A Strange World

My back aches, and my head is pounding after a twelve-hour shift of dealing with yelling customers. The only light in my dark room is Angelic Blades Academy booting up on the screen.

Even after three years since its release, I still can't stop replaying it. The plot is straightforward enough: build influence as a hero candidate, push back the dark invasion of the Lethe, and survive the oncoming civil war.

Several hours have passed.

I should really sleep... I can't keep my eyes open.

As his vision fades, his mind drifts to the monitor's glow. 

Did I leave the game on? Whatever. I'll deal with it tomorrow. I just wish I could live a free life in a fantasy world. No responsibilities. No work...

Suddenly, a sharp, agonizing pain shoots through his back. This isnt the usual softness of a bed, but the corner of a sturdy, wooden table.

Am I dreaming?

He opens his eyes, fully expecting to see his messy apartment being lit up by the screen of his monitor. Instead, he stares up at several hanging lanterns, all glowing with a strange, unknown green gemstone.

Then, a voice cuts through the silence, snapping him out of his trance.

"Oi! Brak! Get off yer lazy ass and finish sweepin!"

In that moment, a broom is thrust into his chest.

Brak?

Looking in the reflection of some water on the floor, the realization came quickly. 

I am Brak! Oh yeah, I've been isekai'd! Wait, unless this is a dream. I should try to wake myself up then.

Brak pinches himself on the arm. He winces. The pain is real. This isn't a dream.

The loud voice of an angry man snaps Brak out of his daydreaming.

"Quit standin' by and get to work! I'm not paying ye' to just stand there!"

Instinctively, Brak makes haste and washes the cold, stony floor until it's all sparkling like a mirror.

"Guess I was a little harsh. But thats only because I don't want ye to end up like those bums on the street!"

The large man tosses Brak a pouch with some coins. 

The shop then empties and Brak leaves. 

* * *

It's been about three days since I arrived in this world. I've got a grasp on who Brak is. A poor commoner who takes odd jobs to support his sick mother, who currently lives in some run-down apartments on the edge of town. From everything that I've learned, this world is Angelic Blades Academy. I tried to cast magic, but nothing worked. In the game, magic doesnt exist. Instead, people of a heroic bloodline can call forth a special crystal dormant inside of them, which then manifests as a weapon. Commoners don't have such blessings. Brak... is powerless. He also doesn't have any talents as well. I only kept that job because my Service worker autopilot takes over the moment someone yells at me. Hooray for not wanting to be fired! I didn't think it would ever come in handy in an isekai world. 

Brak walks around his room in the old apartment. He looks in the mirror, analyzing every detail about himself. 

Orange eyes. Spiky brown hair with a few white streaks. Average protagonist look if I were in a shonen manga. People in this world have all kinds of varying appearances. My mother has dark purple hair and blue eyes. I can only assume I got these traits from Brak's dad, who died some time ago. Well, no reason to think about it. I need to figure out how to get my life together. Hmm... maybe I can stop by the adventurers' guild! Brak's body is quite sturdy.

Brak looks to the other room, where his mother sits. She's currently cleaning some clothes.

A sickly young woman who is skinny with sunken, blue eyes that make even the ocean look shallow.

She looks dead inside. I can imagine all the hardships she's had to endure.

"Brak? Where are you headed so early?" 

Braks mother says with a worried tone. Her empty blue eyes shine with a small degree of love despite her sickly complexion.

"Ma? I'm going to the guild. I want to try and earn some more money."

My real goal is to try and get out of this dump. I should be able to take on lower-ranked jobs. My mother in this world is way more caring than my other one. I want to make sure she gets out of this dump as well. Her name is Melinda.

Brak then puts on the proper attire and makes haste for the guild!

Walking down the street, Brak continues to think to himself, getting lost in thought.

I need to be realistic. It won't be as easy as it sounds. In the game, this city, Axai, is a major area for the second plot of the game, which is the civil war. It's doomed to fall. If I want to avoid that death flag, I need to make money fast to get out of here with my mom. Normally, I'd enroll in the academy, since it's like the main setting of the game. But I'm a talentless, broke commoner, and this is the real world to me now. 

Brak then stops dead in his tracks. There's one thing he has forgotten about. 

"How did I not realize this sooner?!"

Brak yells out loud, making a crowd of people look at him. 

"Huh- oops-"

Brak makes haste and quickly rushes to a nearby alley to get some privacy. 

I forgot about one thing because my mind was so focused on survival. This is the game world! I've played this game so many times that I lost count. I know all the weapons, character dialogue, and where to find the secret treasure chests in dungeons. This city in particular is a low-level area meant for the early game during the field trip events. There should be a dungeon around here.

Another thought crosses Brak's mind.

"If I can make it to the City of Aurora, I can find the Capital Labyrinth!"

The capital city of the southern province.

The country the game takes place in is called Cardinoxia. It's divided into four different regions. The northern province, the western province where the main plot takes place, the eastern province, and the southern province. 

Axai sits at the border between the eastern and southern provinces.

Inside the Capital Labyrinth is a special item called Fallen Angel's Heart. They're secret items you unlock by progressing through the game. In the game, you can equip them over the hero's main weapon or give them to a party member. However, because they're fallen, they each have a curse. It's just to balance things out. In the Capital Labyrinth, the Fallen Angel's Heart that is hidden is a shield. I will make that my goal. It's the only shot I have at becoming powerful enough to survive and keep my mother alive.

Brak then snaps out of his unending internal monologing and makes haste for the guild. 

He arrives at the guild, which is a grand castle-like building. It's massive despite Axai being a smaller city due to the number of traveling adventurers coming to and from the two provinces. 

"Where is the receptionist... ah!"

Brak walks up to one of the desks and looks up at the receptionist.

The receptionist smiles and speaks with a soft voice. "Hello there! What brings you to the guild?"

Brak stumbles back, caught off guard by her warm smile

Oh crap! This is the first time I'm actually speaking to someone who isn't my mom or yelling at me! And she's a beauty as well! No, I can't let social anxiety take me. I've hardly talked with anyone from my past life socially. I can do this...

Brak then clears his throat.

"I-I w-would like t-to r-register at the guild!" 

Brak closes both eyes, feeling embarrassed for saying it like he never spoke to anyone before.

The receptionist smiles. 

"Alright. Please sign these papers, and when you're done, place your hand on this crystal ball. By the way, my name is Elizabeth. If you decide to stay, I'll be your receptionist!"

Brak then signs the papers and looks at the ball. Placing his hand on it, a holographic screen appears.

Elizabeth maintains her smile as she goes over the information. 

"Your name is Brak. You're 13 years old. No criminal history. Is this all correct?"

Brak stumbles back a little. He knew about the balls from the game, but experiencing it firsthand was something else. 

Creepy how it knows everything about me...

Brak pushes the thought aside and nods. He looks up at Elizabeth.

"Yes. Everything said there is correct."

Elizabeth maintains her soft smile and hands Brak a card. 

"The quest board is located to the right of the desk. If you find anything you like, then bring it back here, and we'll finalize it. Welcome to the guild, Mister Brak!"

Brak nods and makes his way towards the massive wall of quests. 

The quests work the same way in the game. They're not vital for progression of the game, as it's all just side content to increase the hero's reputation and gain money.

Brak then stands by the quest board, looking up at it. There are several different jobs. One for finding a lost cat. One to help with city cleaning. One to aid some construction workers. 

Wasn't I already doing these before I joined the guild?  I'll think about it later. I need money. Best to just stick with jobs I can do. Fighting against Lethe is a good way to make money, but I'm way too under-equipped. Lethe are targets for high-class noble warriors with their Angelic Blades.

Brak then takes a city-cleaning job and rushes back to Elizabeth. 

"This one, please!"

Elizabeth takes the quest and processes it. 

"Alright, it's all set. Please meet back here in two days when the crew arrives."

Brak nods and leaves the guild.

My first actual job! Well, I was just doing odd jobs around and getting paid under the table. 

Brak rushes home and finds his mothers making some food. 

Melinda turns and gives Brak a weak but loving smile.

"Welcome home... Did it go well? Your dad would be proud that you're actually making an effort to become better."

Brak shows Melinda the card.

"I've got my first actual job, Mom! I no longer need to beg strangers to let me work for them!"

I can tell she's hiding her pain. She can't work because of her weak condition, and I am forced to do all the work, which is barely enough as is. At least with the guild, we have a stable income.

Melinda walks over and gently pats Brak's head.

"Cleaning? Just wear the proper gear and be sure to follow what the directions say. You've been spacing out a lot recently..."

Brak smiles and rubs the back of his head. 

"I will!"

Brak then runs off to his room.

Melinda sighs and looks at an old picture hanging on the wall. It's of a burly man with a large beard, wielding an axe. 

"He's grown up so much... I'm not sure how long I have left..."

Melinda then coughs, wiping some blood from her mouth.

"When he finishes his first quest, I'll tell him about your final gift... Goldbas."