The notification minimized itself, and the time-shift ended. The man took another step forward. Something rotten squelched under his foot. He didn’t seem to notice, and I didn’t dare tear my eyes from his to see what it was. It smelled foul.

  “Hang on a second, Jack,” I fumbled. “I’m—I’m not a baby-snatcher!”

  He hesitated for a moment, eyes narrowing. “That don’t matter none. Gold’s gold.”

  I struggled to understand his words. He hesitated for a moment, which gave me some hope. I really didn’t want to fight this guy. What the hell had happened? Had the game seriously randomized me into some ghoul-like race with grey skin and a bounty?

  “I’m sure this is all some misunderstanding.” I took another step back. The foul scent of the alley mingled with a sharp tang of alcohol and body odor wafting from the man. “Let’s just talk this through. I’m not what you think I am.”

  “Eh?” He cocked his head to the side, pausing. “Whaddaya mean?”

  “There isn’t a bounty on my head.” I spoke with a gentle tone, hoping to calm the man, making placating gestures with my hand.

  He squinted at me. “Tricky lot. Never seen one alive. Gonna be dangling from a noose soon enough. ‘Less you got some coin in them rags.”

  I felt across my body, patting the tattered clothing I wore. There were no pockets, no coins, nothing. I looked around, noticing a heads up display for the first time. It came into focus as my attention settled on it, then faded to the background when I looked at the man.

  I focused on a small square that contained the image of a backpack, mentally selecting it. A larger screen expanded from the image. The top of the box was labelled Inventory. It displayed a rudimentary list of my belongings, which consisted of a set of tattered clothing that included pants and a shirt—these had small E’s indicating they were my equipped attire on the bottom right of the icons, and a Chit of Admittance. That was it. My heart sank as the man took another step forward.

  “Well? Got any coin in them rags, baby-snatcher?”

  I pulled the chit out of my inventory. It materialized in my hand, which shocked the man and caused him to take a step back. “I have this, but I need it to join the Adventurer’s Guild. Please, let me go and I will be happy to pay you once I get some coin.”

  “Hells. A changeling offworlder. No wanner you knew my name. What else you got in that pocket storage?” He took another step forward, his eyes widening with greed.

  “That… that’s it! Just these rags and the chit! Please.”

  “Bah! I’ll find out meself. See what pops out when I gut ya.” He took another step forward. His murderous intent was clear.

  “Stop!” I called. Frustration boiled in my gut. I couldn’t find the right words to stop this man. My mind whirled.

  His eyes flashed in anger.

  “Ain’t heedin’ the words of no damned changeling!” He lunged forward, stabbing at my throat and I stepped back, my foot plunging into that same filthy puddle I had spawned in. I slipped, falling backwards as the Chit of Admittance fell from my fingers and clattered against the damp stones of the alley.. The knife missed my face by a fraction of an inch as I fell.

  The man’s musty odor assaulted my senses as he tackled me. A haptic sensation rushed through me when we made contact. A notification appeared and minimized itself before I could read it.

  The man swiped with the knife, slicing into my right upper arm. A line of fire ignited along the wound as scarlet stained my ragged shirt. I flailed in a mindless panic, shoving my assailant to the side and rolling away, scrambling to my feet.

  I backed into the wooden wall of one of the shanty structures built along either side of the alley. The filthy human stood, crouching slightly, bloody dagger in one hand and his other ready to latch onto me.

  “Talk again, and I’ll cut that tongue out before gutting you, baby-snatcher,” the man growled, spitting at the ground between my feet.

  I slid along the building away from him, both of my hands pressed behind me against the wall. As I inched away from the raging stranger in front of me, I felt something that wasn’t part of the wall. A wooden stick of some kind, several feet long, half-rotten and leaning against the building.

  The man lunged again, and I gripped the wood, swinging it up and around. The makeshift staff smacked against the hand that held the knife with a sickening crack. The blade spiraled into a pile of trash as the man cried out, cradling his hand.

  I moved on instinct, bringing the wooden staff down on the top of his head. It broke with the impact, a foot-long piece remaining in my hand.

  The man looked dazed, his eyes disoriented and unfocused. He mumbled something unintelligible. My arm stung, and I remembered the knife. I dropped the broken handle and hurried to the pile of garbage, shifting through the refuse until I found it.

  I looked up in time to see the man, having regained some of his senses, snarl and step towards me. One hand hung at an odd angle, the wrist obviously broken. His other hand wrapped around my throat.

  “Just die,” he spat into my face as his grip tightened. He gasped when I plunged the knife into his chest.

  I’ll never forget that gasp. Such a small, sharp thing, accompanied by a brief look of surprise. The experience didn’t feel like any game I had ever played. It felt so real.

  He collapsed against me, forcing me back against the alley wall. Warm blood gushed from his chest and over my hands, soaking into my shirt before he fell to the ground, unmoving, the knife still planted in his chest.

  Quest Complete! Evade capture! You did it, killer! He won’t be telling anyone anything ever again. Access your inventory to receive rewards for successful quest completion.

  You have been awarded 1 Copper Armor Chest, 1 Copper Adventurer’s Chest, Copper coins x10, and 1,000 Experience Points!

  -DING-

  Welcome to level 2! Class selection is required for stat distribution. All available status upgrades will be held until class selection is complete.

  My injured arm screamed in pain as I finished reading the information. The level notification was accompanied by a sound much like a small bell being rung.

  I opened my inventory, which currently consisted of a set of tattered clothing, the ten copper coins I had just received, and the two different copper chests. I looked around for a frantic moment, spotting the Chit and picking it up as my blood dripped to the ground in a steady stream. I returned the Chit to my inventory with an intuitive thought. It vanished from my hand, appearing on the list.

  I noticed a gently flashing notification to the side of my HUD and remembered the sensation I had felt when first making contact with the man. I brought the notification up.

  Human form (basic) obtained through passive racial ability Absorb Essence.

  Absorb Essence. Skill. As a changeling, you are able to obtain “DNA Memory” through direct contact with other races, storing their genetic structure. This can be used to alter your own body’s physical structure to that of any compatible race you have physically touched.

  New Skill Unlocked! Transform. Assimilate your DNA with essence obtained from your database of stored forms. Initiate transformation with cognitive intent.

  Current forms: (2) Changeling, Human (Basic).

  I glanced around but didn't see anyone at either end of the long alley. If this is what I was going to have to deal with as a changeling, with people trying to murder me just because of what I was, better to assume the form of a human. I focused on transforming, and a flood of sensations washed away the pain in my arm.

  Agony unlike anything I had ever felt exploded from every nerve. I felt my bones growing denser and heavier, shortening. Muscles tore, shifting and reforming, gaining bulk.

  Shadows darkened as my vision worsened. I fell to my knees and dry-heaved as I became a human. My clothing fell off in tatters, the already degraded outfit unable to withstand the shift in my overall size.

  The pain vanished as swiftly as it had arrived, leaving behind only an echo of memory and the gash on my right arm. The wound seemed larger on my new human arm, and it still leaked enough blood that I was beginning to feel light-headed.

  I looked down at my hands, now slightly tan with regular nails instead of sickly pale with transparent nails. My regular face reflected back at me from the dirty puddle of water.

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  The system had recreated my exact features, down to the small scar just below my right eye from that time I fell off my bike as a kid. It was unsettling, but the pain in my arm reminded me that there were more pressing matters.

  I tied a makeshift bandage around the wound with the remnants of my old pants, which quickly became saturated with blood but seemed to stem the flow for the moment.

  Would the quest reward contain some kind of bandages or sutures? Maybe a healing scroll? I desperately hoped so.

  I pulled the Copper Adventurer’s Chest from my inventory. It worked in the same way my transform skill had, through a combination of instinct and focused intent. A small chest, roughly the size of a large shoe box, made of dark wood and lined with copper trim, materialized in my hand. There was a circular copper image showing a burning torch crossed with a potion vial embossed on the front. I opened the lid and the chest flashed away.

  The objects contained within were transported to my inventory. I received Minor Healing Potion x5, Simple Self-Lighting Torch x5, and Copper Coins x10.

  I pulled one of the healing potions out of my inventory and inspected it.

  Minor Healing Potion. Mends small wounds over time. Stops bleeding, treats minor bacterial and viral infections, and hastens recovery for broken bones. Can be applied topically but should be ingested for greater effect. Equipping in the Quick Slot space allows for ingestion without manual consumption.

  I identified the Quick Slot area and sent the healing potion there before selecting it. An odd sensation of warmth filled my stomach, and the aching in my arm subsided.

  Removing the bloody bandage revealed that the rend in my flesh was closing slowly. After a few seconds, no evidence of the cut remained on the surface of my arm. I breathed a sigh of relief, rubbing at the unbroken skin. Health potions were very strong, but I could sense their limited healing ability. The pain in my arm had subsided, but it was still there, slowly melting away as the gradual effects of the healing potion mended the muscle beneath my skin.

  I pulled the Copper Armor Chest out of my inventory with a mental cue. It was of similar design and size as the last one, but where the Adventurer Chest had a copper emblem showed a burning torch crossed with a potion vial and a pile of rope coiled beneath the two, this one depicted a helmet and tunic.

  I opened the lid on this chest and it vanished, transporting its contents to my inventory.

  The contents included a basic linen outfit made up of an off-white tunic, a pair of tan pants, a pair of white undershorts, and a pair of shoes that were simple strips of fabric affixed to soles. I used the mostly unsoiled remnants of my old clothes to wipe as much of the blood off myself as possible before getting dressed.

  The clothing all fit me perfectly. I affixed the shoes with a series of looping knots that wrapped around my ankle.

  I turned and approached the corpse of the man. He lay face down in an expanding puddle of blood. As I knelt over him, a notification appeared.

  Loot corpse?

  I selected yes, and a small menu appeared, similar to my own inventory screen. I saw the man’s clothes, listed as torn leather vest, moldy tunic, patchwork pants, and old boots. There was also the dagger, listed as Curved knife, Copper Coins x5, and a Worn note. I took everything but the moldy tunic and pants. The objects vanished from his person as I looted them. The boots were sturdier than my cloth sandals and I drew them over a characterized depiction of myself within the inventory screen. To my amazement, the shoes I had tied around my lower legs were replaced by the boots. They pinched my feet uncomfortably, so I quickly switched them out for the cloth sandals before pulling out the note and inspecting it.

  Worn note. This aged note has faded over the years and depicts a family of stick figures drawn by a child. A small girl stands between a man and a woman, holding their hands. Hearts float between the figures. The word ‘Family’ is scrawled across the top and a small note across the bottom reads, “Be safe daddy! Luv you.”

  I felt sick. Another notification appeared.

  New Quest! Return the note to the deceased man’s daughter.

  Years have passed since this drawing was gifted to the dead man at your feet. Innocence has been lost but not forgotten. Return this note to the artist. Reward: Starmetal Familial Closure Chest. Gold Coins x50. Increased faction reputation with Bornholdt Keep.

  Starmetal? I didn’t know what to make of that, but the confusion was washed away by a deep feeling of guilt as I deposited the drawing into my inventory.

  “I am so sorry,” I whispered to the corpse. The remorse surprised me. Despite the attack and obvious intent to murder me, I felt bad for this man. The odd feeling of reality hit me again. Was this really a game? The knot of tension in my chest and the lingering stink of the man didn’t feel simulated, nor did that sound he had made after being stabbed. I could already feel myself being drawn into the illusion of reality so masterfully constructed by the game developers. It all felt so real.

  Careful not to get blood on my new attire, I turned him over and pulled his body against the wall so he wouldn’t be laying in a puddle of his own congealing blood.

  Where the hell was I? I glanced over the heads up display and saw a small map icon. It showed a rough facsimile of the area in line-drawn detail.

  I focused on it and the map responded to my intent, widening. It extended as far as I could see from my spot in the alley—in both directions—but beyond that was blank. On the far edge of my map, well beyond my current perception, was a pulsing golden blip. I selected it, and a notification appeared.

  Quest Indicator. Quest: Locate the Adventurer’s Guild. PResent the Chit of Admittance and inquire about the requirements to join. Fulfill those requirements to obtain membership.

  The blip was to the north. I zoomed out the map further and saw another quest indicator far, far away. This marker was for the Worn Note quest. It was impossible to tell how far away it was at this point, but I knew I wouldn’t be turning it in for a long time. It was far.

  I turned to the north and began walking. The map shrank to a small square in my field of view and filled in with details as I made my way out of the alley. The indicator for the Adventure’s Guild quest populated on the edge of the mini-map with my intent, the Worn Note indicator vanishing. I found that I could switch between the two with a thought, but kept the gentle pulsing indicator on the Adventurer’s Guild quest.

  The alley opened into a main thoroughfare for the town, which was bustling with morning foot traffic. An assortment of races, mostly elves with a smattering of dwarves, humans, and a variety of humanoid animal hybrids ranging from goatmen to bipedal weasels, which I took to be beastkin, walked along the cobblestone street in either direction. A sea of blue nameplates accompanied the crowd, always floating just over their heads. The names only appeared above people within close proximity to me. I watched in fascination as some names faded away and others materialized as the crowd bustled past me.

  I stepped into the crowd and walked with them, continuing to follow the quest indicator. The cobbled road was lined with vendor stalls, and merchants called out, offering a variety of produce and goods.

  The road ran up along a manicured park with a bronze statue depicting a heavily muscled elven man who held aloft some scaled draconic beast’s head in both hands. I eyed a plaque at the bottom of the statue, which read “Ascended Hero Galthar Yunetide slays Sreakithlekor. Sculpture and plaque provided by Verdantbrook branch of the Adventurer’s Guild.”

  Galthar wore elaborate armor and a massive sword, more a slab of metal than a blade, which hung from his back. He grinned triumphantly, his eyes staring ahead with determination. The statue shined from regular polishing. The small park was carefully manicured with a gazebo and several benches. Vibrant green bushes and ivy dotted the area. An elderly elven man sat on one of the benches, reading a book.

  I smiled at the statue and at the old man. Nice details, but a distraction. I had a mission. Join the Adventurer’s Guild. Protect those in need. Be the best that I could be, for Aiden.

  I wondered if I would be able to dedicate a statue like that to my brother if I advanced high enough in the Adventurer’s Guild or made enough money. The world certainly felt real enough, did sculptors exist? Metalworkers? Surely.

  I merged with the flow of pedestrians and walked towards the quest indicator on the map. After ten minutes of weaving through small crowds, I spotted a familiar sign emblazoned on a wooden sign hanging over the walking path from a pole affixed to the side of a building. The three interwoven arches that had symbolized racial randomization in the character creation screen. It brought my attention to a large stone building. The corners of the building were dark brown vertical pillars of wood. Branches of ivy and wood snaked from the corner pillars and delved into the stone walls almost like they were growing into the building.

  I confirmed with the map that it was the location of the Adventurer’s Guild and made my way through the massive iron double doors, which were much easier to open than would be expected from their size.

  The lobby was circular with hallways leading to my right and left. Directly ahead, towards the back of the room, was a desk attended by a bored-looking elven man. Large boards covered in a variety of posted parchments stood on either end of the desk, and an elegant door stood closed behind the elf.

  Glancing down the hall to my left revealed part of a dining area. A few small groups of people sat eating and drinking, laughing and conversing. A burly weaselkin stood behind a bar, filling a stein of ale under the watchful eye of an elven man in worn leathers, who sat atop a stool at the bar. The hall to the right led to a workshop area with what appeared to be a variety of crafting stations, though from this angle I couldn’t make out much more than that. Sounds of clinking hammers and the hiss of steam radiated from that direction.

  I approached the man behind the counter, who looked up from a book with a smile that shifted into a sneer as he glanced up and down at me. The glowing blue nameplate above his had read “Kleyn”.

  “The Adventurer’s Guild is for members only. Requests should be sent through the proper channels. It’s the next building over, green door.”

  I smiled, extending my hand. “Hi, I’m looking to sign up as an adventurer. Nice to meet you.”

  He looked at my extended hand for a moment, lifting his head slightly, and pointedly did not shake it. “Hm, and who is your sponsor?”

  I pulled the Chit of Admittance from my inventory. “I don’t have a sponsor, but I have this.”

  The elf snatched the token from my hand, examining it closely. “Where did you get this? No matter; stay here.”

  He opened the door behind the desk, and stepped through. I glimpsed another hallway for a brief moment before he closed the door.

  I waited for several uneventful minutes until he returned. I eyed the boards to either side of the desk. Elegant font stylized to resemble flowing vines labeled them as “Mission Boards”. Numerous small squares of parchment were pinned to the boards. They seemed to be separated and grouped by small circular wax seals on the top right of each one, categorizing them in some way. The seals on several parchment fragments to the left had a familiar, coppery tone and shape. I pulled a copper coin out of my inventory and glanced between the two. Sure enough, the small waxy blob at the top right of the parchment resembled the copper coin.

  I started to read the paper, but only got a few lines in when the elven man reappeared.

  “Right this way. The Guild Master will see you. Don’t. Touch. Anything.” He clipped off each word with scathing finality as he stepped back and motioned for me to follow him deeper into the guild hall.

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