"Oh gosh, this bed is divine!" I say as I collapse within the rich comforter of our hotel room. It perfectly contours to my body while somehow providing just enough support that my shoulders don`t hunch over. The room isn`t particularly ornate - the walls are a plain off-white and the ceiling has little more than a speckled array of haphazard pockmarks to break its monotony. Less any intentional decoration and more a byproduct of uneven plastering during construction.

　　My thoughts turn back to my fears from earlier. Just what is the true state of this world? And why, of all people, was I the one sent here? It made sense yesterday when I realized where I was, but now, seeing so many changes already, I can`t help but wonder if my being here is a cruel cosmic joke, an opportunity to use a glimmer of hope to send me into crushing despair.

　　Sammy walks in, wearing little more than a nightgown, and my brain is completely shut down. It`s seeing my childhood crush after decades apart, only to realize that she`s somehow gotten even more gorgeous in that time, and yet no matter what I want, there`s no way I can have her. Besides, even if I am successful and win her heart, don`t I just die or go back home whenever this is done?

　　"Is there something on your mind?" she asks.

　　I sigh. "A lot of things, Sammy. There`s going to be a lot of dangerous encounters - not the weaklings we saw earlier today, but vicious monstrosities, powerful warriors with more battle experience than both of our lifetimes put together. When we left Penne, I was feeling confident, untouchable, on top of the world. But after our travels today, I`m left worried that my knowledge and skills thus far won`t be enough to protect me."

　　Sammy laughs. "Like you were protecting me from that bird earlier today? If your idea of protecting` me is to stand around and get yourself hurt, I really wish you wouldn`t."

　　"But I-"

　　"You what? You`re going to tell me that if you beat yourself up a bunch, that you`re somehow going to get a lot stronger?"

　　"Yeah! Exactly that!"

　　"Ugh! Do you understand how idiotic you sound, Ash? Do you honest-to-goodness think that`s how things work? Break a few bones, heal them, and all of the sudden, you`re strong enough to bend iron with your bare hands?"

　　"If I say yes, how could I convince you?"

　　"Are you being serious or are you making some kind of joke here?"

　　I sit up and I look Sammy in the eye. "I swear on the good name of the goddess herself. Now tell me, what would it take to convince you that I intentionally didn`t dodge those feather bullets earlier, and that the reason I did so was to toughen up my skin and flesh against future injury?"

　　"I- I don`t believe you, Ash. But that look - it`s one of absolute surety. Not a hint of lie, not a wavering doubt anywhere in those eyes." She shakes her head and sits down on the bed opposite me. "Even though I still don`t believe you, I know that you aren`t lying - at least not intentionally."

　　"Thank you. There`s something else I`d like to ask, if you don`t mind."

　　Sammy takes a deep breath. "Whatever it is, I`m sure it`s going to be something that`s going to make me want to drag you to an exorcist, but go ahead."

　　"Near the top of my vision, I see a bunch of numbers. Information about my health and magic capacity. And the same for you. I know, I`m sounding like a crazy person again, but do you see anything like that?"

　　"Near the top of your vision?"

　　"Yeah. I have to tilt my eyes up to see it with any clarity, but I can see data about how much health I have. Or how close I am to being incapacitated, if that makes any more sense." Not sure how it could make sense - even I have trouble believing it and I can see it with my own eyes.

　　"No, Ash, I- Wait& I don`t see any numbers, but I see some weird letters floating. It looks like it says Join Ashley Lancaster`s Party?` Well, we are traveling together so, uh& How do I select yes?"

　　I hear a faint ringing in my mind and a prompt pops up just below my health indicators. [Mage] Samantha Relford has joined your party. All battle rewards will be split among party members. Confirm?` I quickly do so.

　　"Oh my goodness!" Sammy shouts. "I thought you were just pulling some elaborate prank, but I can see those numbers now too. So, you`re level 3 and I`m level 1? What does that mean?"

　　"It`s a number that represents our overall fighting experience and capabilities. As we hone our abilities by defeating enemies in combat, that number will increase accordingly."

　　I spend some time going over the other numbers and what they represent. At times, it`s frustrating - back on Earth, even the most sheltered people at least know what a video game is, even if they believe or are told that they`re the creation of the literal devil. And it`s slow going with me often having to explain things multiple times, but I can see the warm glow in Sammy`s eyes as she finally grasps the system and the basic mechanics therein.

　　"Wow, I can`t believe all this, Ash. Even seeing it and having you explain everything to me, it`s a lot to take in. I`m sorry for doubting you."

　　I laugh. She sneers at me, and I smile. "You have nothing to apologize for, Sammy. I should be the one apologizing for springing all this on you so suddenly. Besides, you held to your end of our deal and didn`t leave when I started doing things which you called hare-brained`, asinine`, and foolish`, among others. I`m just glad I could find a way to show that I`m not quite as crazy as I look."Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

　　"You`re not? That`s a shame." She winks at me.

　　"Not quite, Sammy. And don`t worry. I may look foolish, and act foolish, but there`s a method to my madness. Well, most of the time, anyway." I yawn. "Ugh, I guess I`m more tired than I thought. I hope you don`t mind going to sleep early."

　　Sammy yawns back. "Not at all. And thanks for accompanying me. It`s been fun."

　　We say our good nights, and I barely have time to close my eyes before I pass out.

　　I awaken to the sound of a distant rumble. Heading to the window, I see that the sky is still dark, illuminated only by the glow of a fire near the mine entrance. I breathe a sigh of relief at the situation - at least this part of the story hasn`t changed. A second rumble jolts Sammy to her feet; she turns to me with a panicked expression.

　　"There`s something going on at the mine," I say. "An explosion of some sort, if I were to guess." Specifically, an explosion to try to staunch an outpouring of cave trolls disturbed by a recent excavation project. But I don`t want to scare Sammy too much.

　　"Oh no! Should we evacuate?"

　　"That`s probably a good idea." Not one that will work, of course - we`ll almost escape, but a troll will block our path.

　　We quickly gather our belongings and leave the hotel as another rumble shakes the ground at our feet, sending a few pieces of debris scattering. Panic fills the streets - the cacophony of people scrambling, trying to evacuate, while adventurers and guards try to quell the panic and rush toward the mine entrance. The glow of fires near the mines to the west intensifies - the plot only needs us to slay the five that sneaked by the city`s vanguard and penetrated the city walls.

　　I grab Sammy`s hand as I lead us toward the southern entrance to the city. It`s slow going with the crowd of evacuees growing larger, attempting to squeeze through the small checkpoint leading out of town. A few brave - foolhardy, really - individuals have taken to climbing up the western foothills, hoping to secure an escape by going around the main gate, though with that being the source of the danger, I caution against it.

　　A roar shakes the nearby buildings, and I grip my Ice Blade, nodding to Sammy and urging her to prepare for battle. As expected, it approaches, leaping from building to building and landing in front of the checkpoint, smashing two unfortunate villagers with its boots as it lands. Panic intensifies yet further as the townspeople scatter, rushing into alleyways, buildings, and any other source of cover they can find, but I stand resolute, ready to do my duty.

　　The cave troll is probably about nine feet tall, a putrid shade of green-brown, and covered in scarred wounds and caked-on food. As ugly as it is, though, nothing could prepare me for the rancid odor clawing its way into my nose and searing its odious effigy into my brain. Nausea takes hold but I force myself to stay standing as it roars toward me, intensifying the sickening feeling further. It charges, its first fist colliding with my parry, though my counter-strike is repelled by the second.

　　I charge again, this time sidestepping the troll`s fist and nicking the side of its arm. It winces in pain and I notice its wound putrefying with gangrenous frostbite, but the rancorous stench prevents a follow-up and I`m forced to backstep away from its punch. Its attacks are strong, pushing me back when I`m forced to block, though its movements are slow, linear, and predictable - the in-game encyclopedia said that these monsters are only as intelligent as common livestock, and my experience confirms as such.

　　"Sammy, ready your strongest fire spell for the moment the troll drops down!" I call out between dodges. Unfortunately, these bastards have a strong healing factor that can only be negated by light and fire damage, and I sadly lack both. It`s a touching scene, where Sammy finally pushes past her fears and joins the battle alongside the protagonist to bring the beast down together. Though, Sammy remains an enigma with how different she is compared with the game. No time to ponder that.

　　The troll attacks once more with a violent, thrashing charge which I sidestep before thrusting my blade into its side. It bellows a roar that pushes me back, but I can tell from the way it hobbles as it charges once more that its strength is about to expire. With a blade this much stronger than the early-game monsters, the outcome was foregone, but even I`m surprised just how cleanly my attacks are cleaving through the beast`s hide. One more strike dismembers the troll`s right arm, though I get a nasty surprise as blood spurts out, tainting my tunic with its iniquity. I add clothes shopping` to my list of to-do`s once the commotion dies down. And another bath. Or a hundred.

　　"Now, Sammy!" I cry out, and as I step back, two orbs of flame the size of my head careen on either side, one making contact with the troll`s head and the other cauterizing the dismembered stub. With its regeneration faltered by the flames, I draw my blade once more and hack at its neck; the first swipe delivers a gashing, bloody wound, and the second cleanly decapitates it, the subtle ding of the system confirming that this battle is finally over.

　　But the night`s tribulations aren`t, as the roar of more trolls echoing throughout the city reminds me. I turn to Sammy and nod.

　　"Are you ready?"

　　"Yeah, just confused." The two of us start jogging off as she continues. "I put my all into that spell, but now that the battle`s over, I feel stronger and better than I ever have in my life! Is this something to be worried about?"

　　I smile. The joys of gaining levels. "You`re right, it doesn`t make a lot of sense when you think about it! But that`s the nature of the world; just because things violate common sense, doesn`t mean they aren`t true. You`ll feel even better in a bit; let`s go!"

　　Experience: 387

　　To Next: 153

　　Experience: 309

　　To Next: 11

　　Ashley Lancaster

　　Level 5

　　Samantha Relford

　　Level 4

　　HP

　　314 / 373

　　HP

　　226 / 226

　　MP

　　56 / 56

　　MP

　　41 / 80

　　Gained Ability

　　Vacuum Slash

　　Gained Spell

　　Triple Firebolt