Rain scourged the earth with the fury of a scorned god, each droplet a needle that drove Ellis onward. He lurched through the muck, his boots slurping against mud. The forest path coiled beneath oakspire sentinels—the living towers he'd coded to thrum with terrestrial power. They were a species he had designed to serve as biological markers of earth energy concentrations. Their massive trunks twisted upward, branches reaching toward the sky in spirals that mimicked the flow of essence through the world's magical lattice.
He had been walking for nearly an hour, following the marker on his map. Every labored step of his reinforced the impossible truth of his situation: the burn in his quadriceps, the grit beneath fingernails clawed bloody from a fall he couldn't remember taking, the breathless fatigue. And, more than that, no simulation rendered decay this rich: the loam stinging with iron, the petrichor sharp in your nose.
He collapsed against a log feathered with corpse-pale fungi, his breath sawing through lungs that remembered air conditioning. The chill came swift—a blade between the ribs—as cerulean skies curdled to bruised purple. Then, stormfronts devoured the horizon.
"If this is Veldoria as I designed it," he reasoned aloud, "then I'm currently in the northeastern section of Terravale. That settlement should be Crossroads, an outpost town that serves as a waypoint between the central plains and the Adamant Mountains."
A notification appeared, confirming his analysis:
[World Knowledge verified. +5 Experience Points]
"Interesting," Ellis murmured. He hadn't programmed an experience reward system for simple cognitive tasks, but it made sense within the context of a world that recognized and rewarded meaningful actions.
The rain relented to mist as he marched, cataloging enhancements to his design. Every plant, rock, and terrain feature matched his original specifications, but with additional complexity he'd never consciously created—the fern fronds flooding the ground, the quartz deposits peeking from the dirt. His blueprint... but more. As if Veldoria had consumed his sketchbook and birthed a renaissance.
The trees thinned, then bled to scrubland, then to meadows. To the east, chimney smoke scribbled against the blue canvas. It was the first sign of civilization since his arrival.
As he approached the edge of the settlement, another notification appeared:
[Location Discovered: Crossroads]
Primary Activities: Agriculture, Forestry, Basic Crafting, Trade
Notable Features: Adventurer's Guild Outpost, Wayfarer's Rest Inn>
Ellis froze. There—the circle of timber-and-fieldstone hovels he'd storyboarded, now reeking of woodsmoke and fresh manure. Peasants shuffled through mud wearing his designs—earth-toned tunics stitched with clan sigils that moved when unobserved.
A young woman carrying a basket of herbs noticed him and smiled. "Well met, traveler. New to these parts?"
"Yes," Ellis replied cautiously. "Just arrived, actually."
Her name floated above her head: [Lysra Thornell - Herbalist - Level 11]
She nodded, unsurprised. "Thought as much. Don't get many strangers here except those headed to or from the Adamant Range. If you're looking for lodging, the Wayfarer's Rest has fair prices and clean beds."
"Thank you," Ellis said, surprised by the naturalness of the interaction. "I'll head there now."
Lysra nodded and continued on her way, her skirts swishing against the muddy path.
Ellis found the inn's sign creaking—a bed and staff bleeding rain-rust. But for the most part it looked decent: a two-story structure with a slate roof and a well-maintained exterior. Inside, the common room was sparsely populated at this hour, with only a few patrons scattered among the wooden tables.
Behind the counter stood a burly man with a neatly trimmed beard. His name appeared as [Torven Blackoak - Innkeeper - Level 17].
"Welcome to the Wayfarer's Rest," the innkeeper greeted as Ellis approached. "What can I do for you?"
"I need a room," Ellis replied, reaching for the pouch of coins he had discovered earlier. "How much for one night?"
"Two copper for a shared room, five for private," Torven answered, eyeing Ellis with professional assessment. "Includes evening meal and morning bread. Bath's extra—one copper."
Ellis counted six copper coins in his pouch. "Private room and bath, please."
The innkeeper nodded, accepting the coins. "Done. Room's upstairs, third door on the right. Bath's ready whenever you want it—just tell Marla." He gestured toward a middle-aged woman arranging clean mugs on a shelf.
"Thank you," Ellis said. "Is there somewhere I can get information about recent happenings in the area? I'm... not from around here."
Torven chuckled. "I know. Guild office across the square posts notices about work and dangers. For gossip and news, you're already in the right place. Evening crowd'll be in after the fields close—merchants, travelers, few guild members usually."
Ellis nodded. "I'll be back down then. Thanks."
The room was simple but clean—a single bed with a straw mattress covered in linen sheets, a small table with a basin, and a narrow window overlooking the village square. Ellis sat on the bed, finally allowing himself a moment to process everything.
"I created this world," he whispered, still unable to fully comprehend his situation. "Every person, every building, every system—they all came from my design. But they've grown beyond that, developed histories and personalities I never explicitly programmed."
He opened his status window again, studying it for clues:
Level: 1 (Experience: 5/100)
Class: Unassigned
Cultivation: Uninitiated
Primary Attributes:
Strength: 10
Agility: 12
Endurance: 9
Perception: 14
Intelligence: 17
Willpower: 15
Elemental Affinities:
Earth: 10%
Fire: 8%
Water: 12%
Air: 15%
Aether: 35%
Skills:
[Advanced Programming] - Level MAX
[System Analysis] - Level MAX
[World Creation] - Level UNIQUE
[Physical Conditioning] - Level 3
[Survival Knowledge] - Level 2
Available Skill Points: 0
Quests:
[The Way Home] - In Progress
- Reach the nearest settlement and gather information. (Completed)
- Learn about the local political situation and any recent unusual events.>
The updated quest objective confirmed his next steps. Ellis would need to gather information first, then determine his best course of action based on what he learned.
He availed himself of the bath—a luxury he hadn't expected but greatly appreciated after his forest trek. The steaming water was infused with herbs that soothed his muscles and left him feeling refreshed. By the time he returned to the common room, the evening crowd had begun to arrive.
Ellis ordered a simple meal of stew and bread, taking a seat in a corner that allowed him to observe the room while remaining relatively inconspicuous. As he ate, he listened to the conversations around him, gleaning bits of information about local concerns and regional news.
Much of it was mundane—discussions of crops, weather patterns, and local romances. But gradually more interesting topics emerged.
"...third caravan this month delayed at the Fissure crossing," one merchant was saying to his companions. "Something's disrupting the anchor points. Guild's increased the escort fees again."
At another table, a woman in leather armor bearing the insignia of the Adventurer's Guild was speaking with two companions. "Patrol reported unusual essence fluctuations in the eastern woods. Could be nothing, but headquarters in Ironheart wants it investigated."
The most intriguing conversation came from a scholarly-looking man in blue robes seated alone near the fire. He was making notes in a journal while muttering to himself. Ellis's enhanced perception attribute allowed him to catch fragments: "...unprecedented activity in the Aether currents... convergence patterns similar to pre-Sundering records... theoretical models suggest a breach event..."
Ellis finished his meal and approached the scholar's table. "Excuse me," he said. "I couldn't help overhearing. Are you researching Aether currents?"
The man looked up, surprised. His name tag read [Merek Windstride - Arcane Researcher - Level 25].
"Indeed I am," Merek replied, curiosity evident in his expression. "Though it's rare to find someone in these parts who recognizes the terminology. Are you a fellow researcher?"
"Of sorts," Ellis answered carefully. "I'm interested in unusual phenomena, particularly those related to the Fissure regions and interdimensional travel."
Merek's eyes widened slightly. "An esoteric field. Please, join me." He gestured to the empty chair across from him. "I'm Merek Windstride, assigned to the Zephyrian Academy's Boundary Studies division."
"Ellis Brown," he replied, taking the offered seat. "I'm... new to the region."
"Clearly," Merek said with a small smile. "Your accent suggests no regional origin I can place. But more interestingly..." He tilted his head, studying Ellis with newfound intensity. "Your Aether signature is most unusual. Untrained, yet exceptionally strong."
Ellis tensed. "You can see that?"
"Level 25 Perception skill and specialized training," Merek explained. "Most wouldn't notice. But since you've expressed interest in my research—and possess a relevant affinity—perhaps we might help each other."
"What exactly are you researching?"
Merek glanced around before leaning forward and lowering his voice. "Three weeks ago, monitoring stations across all five domains registered a massive surge in Aether activity. The pattern was consistent with theoretical models of cross-dimensional energy transfer—something that hasn't been observed since the Sundering itself."
Ellis calculated quickly. The timing aligned perfectly with his final system compilation and neural interface test.
"Since then," Merek continued, "I've been tracking residual energy signatures, trying to pinpoint the epicenter. My calculations led me here, to the forests northeast of Crossroads." He looked at Ellis with sudden insight. "Which, I believe, may be where you came from today?"
"What makes you say that?" Ellis asked cautiously.
"Village this size, stranger appears the same day I arrive to investigate an anomaly? Not a difficult connection to make." Merek studied him intently. "But there's more. Your aura doesn't match any cultivation pattern I've seen, and I've studied practitioners from all five domains."
Ellis decided to take a calculated risk. "If I told you I'm not from this world at all, would that match your data?"
Merek's expression shifted from curiosity to excitement. "A trans-dimensional traveler? That would explain..." He trailed off, making rapid calculations in his journal. "Yes, the energy patterns make perfect sense if interpreted as an entry point rather than a natural fluctuation."
"I need to find a way back," Ellis said plainly. "And I think you might be able to help me."
The researcher nodded slowly. "Perhaps. But such matters are complex, and frankly, beyond my individual capabilities." He considered for a moment. "I'm scheduled to return to Zephyria in three days. The Academy has resources that could prove useful in understanding your situation—and possibly finding a solution."
A notification appeared in Ellis's vision:
Reward: Increased knowledge of interdimensional phenomena, potential path home.>
"I'll accompany you," Ellis decided. "But first, I'd like to learn more about what's happening in the region. Any unusual events besides the energy surge you mentioned?"
"Indeed." Merek's expression grew serious. "The Fissure regions have become increasingly unstable. Established crossing points are failing, and there are reports of Fissure-touched creatures appearing where they shouldn't be. Some scholars believe these disruptions are connected to the Aether surge—that something fundamental has shifted in Veldoria's planar structure."
Ellis nodded, pieces falling into place. His arrival had clearly caused ripple effects throughout the world's magical systems. The question was whether those effects could be reversed—and what would happen to this seemingly living world if they were.
"We'll leave for Zephyria in three days, then," he confirmed. "Until then, I'd appreciate any guidance you can offer about immediate concerns—like how to begin cultivation or acquire basic equipment."
Merek smiled, his eyes alight with scholarly enthusiasm. "I believe we can arrange that. Meet me at the guild office tomorrow morning. Your journey has just begun, Ellis Brown, and it promises to be fascinating."