James Hollaway woke up in darkness, his body aching as if he had been hit by a truck—because he had been. The last memory he had was of shoving a child out of the path of an oncoming vehicle. He blinked, trying to make sense of his surroundings. The air was cool and damp, and the ground beneath him felt uneven and rocky. Faint, glowing runes adorned the cavern walls, casting just enough light to see by.
Groaning as he sat up, he rubbed his head. "Where am I?" he muttered to himself. "Is this... the afterlife?"
His voice echoed slightly, the sound bouncing off the cavern walls. James tried to recall the moments before his accident, piecing together fragments of memory. He had been walking home after a long day at work when he saw the child dart into the street. His instincts had taken over, and he acted without thinking. The impact was the last thing he felt before everything went black.
He lifted his hands to his face and froze. His skin was a deep, rich ebony, and his fingers were longer and more delicate than he remembered. Panicking, he scrambled to his feet and stumbled to a nearby pool of water. The reflection staring back at him had high cheekbones, pointed ears, and striking violet eyes.
"I'm... a dark elf?" James whispered in shock, touching his face. The unfamiliar reflection mimicked his movements, confirming the surreal transformation. The voice that came out of his mouth was unfamiliar too—softer and more melodic.
As he stood, a voice echoed through the cavern, lazy and disinterested. "Ah, you're awake. Good, I guess."
James turned to see a figure materializing in the dim light. The being before him looked disheveled and unkempt, dressed in a loose, tattered robe. He held a faintly glowing orb and had a perpetual look of boredom on his face. James couldn't help but notice the smell of alcohol wafting from him.
"Who are you?" James asked, a mix of fear and curiosity in his voice. "Where am I?"
The figure sighed deeply, as if even speaking was a chore. "I'm your god. Sort of. You're in a new world now. Congratulations."
James blinked in confusion. "A god? A new world? What are you talking about?"
"I'm Dionysius," the deity replied, stifling a yawn. "You died, saved a kid, and now you're here. You're a Village Manager, the least heroic of heroes. Congrats."
"Village Manager?" James echoed, disbelief coloring his tone. "What does that even mean?"
Dionysius rolled his eyes and waved his hand dismissively. "It means you get a HUD, manage resources, build a village, blah blah. You'll figure it out."
James stared at him, frustration building. "That's it? That's all the guidance I get?"
"Pretty much," Dionysius said, looking at his orb with mild interest. "There's a village of dark elves. They're in trouble. Go help them. Or don't. Whatever."
James's fists clenched at his sides. "And how am I supposed to find this village? Or even use this HUD thing?"
Dionysius shrugged. "Just think about it, or something. I don't know, haven't had a hero survive long enough to care."
James took a deep breath, trying to keep his anger in check. "You're telling me you're a god, and you can't even give me basic instructions?"
Dionysius looked at James with a mix of amusement and pity. "Look, kid, the world's full of heroes. Most of them don't last a week. Just try not to die too quickly, alright?"
James, desperate to get more information, blurted out, "If I fail, doesn't that make you look bad too? Aren't gods supposed to care about their heroes?"
Dionysius paused, his expression shifting slightly from disinterest to mild curiosity. "Huh, that's a new one. Most of you just accept your fate or whine about it. You might have a point, though. If you manage to not die in the first week, maybe I'll check in on you."
"Wait!" James called out as Dionysius started to fade away. "What am I supposed to do?"
Dionysius's voice echoed faintly as he disappeared. "Figure it out. Or don't. Good luck, or something."
James stood alone in the dimly lit cavern, a mix of frustration and determination settling over him. "Well, here goes nothing," he muttered, taking a deep breath.
He focused, trying to activate his HUD as Dionysius had suggested. After a few attempts, a faint overlay appeared in his vision, displaying basic stats and a vague direction to the dark elf village. It was crude and unhelpful, but it was a start.
Name: James Hollaway
Race: Dark Elf
Class: Village Manager
Level: 1
Level Cap: 5
Stats:
Strength: 10 Dexterity: 12 Intelligence: 15 Wisdom: 14 Constitution: 11 Health: 100 Mana: 50
Dark Elf Village 5 miles south of your location
Holy shit this is exactly like a game! James began to smirk slightly, if James knew anything it would be how to exploit games.
Determined to make the best of his situation, James set off towards the exit of the cavern. As he stepped outside, he was greeted by a dense, vibrant forest. The air was fresh, and the sounds of nature surrounded him. Despite the uncertainty and the lackluster guidance from Dionysius, a small part of him felt excited.
This is it. A new world, a new chance. I just hope I don't screw it up, he thought as he began his journey towards the dark elf village.