ADVENTURE TIME!yay!

I stood on the grassy hills, the night sky above me swirling with hues of deep blue and shimmering stars. My hair danced in the gentle wind, while a sense of absolute wonder flared within me. Just moments earlier, I had been killed by a tattooed Monster, next I found myself in this vibrant, foreign world.

As I marveled at the vast openness, a chilling scream pierced the night. "Help me!" The cry echoed across the hills, drawing a confused frown on my face. Part of me clenched with fear. Another part felt foolish for being curious enough to sprint toward danger.

I raced up the incline, the weight of a sword on my back, that I just noticed. Arriving at the summit, the moonlight illuminated a tense gathering below: a circle of men in chainmail, brandishing torches like thumbed-out teeth against the soft night. Their faces grim, they loomed over a girl who lay crumpled on the ground. My heart quickened; I felt out of place, yet couldn't turn back.

"Oh shit." A nervous chuckle slipped out as I realized I hadn't checked what I was wearing. Black and gold royal attire adorned me, the regal collar flipped up and shining under the torches. A black metal shoulder guard with golden dragon accents curled around my left shoulder—symbols of authority I had yet to understand.

"Help me!" The girl's voice broke through my thoughts once again, snapping me back into the moment. I sprinted down the hill, my mind racing with questions.

One of the men, the largest among them, pointed an accusatory finger in my direction as I approached. "What the fuck is this?" he barked. "Boy, you better back the fuck up. This here is a witch. She cursed us."

The girl, with vibrant purple hair and deep purple eyes—the color magnified by the moisture from her tears—responded desperately, "They're lying! They paid me for a quest! I told them where to go. Instead of helping the hobbit in the cave, they decided to rob him. The spirits cursed them. They're blaming me for being idiots!"

A chill coursed through me as I surveyed the men encircling her. The tension was palpable, and dread began to knot in my stomach. The burly man with tattoos snickered, brandishing a massive axe. "She lied to us! If you're a smart young man, you'd walk away. This is none of your business."

But the plea in the girl's eyes ignited something in me. I turned to her, my heart pounding. "If I take care of them for you, will you get me a room in the closest town? I'm feeling a little tired." My weariness belied the adrenaline surging through me.

The girl clasped her hands together, hope lighting her eyes. "Yes!" she exclaimed.

The large man's face twisted in fury. I had pushed him too far. I unsheathed my sword—golden and magnificent, gleaming in the firelight. But as I lifted it, a sinking realization washed over me:*Shit I don't even know how to use this thing, I hope they take a bluff.*

"Get the busy-body!" the large man yelled, and suddenly, his band of miscreants lunged toward me: *shit, I don't think they took my bluff.*

I swung my sword wildly, but I misjudged the distance and ended up spinning around, ungracefully tripping the first man. A mix of luck and desperation shot through me as I skidded across the ground.

Suddenly, another man swung a sword at me, barely missing my arm as I rolled to safety. *I really don't know what I just got myself into!*

A heavy blow struck my stomach, and the world around me exploded. The large man's axe hit me hard, sending me flying through the air. "Do you need help?" The voice asking peppered with urgency. The same one as earlier.

"Yes! Yes! Fucking help! I have no idea what the hell I'm doing!" My scream pierced the night, and at that moment, a golden light burst from my left ear. I didn't see what it was, but as I tried to get my bearings, I felt something land on top of my head.

"Boy, once we land, I want you to duck, roll, and then swing that blade upwards," the voice instructed with an accent that sounded almost Arabic.

I prepared to hit the ground, crouching instinctively as the axe whizzed just above me. I ducked, rolled, and just like that, I found myself between the large man's legs. I swung the sword upwards, my heart racing.

The blade sliced through flesh, and to my shock, the world slowed. Blood sprayed over my face as the man collapsed, lifeless.

The other four men hesitated, then turned and fled, their desperation evident. The Arabian voice returned. "If you let them run off, they will tell their guild, and that guild will come after you. Reach into your left belt line and grab the blades."

I reached toward my waist, my fingers curling around four throwing knives. "Now envision electricity in each blade as you throw them."

My adrenaline surged as I obeyed, picturing a lightning bolt colliding with the blades. I hurled them into the darkness. Thunder crackled as they flew, striking true. Each man fell as the knives pierced their backs, the electric energy making quick work of them.

The cat—now revealed to be black with gold patterns—settled onto my head, coiling comfortably. "The name's Orion. I need a nap," he declared, yawning.

"Uh… thanks?" I muttered, still in shock.

The girl, watched me wide-eyed, a mix of admiration and disbelief etched across her face. "Hi. I'm Dehya. Thank you for saving my life."

I felt warmth rise in my cheeks, an odd giddiness igniting within me. "You're welcome," I stammered, scratching the back of my head. No one had ever looked at me like that before—not with such awe.

In the chill of the night, as we stared at each other, I realized that maybe this mysterious world was more than just a place of danger. Perhaps it was a chance for adventure.