The bus ride back to the apartment was silent one, though it was obvious why. Whilst Marshal was just getting off a 12 hour shift at his desk job, everyone and their grandma was out on the town enjoying the coming of the New Year. Sure 2050 wasn't the greatest year; The government was filled with old wind-bags and conspiracy nuts, people were rioting a town over about some authority issues, Mega corps were raising their own paramilitary groups for the soon-to-be licensing war for the newest copy right, and of course His car got driven into as one of the anarchist gangs were trying to evade Mega Corp cops.
It was a task to keep his eyes awake as he slouched in his seat, his uniform wrinkling and creasing from the posture. When his Boss was just so nonchalant about just pushing off finishing the project on him, it just chipped away at the little lump of love he had for his fellow man. Like a majority of office drones he was timid, kept his head down, and equated to a NPC in a videogame. He wasn't happy to be working so hard on a holiday, he wanted to at least get something at bar before getting home, maybe play a retro-game into the new year.
"... Congrats Marsh, you started off the New year with closed eyes and a headache." He grimaced, rubbing the soreness out of his eyes from hours staring into a screen.
When the A.I. bus driver called for his stop, Marshal sluggishly got up and walked out being wished a 'Fantastic (corporation name) New year'! All he could muster was a lack luster 'You too' as he trudged up the steps of his complex. His wasn't the best location or quality but it was his little nest of creature comforts; a tall bookcase that housed all his nerdy media, a large tv with a lot of consoles hooked up, a work desk for his computer and model building, and a small bed that just fit in the corner of the room that counted for a couch. It was his corner of the world that made him happy, even if he had to use the communal bathroom and kitchen on his floor. Locking the door behind him he just shucked off his work attire and just flopped onto the bed. He turned his head to look at the monitor on his desk to see the time.
"23:50..." he yawned, his whole body sinking like stone into the sweet embrace of his mattress. "So much for a fresh start..." with that his body succumbed to his exhaustion and with it he started to have a weird dream that had him looking at an Old game prompt:
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Your world is about the be destroyed in ten minutes. Would you like to reincarnate now? Y/N
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'Pffft... One hell of a cliché to a dream on new years eve, but hey, let the good times roll.' And with that he confirmed that he would.
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Randomly selecting race. Enjoy your new life in Esmerda.
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Just as soon as it came, the prompt left leaving Marshal in complete darkness. It's an odd feeling to be left in pure black, almost as if its just clamping down all around you. The build up of time in this was suffocating as if all the air was being crushed out of your lungs and you begin to thrash in an attempt to at least give yourself some breathing room. He tried to push out but that's when his hands pressed up against a warm, hard wall. This just sent his body into anxiety filled panic.
'Gotta get out, gotta get out now!' was all that flittered through his mind as he pressed even harder, using his full weight and legs into it. It felt as if he was moving through molasses like his limbs weren't fully awake or as if they atrophied to nothing but twigs! The fear was almost going to claim his sanity until finally cracks formed in the wall, letting streams of light and with one mighty heave the wall gave way and Marshal's eyes were blinded with bright light.
The first thing he notice was there was a sharp smell, like a mixture of sweat socks and moss. That wasn't the smell of his room and he never dreamt of smells. When his eyes adjusted to the light he was then greeted by an unsettling sight. Directly in front of him was a giant rat-lizard thing that looked as if its skin (scales?) were wrinkled from being in the water too long. Its beady little yellow eyes looking at him as if trying to figure out what he was. Though he had to admit, Marshal was more drawn towards to its wispy, white mustache that drooped down its snout. He tried to scream out in fear at the wrinkled mustachioed tyrant but nothing came out save for short squeak.
'That's not my voice, what happened to my voice!?' was the rush of thought and emotion that wasn't help by the sudden wheezing cackle that came out of creature. Sounding as dry and horse as if the ancient thing had nothing but dust for vocal cords.
"Heres I thought ya wer a spoilt egg! Tooks yur sweet time hatchlin'!" The lizard wheezed with what seemed to be a snaggle tooth smile on their snout. "Welcome to the werld, Young Kolbold!"
It was at that moment that he looked at his surroundings. The wall he was fighting against? It was the shell he hatched from. Then he looked at his own hands and wanted to verbally scream as he witnessed two small clawed hands that were mottled with grey and black scales. This wasn't dream.
He had woken up as a baby Kobold!