Ethan groaned as he came to, his head pounding like he'd spent the night headbutting a brick wall. He was lying on his back, staring up at a sky that was entirely too blue. The last thing he remembered was closing his laptop after a long day of work and collapsing into bed. Now, he was in the middle of a forest with no idea how he got there.
He sat up, rubbing his temples as he tried to make sense of his surroundings. Towering trees surrounded him, their leaves rustling in a gentle breeze that carried the scent of pine and earth. The air was cool, crisp, and far too fresh compared to the stale city air he was used to.
"This isn't my apartment,"
Ethan muttered to himself, patting down his pockets to see if anything familiar was on him. His phone was gone, but in its place, he found a small, leather-bound journal tucked into his jacket pocket. He pulled it out, flipping it open to the first page, which was blank. So was the second. And the third.
Before he could delve any deeper into the mystery of the journal, a soft chime echoed in his head, followed by a screen that popped up in front of his eyes—one that looked suspiciously like a video game interface.
Welcome to the Dominion System!
Initializing...
Scanning Environment...
Analyzing Host (That's You!)...
Analysis Complete.
Ethan blinked, half expecting to wake up any second now. But the screen remained, hovering in the air in front of him. It was translucent, glowing faintly, and looked like something straight out of an RPG.
"Okay, I'm definitely still asleep,"
Ethan decided aloud.
"Maybe I shouldn't have had that last slice of pizza."
The screen didn't respond to his sarcasm. Instead, it flashed again, revealing a new message.
Quest Activated: Find Civilization
Hint: Head East.
Reward: Basic Survival Kit
Ethan stared at the screen, trying to wrap his head around the situation.
"A quest? Really? What, am I in some kind of fantasy world now?"
The screen didn't answer. It just blinked out, leaving him sitting in the middle of a forest with no other choice but to follow the mysterious instructions. With a resigned sigh, Ethan stood up, dusted off his jeans, and started walking east, figuring it was as good a direction as any.
As he walked, he couldn't help but notice how oddly... normal everything felt. Sure, the trees were a bit bigger than the ones he was used to, and the forest was eerily quiet, but it wasn't like he'd stepped into a completely alien world. If it weren't for the strange interface, he might have just thought he was on an intense camping trip.
After what felt like hours of walking, with the sun now high in the sky, Ethan finally caught sight of something that wasn't trees. In the distance, nestled between two hills, was a small village. Relief washed over him at the sight of people—real people—going about their daily lives. They wore simple, rustic clothes and carried baskets of vegetables, tools, and other goods as they moved from one thatched-roof cottage to another.
"Finally,"
Ethan muttered, picking up the pace.
"Maybe someone here can explain what's going on."
As he approached the village, a new screen popped up, startling him.
Welcome to Bramblethorn
Population: 74
Status: Struggling
"Struggling? That doesn't sound good,"
Ethan said to himself, eyeing the rundown buildings and the general air of weariness that seemed to hang over the village. The villagers noticed him as he walked into the main square, their gazes wary but curious.
Before Ethan could figure out what to do next, an elderly man with a long, white beard and a walking stick approached him. The man's eyes were sharp, despite his age, and he looked Ethan up and down with a discerning gaze.
"You're not from around here, are you?"
the old man asked, his voice gruff but not unkind.
"Uh, no,"
Ethan admitted, scratching the back of his head.
"I'm... a bit lost, to be honest. Can you tell me where I am?"
The old man chuckled, a dry sound that echoed around the square.
"You're in Bramblethorn, lad. Not exactly the most prosperous village, but it's home."
Ethan nodded, trying to ignore the new screen that popped up with a brief summary of Bramblethorn's history and current plight. The village had once been thriving, but years of poor harvests, dried-up wells, and encroaching wilderness had left it in dire straits.
"Is there someone I can talk to about, uh, helping out?"
Ethan asked, figuring that if he was stuck here, he might as well make himself useful.
The old man's eyes narrowed slightly, but then he nodded.
"You'll want to talk to Lira. She's the headwoman of the village. You'll find her in the large cottage at the end of this road."
"Thanks,"
Ethan said, starting down the path the old man had indicated.
As he walked, the villagers continued to watch him, their expressions a mix of hope and skepticism. It was clear they weren't used to strangers—or maybe they just weren't used to good news. Ethan had a feeling they'd had a lot more of the latter than the former lately.
The headwoman's cottage was a bit larger than the others, but it was no less worn down. The door creaked loudly as Ethan pushed it open and stepped inside. The interior was cozy, with a fire crackling in the hearth and shelves lined with jars of herbs and dried flowers.
A woman in her late twenties stood near the fire, stirring a pot of something that smelled vaguely like stew. Her dark hair was tied back in a braid, and she had a tired but determined look on her face. When she saw Ethan, she straightened up, wiping her hands on her apron.
"Can I help you?"
she asked, her tone cautious but polite.
"Hi,"
Ethan began awkwardly.
"My name's Ethan, and, well, I sort of ended up here by accident. The old man in the square said I should talk to you."
"Ah, you must have met Thorne,"
she said, her expression softening slightly.
"I'm Lira, the headwoman here. We don't get many visitors these days."
"I gathered,"
Ethan replied, glancing around the cottage.
"Look, I know this is going to sound crazy, but I think I'm supposed to help you guys out."
Lira raised an eyebrow.
"Help us out? How?"
Ethan hesitated, unsure of how to explain the whole "Dominion System" thing without sounding completely insane.
"Well, I'm not entirely sure yet. But I have this... ability, I guess, that might be able to help fix things around here."
Lira studied him for a moment, then nodded slowly.
"We could certainly use the help. Our well has dried up, our crops are failing, and many of our people are losing hope. If there's anything you can do, it would be greatly appreciated."
Ethan felt a surge of determination. Maybe this was why he was here—to help these people rebuild their lives. He might not have had a clue about how to do it, but if this strange system had brought him here, then he figured he should at least try.
"Alright,"
Ethan said, offering her a smile.
"Let's get started."
And so, Ethan's journey in Bramblethorn began. Little did he know, this would be the first step on a path filled with challenges, discoveries, and maybe even a few laughs along the way. But for now, all he knew was that he was here, and he was ready to make a difference.