The city off in the distance of which Shelly saw. A place of bustling cobble streets, filled with beings of all walks of life and energetic music made of instruments similar to bagpipes, tambourines, violins, and more. Shelly was mesmerized by what she saw. Girls with cat ears and tails, and even some with cow horns. There were men who appeared to be normal humans, but with skin made of scales. And everyone had clothing she'd never actually seen in person besides those history books. Robes, leggings, giant dresses, etc. And then there were the weapons they all carried. Swords and hatchets at their hips, longbows and arrows around their backs. And then there were the markets.

  Stands at the storefronts with all kinds of bizarre foods which Shelly had never seen. She looks over at one stand in particular, manned by a singular guy of buff stature with green hair. Wearing a sleeveless leather vest and no shirt to show off his tone arms and six pack body. She approaches the man with a clueless expression on her face. Looking down at all the options laid out before her in wicker baskets.

  ?: Hey, you gonna pick something or what?

  The man asked, crossing his arms as he looked down at her.

  Shelly: Huh?

  Shelly looks up at the man, still clueless.

  ?: Huh? Hm. Quite the odd attire you have on there

  Shelly: Hm? Oh, I don't think it's that unusual, is it?

  Suddenly, his intimidating demeanor changed. He lowers his arms and smirks.

  ?: Hm, normally I don't have time for window shoppers, but you're not from around here, are you?

  Shelly: Yes, I'm actually lost. I have no idea where I am.

  ?: Heh, well, this is the city of Atoll. The capital of the Holy Aunoss Empire

  Shelly: "Aunoss"...that's right! That crazy girl from earlier said she was a Knight of the Holy Aunoss Empire. I would say this is a joke, after all a name like that has never popped up anywhere in the world. But from what I've seen...everything here is, different

  Shelly: Um, where on Earth is the Aunoss Empire located?

  The man tilts his head in confusion.

  ?: Earth? What is that you're referring to?

  Shelly: Uh, Earth, like the world around us?

  He smiles again, puffing his chest with a big laugh.

  ?: Hah! You mean Eartilott. That's the name of the world.

  Shelly: “Eartilott”, is this guy being for real? There's no way, I refuse to believe that... Though, everything here is insane. The wording they use, their clothing, the structures, the music...and the people...

  The man raises his hand and scratches his head with his index finger, putting his other hand on his hip.

  ?: So uh, where exactly might you hail from?

  Shelly: Oh, I-I come from a country known as the "United States of America"

  The man lowers his other hand to his hip and laughs again.

  ?: Hahah! Is that so? I've never heard of it, but I'm sure it's an interesting place! Tell me, what's it like there?

  Still, Shelly feels unsure of whether the man is being serious or not. But she plays along anyway.

  Shelly: Well, it's a first world nation where the people are in power. You have unlimited rights there, though, of course there are laws. But, it's what the nation was built on. A free nation...the land of opportunity.

  ?: Hahahah! Oh my, that sounds so nice!

  Shelly narrows her eyebrows as she clenches her fists.

  Shelly: Hey, I'm being serious!

  ?: Woah, no need to get hostile, now! I'm only joking with you. Anyway, are you here to buy anything?

  Shelly: Well, hm...do you have a map or something?

  ?: A map?

  The man puts his hand on his hips, waving his other hand side to side as he shook his head.

  ?: Don't be ridiculous, I sell grains and foods, not guides. If you want a map, you'll have to go four stands down to the left. The green canopy

  Shelly: Oh, I see. Well then, I appreciate it, I guess

  The man nods his head and responds in an apathetic tone.

  ?: Uhuh

  Shelly leaves the stand and walks down the cobble street, maneuvering around the heavy traffic of people walking about. She finds the stand adorned with the green canopy. The market had many different products on display. The variety was so wide for such a tiny business, it was a general store packed into one small stand. Standing behind the counter is a girl with pointed ears and black cow horns. Showing off her black earrings and a black necklace with a green amulet adorning it. She notices Shelly and greets her with a smile.

  ??: Oh, greetings! And welcome to my marvelous little shop! My name is Rosalina Ram! But you may call me Rosie!

  Shelly waists no time with greetings and gets right down into why she's here.

  Shelly: Yeah, hi, um, do you—

  But just before she could get a full sentence out, Rosie interrupts her as she scans her clothing.

  Rosie: Oh wow, you have such a unique attire! I've never seen anything like it before!

  Shelly: Uhm—

  Rosie leans over the counter, examining Shelly's necklace closely with a face of excitement.

  Stolen novel; please report.

  Rosie: And that necklace too, what a beautiful pendant it has! What is its meaning? I must know!

  Shelly: Hm?

  Shelly glances down and picks up the necklace by the end of the chain, dangling it on her finger.

  Shelly: This is a cross, it represents my religion

  Rosie tilts her head.

  Rosie: Oh? I've never seen a religion with a symbol like that before

  Shelly: Sorry to be in such a rush, but I really need to know, do you have a map?

  Rosie: Oh, you need a map? Of course, I have everything!

  Rosie then turns, reaches under the counter, and whips out a rolled up scroll which she slams on the counter with a big thump and rolls out in front of Shelly.

  Rosie: This is the world map so far! I'm sure you know that not everything has been discovered yet. But I aim to change that!

  The girl shouted with a bright smile.

  Shelly: Eheheh, wow, this girl is real bright and peppy. At least she has bigger aspirations than me

  Shelly gazes at the map laid out before her. Her eyes widen in disbelief.

  Shelly: No way! This map is completely different! There's at least four different land masses, and they're all huge!

  Rosie: Hehe, what's with that face? You look so surprised, have you never seen a map before?

  Shelly: No, I haven't...where are we located?

  Rosie: Ah, we are right here in this bottom right continent. On the Demihuman continent. Occupied by the Holy Aunoss Empire. We are nestled in the capital city right here!

  Shelly: I don't get it...

  Rosie: Hm? What do you not understand?

  Shelly: One second, I'm dead on the floor in a coffee shop in Nashville, and now I'm on a different continent that I've never heard of...

  Shelly lifts her right arm and lands her finger on the map. Interested to learn more and try to figure out what exactly is going on.

  Shelly: So...what is this place here?

  Rosie: Oh, this is—

  Shelly looks at Rosie as she'd suddenly gone quiet, noticing her gazing off to the right of the map. She was looking down at her arm.

  Shelly: Hm? Is something wrong?

  Rosie:...

  Suddenly, the girl's expression changes. Her breath started to tremble as her eyes began to widen. Her body began to shake to its core in pure fear. The same phenomenon as the girl from before that Shelly had met outside the city.

  Rosie: Y-You have, arm insignias...?!

  Shelly: What? This is the second time today that someone's been afraid of my tattoos. What about them is so scary?

  Rosie: Y-You...y-you're a—

  Iris: HYBRID!!! THERE!!! THATS THE HYBRID!!!

  Shouted a familiar voice. Shelly looked over to her left, and there she saw the same knight girl from before, pointing her finger directly at her. This time, she was being accompanied by a huge figure. A man of tall stature with arms bigger than the man at the food stand. With short blue hair and two different colored eyes, one crimson red, and one dark gray. Wearing a black sleeveless coat and brown pants with long boots. And a sheathed longsword on his hip. Everyone in the surrounding area stopped, and were now eyeing Shelly in sudden silence.

  Shelly: Huh?

  ?: How did a Hybrid get into the capital...?

  His deep voice said sternly.

  Shelly: I, just walked in...I don't understand, what's going on?

  ?: Don't try to play dumb with me. I can see right through all your tricks. Scum like you deserve to burn!

  The man shouted as he grabbed the handle of his sword and whipped it out.

  Shelly: Oh boy...please don't do this! I don't wanna have to be drug through court for a self defense case!

  Shelly thought to herself as she prepared to reach for her gun. Just as she was about to draw it however, she noticed that everyone around her started to become increasingly aggressive. All looking at her with nasty looks as some of them even drew their own weapons. Knives, axes, cleavers, and more.

  Shelly: Oh shit, this doesn't look good!

  ?: Let's get her boys! Cut her down!

  ??: Yeah!!!

  ???: Let's kill this hybrid scum!

  ????: You're no match when you're outnumbered!

  Shelly: Okay, time to go!!!

  Without another thought, Shelly grabs onto the map and takes off running in the opposite direction. Slamming into a guy and knocking them to the ground as she turns down an alley and sprints away.

  Rosie: Hey!!! My map!!! Rgh, you'll pay for that!!!

  Rosie shouted in pure anger as the rest of the mob gave chase. With the guy in blue hair and dual colored eyes, as well as Iris, leading the chase. The guy sprints ahead with his incredible, abnormal speed.

  ?: You aren't getting away that easy

  He said as he chased close behind.

  Shelly: Shit!

  The man swings his sword, but somehow, Shelly narrowly misses the slash and stumbles to the ground.

  Shelly: Gh!

  She turns to the man, quickly draws her gun, and aims.

  *BANG. BANG. BANG. BANG.*

  ?: GAH!!!

  Four rounds are fired, three of them go right through the man's arms, and the fourth forces itself through his abdomen. As he stumbles back, he thinks to himself...

  ?: What the hell is that? Some kind of magic?!

  Shelly wastes no time getting back up, and continues to run as fast as she can. Hearing the pissed off mob slowly gaining on her position.

  Shelly: Geese! What the hell did I even do?! Why are they so pissed off?!

  *FWIP*

  Shelly: Ah!

  Shelly feels the wind of an axe suddenly flying past her head, narrowly missing her ear by mere centimeters. At which point, she sees another alleyway and turns down it. But tragedy nearly strikes as she realizes that the alley is a dead end.

  Shelly: Fuck!

  She looks around for a moment and notices a window with a railing above her. She sticks the map in her back pocket, puts her gun back in its holster, and starts to climb up.

  Shelly: Come on, you did rock climbing all the time in the woods! You can do this!

  As she climbs up further, she can hear the mob growing closer. Time rushes by, her heart beats rapidly knowing that if she falls, she'll be torn, stabbed, and cut to death by a mob of angry people. A brutal, slow, and painful death that she is not ready for. The window grows closer to her as she puts all of her strength into the final stretch. She reaches for the railing and grabs on, pulling herself up and into the open window as the mob finally turns the corner. But the mob saw her and they were coming to get her. She could hear them banging down the door below her in the downstairs floor of the building. So she runs for another open window on the other side of the room, and without a second thought, leaps out.

  A desperate, successful move, but a bad one at the same time. Realizing that she had just jumped out of a cliff side building, and was now falling down the side of the mountain. Her eyes widen in fear as she sees the ground below growing closer.

  Shelly: Oh SHIIIT!!!

  *CRASH*

  Shelly: GAH!!!

  *WHAM*

  Shelly: AH!!!

  She slammed into the side of the mountain and began rolling downhill at a brutal speed. Slamming into sharp stones, swiping through hard sticks, and hitting brutal bumps. Feeling her skin get battered and ripped by the stones she slammed into, and her body being pummeled by the thick sticks from trees that she hit at full speed.

  Shelly: AGH!!!

  And then...

  *SMACK*

  Shelly:...

  Darkness, as she slams the side of her head into a stone, and is knocked out completely. Lying still at the base of the mountain, covered in blood, cuts, and bruises.

  —————

  ?: Oh deer, what a catastrophic mistake

  Shelly suddenly opens her eyes to the surreal sight of a man facing away from her, surrounded by what looked to be endless rows of broken pillars. Chunks of them hovering in place above a black and white plain, frozen in time. Illuminated by a white twinkling light above in a blackened sky, barely peaking above an immobile plume of white clouds. She lies on the floor in the same position she landed in at the mountain base. There's no smell or scent at all. The world surrounding her gives off a sense of utter despair, leaving no room for any other feeling.

  Shelly: Huh?

  She sits up and whips her head around, noticing that she was sitting on a small pillar beneath her, surrounded by a deep dark abyss on all sides. A shiver is sent up her spine the moment she looks down into it.

  Shelly: Huh?! W-What the hell is this?!

  ?: Have no fear, be at ease...

  Shelly: Huh? A-And who are you?!

  The man turns and faces her, revealing himself to her eyes. An ominous sight that struck Shelly to her core. The man had no face, looking like a live mannequin dressed in formal attire.

  ?: You may call me... "Kvaris", Miss Kuznetsov. Welcome, to the "In-Between"

  Shelly: The what now?

  Kvaris: It is a place between all worlds, dimensions, and universes. Where people like you lay to rest after death. Each pillar you see around me represents a being just like you who wound up dead in a world they should have never been in

  Shelly: W-What?!

  Kvaris: Those who die in their home world will be teleported to a new world, and revived in the same position which they were left in. And their wounds healed, along with their clothing repaired. That is your current situation

  Shelly: Seriously?! You're telling me that for the last two hours I've been in a completely different world?! So I really died in that coffee shop?!

  Kvaris: You were shot in the chest and abdomen thirty times...of course you died. However, there appeared to be an error with your transportation...human beings like yourself are supposed to be transported to other planets occupied by humans only. But somehow...you ended up on a Demi planet

  Shelly: A "Demi planet"?

  Kvaris: Yes...I don't know how you haven't gotten the memo already, at least two people told you where you were already. You're on the Demi planet of Eartilott, a place of Demi-humans, those being the ones with animal-like characteristics, and mages. Beings who are born with a genetic gateway that allows them the ability to learn the art of magic

  Shelly: Woah, really? Magic? I always thought that was just fantasy... Wait, you've been watching me this entire time?!

  Kvaris: Of course I have, my role is to observe those who end up in the wrong worlds. I have been awaiting the right time to transport you here, so I figured this was the perfect time.

  Shelly: Hold on, you said this place is for those who wound up dead...does that mean...

  Kvaris: Fear not, you're still breathing. I will say, you were bleeding a lot on that stone that you cracked your head on. But for some reason, your blood loss has ceased

  Shelly: Oh, that's a relief I guess...uh, can you tell me something?

  Kvaris: What is it you're interested in?

  Shelly: Those people...they tried to kill me! What did I do to piss them off so badly?!

  Kvaris: That, I do not know. However, I know you did nothing to anger them. Rather, it was something else that triggered their rage to ensue

  Shelly: Mmh...so, what's the reason you brought me here then?

  Kvaris: Just to fill you in on your precarious situation

  Shelly: Precarious?! What do you mean by that?!

  Kvaris: You're a human being in a world of dark, powerful dangers of the likes of which you've never seen. Your likelihood of dying in this world soon is unknowingly high. Whether it be from hordes of flesh-eating corpses, goblin gangs, or monstrous, hungry wyverns

  Shelly: T-Those are real things in this world?! I don't wanna get eaten alive! I'm not ready to die again!!!

  Kvaris: You are that desperate to live? Your best chance of survival is that gun of yours

  Shelly: My gun?

  Kvaris: Yes, but you only have a limited number of bullets, am I correct?

  Shelly: Mmh...yes...

  Kvaris: Well, once you're out of those, I'm afraid your chances of survival will be even more dangerously low

  Shelly: Mmh...then, I'll just make more!

  Kvaris: Hm? Really now...? Even if you did know how to DIY your own bullets, there's no brass in Eartilott. How will you go about making them? Invent another type of cartridge that fits your gun?

  Shelly: U-Uh, I'll learn magic! Surely there's a way to make brass, lead, and gunpowder that way!

  Kvaris: Hmhm, you're a human being. You weren't born with a gateway to learn magic. It would simply be impossible

  Shelly: I'll figure it out anyway! If this world is so magical, then I'm sure there's something out there that can allow me that ability!

  Kvaris: Hmhm, you're quite the confident one. We'll see how that works out. I'll be watching your every move...and try your best not to die, I do have advice for you. I'm not just an informant

  Shelly stands up, looks at Kvaris confidently, and clenches her fist in the air.

  Shelly: I got this.

  Kvaris: Very well, then. Farewell for now

  Shelly: Hold on! One more thing

  Kvaris: Hm?

  Shelly: Mmh...

  Kvaris:...

  Shelly: Are you a god?

  Kvaris:...

  Shelly:...

  Kvaris: Don't be foolish. You're wearing that pendant around your neck, aren't you? There is only one God in this universe. I am merely part of His creation.

  The world around Shelly begins to explode with white light that blinds her eyes. And then, everything fades to black.