The sun hung low over the horizon, casting golden light over the dense forest that surrounded Sophie Davis and her friends. The air was crisp, filled with the earthy scent of pine and the distant sound of a babbling brook. Sophie adjusted the straps of her backpack and grinned at the trail ahead.
"You sure you don't want company, Soph?" her best friend, Claire, called from behind.
Sophie shook her head. "I'll be fine. I'll catch up before sunset. I just want to check out the view from the ridge. You know me—can't resist a good photo op."
Claire gave her a mock stern look but relented. "Alright, but don't wander too far. These woods are wild."
Sophie waved her off, adjusting her camera strap as she set off on the narrow trail. The forest seemed alive, every rustling leaf and chirping bird filling her with a sense of wonder. She snapped photos of the dappled sunlight filtering through the trees and the delicate wildflowers lining the path.
She loved moments like this—quiet, serene, and free from the stress of deadlines and exams. For Sophie, nature was the perfect escape, a reminder that the world was bigger and more beautiful than the chaos of everyday life.
When she reached the ridge, the view took her breath away. The mountains stretched endlessly, their peaks kissed by clouds. Sophie lifted her camera to capture the moment, smiling as the shutter clicked. But just as she lowered the camera, a deep, guttural growl shattered the tranquility.
Her blood ran cold as she turned, coming face-to-face with a massive bear. Its dark eyes locked onto hers, and Sophie's heart pounded. She froze, her mind racing. Every survival tip she'd ever read blurred together in her panic. Slowly, she began to back away, keeping her gaze on the bear.
"Easy," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I'm not here to hurt you."
The bear's growl deepened, its muscles coiling as it prepared to charge. Sophie's legs felt like lead. She turned to run, but it was too late. The bear lunged, its claws raking across her side. Pain exploded through her, sharp and overwhelming. She screamed, the sound raw and desperate, but the forest swallowed it. Darkness rushed in, and Sophie felt herself falling, her last thought a jumbled mix of regret and disbelief.
Sophie awoke with a jolt, but something was wrong. She couldn't move. She couldn't even feel her body—only a deep, rooted stillness. Around her, the air was damp, thick with the scent of decay and stagnant water. She realized she was in a swamp, surrounded by twisted trees and murky water. Then, it hit her: she was one of those trees.
"No. No, no, no," she thought, panic surging through her mind. "This isn't real. It can't be real." She tried to move, to scream, to do anything, but her efforts were met with nothing but silence.
Before she could spiral further, a glowing panel of light appeared in front of her. Lines of text scrolled across the screen, clear despite the dim surroundings:
Welcome to Elyndor Rebirth System
Designation: Guardian Seedling
Objective: Protect and restore the balance of Elyndor's natural forces. Current form: Lesser Swamp Tree.
Instructions:
Absorb natural energy from the swamp to grow.
Attract followers to awaken higher forms.
Faith and devotion from inhabitants will fuel your evolution.
Current Abilities:
Basic Energy Absorption
Nature Communication (Limited Range)
Hint: Your journey begins in humility. Use this time to connect with the life around you.
Sophie stared at the glowing panel, or rather, she tried to. Being a tree made the concept of staring feel strange and alien. Her thoughts raced. "What is this? Some kind of game? Did I hit my head? Am I dreaming?"
The panel's soft glow felt almost mocking, its words unyielding. "A tree? I'm a tree? I was a college student five minutes ago, and now I'm… this?" Frustration welled up, and she let out a mental shout. "Are you kidding me?!"
A soft chime interrupted her thoughts, and new text appeared:
Your thoughts are registered. You are not alone in this journey. Progress wisely.
The calm tone of the message only fueled Sophie's irritation. "Not alone? I'm literally rooted to the ground in the middle of a swamp! How is that not alone?" she thought angrily.
Her mental tirade was cut short as a faint sensation rippled through her. It wasn't touch, exactly, but an awareness of the world around her. She could sense the water seeping into her roots, the insects skittering across her bark, the faint hum of life in the swamp. It was overwhelming and oddly soothing all at once.
She took a moment to process. "Okay, Sophie. Freaking out won't help. You're here, wherever 'here' is, and you've got… some kind of system guiding you. Just… figure out what to do next."
The panel's instructions flashed through her mind. Absorb energy. Grow. Attract followers. It sounded simple enough, but the concept of gaining followers as a tree seemed absurd. "Who's going to worship a swamp tree?" she muttered to herself. Still, it wasn't like she had any other options.
Focusing on her roots, she tried to absorb energy as the panel suggested. At first, it felt strange, like trying to flex a muscle she'd never used before. But gradually, she sensed a faint warmth flowing into her. It was subtle but steady, like a trickle of water in a dry streambed.
"Okay," she thought. "That's… something. Now what?"
The panel didn't respond, leaving her alone with her thoughts. Time passed, though she couldn't tell how much. Minutes? Hours? The swamp's noises filled the silence—croaking frogs, chirping insects, the occasional splash of something moving through the water.
As she absorbed more energy, Sophie began to notice subtle changes. Her awareness expanded, allowing her to sense farther into the swamp. She could feel the life around her more clearly—the plants, the animals, even the faint whispers of something deeper, something magical.
For the first time since waking, a spark of hope flickered within her. Maybe this wasn't the end. Maybe this was just the beginning of something she couldn't yet understand.
"Alright," she thought, her determination solidifying. "I don't know how or why this happened, but I'm not giving up. If this is my second chance, I'll make it count. Even if I have to start as a swamp tree."