Five years.

  Five years of living alone in a world of magic and monsters.

  Not knowing why I was here, how I was here…

  Five years of being green.

  It wasn’t all bad. Being green.

  In fact, I kind of loved it.

  I loved being Gerda. I loved my life and my home and my new world.

  But a burning question ate at me. Could I go back?

  Would I go back?

  If only for a day.

  [Perk: World Bridge: You have the ability to travel between bridges you control with World Bridge. All +Troll Magic [Dimension] captured bridges are included.

  Bonus Abilities:

  If you control all bridges in a domain, 2x experience earned. Current domains: Dark Enchanted Forest.

  If you control a bridge in all domains, mana cost to travel between domains is halved. Current domains: Dark Enchanted Forest, Drendil, Peldeep, Servalt, North Sumbria, Sumbria.

  If you control the furthest bridges at the four corners of Valaria, unlock the ability to travel between any bridge ever crossed. This power can pass through the Void into alternate and subspaces for additional mana cost. Current bridges: Faren’s Arch in Sumbria, Daffolyn Bridge in Peldeep, and Sea-to-Sky Bridge in Servalt, Forgotten Frost Bridge in Northern Ice Fields.

  If you control all bridges in Valaria, unlock Hidden Domain [Valarian Royal Palace]. World Bridge perk upgrade Empress of All Bridges. Unlock Title Empress of Valaria.]

  [You have unlocked World Bridge bonus ability. You may now travel to any bridge you have ever crossed.]

  I closed my eyes for a second, not trusting what I would see, but when I searched my list of available bridges that I could teleport to… there they were.

  Bridges remembered from another life.

  Another time.

  A time before I was Gerda the Bridge Troll… and I noticed with a sad smile, that there was also a bridge from Gerda’s old village.

  I hesitated. Wanting to look back at least once… but I knew that if I saw Julian standing there I would lose the nerve.

  [You have selected, [Lions Gate Bridge]. Mana Cost 1000.]

  Suddenly, I was walking through portal space… but not as I was familiar with it. Crossing a dimensional bridge in Valaria was over in the time to blink; one step, a rush and then it was over.

  Travelling between worlds wasn’t fast. It was harrowing. Each step felt like my feet were going to fall out from underneath me. There was a lurch in my stomach. My mind reeled against momentum that threatened to make me vomit. I could feel the ‘bridge’ beneath my feet, but couldn’t see it.

  If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

  I took ten steps that lasted an eternity. All in void space.

  Then suddenly, there was a barrier, a translucent film where this bridge ended and another began. and I knew with absolute certainty that I’d reached the edge of this world, and was going to cross into another.

  I opened my eyes, and only knew they were open because I was met with another prompt.

  [Thank you for playing Dungeons Delves and Debutants. Would you like to exit the game [Yes/No].

  I stared at it. I couldn’t answer.

  Julian’s note was still in my hands. I couldn’t even read it in the darkness of the void.

  “Why are you crying?” A familiar voice whispered into my ear. It passed through me with a gentle gong. The sound lingered, like a hum in my bones.

  “Fate?” I asked.

  “I opened this path for you; I thought you would be happy?” The goddess said.

  The world shifted and I could see. I was standing on her mana. Hundreds of thousands of small motes of divine magic that stretched behind and in front of me.

  The goddess was made of pure mana; the outline of a tall figure, effeminate and ethereal.

  “Why did you bring me here?” I asked, knowing it was rude to answer a question with a question, but doing so anyway. “Was it you?”

  “I asked Luck to find me a soul who could change this world for me. Someone who knew what would happen here, and would have the will to change it.” Fate bent down and reached out. Her gentle hand pushed back one of my curls. “She found you, and she brought you to me.”

  “Then why did you ignore me? I went to your temple! You could have–” I was yelling at a goddess, but she simply shook her head.

  “I could not appear and risk drawing attention to you.” Explained. “You needed to be truly a part of this world before my siblings noticed you… or they might have removed you.”

  “So I get dragged here, do all the work fixing the weave. Save everyone. And then what? I get kicked out?” My heart pounded against my chest and anger laced my words. “Did I even need to unlock this stupid bonus ability? Or were you just going to send me back anyway?”

  “I did nothing. You chose to come here.” Fate reminded me gently.

  “Does choice even matter when there is Fate?” I challenged.

  “Do not let Luck catch you speaking this way.” Fate chided. “And who are you to say that, Madame Potts!”

  She was being awfully forgiving for an all powerful goddess. It was like being angry at a wall.

  The rage inside of me dimmed into fear, resentment… and grief.

  “Do I have to leave?” The words escaped me, even though I didn’t want to hear the answer.

  “No, my sweet soul.” Fate held my shoulders and directed me back to the system prompt. “It is your choice. You may, of course, choose to stay in Valaria. But–”

  I looked up at the goddess.

  “I cannot leave a gate between worlds open, and only planned to do so until the equinox.” Fate let go and took a step back. “Whatever you choose, I must close the way.”

  “I understand.” I said. I knew what I was going to choose.

  “Then I will leave you to decide on your own, but first—” Her divine mana wrapped around my hands and the words I longed to read were clear to me.

  I love you, Miss Gerda Jones

  Fate’s divine energy fell back into the void. As it did, I thought I saw the shifting outline of others in the endless explance.

  I glanced at the prompt.

  And made my choice.