“What are you smiling about?”

As I snap out my stupor, I try to think of a witty reply, but the typical answer of mine always amount to nothing.

I am currently walking with an acquaintance of mine on campus. She's a transfer student from China, and she sticks with me only because we share a class. I find the minute walks lackluster from the typical small talk about clubs and our current workload struggles, but I can't think of much other to say to her. How boring of me.

As we arrive near the building where her next lecture is located in, we quickly say our goodbyes, and go about our separate ways.

My name is Amber, and I am your typical college student who has lost almost all feelings of happiness in everyday life. Tragic yes, sarcastic no. As I grow older, every day is a reminder that I'm not cut out like everyone else seems to be. God made me smart, but not book smart, which is a shame in this world. If I could be transferred to someplace that accepts the fantasy as reality, I probably won't ever be bored with that kind of life. But, that kind of thinking is useless because those "what ifs" won't get me anywhere.

I drench myself with heavy steps on the puddles leftover from an earlier rainstorm, as I find myself daydreaming, lost in my thoughts once again. And before I know it, I arrive at a lake, which rests a little way beyond the path on the outskirts of the campus. I must have walked on the dirt road to get here because my shoes are caked with sludge. It makes me groan in pain because I know I will have to wash the shoes I am wearing now, as it is my only pair.

I take a moment to glance at the ring of clear water untainted by the opaqueness surrounding it. I am proud to say that the lake is one of the perks of attending my college because overlooking the sparkling water stands tall trees losing their blood red leaves, as they fall gently on top of the water surface and float by the bunches, mimicking the look of lily pads. A soft splash resounds in the distance. There are fishes too; how exciting.

Noises foreign to the natural sounds of the lake disturb the air. There, from across of me, is a girl and guy hanging out. I can't hear exactly what they are talking about, but I can see that she is squatting close to the water; most likely enamored at her reflection, rather than at anything else swimming in the watery depths. She's still peering into the water, and the guy just pushed her- wait, what? Oh, I can hear her now, in fact, she is extremely loud when she wants to be.

His face turns into a drunken red from laughing too hard at the stunt he pulled.

“I can’t swim!” She is clawing at the edge of the ring, but much to her demise, she cannot gain any solid ground from the muddy slope as she desperately tries to pull herself up and out.

He ends his long-winded laughing fit, once he realizes it wasn't just a prank anymore. He stretches out his hand, but due to the muddy ground, he slips and falls onto her. However, he is able to pull himself out of the water easily.

I start to wonder if she's going to live alongside the aquatic creatures in the lake at this point. She can do that if she's in a fairy tale. In one of the stories, she's the mermaid taking care of her seven ugly ducklings. But then a big, bad wolf comes along and eats the ducklings. She falls asleep waiting for a prince charming to come rescue her, but the boy turned out to be a clumsy white rabbit who's too busy running; almost as if he was late to something. He gets eaten too.

Okay, okay settle down, Amber. Your convoluted mind is going someplace no reader wants to have a glimpse at, and it's only the first chapter. I shift my attention to the lively girl determined to survive. She'll be fine, won't she?

. .

. . .

If she drowned, perhaps this lake will be closed off to the public; all because some angry mom will storm into the College President's office to complain that water is dangerous. No, Karen, your kid is an idiot for dying like that.

I can almost picture the inevitable speeding of my failing sanity if the future decides that I am to not only spend time in court to give my testimony but also having to explain what happened, to the girl's friends and family for years to come. Hey, if her family invites me to give a speech at her funeral, I might have to end her entire family first. Witnesses to crime scenes have it tough!

I’m thinking of useless things again, aren’t I? I scratch my suddenly itchy cheek.

"Fuck, this is annoying,” I mutter as I jog up to the girl. I take off my belt and wrap it around my wrist. With one hand, I grip the weeds underneath me while lowering my upper body to the lake’s ring. “Here grab it,” I say, balancing myself to not fall in as well.

She grips my belt, and I pull her up. Continuous short gasps fill the air as she settles on the ground, her body visibly shaking for some reason.

The guy says “Thanks,” to me but I don’t hear him.

She is quite cute now that she has shut up and calmed down. I stare at her, unsure if I need to do anything else now that I forced myself into their business.

He opens his mouth again, “Sorry, Emily. I know you like pranks so I thought it would funn-”

“Fuck off,” she finally speaks; her face twists into a menacing growl.

“Heh...!” I wheeze out.

They look at me in mild surprise, but having seen that I've done nothing else after that, they look back at each other.

I take another glance at her. Her unicorn onesie she's wearing is now completely soaked. It's almost pitiful of her to be out in this cold weather after taking an unexpected dip. I strip out of my green jacket and toss it at her. I can do without this jacket; it is a small price to pay to leave without having to awkwardly say goodbye to them. Also, I am definitely not sticking around for the eventual bloodbath between the two of them.

As I briskly walk away, I am hit with the suspicion that I am being watched. I twist my neck to find the source of this unsettling feeling, but before I do, a traumatizing blue screen of death faces me.

The Gods are amused.

What the fuck? A blue window depicting the words suddenly appears in front of me. I read too many isekai manga to know where this going.

Another blue window appears.

Will you receive the power to see the correct path? Yes No

Gods, huh. They think that they can show something outrageous to someone and expect that person in their right mind to wholeheartedly agree to their whim without questioning their sanity.

. .

. . .

Well, they are fucking right.

I press the “Yes” button.