Lost: A New Path

October 22, 2026

Tap, Tap, Tap

Gazing out of his apartment window with the sound of light rain bouncing off of his window, the faint sound of a young man saying "I'm bored..." can be heard. This is not the first time I've heard these words escape my mouth. As a matter of fact, I can't remember that last time I wasn't bored.

My name is Vernon Arias. I am 27 years old, average height, average weight, dark-brown hair, copper-colored eyes...I'm about average in every way.

I was often called a genius while growing up due to the fact that I could pick up anything and learn it right away. Unfortunately, I could never get over the instant wave of boredom that overcame me after a while. I would drop whatever it was that I was learning at the time for good. This led me to my current life, working a meaningless job, living a meaningless life. Laying in my bed and staring at the ceiling..."I want to die..." I murmured, luckily, no one was around to hear me. I quickly fell asleep.

Yawn

I was currently getting ready for work. I lazily threw on a black sweater, light gray pants, and a pair of white sneakers. I grabbed my bag and wallet as I left my apartment. I decided to walk to work as it wasn't too hot due to the rain last night. Realizing that I was still tired I stopped by a coffee shop and grabbed a cup of coffee.

Taking a sip

"Bitter as usual," I calmly said as I left the shop. I preferred my coffee dark and somewhat bitter as it helps me wake up quicker. Stopping about a block from the office that I work at, a wave of existential dread hit me.

"I really don't want to go to work..." I thought to myself. Even though my job was easy and paid well, it was a bother, a means to survive in reality. "I hope the world ends today..." I muttered to myself as I continued to walk towards the office.

BZT, BZT

The vibrating of my phone that alerted my half-awake self was a sign that the workday was over. It felt as if I traveled through time, I couldn't even remember what I did all day. "I ate lunch, I'm sure?" I thought to myself. I couldn't be bothered to reminisce as I quickly gathered my things and left the office. Outside, the clouds started to gray, and I realized I was without an umbrella today. "I hope I can make it back before it starts to rain," I said in a soft voice.

Tap...Tap, Tap, Tap

"I spoke way too soon" I growled as I ran into the coffee shop I visited this morning. Luckily, I didn't get too wet and like yesterday it was a light drizzle, it shouldn't rain for too long.

"Will you..." I heard a voice whisper besides me, I turned to see who it was. "Will I what?" speaking as I turned to my left, there was no one there. I asked the barista, a dark brown haired, pale woman if she said something. "...No?" she said somewhat bothered. "Oh, okay...never mind." I regained my composure and turned back to look outside.

"By any chance do you have any umbrellas for sale?" I decided to ask the barista, to which she replied to no. She then took out a box and tossed something my way. "Here, take this. These are umbrellas customers forgot and left behind, don't worry they've been here for a while." she claimed. I thanked her and then pulled open the umbrella and left the shop.

Pih-tah, Pih-tah, Pih-tah, Pih-tah

As I was walking home the rain became much more intense. I could not even see two feet in front of me and I was soaking wet. "I should have driven to work today," I cursed to myself. I would normally never walk to work as it is too tiring, but for some reason I decided to today. As I continued walking in the direction of my home.

Rumble, Rumble

The ground began to violently shake. "This...this isn't normal..." I said as I dropped my umbrella and started running, or at least trying to.

Rumble, Rumble

The ground continued to shake causing me to fall. "Ow..." I muttered to myself; I wasn't actually hurt it was more like I was annoyed at the circumstances. Standing back up, something even more strange occurred. The earthquake suddenly stopped. What was even more strange was that it stopped raining and the sky cleared up. Whatever it was, I decided to ignore and continue my trek back home. Then, as if to force me to acknowledge whatever was happening a loud thunder and crash occurred.

Crackle

In the distance I could see residual sparks on the ground around destroyed cars. "What in the world happened..." I muttered to myself. From the buildings around me people began to run away in a panic. Then, a bright flash split the sky apart, causing further panic and disarray. In the same spot that the flash occurred I saw something completely out of the ordinary. Slowly, starting from the ground and creeping up to the sky what looked like a fissure began to form. "Nope...not today!" I heard a man around my age, with darker skin and braided hair say as he ran in the opposite direction. As for me, I stood there somewhat mesmerized "Seems like my wish was granted..." I thought to myself. Once it reached passed the clouds in the sky the fissure stopped forming. Then, as if out of some sort of dream or fantasy, it happened.

"KHRRRIIKKK!"

A resounding screech could be heard for miles, paralyzing those in the vicinity in fear.

Badump

I clutched my chest, feeling my heart race for the first time in a very long time. "What is this feeling..." I couldn't tell at first, but then it dawned on me.

Excitement

I was excited, for the first time in a very long time, I felt alive. The only problem was, "Why am I excited?", I wondered. Then, I saw it. From the fissure that opened in the sky, where the screech came from, I could see the figure. It's short, stump-like arms and legs, a large head with a protruding nose and sharp ears, adorned with crude weapons and armor. "A... goblin?", what I was seeing nearly left me with a mental shock. A fantasy creature known to live in caves and hunt in packs, I was staring at a goblin. Almost as if it could sense that I was looking at it, the goblin turned to me and let out another shriek. My excitement dissipated and fear began to take over. "Oh no...", my feet would not move, and the goblin was quickly making its way to me. "I need to move!" I yelled out loud. With my chest beating excessively and my body stuck in place I realized, " This is it." All these years of claiming that I was bored, wanting nothing more than to die and here I was. "I.." with tears swelling up in my eyes, "I want to live!" I cried.

"Will you fight?"

"Huh?" I thought to myself. Frozen in mid-air was a grotesque goblin ready to swing its club-like weapon towards my head. I took a glance at my surroundings and realized that everything was frozen, as if time stopped. It was then that I noticed it, in-between me and the goblin, was a translucent screen. On the screen were the words "Will you fight?" and the options "Yes or No." Despite the fact that I lived my life hoping to die, claiming that I'm bored I stretched out my hand to press "Yes."

"KHRRRIIKKK"

What happened next was even more bizarre. As if the world came alive and time began to flow the goblin smashed its club downward. Hitting me in the side of the head, my vision darkened, and I lost consciousness. "Oh...I guess I did want to live..." was the last thought I had.

Gasp

My eyes jolted open, "What just happened?" I wondered, "Was that all a dream?". Those thoughts ran through my head as I sat up in my bed. At least, what I thought was my bed. I scanned the room that I was sleeping in realizing that something is off. I clutched my right arm feeling a slight pain. "What is this?" I murmured yanking what turned out to be some sort of IV drip. "I must be in a hospital." I thought to myself. Next, I shifted my body to the left as I tried to get out of my bed, emphasis on 'tried'. My legs instantly collapsed under me, leaving me in shock. It was then that I realized that, along with my legs, I was abnormally skinny, with almost no muscle mass.

"This can't be happening, I must still be dreaming," I said to myself repeatedly. It was then I noticed alarms ringing near my bed and what looked like nurses filing into the room. "He's awake! Hurry, call a doctor!" yelled one of the nurses. After giving her orders, the nurse helped me onto my feet. She had tanned skin, light-brown hair, and was wearing red scrubs with a white coat. "You must be confused," she spoke in a calm manner. "Don't worry, here get back into your bed the doctor will be here shortly to explain everything." I got back onto the bed and waited. Although I seemed calm and collected on the outside, my mind was racing.

Shhhhooom

The door abruptly slid open, and a young doctor entered. She was white with freckles, disheveled auburn hair, and circular glasses.

"So, you're finally awake!" She spoke excitedly. "I didn't think it would happen in my lifetime all things considered, but this is a cause for celebration!" she exclaimed.

"H-hold on wait a minute," I said, "what do you mean in your lifetime, and where exactly am I!?" I yelled.

"Woah, okay calm down first, I see no one has explained anything yet." she said excitedly. "First off, my name is Dr. Su, Cynthia Su, and currently you're inside of the New Mount Sinai Health Center." She said matter-of-factly.

"New Mount Sinai Health Center? Wait so am I in New york? What am I doing here suddenly." I questioned her.

"Well, I wouldn't say you're here suddenly!" she exclaimed. "First off, you aren't in New York you're in Lyons, one of the last remaining cities belonging to humanity. It's named after one of the greatest human heroes!" She said gleefully.

"Lyons? Last human city? Heroes?!" I gasped, "I-you're just fucking with me, right?" I cried.

"No, I'm not f-messing with you." She quickly corrected herself. "Right now, it's January 6th, 2067, 41 years ago humanity almost went extinct due to the great fissure. Right now, only a few human cities remain, and luckily you're in one of them." She spoke.

"No...no this can't be, 41 years have passed?" I said as I looked at my reflection. "That's not possible, I'm 27 years old, I still look how I used to!" I cried out.

"Listen, I understand your shock and frustration," the look in Dr. Su's eyes changed as she spoke. " The fact is, when the great fissure occurred, something unexpected happened. The world was introduced to a new energy in its atmosphere that scientists began to call 'Mana'. If, before your coma you ever read fantasy stories, then you can see where we're going with this. Do you remember anything from before you went into your coma? It might help to explain your situation."

A confused look sprung across my face. "I... I remember what looked like a goblin attacked me. It came out of whatever 'fissure' came out of the sky that day. It was a really strange day I don't remember too much. Still, this doesn't explain anything. How am I alive? how have I not aged?!" I was in utter disbelief as I yelled out. "I thought it was all a dream, or that I had died, but now you're saying 40 years have gone by and humanity is nearly extinct?" I said to her.

"Yes, it's exactly like that. All over the globe on October 22, 2026, what experts call 'The Great Fissure' occurred. From the fissure emerged monsters, monsters that we've only heard of or seen in shows, games, or books. These monsters quickly overtook the cities they emerged in. These fissures that emerged introduced 'Mana' into the world. It's also what gave humanity the ability to fight. Humans who had a high adaptability with mana gained access to powers that allowed them to fight back. Scientists created weapons and systems to fight back with using mana and parts from defeated monsters." She calmly spoke. "Now, before we go any further and confuse you anymore let me ask you a few things. First, what is your name?" Dr. Su asked me.

"My name? It's-it's Vernon. Vernon Arias." I spoke softly.

"Okay Vernon, interesting name. Now where are you from?" she asked.

"I'm from Florida, or at least I was from Florida." I said in a spiteful manner.

"Okay, and what's your date of birth?" She asked.

"Date of Birth? It's...actually it's today. January 6th, 1999" I said softly.

"Perfect!" Dr. Su exclaimed while tapping away on her tablet. "I was able to locate a missing person's report from the date that the Great Fissure occurred that matches your description. I know you're going to have a lot of questions, for now get some more rest and eat some food, once you're in better shape we'll explain further. " Dr. Su said as she put the tablet down.

"I-I still have so many questions...but, okay, for now I'll listen to you." I said calmly.

"Good, I'll have the nurses check on you over the course of this week, if everything is looking good and there are no abnormalities, you'll be discharged! Don't worry too much, I know it's a lot to take in, but you'll adjust quickly." She said with a kind smile.

"Yeah...sure." I muttered under my breath.

At this point, I was still confused and unsure of what was going on. "So far what I know is, I'm in one of the last remaining human cities called Lyons. Why did she make a point to say 'human' cities?" I thought to myself. "Also, I've been in a coma for 41 years. I doubt my family is still alive, but I should check just to be sure. And how is it that I haven't aged, and people are superhumans now? What is going on?!" I cried inwardly. As my mind started to drift to sleep, and my consciousness faded, I heard it again.

"Will you fight?"