"How is subject #3265 progressing?" Enquired the Doctor.

"Well she has made her way through the integration system and has just joined the trial system" replied the tech analyst. "Although her guidance companion isn't acting as instructed to, it has been too dignified".

"Ok good, make some tweaks to the guidance companion, keep monitoring the subject and let me know if there are any major developments." Stated the Doctor. 

"As you wish sir" the tech analyst responded. "One last thing, the subject requested that the guidance companion take on a physical form, that of an ethereal dragon."

Intrigued the doctor asked, "Did it comply with her request?"

"The ethereal dragon form was the companion's suggestion, I believe this is the first time this has happened." said the tech analyst.

"Interesting" replied the doctor contemplating the new development "A step in the right direction I think, keep me updated"

 

•    •    •    •    •

Lila stood there, completely taken aback by the stunning beauty surrounding her. She was equal parts amazed and confused about how she ended up in this place. Suddenly, a see-through window popped up right in front of her, displaying the words: 

 

"Welcome to Aetheria. An epic realm filled with incredible sights, extraordinary folks, and mythical creatures. Your journey starts here." 

 

Lila squinted, trying to figure out what this weird message meant.

 

Turning to Remus, she blurted out, "What the heck is this, Remus? Why am I seeing this weird window thing?"

 

Remus chuckled, a mischievous glint in his ethereal eyes. "Well, duh, Lila! That's a system notification. You'll be getting these for all sorts of stuff like levelling up, learning new skills, completing quests, and loads more. If you close it now, don't worry, you'll get a pop-up in the corner of your vision whenever there's another one. Geez, do I have to explain everything?"

 

Lila couldn't help but laugh at Remus' playful response. "Okay, okay, got it," she said, shaking her head. "I'll figure it out. Aetheria seems like a place full of surprises."

 

Lila's gaze shifted to the corner of her vision, where she noticed a small envelope symbol blinking. Curiosity piqued, she focused her attention on it, causing another translucent window to materialize before her. The message displayed in elegant, flowing script:

 

"Congratulations, Lila! You have gained the title of Ethermancer. Embrace your newfound powers and shape the world with your ethereal magic. May your journey in Aetheria be filled with wonder and discovery."

 

As Lila willed the message away, it dissolved into thin air, only to be swiftly replaced by another translucent window. This time, the message shimmered into view:

 

"Race Change Successful. You have embraced the luminous beauty of the Celestials. Your ethereal form now radiates with celestial light, granting you an enhanced connection to celestial energies. May the celestial forces guide your path in Aetheria."

 

As a Celestial, Lila's physical form undergoes a breathtaking transformation. Her eyes shimmer with a celestial glow, reflecting the mysteries of the cosmos. Her hair takes on an ethereal quality, flowing with radiant strands that cascade like stardust. Her skin becomes luminous, bathed in a soft celestial light that emanates from within. Her lips possess a subtle iridescent sheen as if kissed by the heavens themselves. Her overall appearance exudes celestial grace and beauty, marking her as a luminous being connected to the celestial planes.

 

As Lila absorbed the information about her race change, another translucent window materialized before her, displaying a list of skills she had acquired as an Ethermancer. The message read:

 

"Congratulations on becoming an Ethermancer! Here are the skills you have gained:

 

Ether Bolt: Harness the ethereal energy and conjure a small bolt of pure ether. Hurl it at your target to unleash minor magical damage.

 

Ethereal Shield: Create a protective barrier of shimmering ethereal energy around yourself. This shield provides temporary defence, shielding you from incoming attacks.

 

Ethereal Step: Meld with the ethereal plane for a fleeting moment, enabling you to swiftly teleport a short distance. Use this ability to evade danger or close the gap with your foes.

 

Embrace your newfound powers and let the ethereal currents guide your journey in Aetheria. May you weave the tapestry of ether with finesse and leave an indelible mark upon the world."

 

As Lila processed the information about her skills, the translucent window dissolved, only to be swiftly replaced by another message. It appeared with a simple yet significant statement:

 

"Character Update: Your class and race change has been reflected in your character sheet and attributes. Please access the menu to review and familiarize yourself with the updated information."

 

Brimming with anticipation Lila opened her menu to check out the changes.

[Main Menu]

 

[1] Character Details

[2] Attributes

[3] Skills

[4] Inventory

 

[Character Details]

 

Name: Lila

Level: 1

Experience: 0/100

Class: Ethermancer

Race: Celestial

Health: 80/80

Mana: 100/100

Stamina: 80/80

Health Regeneration: 2 per second

Mana Regeneration: 3 per second

Stamina Regeneration: 2 per second

 

[Attributes]

 

[1] Strength: 6

[2] Dexterity: 8

[3] Intelligence: 10

[4] Constitution: 6

[5] Agility: 8

[6] Charisma: 10

[7] Luck: 8

 

[Skills]

 

[1] Ether Bolt: Level 1

- The Ethermancer conjures a small bolt of ethereal energy and hurls it at their target, dealing minor magical damage.

 

[2] Ethereal Shield: Level 1

- The Ethermancer creates a protective barrier of ethereal energy around themselves, providing temporary defence against incoming attacks.

 

[3] Ethereal Step: Level 1

- The Ethermancer momentarily merges with the ethereal plane, allowing them to swiftly teleport a short distance, evading danger or closing the gap with their foes.

 

[Inventory]

 

[1] Weapons: None

[2] Armour: None

[3] Consumables: None

[4] Quest Items: None

[5] Materials: None

 

As Lila absorbed the information from her updated character menu, another translucent window materialized before her. The words shimmered into view:

 

"Hey there, Lila! Welcome to Aetheria. Looks like you've got some exciting trials ahead to help you master your new powers. Get ready to unleash your ethereal magic and show Aetheria what you're made of! The ethereal energies will guide you on this epic journey."

 

After reading the message, Lila felt a rush of excitement and anticipation. She turned to Remus with a grin and said, "Well, it seems I've got some trials to tackle. What do you think, Remus? Ready to join me on this adventure?"

 

Remus tilted his head and let out a playful chuckle. "You bet, Lila! I'll be right by your side, sharing my wisdom and cheering you on. Of course, it will all be in your head and you will look like a lunatic talking to yourself but hey, at least you don't have hairs on the palms of your hands."

 

Lila looked at her hands in confusion then her gaze turned to the ethereal dragon. " Haha, very funny Remus. How about we check out what these trials are all about." 

"Lead the way, Lila," Remus said with a twinkle in his ethereal eyes.

 

Looking around the lake that surrounded the tiny platform she was standing on Lila asked "How the hell do I get off here?" with a hint of sarcasm Remus replied, "Well you could try willing your way off or maybe a better idea is to give those new skills a try."

"Of course" Lila exclaimed "Why didn't I think of that? How does it work? Is there a spell to chant or a gesture to perform?" Lila asked. 

"Nope, you are linked to the ether now just concentrate on the skill you want to use and after a little practice it will become second nature," Remus explained.

 

Concentrating, Lila closed her eyes and thought of the Ethereal Step skill. A sense of familiarity flooded her mind and she felt linked to the skill. Lila opened her eyes and focused on a point on the edge of the lake, feeling the ethereal power wash over her she vanished. 

Lila reappeared in the blink of an eye about five metres from where she had been stood and dropped with a splash into the water. Once she gathered herself and her head rose above the water she heard a deep chuckle come from the dragon Remus above her. "You knew this would happen, didn't you?" Lila said still coughing water.

"How could I know, it's not like your system menu gives you a full description or anything," Remus replied still chuckling. 

Rolling her eyes Lila entered her menu and focused on the skill Ethereal Step.

 

Ethereal Step: Level 1

 

The Ethermancer momentarily merges with the ethereal plane, allowing them to swiftly teleport a short distance, evading danger or closing the gap with their foes. This skill enables Lila to effortlessly traverse the boundaries between realms, granting her the ability to move with unparalleled speed and agility.

Max Distance: 5 meters

Cooldown Time: 10 seconds

Mana Cost: 20 mana

 

"Well that explains how I ended up in the lake then, maybe I should just swim" sighed Lila.

 

As Lila got to her feet at the edge of the lake a dirt path formed in front of her which led to the tree line. "I'm guessing that's the way I'm supposed to go then" stated Lila "It would seem so" Remus replied with intrigue.

Taking a deep breath and steeling herself she set off along the path with her now-friend Remus in the form of a small ethereal dragon floating alongside.

As Lila reached the treeline a new notification window popped into view.

Trials of Void Hollows: Ethermancer's Challenge

 

Objective: Defeat 10 Voidspawn

Location: Void Hollows

Difficulty: Beginner

 

Congratulations, Lila! Begin your first Ethermancer trial: Trials of Void Hollows. Defeat 10 Voidspawn lurking in the shadow-infested hollows. Unleash Ether Bolts to banish these creatures and emerge victorious.

 

"Seems like we are in the right place," Lila remarked. "You get a notification?" Remus asked, "I did, it says I have to kill 10 Voidspawn in the hollows." Lila replied.

"Should be easy enough but maybe get some practice using your ether bolts before entering. Might not be a good idea to close your eyes when you face your first voidspawn," Remus suggested.

"Great idea Remus, I'll check the description out too," Lila said.

 

Ether Bolt: Level 1

 

The Ethermancer harnesses the power of ethereal energy, conjuring a small bolt that crackles with arcane might. This bolt is then hurled towards the target, inflicting minor magical damage upon impact.

 

Damage: 20-25 magical damage

Cooldown: 2 seconds

Mana Cost: 10 mana

 

Lila closed her eyes and focused her concentration on the Ether Bolt skill. She could feel a surge of power gathering in front of her as if the very essence of ethereal energy was coalescing. Opening her eyes, she witnessed a small bolt of pearlescent white ether forming, about a foot in length.

 

With a deep breath, Lila instinctively reached out her hand, grasping the ethereal bolt. She took a moment to assess her surroundings, spotting a large rock approximately 20 meters away. Assuming a sideways stance, she prepared herself and unleashed the bolt towards the target.

 

In an instant, the ethereal bolt streaked through the air, covering the distance with astonishing speed. However, instead of hitting the intended rock, it veered slightly to the right, piercing a tree trunk and leaving behind a small gouge on the outer surface.

 

Lila observed the result with a mix of awe and determination. She knew there was still much to learn and hone her aim, but this first attempt with the Ether Bolt showcased the raw potential of her ethereal powers.

 

Remus couldn't contain his amusement and let out a snort of laughter, earning him a stern glare from Lila. "Sorry, sorry," he chuckled. "That was impressive, but I couldn't resist teasing you. I assume you were aiming for the rock?"

 

Lila's determination flickered in her eyes as she summoned another ethereal bolt into her hand. Without hesitation, she launched it at Remus. The bolt passed straight through the dragon's illusory form, disappearing into the distance.

 

"Oww!" cried Remus in a playful tone, feigning pain. Lila rolled her eyes and replied, "You're just an illusion in my mind, Remus. It didn't actually hurt." Remus let out a whimper, "No, but I could have felt it if I were real."

 

Lila giggled at Remus' response and turned her attention back to the rock. She continued summoning and launching ethereal bolts, practising her aim relentlessly. She only paused briefly to allow her mana to regenerate. After about 30 minutes of focused practice, Lila felt a sense of readiness wash over her.

 

Walking back to the entrance of the Void Hollows, a surge of excitement coursed through Lila's veins. She couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation, even though it hadn't been long since she woke up with no memory of her past or her purpose.

 

Turning to Remus, Lila voiced her curiosity, "Why am I feeling excited about this trial? I mean, not too long ago, I was completely lost, not knowing who I am, where I came from, or what I'm meant to do."

 

Remus paused for a moment, his ethereal eyes thoughtful. "Well, Lila, there could be many reasons for your excitement. Perhaps you have a connection to Aetheria, or maybe you come from another realm altogether. It's also possible that you're simply a little bit on the adventurous side or enjoy these kinds of challenges. But what I do know is that the only way to find out for sure is to keep moving forward, embracing the trials and uncovering the truth along the way."

 

Lila nodded, absorbing Remus' words. "You're right, Remus. The answers will reveal themselves as I continue on this journey. I won't let my past uncertainties hold me back. It's time to step into the unknown and discover who I truly am." With renewed determination, Lila took a deep breath and stepped forward, ready to face the Trials of Void Hollows.