Blue words dance in the air before me, forming a box of text. Similar to what I've seen in video games before. It takes me a moment but as I focus on the words they solidify enough for me to read them.

  [Your split worlds have become whole once more. Ygrix has taken root once again. Prepare yourselves, Mortals]

  [Please wait while the CyxTem finishes initializing]

  [CyxTem has finished initializing]

  [Prepare yourself Mortal. Your tutorial is about to begin]

  The moment I finish reading the floating text boxes before me I feel a shift in the world. A sense of vertigo washes over me, stealing my sense of stability. My brain alights with the static buz as my thoughts fade to silence. In the silence, among the static and waves of vertigo, I lose myself and am consumed by oblivion.

  I don't know how long I was like that. However, my eyes snap open as if I was merely asleep. Before me, I don't find the classroom I expected or the floating boxes. Instead, I find a rocky ceiling stretching before me.

  Sitting up I quickly realize that I'm no longer in the classroom but in some kind of cave. Enough light bounces around that I don't struggle to make out my surrounds. I even feel a slight wind washing through the cave, making me think that I might be near the entrance.

  Unsure what to do I start walking towards what I suspect to be the mouth of the cave. How did I manage to get here? What was with that earthquake and that stange feeling of static?

  Questions race through my mind as my surrounding get brighter and brighter. Eventually I can make out the rustling of leaves. Turning a corner the entrance to the cave makes itself well known. As I gaze upon it a blue box appears before me. As if it had always been there, simply unseen or noticed and I am just now aware of it's presence.

  [Tutorial Quest: Open your Status]

  [CyxTem has granted every Mortal with the ability to check their Status. To do this one must enter the CyxTem Command "STATUS"]

  [Reward: Information]

  As I finish reading the boxes I have expect them to vanish but they don't. Instead they shrink to take far less of my vision, while also moving to the top left corner. Wathcing it do this I can't shake the feeling that I'm playing some video game. Or better yet, dreaming that I'm playing a video game that's in real life.

  I mean that has to be what all of this is. People don't teleport after passing out into random cave. And people are granted quests by some bizzar floating boxes.

  No I'm experiencing an extremely detailed dream. I was sleep deprived and probably hit my head or something. Yeah that has to be it. Something in the ceiling of the classroom fell down and hit my head knocking me out and now my brain is experiencing a crazy dream due to all of the stress chemicals that build up from not sleeping.

  Aren't dreams suppose to stop when you become aware that you're in a dream? Why hasn't this one stopped? Shouldn't I be waking up?

  Closing my eyes I wait hoping that I'll wake up quickly. However as the minutes pass I grow more and more disappointed. Instead of opening my to find the myself back in the classroom I find myself in the cave, facing the entrance.

  Sighing, I slap myself. Pain explodes across my cheek as heat simmers beneath my skin. My palm stings as my last gambit to wake up fails. It always works in the movies and book.

  Sitting down I suppress the rising panic that threatens to send me spiraling. No, panicking will only lead me to doing something dumb and possibly getting myself hurt or worse.

  No, what I need to do is figure out what's going on, as I'm quickly loosing hope that this is just a stressed induced lucid dream. My mind races through the moments leading up to my awakening in the cave.

  The was an Earthquke that brought a weird buzzing feeling in my head. Then there were the floating boxes talking about worlds being joined back together and mortals. Then the warning of the tutorial and the tutorial quest.

  I can't shake the game like vibes that my situation reminds me off. I mean the floating boxes even call this a tutorial. If I take that at face value it means that if I finish the tutorial quest I'll either be taken to the starting point of the game, which I hope is back to the classroom, or to the beginning area of the game, which I hope isn't the woods outside of this cave.

  Sighing I focus back on the still floating blue box in the corner of my vision. In it I focus on the segment instructing me to enter the CyxTem Command "Status". But how do I enter it?

  "Status" I command.

  Nothing happens.

  "Dammit."

  If this was a game then it would probably be some button I push. How do I push this game's buttons? Maybe I do neet to hit some kind of button. Looking around I see nothing button like, but my vision does fall to the blue box in the corner of my vision.

  My hands swipe at the floating box but nothing happens. Instead it's as if the box is superimposed on my vision, not something existing in the world itself.

  Damn it. What do I have to do? Why is the quest message so vague on how to open my status page. Aren't tutorials suppose to be the hand holding phase of the game? Where everything is spelled out so that the players can learn the rules?

  I feel the heat of my annoyance start to warm my chest. Why isn't this better explained to me? What does it want from me. I want to open my status page. I want to complete this quest and get out of here. The heat build in me as I fail to suppress it.

  "OPEN MY DAMN STATUS!" I yell, venting the heat in my chest.

  [Name: Jason Everett]

  [Status: Mortal]

  [Aetherium: 0]

  [Vitality: 1]

  [Strength: 1]

  [Endurance: 1]

  [Agility: 1]

  [Dexterity: 1]

  [Intelligence: 1]

  [Wisdom: 1]

  A new box appears before me. Reading through I quickly realize this but be the status page. As I finish reading through it vanishes and in it's place a new box appears.

  [Tutorial Quest: Open your Status (Completed)]

  [Reward: Information on uses of a Mortal's Status page]

  [CyxTem has been initialized. Every mortal has been gifted access to CyxTem. The Status Page is a display of the Mortal's current attributes. From this page, a mortal can also view how many Aetherium points they have. When a Mortal has enough Aetherium points they can use their Status page to invest the Aetherium into one of their Attributes, permanently boosting the attribute.]

  So the status page is just like what a status page is in a video game. One that I can essentially level up from. But what is this Aetherium? Is this like experience points or something?

  Before I can get lost in my musings a new window opens before me.

  [Tutorial Quest: Open yourself to Aetherium]

  [Being able to sense the existence of Aetherium is the first step a Mortal takes on the path of Cultivation. In order to progress you must open yourself to this energy.]

  [Reward: Information]

  Sighing I watch as the quest box minimizes itself and retreats to the corner of my vision. Well now what? I need to "Open" myself to Aetherium, what ever that is. How does one even open themselves up to an energy?

  Do I need to stick my finger in it or something? Like an electrical outlet? Should I find some Aetherium outlet to stick my finger in to "Open" myself to it? Like getting an electrical shock?

  A chuckle escapes me as I try to soothe my tired and stressed self with a joke. I need a nap. My eyes feel so heavy that I struggle to get them to open again. My head feels heavy and my thoughts sluggish. My emotions blaze out of control as I'm too tired to keep them restrained.

  Shame wells up in me as I remember my annoyed outburst that let me open my Status page. What am I some child that through a tantrum the moment something does go their way? No I'm an adult and I need to be better then that. I need to be better then the exhaustion wishing to bring me into the Sandman's domain.

  Shaking my head I force the sleepiness out of my eyes and force my control over my emotions again. I don't have time to nap. I need to find a way back to the classroom, I need to make sure that Abby is okay. Then I need to get to Sabrina and make sure that she is okay.

  "OPEN ATHERIUM!" I scream out.

  My voice echos through the cave as my hopes that opening myself up to Aetherium would be that simple fades. What is Aetherium anyways? The quest box mentions that it's an energy. One that Mortals use on their path of "Cultivation".

  What even is Cultivation? Am I supposed to be farming or something? Would that make Aetherium fertilizer or something?

  My instincts tell me that this isn't the case but I don't know what else to think. Thinking back cultivating isn't just for planting, right? Doesn't also relate to skills or something like that?

  My hand reflexively runs to my pocket where I expect my phone to be. However, it finds no such object as I was about to google what cutilvate means. My heart sinks when I realize that I don't have my phone with me.

  How am I suppose to figure this out without being able to google my questions? This game is rigged.

  Sighing I go back to trying to figure out what Cultivating is. If I'm not meant to be a farmer then am I supposed to be developing something? If so, then what? I feel like I'm on the right track but I can't figure out what I'm supposed to be cultivating.

  Sighing I switch trains of thought as there is no point in beating my head against a wall. So I'm suppose to open myself up to this Aetherium, but what even is Aetherium? I believe it's an a form of energy, but one I've never heard of. It's supposedly used to permenatly boost my attributes like my Strength.

  Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.

  My butt grows sore enough that it steals my train of thought. With a groan I stand up, flexing my legs and stretching my back as I do so. Maybe taking a walk will help me puzzle this out.

  Looking towards the entrance of the caves a warm wind washes through making the bright woods outside even more enticing. Making my choice I make my way out of the cave and into the woods.

  The trees stand high above me casting the woods in shade. However, the wind blowing between the trees isn't cold. Instead, it's a wonderful warm wind that reminds me of a beautiful spring day.

  Making my way through the woods I let my thoughts return to my problem. So Aetherium is used to boost attributes and this CyxTem wants me to open myself up to it. My status page also has a spot for my Aetherium points. In order to accumulate Aetherium points do I need to open myself up to Aetherium? So that I can invest it into developing my attributes?

  My brain hangs on the idea of developing my attributes. My instincts make it clear to me that this is important to completing this puzzle. So is that what a Mortal on the path of cultivation is supposed to do? Cultivate themselves?

  I feel like I'm right but this seems too simple. And why does CyxTem want me to do this? What does it get out of me Cultivating myself? And how am I supposed to Open myself to Aetherium?

  Shaking my head I banish the growing despondency rising in me. As I try to solve this problem I just keep coming up with more and more questions. Which makes me feel like I'm not actually getting anywhere.

  The sounds of a stream steal my thoughts as I realize how thirsty I am. My throat itches with how dry it's gotten and my tongue feels like sand paper in my mouth.

  Turning towards where the sound of the stream is coming from I start walking towards it. In a few moments I find a stream rushing through a groove in the ground. Looking up stream I find the stream bend and disappear behind the woods. Looking down stream I see a similar sight. The woods around too think to see any noticeable landmarks like mountain or any buildings.

  Turning my attention to the water I find the clearest water I've ever seen. My thirst demands I drink from this stream but I stop myself an article about ecoli races through my mind. Stopping myself I watch the water.

  With how clear it is and how fast it's running I should probably be fine from Ecoli. But what if there is something else in the water? What if it isn't even water?

  It's cool and wet to the touch. It has no smell other than the pervasive scent of the woods.

  My thirst burns stronger as I inspect the running water. I mean, if there is anything in the water that can make me sick then I can always just go tot he hospital. Granted that's if I can get out of this tutorial thing or find my way back to society. But if I can't then I'll need to find a source of clean water anyways. It's a shame I don't have the means of starting a fire to boil some of this water.

  I realize that I'm stalling from satisfying my thirst. If I want to get out of here then I'll want a clear head. And this thirst on top of my growing tiredness is not doing me any favors.

  The cold soothing water washes through my mouth and then down my throat, instantly relieving the dryness. The water tastes heavy as it washes through me, setting into my stomach with a soothing chill that washes away the thirst, worries, and tiredness plaguing me.

  I drink until my stomach is sore and I'm more satiated. The moment I stop drinking the soreness in my stomach vanishes, leaving me with only the feeling of being content and satisfied.

  Free of my concerns and thirst I find a soft patch of grass next to a tree to settle into. I was right in that being so thirsty and so tired is only going to hamper my ability to think of a way out of these woods. A short nap will do me some good.

  My eyes close as I let the song of the rustling leave soothe me into sleep. The warm wind blankets me, relaxing my racing thoughts. The chill water satiates me and gives me a comforting full feeling.

  As I start to drift off into the land of dreams I become aware of a buzz in the winds around me. In the water in my stomach. The rays of light dancing between the leaves and branches of the tree. It fills the world outside of me yet not myself.

  I feel at odd with the world. As if I'm not a part of it. I feel less for it. The desire to be part of this world, alive down to the very atoms I know what to do.

  I open myself to this buzzing feeling. Allowing it to wash through me, to let me be part of the world around me. It fills me, lighting my being ablaze in dazzling warmth. Not the kind of warmth you feel when you open a running over. Or the kind of heat you get from standing too close to a fire.

  No this warmth is the kind of heat you get from hugging someone close and tight. It's the kind of warmth that doesn't overwhelm. It's the warmth that blankets you to sleep. The warmth that brings comfort and equilibrium to yourself. The sort of warmth that grounds your existence.

  I lose myself in this warmth. Letting it balance myself. I don't know how long I'm like this. But eventually, the sensation of being uncomfortably full of this warmth builds. As I become aware of it I find the warmth slowly fading from me. Leaving me out of balance with the world once more.

  My eyes open finding a new message box before me.

  [Tutorial Quest: Open yourself to Aetherium (Completed)]

  [Reward: Information]

  [Aetherium is the Energy of the Heavens. When a mortal Opens themselves to this Energy they invite it into themselves and by doing so binds it to themselves. By binding this energy a Mortal creates a new energy known as Aether. By doing this a Mortal becomes a Cultivator, or one who walks the path to Divinity.]

  Divinity? Am I supposed to become a God to get out of these woods? God dam it. Heh. Me dam it. If I'm supposed to become a God might as well start acting like one.

  [Tutorial Quest: Earn Aetherium Points]

  [Being able to use Aetherium is the first step a Mortal takes on the path of Cultivation. In order to progress you must earn yourself an Aetherium Point.]

  [Reward: Technique]

  Wait, I thought I already took my first step on the path of Cultivation. Am I not a Cultivator?

  Seeing motion from the corner of my eye I snap my focus to find out what it is. Exiting from the treeline I watch a short humiod-like creature stumble towards the water.

  The creature is short, standing no taller than three feet. It's skin is a shade of grey that looks like nothing I've ever seen before. It's head is oblong shaped reminding me of a mouthy baby from an old adult cartoon show. On the sides of it's head droop too long leathery looking ears.

  While examining it the creature dips it's primate like hand into the water, pulling a handful up to it's mouth. As it drinks I can't help but notice sharp claw like nails at the end of it's fingers and sharp pointy look teeth resting in it's maw.

  Slowly standing I being to back away from the unearthy creature. My foot lands on an unseen branch, snapping it instantly beneath my weight. The crips sound of the branch branding rings out above the rustling leaves and flowing water.

  The creature's attention snaps to me, letting me see it's dark orb like eyes. For a moment I can't help but think of those grey aliens. However, that thought instantly vanishes as panic washes through me.

  The creature lets out a blood curdling scream before it pounces towards me. It stumbles on all fours like some crazed monkey.

  Backpeddling I try to run from it but its too fast for me. It's claws dig into my bicepts as it leaps onto my chest. It open's it's maw as goes to bite me. Watching it's needle like teeth plunge towards my chest I can only thank what ever made this creature for giving it such a small mouth.

  Pain flairs in my chest as a half-dollar coin zide chunk of flesh is ripped from me. The creature leaps back from me, a trail of my blood following it as it eats the chunk it took from me.

  At the sight of a piece of myself being stolen and consumed, I can't stop the torrent of rageful flames that fuel me. The pain and panic instantly forgotten, replaced by a burning need to get even. To extract similar level of pain from this thing. To take from it like it took from me.

  At my rage the buzzing energy still resting in me spread out through my body. It rages through me like a wild fire, but instead of burning me to a crips I can feel it filling my muscles with strength.

  Rushing forwards I cover the distance between the small creature in an instance. Barreling into the creature I tackle it to the ground, sending us both rolling.

  As our momentum is spent I find myself ontop of the creature, it's arms pinned beneath my knees. My blood drips onto it's face only reminding me of the audacity that this little shit had.

  My rage grows as I find a rock lying next to us. It struggles beneath me snapping it's needle filled maw at me, like it still wants to eat me. Fingers wrap around the rock and easily twist it from it's place in the earth.

  Turning my focus back to the alien like shit beneath me I find it's black tongue snaking out between it's needle like teeth to lap at the beads of blood on it's face. The sight of this sends the inferno burning through to ramp up.

  My body is filled with an unbearable heat as I bring the rock crashing down. Like a meteorite crashing into the Earth, the rock in my hand crashes down on the creature's face. The struggling beneath me instantly stops as the rock is left in a crater so deep that there is no doubt in my mind that it's not dead.

  As the realization that I just killed something materializes the unbearable heat filling me quickly fades. In it's place terror.

  "Fuck. No no no no. I didn't mean to. No no nonono. I'm not a murderer. I could never be a murderer. I promised myself. No this thing isn't human. So it's not murder right? It's only killing. And people kill all the time. It attacked me first okay? It was self defense. Right?"

  I back away, as if putting physical distance between the creature and myself will be enough to distance myself from my actions. My mind races as I try to refuse what I just did. What I now know I'm capable of. No this couldn't have been me.

  "I'm not my father." I whipser. Voicing the thought I refuse to acknowledge.

  [Level 1 Mountain Kobold Slayed]

  [Awarding 10 Aetherium]

  [Tutorial Quest: Earn Aetherium Points (Completed)]

  [Reward: Technique]

  [Error Code: 202257 Technique can not be imparted to User JASON EVERETT at this time]

  What the fuck? Did I break the game?

  Setting aside my spiraling concerns over killing the creature I force myself to read through the message again. I completed the quest but then this CyxTem thing could give me the reward? Well fuck you too then. I didn't want it.

  [Tutorial Quest: Spend Aetherium Points]

  [Being able to use Aetherium is the first step a Mortal takes on the path of Cultivation. In order to progress you must spend the Aetherium Point you've earned.]

  [Reward: Information]

  Spirialing right now isn't going to help me. It's not going to get me out of the these woods and back to my friends and family. But what will they think of me if they find out?

  Shaking my head I stop that train of thought before it can even start. That's for future Jason to figure out. Turning my focus back to the latest quest I can stop but feeling like something is wrong. Haven't I already started on the path of Cultivation? Isn't that what I was doing by opening myself up to the Heavens?

  "Status" I whisper out, hoping that I don't have to yell it each time I want to see the page.

  As the page opens I breath a sigh of relief. Greatful that I don't have to yell the words each time I want to see my Status page. However, it makes me wonder how quietly I can say it to make it open.

  [Name: Jason Everett]

  [Status: Cultivator]

  [Aetherium: 10]

  [Vitality: 1]

  [Strength: 1]

  [Endurance: 1]

  [Agility: 1]

  [Dexterity: 1]

  [Intelligence: 1]

  [Wisdom: 1]

  Ha, see I am a Cultivator. So stop saying I'm not. Fosucing on the page I think back to the uses of the Status page. Apparently, I'm supposed to be able to spend the Aetherium points to increase my attributes. But how do I do that?

  Focusing on my Vitality attribute a new window appears before me.

  [Vitality: 1 -> 2]

  [Costs: 10 Aetherium]

  Oh, so all I have to do is focus on the attribute. Thankful that I don't have to make too much more sound, I turn my focus to the other attributes. As my focus zero's in on strength a new window pops up.

  [Strength: 1 -> 2]

  [Costs: 10 Aetherium]

  Going through each attribute I find that they all cost ten Aetherium to increase. Closing the Status window on a whim I think Satus, while imaging the page. In a moment it appears before me with no verbal prompt.

  So that's why it failed when I first tried bringing it up. It's not a vocal thing, it's about intent or something like that. I guess I didn't want it bad enough the first time.

  Looking through the attributes I hesitate to increase any of them. I still don't know why all of this is happening. Why am I going through this tutorial? Why did I have to kill that creature to get the Aetherium points? Will I need one of these attributes increased in the near future?

  Thinking back to the creature that attacked me on sight I wonder what else are in these woods. If I have to make my way through these woods to get back to society then I'll want the strength to defend myself. I don't want to kill anything else, but that fucker tried eating me.

  I feel the embers of rage threaten to stoke another fire in me. Pushing those feelings down I focus on the Status page before me. If nothing else I at lease need to complete this quest in hopes that it gets me out of these woods, but incase it doesn't more Strength would probably make it easier to get out safely.

  Decision made I focus on my Strength Attribute and focus my intent on increasing it. I watch my Aetherium drain to zero and my Strength change to two. Then my body alights with buzzing energy.

  It sears through me latching onto my muscles. The buzzing energy seeps into my muscles lighting them ablaze in pain. Then it fades, leaving the muscles slightly larger and stronger then before.

  In moments I'm able to collect myself from the painful experience. As the pain embs into a background noise I focus on the new window displayed before me.

  [Tutorial Quest: Spend Aetherium Points (Completed)]

  [Reward: Information]

  [Aetherium is the Energy of the Heavens. When a Mortal learns to harness this energy for themselves they take the first step to the path of becoming a Cultivator. By harnessing this Energy a Mortal learns to open themselves to Aetherium and in doing so they will learn to create Aetherium on their own]

  So did I skip a step or something? Didn't I already open myself to Aetherium? Isn't that why my Status page calls me a Cultivator? Are these windows broken or something?

  [Turorial Quests Completed]

  [Reward: Item (Sacred Tool)]

  [By completing the CyxTem Tutorial Mortals have finished their first steps on the path of becoming Cultivators. It will assist you in your next step and those that follow. Until you arrive to the path of Divinity]

  [Prepare yourself Mortal for the world has become far more dangerous then you are use too. Only through conflict can you progress]

  Wait, what? More dangerous? How dangerous?

  A sense of vertigo washes over me, as the words around me spiral into oblivion. My mind reels as nausea threatens to consume me. Then it all fades just as quickly as it started.

  Opening my eyes I find myself back under my desk and no longer in the woods. Relief fills me until a scream breaks the silence.