Right before my eyes is a crater, like I expected, but everything after that was not so expected. An island sized hole in the Earth spreads all out before me as I can barely even see the other side off in the distance, nor can I see the bottom of the hole; usually you could say it was just too dark to see the bottom, but I am not too sure.

It couldn't be because of how dark it was, because it wasn't dark.

Like the sky, the pit is filled with lights, crystals and other fae with slight differences in both their wings, hair colour and general shape. Some look more female while others look more male, but if there weren't any to compare to, it would be hard to tell their gender.

Shit, do they even have gender? It would be quite meaningless and redundant if you were made of mana itself, and I am going to stop myself there before I think of how things made of mana reproduce, if at all.

Quickly moving to a different subject is when I noticed; not only do most of the fae look fairly gender-neutral, but most are slightly shorter than my guide, which I didn't think possible but all currently stay at a good distance so I could be wrong.

I'm getting the distinct feeling I am being avoided, which I don't mind too much. Not a big fan of being crowded, or dealing with people, this is fine.

Ignoring the contradiction of being good at dealing with people, but not enjoying dealing with people, I continue my excited analysis of the surroundings.

Looking up, however, I can only gawk at the scene of the gigantic crystal under the floating island. It looked pure blue from a distance, but now I can see the ribbon-like streaks of gold writhing throughout and the twinkling of white sparks within, cascading out of the rock in a beautiful cascade of colour and light similar to a massive multicoloured disco ball.

What's more is the intense attraction and need to get near it, it was even shiny, and as much as I am very humble shiny things do lift my spirits.

Huh, well shit. In just a week I went bushwalking, climbed a mountain, died, went hunting in a forest for floating islands, got surrounded by winged 'Fae' and god above actual sentient strobe lights while being coerced to touch a giant crystal.

Even if I wasn't being manipulated by the system, I don't know if I would've wanted to go back to boring normalcy, or is it that I want to go back more now? I don't even know anymore.

My guide looks at me with both amusement and somehow also little bits of respect, miss reading my blank look of sheer bullfuckery, my own eloquent mix of bullshittery and fuckery.

"I'm impressed, most would immediately try to get close to it, or System forbid actually touch it, but at least I know what kind of elemental you are," they state knowingly.

I tear my gaze away and look at the knee-sized flower gremlin. "So what happens if I touch it? Wait I still have all those questions from-"

"Shhh," They respond, somehow right in front of me and a small dainty finger to my lips, slowly but surely testing my patience. "Only Greater Elementals and others like them can touch Nodes, I don't know what tier of Elemental you are so if you want to touch it you can, I won't stop you, but it is seriously painful and bad for you if you aren't."

I grumble at not being allowed to ask my important questions from earlier, but resign myself and ask another question, "Are there other types of Elementals above Greater Elementals? What happens if you do touch it?"

Not wanting to out myself as being a true elemental, I try to use my clever word choice to glean some info.

Of course, I still don't get away completely without suspicion as they raise an eyebrow at me, but that is probably because of me shifting my feet in agitation, because fuck do I actually want to touch it.

It can be ignored, because how else do you think I managed to study history for so long without sheer will, but the longer I stay there do I feel compelled to go near it. An intensified version of what I felt when I first saw this place, a drive on a level I don't quite understand yet, and it shows.

"Well there are Lesser Elementals, Mature Elementals, Greater Elementals, and then there are the True Elementals, but we don't know much about the latter since Elementals themselves are rare enough, most of the time they are just simply Lesser or Mature Elementals," they answer with a light shrug.

"About what happens if you touch it though, I dunno, we don't get many elementals but you won't die, probably. Since I am pretty sure you are a wind elemental of some sort, which is most likely the reason it attracted you in the first place, there's a high chance it will be good for you, probably." They answer, switching into a look only the most crazed scientists I knew got, or the look of a most frighteningly bored person; probably both if they live even close to my max-age, which is eternity.

"Hmm, alright..." I respond, not really knowing what to do, how to get up there or if I even want to, "I'll figure it out tomorrow." I note simply, turning to find someplace to sit or sleep.

It may feel really compelling to go, and it does. But mind over matter, and common sense, says that I shouldn't go touching mysterious glowing rocks that tempt me into touching it.

"Yeah you- wait what?" They blurt out, incredulously, looking at me like I've done the impossible.

"What?" I ask, turning to meet their gaze. It doesn't last long as I resume my small search, locating a nice patch on the clearing under another tall tree that looks like a combination of other species, most notably being a mix of a redwood tree, and a willow tree.

I don't like how I'm getting used to sleeping outdoors, or these weird supernatural sights; just too much happening at once to be shocked anymore.

"Aren't you going up to see the Node? Hey, you're a wind elemental right? So you can just ask the wind to bring you up there if you don't know how... Why are you still leaving?" Baffled, my nameless guide quickly flies over.

I don't trust shit that manipulates me into wanting to do it, I'll sleep it over. I don't get a chance to say this however, taking my second to breathe as a pre-emptive no.

"Hey, hey! Is it because I didn't answer your questions? Did I say something wrong? Please! I wanna see what happens!" Practically begging, quickly losing the impression they made in my mind as they start speaking gibberish and acting like they're nearly crying.

It isn't convincing.

Not bothering to try and console, I continue walking to my improvised bed and look at them with a blank, slightly harsh glare, with little doubt they are simply messing with me.

They meet my gaze, and the facade quickly falls away.

"Huh, that usually works, or at least flusters most people." They respond, immediately switching emotions, proving my point.

"Yes... But I am not an idiot, mostly, were you not listening to anything I had to say? Like the part I said I figure it out, tomorrow?" I respond, almost impressed at the unbelievable, confusing and surprising cunning act of this flower sized person with wings.

I can't get a proper idea of what they think, their emotions and thought process is doing my head in. But I guess that's your strength when, what it would take to kill you, is for someone to step in the wrong place.

They, of course, don't respond to my question, but indirectly do as their face fills with a look of guilt, then confusion, then a face that only bored scientists make when they get an interesting test subject.

"So you can resist the lure of the Node and don't get tricked easily, hmmm, aren't you interesting." They mumble, accidentally or not so accidentally, talking out loud.

It's like talking to a politician, or my brother, just child-sized. Really good for getting underestimated and general mind-tomfoolery, mindfoolery, but not for much else, especially in a magic forest.

"Yeah, yeah whatever, look you are going to at least answer my questions before I go anywhere near that 'Node', alright?" I say resolutely, with no room for argument.

The feeling of being scammed, plus being used as a lab rat permeates my being, but spectacularly my nameless guide's response defies my expectation and once again confuses me at the constant changing of attitude.

"Sure." They respond simply, promptly floating away to a small group of living light-bulbs.

What? Why can't this person make any sense, why did they agree so easily.

I give them a long glance, before sighing loudly and falling backwards onto my new patch of grass, the novelty of camping has long since passed and I silently wish for a proper bed. Fearing that I may get adjusted to sleeping outdoors before I get the chance, I quickly change gears and start reassessing my day, as I have had to do for a while now due to the sheer absurdity of my new life.

Quickly though, it becomes apparent that I think I fucked up, I should have been warier of, pretty much everything. This isn't a holiday, I should have been paying more attention, trying to justify myself in that I died and walked it off like nothing made me feel invisible, but I don't even know if things like that are common.

I only know so much about what is pretty obviously a fantasy land, what if people shrug off death like a joke on a regular basis? Fuck, people may know how to double kill people for all I know, and I waltzed right on in a screwy forest without a care in the world.

Now I'm, tentatively, stuck in this forest with small flying people that can probably do wizardry voodoo and triple kill me before I can even wrap my head around it.

I sigh.

Ugh, knowing some History isn't going to help me survive in this weird world, doing some camping isn't going to cut it. Especially true when day by day more stuff I know from my old world fades away in my memory.

Planning out how to survive turned out harder than I thought, I don't know enough, the best bet even if I don't like it is to learn off the Fae and figure out my status.

There are plenty of things in my status that I haven't tried yet, either not fully understanding it or just simple reluctance. This will not do. I need to properly know how to defend myself before exploration and actually know everything in my status.

Mindset, I actually decide to go to sleep, as I am going to need it tomorrow. It wasn't long after this that I fall asleep, exhausted.

I sit on the edge of the crater, pit, hole, whatever it is. Morning rose not long ago with the two suns casting their light through the trees with the shadow of the floating island looming far above, contemplating life and what to do when a familiar face shows itself.

"Hello again! You wanted to ask some questions right?" They ask, almost vibrating with energy.

I ignore it and focus on the questions, "First are the questions I wanted to ask earlier, what is your name, what are 'fae', elementals, and what are Nodes?" I ask, counting off questions I could reasonably ask, won't be too suspicious and, admittedly, ones that I could actually remember.

Definitely got more questions for later though.

Sensing my mood, my guide switches mood into a sober and wisened look, only now do I feel the weight of the age of the small person in front of me, it was just a guess earlier but now it feels real.

"My name is Auray, and there are quite a few of us with True names, and you must really be a new elemental then if you don't know those things, which isn't a bad thing, just lucky you found us instead of some of the other races," Auray says with a sorrowful tone.

I raise my eyebrow, "True names? Wait, what do you mean by that last part?"

Is this why they haven't bothered to ask my name? Because they don't expect me to have one?

Auray sighs, "True names are simple in that they are only given out by the System, but special in many other ways that I won't go into, since you won't get one for a while. The last part is more of a history lesson, but the simplified version is that the beings from the earlier ages are much rarer than the latter Ages, and are sought out by a few, especially Humans."

Seeing my confused expression, they elaborate, "Oh, Elementals are from the earlier ages meaning you would be sought out, like some of us Fae. Don't worry, we stick together, and I would be glad to teach you magic as I haven't seen many Elementals; especially Elementals like you, and it would be so exciting and new to teach you magic."

Concerning, but it's what I wanted anyway.

"And the node?" I ask, glancing at the rock in question.

"Hmm, Nodes are... Special; a wondrously terrifying mix of solid mana, elements of the world and the glorious system itself, in fact every race I know of uses Nodes in some way. As to what will happen if you touch it, I meant it when I said I truly don't know, every Elemental interacts with their element in their own way, it may not even work for you if you are too young to understand your element." Auray lectures, appraising me and the glowing Node in equal measure.

They come to a quick conclusion, they shrug before bringing their tiny hand to their face, making a thinking position that is quite funny when they barely reach my knees.

"Any more questions? Oh yeah about us and the fae, well we are a lot like you in that we are made of mana, but different in that there are many different species of Fae, you see? We're also slightly different in that Elementals are, of course, similar to their Element in some way and are disgustingly proficient in magic using their Element, obviously. Although, while some races are made of varying levels of Magic, and do have 'affinities', it isn't fair to compare that to an Elemental's affinity. This is plus the fact that Elementals are a mix of the Element itself and Magic, confusingly."

They pause, muttering something about rambling.

How are there different levels of being made of Magic, in answering my questions they just gave me more questions.

Refocusing their attention on me, Auray flies into my personal space close enough for even them to be able to touch me, which they do as they poke my face.

"You seem very different for a newborn Elemental, even from the few I know, I talked and the rest of us are also very excited to see what happens if you touch the Node. Now I stick by what I said and we do stick together, so I won't force you to do anything. but I promise you, I will annoy you into doing it and when you have thousands of us we can be really... Convincing."

Frowning, I bring my fingers up in a position ready to flick Auray, who still hasn't left my personal space, and get ready to cause untold damage.

Auray wisely backs off and waits anxiously for my response, which they get after a few seconds of thinking and a heavy sigh.

The benefits are too great for such small risk, a treasure trove of knowledge compared to, should I believe them, is what they assured me is almost zero risk. I am under the belief that I should be just a normal Elemental, granted I am whatever a true Elemental is and I don't really feel like an Elemental, but with what they told me it should be fine.

Giving another light sigh, I glare balefully at the Node before glancing at Auray, who in turn gives me a wide suspicious grin and supportive thumbs up.

"I can trust you, right?" I ask resigned.

In return, Auray gives me what looks like the most honest hurt and wounded look I have seen yet. "You wouldn't know, but only races like I said earlier; for example, Humans, would lie to you or dare try anything, even if it never works. Comparing us to Humans and other races is even considered taboo as we, with our long lives, pride ourselves on our morals."

They take a breath before turning their attention to me again and giving a pained look, a look of experience, "Unlike most, we wouldn't try to manipulate one such closely related to us like Elementals, at least any real Fae." They force out, Spitting out the word manipulate like a curse.

I exhale, damn.

"Alright, well what's the worst that could happen?" I state, focusing on the Node floating high above.

From dying to a rock, to purposely touching a wannabe, glowing rock looking like a modern art piece, on steroids, gone wrong. I swear this shouldn't become a habit, or we are going to have problems.