Chapter 5: Another Day

Seashell woke up to the sound of the waves crashing against the shore. She stretched her arms and smiled as she looked out the window, admiring the beautiful view of the ocean. But her smile quickly faded as she remembered that she was still grounded from playing Newdawn, the VR game she was obsessed with.

Today was the last day of her punishment, and she couldn't wait to play it again tomorrow. She got out of bed and got ready for school, feeling a bit down. As she ate breakfast with her mother, they talked about her punishment and how she needed to be more responsible with her time. Seashell apologized and promised to be more mindful in the future.

After breakfast, she grabbed her backpack and walked with her mother to the door. "Have a good day at school, sweetie," her mother said, giving her a hug. Seashell smiled and hugged her back, feeling grateful for her mother's love and support.

As she walked to school, she thought about the game and how much she missed playing it. She couldn't wait for tomorrow to come so she could dive back into the virtual world.

When she arrived at school, she saw her friend Izumi waiting for her. They greeted each other with a smile and walked together to their classroom. Seashell told Izumi about her punishment and how she couldn't wait to play the game again.

"I heard about it online," Izumi said excitedly. "They're releasing a new level tomorrow, and it's going to be epic!"

Seashell's eyes lit up at the news. She couldn't believe she had missed the announcement. She made a mental note to check it out as soon as she got home.

As the day went on, Seashell found it hard to concentrate on her studies. She kept thinking about the game and the new level. She couldn't wait to explore it with Izumi and other players from around the world.

But as the final bell rang, and Seashell and Izumi walked out of the school, they felt a strange vibration in the ground. They looked around, confused, and saw that the water had receded far beyond the normal tide line.

Before they could react, they heard a loud roar, and a giant wave emerged from the horizon, heading towards the shore. The people around them started screaming and running in all directions, trying to escape the incoming disaster.

Seashell felt paralyzed, unable to process what was happening. She saw Izumi running towards her, trying to grab her hand, but it was too late. The wave crashed against the shore, engulfing everything in its path, including Seashell and Izumi.

In the chaos and darkness of the water, Seashell struggled to keep herself afloat. She tried to call for Izumi, but her voice was drowned out by the sound of the raging waves. She felt a sharp pain in her leg and realized that she was injured, and bleeding.

She tried to swim towards the surface, towards safety, but the current was too strong, pulling her in every direction.

Seashell was tossed around by the churning waves, feeling utterly helpless and alone. Panic set in as she struggled to stay afloat, her mind racing with thoughts of her friend Izumi who was swept away in the same tsunami. She closed her eyes, ready to accept her fate as the water threatened to consume her completely.

But then, she felt a sudden surge of energy propelling her upwards towards the surface. Gasping for air, Seashell opened her eyes to a blinding light, growing larger and brighter with each passing moment.

The light surrounded her, and she could feel herself being transported somewhere else entirely. When the light dissipated, she found herself in a small, white room, alone and disoriented. Confused and scared, she looked around but saw nothing except for the bed she was lying on and a small table beside it.

Suddenly, a voice echoed in the room, coming from nowhere and everywhere at the same time.

"Welcome, Seashell," the voice said. "I am the System, and I am here to guide you on your journey."

Seashell trembled at the sound of the voice, wondering where she was and what was happening to her.

"I am sorry to inform you that the world you knew is no more," the System continued. "You have been chosen to start anew in the World of Dawn Field, where you will face many challenges and obstacles. But fear not, for I will be your guide, and I will help you along the way."

Seashell felt a jumble of emotions ranging from fear to confusion to anger. She had no idea what this new world was or why she was here. More importantly, she had no idea if her friend Izumi or her mother had survived the tsunami or if she would ever see them again.

"Where am I?" Seashell asked, her voice quivering with emotion.

"You are in the White Room, a place of transition between worlds," the System explained. "You will stay here until you are ready to enter the World of Dawn Field. But first, there are some things we need to go over."

Seashell listened as the System explained the new world, the various races and factions, and the basics of survival. She felt overwhelmed and uncertain, but a glimmer of hope shone through the darkness. Perhaps this new world was a chance for her to start fresh and make something of herself.

But still, she couldn't shake the feeling of unease and uncertainty. She needed more answers before she could fully accept her situation.

"Wait, what about my mother?" Seashell asked, her voice breaking. "Is she okay? Will I ever see her again?"

The System was silent for a moment before responding. "I'm sorry, Seashell. I cannot answer that. But know that she is not here with you, and you must move forward without her."

Seashell felt a surge of sadness and frustration. How could she move on when everything she had known and loved was gone? But deep down, she knew that she had no choice.

As the System finished its explanation, she tried to make sense of it all, she asked the System about her mother, desperate to know if she was okay.

"I'm sorry, Seashell," the System said. "I cannot answer that question. Your mother is in the old world, and it is not within my power to know what has become of her."

Seashell's heart sank, and tears welled up in her eyes. The thought of losing her mother was almost too much to bear. She felt alone and scared in this strange new world.

The System seemed to sense her distress and spoke again. "I know this is a difficult time for you, Seashell, but you must be brave. The World of Dawn Field can be a dangerous place, but it is also a land of endless possibilities. You will face many challenges, but I believe in you. You are a strong and capable individual, and you have the potential to do great things."

Seashell wiped away her tears and took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. She knew that she had to be strong if she was going to survive in this new world.

"Thank you, System," she said, her voice trembling. "I'll do my best."

"Excellent," the System replied. "Now, let's get started. The first thing you need to do is choose your race."

Seashell listened as the System explained the different races and factions in the World of Dawn Field. There were humans, elves, dwarves, orcs, and many others. Each race had its own strengths and weaknesses, as well as its own unique culture and history.

As she listened, Seashell found herself drawn to the elves. They were known for their grace, agility, and connection to nature. She had always loved the forest and felt a kinship with the animals that lived there.

"The elves sound perfect for me," Seashell said, smiling.

"An excellent choice," the System said.

"You have chosen your race. You are now ready to enter the World of Dawn Field. May fate be ever in your favor"

Seashell felt a surge of excitement and trepidation as the walls of the white room began to dissolve, and a portal appeared in front of her. She took a deep breath and stepped through the portal, ready to face whatever lay ahead.