Re:Leveling

Failed to Send

Page by page, I flipped through the manga I held in my hands. My eyes focused on the ink that  sprawled into art engraving its beauty into my mind. I closed the book shut and placed it back, I finished grabbing the last of my snacks and checked out. I rubbed my tired eyes, today was rough in the rift, I just wanted some time to relax.

I pulled out my phone.

A faded amalgamation of images flashed deep within unreachable crevices of my mind. A hand shown only by the small tint of light and a small pool of blood laminating from beneath my own hand. A familiar yet hoarse voice clawed from the mouth of the perspective being shown.

I swear.

"It's already midnight, I should head home soon."

I continued my way outside, watching as a car passes by me on this peaceful night.

Yet another faded image riddled in shadow boggled in the deepest crevice of my mind. More of the image revealed itself as the top of a head could be seen, silver hair flowing down from the top of it. The voice hoarse, crawled out subtly.

I'm going.

A message notification was present from my raid captain from today's dungeon raid. 

"Hey Subaru, how are you holding up? I know today was probably rough for you but I'm glad we all got out of there alive. You made for good bait."

The last image frolicked deep within my blind psyche. The rest of the image revealing a girl down to her torso, blood connecting the both of us, our hands interlocked.

To save you.

My eyes couldn't help but roll , I simply texted back "Thanks." 

A gloomy hand pursued me from means beyond comprehension. Shade surrounded me, but I only took it as drowsiness, paying no mind to the apparent nothingness that sent shivers down my spine. I rubbed my eyes, once again met with the same street. I processed my squad captain's text for a brief moment. I rubbed my dreary eyes once again and I hit send.

Instantly I noticed a tint emanating from beyond my eye lids. When I finished rubbing my eyes, they opened and my vision was blurred from a barrage of light. My vision took time to adjust, knocking away the haziness from my peripherals. 

My eyes we're met with bright colors and bustling noises from a time before technology, I could hear wooden carriages being drawn and the chatter of townsfolk resonated ambiently. My eyes darted back and forth as my head seamlessly moved with them.

"Where...Where the hell am I? Did I accidentally walk into a rift?!"

I took it all in, the sights, the sounds, all at once, faster than what my mind could possibly process. Then, I ran. I could hear the clap of my shoes against the brick streetway beneath me as I banked to a nearby alleyway and leaned my back against the wall. My heavy breathing only drowned out by my loud and fast heartbeat.

I took a moment or two for myself to recollect. After my nerves calmed, I gazed back down at my phone. "Message failed to send." I looked up at the service bar, surely enough, no service here. I put my phone back in my pocket then focus my attention on the shopping bag that seemed to have been warped with me.

"I didn't even feel the rift's presence, and...this...this is nothing like a dungeon."

I continued walking down the alleyway where I saw a small staircase, I rested here for some time, the stress steering me hungry so I snacked on some of what I had. While snacking a gust of wind passed me as I looked up to see a small blonde woman leaping over me and I watched as she effortlessly scaled the wall behind me. Then she left my view