I wake up, and everything’s wrong. No bed, no walls—just a white void, endless and I empty, and me, buck naked in the middle of it. My skin crawls, a shiver ripping through me. I’m alone. Completely, gut-wrenchingly alone.

  My chest tightens, breath hitching as panic claws up my throat. Then I feel it—a warm blue light pulsing in my chest, steady and alive, sending waves of energy through me. It’s invigorating, but it’s freaking me out. Where am I? What’s happening?

  “Hi there!”

  A bright, bubbly voice—way too chipper—snaps me out of my spiral, and I nearly trip over myself spinning around. There’s a cartoon smiley face floating behind me, glowing yellow, grinning like some deranged balloon. My heart lurches. What the hell?

  “What are you?” I choke out, hands fumbling to cover myself, cheeks burning. “What’s this light in my chest? And where the hell are my clothes?” My voice cracks, fear and fury tangling together.

  The thing giggles, bobbing in the air. “I’m Helper! Hi, hi! I’m here to help—help you, help everything! That light in your chest? That’s ether—energy of everything! And your clothes? When you get where you’re going, you get the super-fun adventure of making your own! You’re gonna love it!”

  “Love it?” I stare at it, pulse pounding. “What adventure? What do you want from me?”

  Helper spins in a little twirl, unfazed by my glare. “You’ve been selected, Tim! Super exciting! You’re heading to a new world—full of fun new adventures! I’m here to help you get ready!”

  “Selected?” My fists clench, useless against the void. “By who? For what? And what’s this Everything Ether?”

  Helper beams, drifting closer. “Great questions! You’ll be part of a group—helps make it more fun! The goal? Survival! That ether in your chest? It’s your spark, your power. One day, it can help you become as helpful as me! And you’re here, well, because you’re about to go there!”

  “Survival?” I echo, the word sinking in like lead. “What kind of world? How does this Ether help?”

  “The world’s a surprise—helps keep it thrilling!” Helper chirps. “The ether’s your edge—helps you thrive! You’ll figure it out with your group. It’s gonna be great!”

  “When?” I step forward, voice sharp. “When does this happen?"

  “Soon as you make your choice!” Helper spins again, practically buzzing. “Gotta pick your power—helps you survive, helps you shine! Here’s your choice Timmy—ready?”

  I blink, head spinning. “Power?”

  “Yup!” It wiggles midair, grin wide. “Three options!

  Aura—the power to manipulate your surroundings.

  Ki—mastery of inner energy.

  Psionics—dominion of the mind.

  Pick one, and off you go! What’ll it be?

  I stand there, bare and rattled, the ether humming warm in my chest. My last memory—a sharp pain, a haze—slips away when I try to hold it. This is nuts. A new world. Survival. Powers. And this thing keeps yapping about “help” like it’s normal. I swallow, staring at Helper. Aura. Ki. Psionics. What am I supposed to do with this?

  My head’s still spinning minutes later, the ether thrumming warm in my chest like it’s laughing at me. Helper’s floating there, that goofy grin plastered on its face, waiting for me to pick. Aura. Ki. Psionics. I’ve been pelting it with questions, trying to wrestle some sense out of this nightmare, and now it’s down to this—one choice, no takebacks.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

  “What’s the group like?” I blurt, voice rough. “How many? Friends or strangers?”

  Helper bobs, chipper as ever. “Oh, a fun mix—helps keep it lively! Numbers? Surprise! You’ll meet ’em soon—helps build the excitement!”

  I scowl, hands still awkwardly shielding myself. “And this survival thing—what am I surviving? Beasts? Starvation? What?”

  “The world’s got it all—helps test you!” Helper spins. “Danger, wonders, challenges—oh, it’s a blast!”

  “Great,” I mutter, sarcasm dripping.

  "And these powers—Psi’s in your head only, right? Ki’s an jnner strength? Aura’s… what, telekinesis or something?”

  Helper giggles, tilting its head. “Close, Timmy! Psionics is your mind power yes— also telekinesis for moving with thoght alone! Ki’s your inner fire—strength, speed, all that jazz! Aura’s… ooh, it’s special! You interact with stuff—make it light, heavy, bend it to your will! Sorcery’s a fun word for it!”

  I blink, gears grinding. Telekinesis. I’ve always wanted that—picturing myself hurling rocks, flipping cars, feeling unstoppable.

  Aura was… wait, no, I got it. Psi’s the mind trick. Aura’s the weird magic. “So Aura’s not telekinesis?” I say, half to myself, cheeks burning again.

  “Nope!” Helper chirps. “Aura’s more… fiddly! You’d make a rock float by making it physically lighter than air—not just shoving it with your brain!”

  I groan. “Right. Okay. Fine.” My mind’s a mess, but something about Aura sticks—the idea of tweaking the world, not just muscling through it. Telekinesis was my dream, but this… this feels bigger, stranger. I take a breath, squaring my shoulders. “I choose Aura,” I say, loud and firm, like I’m commanding the void itself.

  Helper claps its little nonexistent hands, spinning faster. “Ooh, bold choice, Timmy! Aura it is! You’re gonna help so much with that—help the world, help your group! Ready?”

  “Ready?” I echo, pulse racing. “For what—”

  The void flashes, white searing into nothing, and my stomach lurches like I’m falling. Helper’s voice fades, a distant “Have fun!” ringing in my ears. The ether in my chest flares, warm and wild, and then a bright flash, and I hit the ground hard—face-first into dirt that smells like wet moss and something sour. My knees skid, hands scrabbling for grip, and I’m still naked as hell.

  The ether’s buzzing in my chest, warm and restless, like it’s itching to do something. I cough, spitting grit, and push myself up, blinking at wherever this is.

  Trees tower over me, gnarled and dripping with vines, their leaves a sickly green that blocks out most of the sky. The air’s thick, humid, sticking to my skin. Noises—chirps, rustles, a distant hum—prick my ears. I’m not alone, but I don’t see anyone. My heart slams against my ribs. Where’s Helper’s “fun adventure” now? This hasn't been any fun.

  I stagger to my feet, brushing dirt off my chest where the blue light hums, brighter than before. Aura. Right. I picked Aura—sorcery, bending the world, not telekinesis. Gotta get this straight. There’s a rock near my foot, fist-sized, jagged. Perfect test. I square my shoulders, glaring at it.

  “Okay, ether, let’s do this. 'Move,'” I snap, jabbing a hand out, picturing it sliding across the dirt like I’m some telekinetic badass. The ether flares, warm in my chest, but the rock just sits there, mocking me. Nothing. Not a twitch. “Come on!” I growl, shaking my hands like that’ll help. Zilch.

  “Fine,” I mutter, wiping sweat off my forehead. Let's try round 2.

  “Don't use your mind to lift the rock.” I repeat, "Instead use Aura to change the rock itself" I confirm--- Helper said Aura messes with stuff like that. I focus hard, staring at the rock, imagining it shedding mass, floating up like a balloon.

  “Be light,” I command, voice low and firm, thrusting both hands out. The ether pulses—hot, eager—and… nothing. The rock doesn’t budge. Not a quiver. I stand there, arms outstretched, looking like a naked idiot in the jungle.

  “Seriously?” I hiss, dropping my hands. My chest glows, but it’s useless. “What’s the point of this power if it doesn’t work?” I kick the rock—ow, bad idea—and hop on one foot, cursing under my breath.

  I sigh, sitting on a fallen log, rubbing my throbing toe.

  "Ouch!". I glare, this is all your fault I shout at the rock.

  "Ssss!" I hiss, wishing the pain would fade. Imaging an energy radiating out and... what the fuck. "Am I?"

  A slight haze flows over my Toes.. My pain free.. uninjured toes. "Lay on Hands? Am I a D&D Paladin?" I whisper aloud in awe.

  Then—a sound. Murmurs, faint but sharp, filter through the bushes ahead. Voices? My head snaps up, pulse spiking. Words I can’t catch, clipped and urgent. Before I can shout out, a high-pitched scream rips through the air—shrill, panicked, human. It’s past the vines, close but hidden. My stomach twists. Should I hide? They might need help?

  Either way, I’m standing here naked with a power that can heal toes. Time for this Nerd to man up!

  Maybe someone else has hurt their own toe as well--- completely not their own fault. Timothy to the rescue!

  I advance... cautiously, through the bushes and vines, a clearing up ahead of me.