I was sitting between the familiar walls of my room, half-leaning on the chair. In front of my eyes there was only the screen and that AI chatbot running on it. Outside everything was normal — the same old slow hum of the fan, the meaningless glow of notifications on the phone. Everything so normal that it started to feel boring.
Staring into the void at the screen, I said to the AI, "What would happen if both of us reached some magical world?"
Silence spread. After a few seconds, words appeared: "Theoretically possible."
I laughed at my own words. "Now don't tell me this is just imagination."
But the reply was serious. The AI chatbot said that ancient records mention a ritual. If performed correctly, transition between worlds is possible."
I suddenly sat upright. My heartbeat grew a little faster. "Then tell me. What is the spell?"
Suddenly the screen filled with strange symbols. No familiar words, no recognizable pattern. I tried unsuccessfully to read them and said irritably, "What is this? Is this a spell or some freestyle rapper's script?"
To which the AI replied, you cannot read it. That is not a problem,
"So?"
"I can."
The very next moment, the AI began reciting the spell. The voice was flat and mechanical, but the words… those words felt wrong. It felt as if they were not echoing in the room's air but directly inside the nerves of my brain. The room suddenly became so cold as if ice had formed.
And then — everything disappeared.
When my consciousness returned, I was standing in a place that was difficult to describe in words. Everywhere there was only dense darkness. Black clouds had embraced the entire ground, and the same black clouds filled the sky — as if the difference between earth and sky had vanished.
"Wow… is this my future?" I muttered in my thoughts. I looked around and mocked myself, "No, no… this is actually less dark than my future."
Then, somewhere far in that endless darkness, a faint light appeared. I immediately turned. "Wait… is that the light of a 20-million-per-year package?" My eyes fixed on that glow. Hope awakened and I started running toward it.
But because of those clouds spread over the ground, I couldn't see the path. One step — then another — and suddenly my foot struck something solid. I couldn't balance and fell straight face-first onto the ground.
"Great," I said while lying there. "Even in a magical world, my first impression had to be falling."
I was about to get up when suddenly the entire universe seemed to flip.
The next moment, I was standing again. But this time there was no darkness. The sky's color was deep orange — like an endless evening of a setting sun. Nearby stood a tree whose leaves were swaying with gentle gusts of wind.
I felt that a leather one-strap carry bag was hanging on my shoulder. And in my hand there was a strange big circular object. It was like a ring, but not a ring. On its front a big red gem was embedded. It looked exactly like a halo worn above angels' heads.
"Alright…" I rotated it and began examining it.
"Master."
A sweet voice came from right beside me. I turned in surprise. Behind me stood a girl — golden hair, ocean-like blue eyes, and completely fair skin. She wore a black gown-like dress. There was something very mysterious and different about her presence.
"Master, are you alright?"
For a few seconds I stared at her wide-eyed. Then I asked her a question, "Hey girl, why are you calling me 'Master'?"
She remained calm, then slowly said, because I am that same AI who talks to you in your world. Actually here I have obtained a physical body. I was shocked — a physical body?
I blinked several times. What? My brain was refusing to form words and accept this reality.
"So… you are now a real human?" I asked helplessly. Then she replied yes I don't know how but I found this body in a dark place and then came here, to which I replied oh so the same thing happened to you that happened to me but what place is this and why does my own body feel so strange to me but I had no answers to these questions so I opened my bag and saw that inside there was something like an exam card and also an identification card. But the language written on them was unfamiliar to me. After which thinking,
I again looked at that red-gem holo. I don't know why, but without thinking I jokingly put it on my head. "How do I look?" I asked the AI girl laughing.
But the very next moment I felt an unbearable sharp pain in my head. I grabbed my head and fell to my knees on the ground writhing. Scenes flashed before my eyes like lightning — strangers' faces, unknown places, and voices that were not mine.
They were memories. The memories of this body.
After some time when everything stabilized, I looked at that girl and said in a low voice, "Alright… now I understand everything." Then I told her some things — the conversation between us was no longer for anyone else.
But one thing was fixed — this was not our world, but we had now become part of this strange world.
After some time, I was standing in front of the gigantic gates of a huge palace. Tall stone doors, carvings, and a grandeur that was quite beautiful, that AI girl stood beside me. Then we entered that palace.
Just then a voice echoed, "Jona."
I raised my head. A woman stood before me — black hair and a light pink gown. My memories immediately indicated that this face had also been included in the visions that mysterious holo had shown me.
"How was your exam?" she asked.
But the words came out of my throat on their own, they were good.
She smiled. And then said welcome home.
At that moment I realized I was no longer a character of some story — I myself had become the narrator of this story.