my fingers. Outside, the TV flickered back to life. The dragon rider soared again, his laughter echoing in my bones.


    I belong there, I realized.Not here.


    But first¡ªsurvive.


    The room stank of blood and mildew. I hauled the trash bags into the alley, their contents sloshing. Neon signs buzzed overhead, casting the brick walls in garish hues. Somewhere, the film''s soundtrack swelled: trumpets, thunder, the dragon''s roar.


    I smiled.


    Then again the general''s head moved to my direction and laughed and road the dragon towards me and jumped out.

 Chapter 2: Return of the General

    Who would have thought that the menacing landlord would be such a crybaby? The moment the general moved and came dangerously close, the dragon opened its mouth and roared, almost touching the black surface again.


    But then¡ª


    The man grabbed the magical stick and closed the wonderful view of the TV.


    "Wasn''t expecting a jumpscare in the movie," he said casually.


    I laughed hard, but immediately stopped. The sharp pain from my injury reminded me that moving too much wasn''t a great idea.


    Suddenly, a small piece of stone lit up and started producing noise. I stared at it, analyzing this curious object. Was this another magical device? The lit-up area read the word MoM and displayed two circles¡ªone red and one green¡ªwith a figure jumping up and down between them.


    Then, just as quickly, it went black. Missed Call, it read.


    What a fascinating world I''m in¡ªwhere magic seems to exist but doesn''t.


    The stone lit up again. This time, instinct took over, and I tapped the green circle as if my body knew what to do.


    A woman''s voice erupted from the stone. "Hello, you piece of shit! For the past few days, I''ve been trying to call you, but you''re always off in your own world. Where even are you? Last time, you said you were in a dungeon, and before that, at the world tree top! What the hell is wrong with you, Elowen?"


    Elowen.


    So that''s my name. Elowen.


    What a fascinating name. Was I like a young sapling that withered too soon?


    The realization took some time to sink in. Silence stretched between us until the woman, apparently named MoM, shouted again.


    "Speak something, dear!"


    Dear. So, this person must be close to me. But wait¡ªwhere was this knowledge coming from? And did it really matter?


    "I¡­ my thoughts aren''t clear right now. My memory isn''t serving me right. I can''t answer you at the moment, but I will when I''m a bit more stable."


    No response came. The stone returned to its black state.


    There was a small bump on the side of the stone. My hand moved on its own, urging me to touch it. I let my body take control.


    This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Suddenly, another wonderful view appeared¡ªthis one different from the TV''s, yet strangely familiar. Creatures soared through the sky, men in armor clashed swords, and valleys stretched with lush greenery.


    Words flashed at the bottom: Swipe to Unlock.


    I followed the instruction.


    A rush of multicolored square boxes with different drawings appeared. Another world¡ªyet again but behind the many boxes . But one box caught my eye: a dragon breathing flames.


    I touched it.


    The light dimmed, and the text shifted from vertical to horizontal. I adjusted my view.


    Play.


    I touched the word.


    Loading¡­


    Then: Connect with friends.


    Without thinking, I touched it again.


    Finally, the background shifted to another marvelous scene¡ªfour people standing together, each dressed in different clothes and wielding unique weapons.


    "Yo! Long time no see, dumbass Elowen!" one of them said.


    "For real! You disappeared for a while. What''ve you been up to, bastard?"


    Bastard.


    That word. I''d heard it before¡ªthe landlord had called me that.


    Curiosity got the better of me. "What is the meaning of bastard?"


    Laughter erupted.


    "Haha! Bastard means you! The apostle of it!"


    "So, what do I have to do to change myself?" I asked earnestly. Given how the landlord treated me, the word must mean someone poor, dirty, or unhygienic.


    "Wait, what did you do last night?" one of them asked.


    "I was with this woman with red hair. She left in the morning."


    "Damn!"


    "Who let him cook?"


    "No way. For real? Stop lying!"


    "There''s a limit to lying!"


    "Anyway, leave the loser. Let''s start the quest for the Demon General."


    "I heard it''s a new update. We might be the first to experience it. How about we post it on YouTube with an awesome reaction?"


    "Whatever. Let''s go."


    The circle and buttons on the stone moved up and down, just like the call screen from before.


    As I moved, the character inside the stone mirrored me, following behind the others. Then came creatures like those from the TV which were highlited with words as Orc Lv11, Goblin Lv7 over there head and many other reature . The three others attacked swiftly with their weapons.


    One yelled, "Loser! At least try doing something! Attack or something!"


    I moved toward the person named Roland Lv13 over his head to understand.


    I looked at the Attack button. I clicked it. The character readied a bow, stretched it, and¡ª


    "Wait, no! Not me, you dumb¡ª"


    The arrow pierced his arm. He screamed curses eerily similar to the landlord''s.


    "Oh hell no! The boss is coming¡ªtoo soon!"


    "Get ready! Roland, heal up! Leave the loser here. Move to a safe spot while we take on the boss!"


    From behind a mountain, a dragon emerged, flying toward us with a man on its back.


    Wait. I''ve seen this before¡­


    The man smiling on the dragon¡ªit was the same one from the TV!


    The dragon roared and flew straight at the four of us


    I again said "Wait. I''ve seen this before"


    "Now what the hell is this b***h up to with his nonsense?" Roland groaned.


    The trio attacked, but the dragon didn''t flinch. It landed, crushing the first two under its claws. Then Flames engulfed Roland who was little far.


    The dragon walked slowly toward me.


    My senses screamed at me to run. But how? My character didn''t know how to sprint like the others. I could only walk backward.


    A harsh voice echoed:


    "Where are you going, little slave? Last time, I missed you by a fluke. You were standing at a window."


    It''s him.


    The Demon General. The same one from the TV. But how? The crimson-haired woman said these were fictional characters.


    The dragon lifted its paw, looming above me. My finger hovered over the Attack button. Before I could press it¡ª


    Its sharp claws gripped my shirt.


    It lifted me into the air.


    And then¡ª