Campfire

Blue, The sky up above. My only window to the world beyond was a small hole in the room where I first found myself in this realm. I'd spend hours, days - who knows how long - gazing at the shifting sky, watching it cycle from day to night. But soon even those changes blurred together, the transitions as rapid as a blinking eye.

I did try numerous times to break free into the outer world, each attempt more desperate than the last. After countless tries, it started to feel like an odd hobby of mine. Desperation? No, we were definitely far past that point. Instead, it became a quest for the tantalizing flavor of pain. Devoid of every sense but seeing and hearing, pain became something like the premium ice cream of experiences - rare, riveting, and remarkably refreshing. Whenever I felt my sanity slipping, I'd indulge in a scoop of pain to jolt me back into this twisted reality. A little masochistic, you might say.

I also did every trick I could think of to catch a glimpse of the world outside of this labyrinth. Like a specter (as I more and more believe I am a ghost now), I could glide through walls, but not through the stubborn outer shell of this confounding maze. I identified potential escape routes, gates and ancient doors that seemed more promising than others, yet each attempt proved fruitless. Failure became my faithful companion, accompanying each effort to escape and each subsequent surrender.

One time, whilst observing a critter –a creature that looked like the unholy union of a monkey and a bat. It was dozing off, thoroughly sated after gorging on the blood of a giant mole-like creature capable of transmuting rock into mud. With nothing better to do, I watched this bizarre show unfold, when suddenly I heard a voice.

Amid the sleepy hush of the labyrinth, the sound stood out like a drunk uncle at a somber family gathering. The unexpected very-human-like-sound of conversation, I noticed the flicker of a bonfire's light. It painted the cavern walls with dancing shadows and, I daresay, a bit of hope. Could this be my ticket out of here? The answer remained to be seen.

Upon floating closer, a sight one wouldn't typically expect greeted me: a campfire, crackling merrily in a rather spacious cave. Its radiant light was kept at bay by a dimly glowing magic barrier. The runes inscribed in the barrier flickered like ghostly fireflies, painting a surreal picture of safety within the chaotic depths. A motley collection of defeated monsters lay lifeless just outside, creating a grim contrast to the warm ambience inside.

Five individuals, an odd gathering, huddled around the fire. The first figure that caught me, a knight armed with a spear who was evidently well-acquainted with his flask of ale, tipping his head back in an animated hiccup. He swiped an unsteady hand over his mouth, waving his spear dramatically around the crackling campfire.

"Hic... An' here I thought," he began, his slurred speech a sign of his evening's indulgence. "That the fearsome beasts of this damned dungeon would be the end of me. But lo and behold, it's the constant drain of our coin that's going to do me in... Hic."

An exquisitely tall man who looked to be a fighter, solidly built with a broadsword resting against his shoulder, frowned at the first figure from behind his monocle. "Rienwald," he said sternly, "You might want to swap that flask for a water skin if you want to see the end of this expedition. We can't afford your indulgences." His hands moved to the small heap of gold coins before him, piling them up in a precise manner like a proper medieval accountant. "With your drinking pace, we won't have enough for a loaf of bread soon." He sighed, "Gods, I wish we could find a treasure trove in the next room"

From the corner, a man who looked out of place in this rugged environment chuckled. His hands were folded in front of him, a string of prayer beads wrapped around his wrists. He was evidently a priest, but the contrast of his nun's robes against his robust beard was a sight to behold. "I do wish we have enough to continue our venture together, but my dear Auro, true riches lie not in gold but in one's heart."

Suddenly, there was a loud, unladylike snort. The group turned in unison to find a woman in slumber, sprawled without care. The sight of her six-pack muscles were as much of a surprise as her cat ears. "Viana, the very epitome of grace," Auro retorted sarcastically, rolling his eyes at the unconscious woman before turning back to Belize, "Riches in the heart won't fill our stomachs, Belize."

Their banter was interrupted by a chuckle in soft voice. It was another girl, whose soft-spoken and gentle demeanor was a stark contrast to Viana. A bit of shock as at first glance, she reminded me of Aika, but a second look revealed she was definitely not her. "Someday, I'm sure I'll miss these moments. Once we're out of here, Auro, you can sell my crystal amulet." A hint of amusement laced her words, "I believe its value would be quite high."

Auro, adjusting his monocle that adorned his left eye, laughed lightly. "Well... Renae, I would be lying if I said I wasn't tempted to know its price. But, I'll only sell it after you've become a queen. By then, its price would multiply manifold," he teased, earning a round of chuckles from the others.

Speaking of marriages, Rienwald, his words slightly slurred from the ale, asked, "Does your betrothed, that knight from the Holy Knights, know about your adventurer escapades?"Renae nodded, a soft smile dancing on her lips. "Yes, he's known since the beginning, even before my father found out."

Belize chimed in, his magnificent beard not quite matching his youthful girl gesture, "My dear... so this is a long-brewing love story. And here I thought you were betrothed."

Auro, spurred by the camaraderie, cheered, "Speaking of heart... how is your feeling, Renae? Any jitters about the wedding?"

The corners of Renae's mouth curved upwards, her cheeks flush with a rosy hue. "Well... I...," she stuttered, then broke into a small, nervous laugh. "I'm not sure. It's a big step. But I think I'm ready."

With a hearty laugh, Rienwald raised his flask in salute. "Aye, that's the spirit! To Renae and her brave heart!"

"To Renae," they all echoed, lifting their drinks. Their laughter bounced off the cavern walls, filling the otherwise still air with a warm familiarity.

It was a simple scene, yet familiar and oddly comforting. I couldn't remember the last time I'd seen other humans, though every one of them clearly differed from the people in my original world. Not just their clothes, their armor, but also their appearance: Auro with his elf-like pointy ears, and his towering height; Rienwald, with hair on his neck that resembled a mane, slightly resembles a werewolf in the middle of transition; and Viana, the woman with cat ears and tail.

Yet, amidst them all, Renae was most special in my eyes. No one was like Aika, yet she brought me back to my old world. Aika... the memory was still vivid yet felt as distant as a grandfather reminiscing about his youth.

"...Wow, seems like I still have some EXP points left. To venture deeper into the dungeon, I guess improving strength and agility would help," Rienwald murmured to himself, his eyes staring blankly into the air, his finger swiping through the void.

"Rienwald, you don't need to physically touch it, and you probably shouldn't open your 'Stats Menu' while drunk. No telling what you might alter," Auro casually remarked, recounting the coins before depositing them into various small leather pouches.

I was stunned. "EXP Points??, Stats Menu?" I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Indeed, this world had its similarities to the typical fantasy narratives, but after my experiences so far, I wasn't entirely convinced that this was like an Isekai anime, especially not one with menus and experience points like an RPG game.

"The Menu, to me, is a sacred thing. One mustn't casually imagine it to summon it. You're an A-lister, Rienwald, we must maintain our minds," Belize chimed in.

I stood, flabbergasted. All this time, I had never even considered the existence of a stats menu. "Just by imagining it? Is it really that simple?" I couldn't believe it.

Closing my eyes – metaphorically speaking, of course, as I couldn't physically close non-existent eyelids – I focused my mind.

And to my utter shock, a floating display materialized before me, a menu of stats and figures. The reality of this world took on an entirely new dimension.