Someone Point of View

  Whoo, I finally managed to escape from that beast... is that a dragon, of all things.

  Is this some kind of dream? It must be... or am I truly somewhere else now?

  I pause, taking a long, steady breath, feeling the unfamiliar terrain beneath my feet. I glance behind me cautiously, making sure that giant, fire-breathing creature isn't still following. My heart is still racing, but not as wildly as before. I haven't felt a rush like that in ages—not since I was much, much younger. Yet here I am, running like I'm still in my prime.

  How is any of this possible? This is actually no sense.

  The world around me is lush and vibrant, like a scene from a painting—one I'd only ever dreamed of seeing in my lifetime. Colors so vivid they practically hum, trees swaying with an energy that feels almost alive. But something about it all feels off, like I'm not entirely part of it.

  Could this be the creator's doing? Some sort of post-life trial? Or... a gift? For what, though?

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  And then there's this... glowing blue light floating in front of me. It's hovering just above my head, almost like a notification or a prompt.

  Something I am not familiar with.

  Mission Failed! Penalty has been applied. Please say 'Status Check' for more information

  Penalty? What have I done to deserve that? And what is this... thing, anyway?

  I try to wave it away gently, as if it were a pesky fly, but it stays right where it is, flickering slightly.

  Odd. My hand feels different—smooth, unmarked by the passage of time. It's not the hand I remember, not the one that's aged and withered through the years of life I lived.

  I pause, staring down at it. My fingers are soft, youthful, with no signs of wear or age. How long has it been since I saw my hands like this? I can hardly remember.

  I touch my face cautiously. It feels... different too. Fuller, smoother. And then I catch sight of a lock of hair falling past my shoulder—bright yellow. "Yellow?!"When was the last time my hair had this kind of color? Not since I was a girl or even in my life.

  This has to be a dream. But the sensations... the air feels too crisp, the earth beneath my feet too solid. I reach up, brushing the strange golden strands behind my ear, trying to make sense of it all.

  "But seriously, what is this blue light?" It reminds me of something... Ah, yes. One of the children at the orphanage had a game on their phone, with little floating icons like this. A strange thought hits me—"am I in some kind of game?"

  I sigh softly. I've lived long enough to know that the universe has a strange way of twisting fate. Maybe this is another twist I'm meant to face.

  I decide to follow the prompt. Status Check,it had said.

  "Status check," I say, feeling somewhat foolish but going along with it.

  The blue light flickers and shifts, transforming into a floating screen filled with text, much like a menu in those video games I've seen that my children's plays in their phones.

  Points: ∞

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

  Strength: 10

  Agility: 15

  Stamina: 99

  Luck: -10

  Intelligence: 25

  Charisma: 5

  Mana: 100

  "Luck: negative ten?"I stare at the number in disbelief.

  Negative ten? What on earth could that mean? No wonder everything feels so uncertain. But negative ten... "Could that explain why that lizard thing was chasing me earlier?'

  I huff out a soft laugh. Life or death, it seems my luck hasn't improved. Some things never change. I suppose I've always had to make do with what I had, bad luck and all.

  Well I might as well just live with it.

  I pinch myself gently, feeling the sharp sting.

  "Ouch."

  Well, that rules out the possibility of this being just a dream.

  I glance back at the screen. There's more here. This information... it's all about me, isn't it? Or at least, this version of me. And then there's the name section—Name: Unknown. It feels unsettling, seeing myself labeled like that, as if I've somehow lost my identity along the way. But no matter what's changed about me physically, I know who I am.

  There's a blinking message underneath: "Please click and state your name."

  "Click?"

  How can I click on something that isn't even real?

  Hesitantly, I reach out, expecting my hand to pass through the light. Instead, my finger touches something solid—like glass. My brows knit in surprise as I press gently, a soft chime ringing in the air.

  Please enter your name:

  I thought it said state? Why am I going to enter it?

  The words flicker in front of me, and suddenly I feel... quiet. My name. My real name. It feels like such a distant memory now, even though I've lived with it for so long. I've carried it through decades of life, through every challenge, every joy, and every loss.

  That name is the last connection to the woman I used to be—the woman who lived in the quiet corners of life, who found joy in small things, even if she never found great adventure or glory.

  Should I leave that name behind? Should I start anew in this strange world?

  For a moment, I consider it. But no...

  "No".

  The person I was—my old life, my past—it deserves to be remembered. This might be a new beginning, but I'm still

  "me".

  With a deep breath, I press the invisible keys, typing out each letter with care. There's a weight to it, like I'm grounding myself in this strange new reality, refusing to let go of the life I led, the woman I was.

  "Lara Santos, your name has been confirmed."

  The soft blue light confirmed my name, and I couldn't help but marvel at the surreal situation unfolding around me.

  Wow, this is really amazing, isn't it? It felt like I'd been dropped straight into a video game, like the ones I used to see the kids at the orphanage glued to. I had always thought their obsession was a bit silly, but now... I understood. There was something mesmerizing about this strange new world.

  Also this blue thing is surreal.

  I smiled faintly. Oh, I miss them already.

  But then the thought hit me.

  Where am I, really?

  I glanced around, taking in the vast, breathtaking scenery. The sky stretched endlessly above me, clear and blue, while the air was so fresh it almost made my chest ache. Flowers swayed gently in the breeze, and the rolling hills in the distance seemed to go on forever.

  I've never seen a place like this before. It was far too beautiful to be real, but everything felt so vivid. So alive. I closed my eyes and breathed deeply, feeling the coolness of the air. It was nothing like the stagnant city air I had grown used to in my previous life.

  Then it all rushed back to me—the memory of dying, that faceless figure offering me another life, and then waking up here, being chased by a dragon of all things.

  Right. The faceless one said something about this life...

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  I glanced back at the blue light. My age: 20 years old.

  I let out a soft laugh, incredulous. This body is way too young. I hadn't been 20 in decades! It felt strange, like a distant memory, to be this spry again, full of energy and vitality. I raised my hands and ran them through my hair, noticing its smoothness. Even my hair's different, I thought, seeing the long strands of yellow-blonde that definitely weren't there when I was old.

  I looked down at my clothes—a pair of brown leather pants and a simple white shirt. The feel of the fabric against my skin was oddly comforting, not unlike the dresses I wore when I was younger. When I hit 60, dresses became my staple for comfort, but now, this casual attire felt strangely refreshing.

  Then reality hit me. Do I even have any money?

  Instinctively, I reached into my pockets, feeling around for anything. My fingers came up empty. Of course. No money. I sighed, rubbing my temples as I tried to think about what to do next. I couldn't survive in this world without something to trade or buy with.

  I might die hunger with this. Everything is so sudden now I'm stuck penniless.

  And as if reading my mind, the system—this strange guiding presence—intervened, displaying more text.

  The system suggests traveling to the nearby city.

  A direction. Finally. But... could I trust it?

  I furrowed my brow.

  "Is this not a trap, then?" I asked out loud, half-expecting the system to respond. But silence was all I got in return. No answers, just the faint breeze rustling through the grass.

  Phew.

  I exhaled, feeling the weight of uncertainty settle over me. Should I follow this little blue light? The memory of the fire-breathing lizard that had chased me earlier flashed in my mind, and a chill ran down my spine.

  I almost died back there. I didn't want to repeat that experience anytime soon.

  But what choice did I have?

  None.