Alythia

The morning light had peeked through the cave's entrance, gently waking me up. My body awfully refreshed, it seems a good night's sleep had definitely helped. As I stretched and started to move, I suddenly realized I had been completely naked. I couldn't believe I hadn't noticed it before, and I was honestly a bit embarrassed. Determined to fix the situation, I decided to head back to the wagon wreckage, hoping to find something to solve my clothing problem.

...

The journey back was uneventful, I easily found the wreckage by following the cliffside as well as occasionally broken branches and other landmarks I had made the day before. Rummaging through the debris, I found some plain, uncolored fabrics. Picking the most durable and least damaged pieces, I used my limited DIY skills to make a simple, rag-like outfit. It was far from perfect, but at least it gave me some modesty and protection.

I had really wished I could find some shoes as well, but I guessed that was asking for too much.

Feeling more prepared, I set out to explore the surrounding area, venturing out in different directions from the crash site. My goal was to find any signs of civilization or discover anything useful that might aid me in my quest for survival.

As I explored, I noticed that the scratches and bruises I had sustained the day before were gone, leaving my skin smooth and unblemished. I wonder about this weird condition but decided to focus on figuring out where I was first. During my exploration, I kept an eye out for anything that could be used as tools or weapons. I found some sturdy branches that could serve as a walking stick or a makeshift club, as well as a few sharp rocks that might be useful for cutting or scraping. I also gathered some more of the large leaves and brought them back to my cave to use as a makeshift bed.

Continuing my exploration, I stumbled upon a crystal-clear pond, its surface shimmering like a mirror under the sunlight. The water looked cool and inviting, so I decided to take a break. Staring at the reflection of myself on the water, I got the first glimpse of what I looked like. It wasn't too clear, but it was enough to give me a sense of my appearance.

The image staring back at me appeared to be a young high school student, around 16 years old. The eyes were a captivating shade of blue, and her hair, a stunning white that framed a delicate face.

‘Not bad’ I thought as my mouth unconsciously upturned into a smile.

I carefully stepped into the water, toes first, testing its temperature before taking off my clothes and diving in for a swim. The water felt amazing on my skin, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of freedom as I submerged myself in the pond. The water enveloped my body, washing away the tension and stress from my previous experiences. The sensation was soothing, like a gentle embrace that calmed my nerves and uplifted my spirits.

I took a deep breath, allowing the water to flow over my face and through my hair, feeling the weight of my worries dissolve with each passing moment. After swimming and playing around in the water for a while, I took the opportunity to bathe and wash my hair, using the water to remove the dirt and grime from my body.

I couldn't help but smile and laugh as I enjoyed the delightful experience, my heart swelling with gratitude for this unexpected moment of tranquility.

As I finished bathing and started to climb out of the pond, I realized that I hadn't had anything to drink since I woke up. It was a peculiar thought, considering I hadn't felt thirsty at all. The realization that I hadn't felt thirsty or particularly hungry added to the mystery of my current situation.

"Eh, whatever," I thought. It was weird, but I could always deal with it when my living situation became more stable.

...

The following days brought more exploration and discovery.

Each day, I pushed myself to venture a bit further or in a new direction, slowly building up my endurance and gaining a better understanding of the world around me. I came across various plants and insects, some of which were familiar while others were entirely new to me. Among the familiar plants, I recognized ferns, ivy, and various types of wildflowers. However, many of the other plants seemed to belong to a completely different world.

I discovered vibrant, almost otherworldly flowers with petals that shimmered like iridescent glass in the sunlight, and trees with thick, twisted trunks that seemed to pulse with an unseen energy. The insects, too, were a fascinating mix of the recognizable and the bizarre. I spotted tiny, iridescent beetles that skittered about on leaves, their shells glinting in the dappled sunlight. There were also dragonflies with elongated, translucent wings, leaving faint trails in the air as they darted around.

A family of green, squirrel-like creatures expertly navigated the branches of the trees, their nimble bodies easily traversing the dense canopy. I noticed that they seemed to favor certain types of fruits from trees and bushes, and I made a mental note of these potential food sources. One of them was a patch of berries that resembled blackberries. Though since I still didn't feel hungry, I decided not to try them. Better safe than sorry.

...

One evening, as I returned to the cave, I noticed something peculiar: a faint glow emanating from deep within the recesses of my shelter. With my curiosity piqued, I cautiously approached the source of the light, my heart pounding with anticipation. To my surprise, I found a single transparent mini shiitake mushroom emitting a faint blue glow growing on the cave wall.

Intrigued, I reached out to touch it, my fingers brushing against its smooth, cool surface.

As I did so, I noticed a strange sensation tingling through my fingertips, a faint sensation I had never felt before, like some energy was flowing out from the tips of my fingers into the mushroom. The longer my fingers lingered, the brighter the mushroom got.

Eventually, after about a minute or so, the sensation on my fingertips stopped, and the mushroom grew bright enough to rival a modern-day lightbulb. Also, the glow changed to be slightly tinted purple. It was like magic, or maybe it was magic. Who was to say magic didn't exist in this fantasy world I was in? This thought made me feel both excited and lost.

I was excited at the potential prospect of there being magic, but I also felt lost as this basically confirmed that it wasn't Earth.

As night fell and the darkness descended upon the forest, I stared in the direction of the mushroom, watching as it filled the small space with a warm, inviting glow.