Welcome to your new home

There weren't always dragons in the valley.

At least that's what mom said. But as I cupped my hands in front of my eyes, I used my makeshift hand binoculars to try and see one for myself. Everyone else was terrified that the rumours were true, but I was eager to see one up close. Mom said someone probably made the whole thing up, but I knew she just hated to think that it might be true. That it wasn't just a lie told to scare, or entertain, the town kids.

They'd scanned this world for years, she would say. Dad would agree, unable to argue, as they went back and forth for hours trying to figure out what to do next. He'd been the one to push for them to emigrate here after all. A new world, one devoid of the same issues they'd faced back home. Their home, not mine. The valley was where I'd been born, a beautiful world, capable of new beginnings. One without dragons or monsters that they would need to worry about.

And for years, they'd been right.

Beautiful greens, yellows, and whites adorned the valley's pastures and forests. Those same forests were stocked with fruits and vegetables that left us satisfied and full. Even the creatures we came across seemed amicable to our shared survival as they left our burgeoning town alone.

I didn't know much about their old home, but mom guaranteed our new one was much prettier. But for as pretty as ours was, they'd thought this place would be safer than the one they left behind. When we'd first heard the dragon news, I'd even heard her whisper it to herself a few times, as though chanting it like a spell until it came true: 'dragons are not real. They are not real'.

As though repeating it might help make it true.

But wishing for something to be true didn't make it so. That's what dad explained when he let us know they'd be sending a group into the valley where the dragon was seen. Mom hadn't reacted well. Almost immediately they sent us into our room, but Joice and I heard them arguing as mom questioned why it needed to be him. How this had to be some cruel joke. How he should just let the others go. How dragons couldn't exist.

Yelling turned into tears as she pleaded and begged for him to stay, but dad's shaking voice didn't falter as he made it clear he needed to go.

So, here we were, days later with still no new dragon sightings as the group prepared to head down into the valley. Dad was scared, which I couldn't blame him for, but mom was an absolute wreck, unwilling to even join us for his departure. Dad told us to take it easy on her while he was away, but I couldn't help but hope I could just join in the expedition. I offered, even, but apparently 9-year-olds weren't allowed on the trip.

So, instead, I sat on the hill with my makeshift binoculars, waiting to see if I'd be the first in the group to spot the dragons. That'd show them.

"Adam, get over here!" Joice yelled, pulling me away from my scouting. Dad seemed ready to go as he and the rest of the group said goodbye. I left my lookout point and joined my sister and the rest of the group.

Abruptly, my vision went black, and I heard everyone around me begin to panic.

Years later, I'd still wonder if it'd all been a coincidence that we'd been getting ready at that very moment. I'd wonder if ten years had been the cut-off point. Or if the initial sighting of the dragon had been the trigger we'd needed to acclimate to our new world fully. Maybe we'd reached some town milestone. Maybe the people who'd helped my parents through the portal had always known?

I'd never know.

And for 9-year-old me, none of those thoughts went through my mind as I started to scream for dad and Joice to come help me. Hot tears streamed down my face as I felt around for them, for anything, that might make my sudden loss of vision make sense.

Thankfully, the blackness didn't last long, and light finally returned.

My eyes were wide open, and my tears made everything blurry as I relished in the beauty around me again. The panicking crowd calmed me down some, as I finally saw my sister and dad, whose confusing looks met mine for a moment as we all wondered what had happened.

And then they appeared, the first of many messages I would learn to live with and accept.

Welcome to your new home!

The veil protecting it has been brought down.

Your initial period of complete safety is over.

Magical energies will slowly be integrated into your environment and monsters will begin appearing more often.

Dragons are real, but will be the least of your worries as other less powerful monsters look to threaten the lives you've built. Use the energy of this world to learn magic and create weapons that will help you fight back.

Killing monsters will help you become stronger, but there are countless roads to strength.

Find them.

Know that you are not alone.

Millions exist on this planet that have already integrated into the system.

And many have thrived for thousands of years after building civilizations of their own.

Grow strong and make a place for yourselves.

In a moment, you will receive your first gift from the system.

Please take a seat, as the initial process might cause you to faint.

Good luck and all the best as you explore this new world!

System integration in...

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