Other Side of the Raid
New Opportunity (Part 1)
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World: Post-Comet Earth
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Previously on Other Side of the Raid...
Aria, a B-rank Explorer with "worthless" illusion magic, refuses to accept the limitations placed on her by society. Despite excelling in physical combat and strategy, the Guild system denies her advancement to A-rank—all because of her magic type.
Discovering that a Japanese illusionist achieved A-rank by soloing a Raid boss, Aria convinces her reluctant Guild Master to let her attempt the impossible. Using parkour, rope techniques, and sheer determination, she battles a three-meter-tall Minotaur boss for twenty exhausting minutes.
But when sweat-slicked walls betray her perfect plan, Aria finds herself tangled in the Minotaur's back spikes, hanging upside-down as consciousness fades...
New Opportunity (Part 1)
The first sensation Aria registered was softness - an unexpected comfort that immediately set her on edge. Her eyes opened to find herself in a room that bore the unmistakable characteristics of a Raid interior, yet something felt off. The bed beneath her was soft and familiar, remarkably similar to her own at home, and the simple wooden table beside it could have been plucked straight from her bedroom.
This can't be right. I should be dead. Aria tried to sit up, wincing at the movement. Aria tried to sit up, wincing at the movement.
The stone walls bore the same architectural style as the Raid, but the furnishings were jarringly domestic. A small vase of fresh flowers sat on the bedside table, their sweet scent mixing with the sterile smell of healing magic that lingered in the air.
The door's hinges suddenly creaked, and Aria tensed, expecting the worst. Instead, a small elf girl burst in, her entrance sending the flower petals dancing in the disturbed air.
Elf Girl: "OMG, you're literally finally awake! Like, we've been waiting forever!" She bounced into the room, her eyes rolling dramatically as her feet barely seemed to touch the floor.
Aria: "You speak English?" She asked, startled by both the presence of another person and the casual use of her language.
Elf Girl: "As if! Like, hello?" She giggled, pointing at an unfamiliar necklace around Aria's neck. "That super cute accessory is totally your universal translator. Pretty rad, right?"
Aria: "Who are you? Where am I?" Aria asked, trying to sit up while fighting her confusion.
Elf Girl: "Oh em gee, my bad! I'm, like, the worst at introductions sometimes!" She twirled playfully. "I'm Vaeloria, and I'm basically the Senior Location Manager for this planet, which is like, totally a big deal and stuff. And you're in what we call H-57-Zeta, ORN-3-55, but you humans are all like 'The Queen's Gambit' or whatever."
Aria: "In the Raid?" She frowned, trying to process this information. "The last thing I remember was slipping on the wall and getting tangled in the Minotaur's armour..."
Vaeloria: "OMG, that was literally the most epic fail ever! But like, in a good way?" She clasped her hands excitedly. "Your fight with Trevor the Terrible got such amazing ratings that the Producers were like 'We can't let her die, that would be totally cringe!' So I fixed you up with my healing magic. NBD."
Aria: "Who is Trevor the Terrible?"
Vaeloria: "Duh! Big guy? Horns? Built like a tank?" She gestured expansively. "Ring any bells?"
Aria: "The Minotaur has a name?"
Vaeloria: "Ugh, don't be so basic! He was nice enough to bring you here instead of, like, leaving you for dead or whatever. Show some respect!" Her pointed ears twitched with annoyance.
Aria: "How long was I unconscious?"
Vaeloria: "Ugh, your planet's time system is like, so last millennium!" She flopped dramatically into a nearby chair. "Who even measures time by how long it takes a rock to go around a burning ball of gas? But if you're gonna be all technical about it," She counted on her fingers, "probably like three days or whatever."
Aria: "You mentioned being Senior Location Manager. What exactly does that mean?"
Vaeloria: "OMG, I thought you'd never ask!" She perked up, straightening in her chair. "I'm basically in charge of all the locations on this planet. It's like being a mega-influencer, but for actual reality shows, not just social media."
Aria: "Aren't you..." Aria hesitated, eyeing Vaeloria's youthful appearance, "a bit young for such responsibility?"
Vaeloria: "Excuse me?" She shot up from her chair, hands on hips. "That's literally so rude! I'm five hundred and twelve years old by your planet's measurements." She tossed her hair indignantly. "Just because I'm still in my teen years doesn't mean I can't slay at my job!"
Aria: "I'm sorry, I didn't realize..." Aria began, but Vaeloria cut her off with an exaggerated eye roll.
Vaeloria: "Whatever, I'm totally used to it by now." She waved her hand dismissively. "You're not the first species to be all judgy about my age, and you won't be the last. Let's just move on, kay?"
Aria: "More importantly... what exactly are you?"
Vaeloria: "Seriously?" She pointed to her pointed ears. "I'm an elf, duh! With all your planet's fantasy books and movies, I thought that would be, like, super obvious."
Aria: "You keep saying 'your planet.' What's that about?"
Vaeloria: "Okay, so like, story time!" She clapped her hands excitedly. "And trust me, this is gonna blow your mind! We're basically alien invaders from the Galactic Magic Federation." She paused for dramatic effect. "After we seeded your planet with magic - you're welcome, BTW - we set up these locations all over to evaluate if you guys are civilized enough to join our federation."
Aria: "And if we're not?" Aria asked, her voice tight with anxiety.
Vaeloria: "Then boom!" She made an explosive gesture with her hands. "Planet goes bye-bye. But like, don't stress! Our Producers haven't seen ratings this high in literally centuries. You guys are totally crushing it!"
Aria: "Producers? Ratings? What are you talking about?"
Vaeloria: "Oh em gee, right! I forgot to mention the best part!" She bounced excitedly. "All these locations are basically what you'd call Reality TV! You're literally famous across the galaxy right now!"
Aria: "WHAT???" Aria's jaw dropped.
Vaeloria: "Oh, and one more totally important thing before I bounce," She headed toward the door, then turned back with a mischievous smile. "The Producers want me to offer you this super amazing job as a liaison between Galactic Magic Federation and Earth. You can totally say no if you want..." Her expression turned sweetly sinister. "But then I'd have to eliminate you. But it's totes your choice!" She added cheerfully. "Anyway, gotta run! Take a few to think it over - I'll be back in like a couple hours or whatever!"
With that, Vaeloria practically skipped out of the room, leaving a shell-shocked Aria trying to process everything she'd just learned.
None of this makes any sense. Reality TV? Alien invaders? This has to be some sort of hallucination. Aria pressed her fingers against her temples. Aria pressed her fingers against her temples.
After sitting for what felt like an hour in the room, trying to process Vaeloria's revelations, Aria felt a growing need to move. The stone walls seemed to close in around her, making clear thinking impossible. Careful not to aggravate her healing injuries, she made her way to the door.
If this is real, I need to see more of this place. If it's not... well, I suppose it doesn't matter what a hallucination thinks of me sneaking around.
She peered through the keyhole, seeing only an empty corridor beyond. The door opened with surprising smoothness, not a single creak betraying her movement. Aria had taken barely two steps when a presence behind her made the hair on her neck stand up. Turning slowly, she found herself looking up - and up - at a towering figure that should have terrified her but instead radiated an unexpected air of gentility.
Aria: "You're... you're the Trevor the Terrible?" Her voice wavered slightly as she pressed herself against the door frame.
The massive figure adjusted an invisible cravat with surprising delicacy, his movements carrying all the precision of a Victorian gentleman despite his imposing size.
Trevor: "Indeed, my dear lady. Most gratified to see you've recovered splendidly," He executed a slight bow that somehow managed to be both intimidating and courtly. "Oh, and do call me Trevor, if you would be so kind."
A polite Minotaur. With a British accent. Either I'm still unconscious, or reality has taken a sharp turn into the absurd.
Aria: "Nice to meet you, Trevor," she managed, her voice steadier but still wary. "And I... I should apologize for trying to kill you earlier."
Trevor: "Think nothing of it, my good woman," He adjusted his metaphorical cravat with practiced elegance. "T'was merely my duty to assess your capabilities. All quite proper and above board, I assure you."
The stone corridor echoed with their voices, the magical torches casting dancing shadows that made the massive bull-headed figure seem even more surreal.
Aria: "But aren't you..." she hesitated, curiosity overtaking fear, "...immortal? I'm certain I've killed you before when raiding with groups. Multiple times, actually."
Trevor: "Ah, I see our dear Vaeloria hasn't explained the particulars," he said, stroking his bull-like chin thoughtfully. "In days long past, you would indeed have encountered my physical form for a singular engagement. These days, however, you face my magically recreated avatar. Upon defeat, all that remains is the power source - rather like a magical battery, if you will."
A comfortable silence fell between them, broken only by the distant sound of what might have been otherworldly machinery.
Aria: "I feel terrible about taking those power sources after defeating... well, everyone," she admitted, surprised by her own honesty.
Trevor: "My dear girl, pray don't distress yourself. They're merely disposable energy vessels, quite replaceable," he assured her with a dignified wave of his massive hand. "Now then, regarding our young Vaeloria's proposition - have you given thought to accepting the position?"
Not much of a choice, is there? Accept or be 'eliminated' - and somehow I doubt that means a polite dismissal.
Aria: "Not much choice in the matter, is there?" She replied with a hint of resignation. "So yes, I'll accept."
Trevor: "Come now, chin up! It's a position of considerable prestige," he declared, straightening to his full impressive height, horns nearly brushing the corridor's ceiling. "And I shall personally assist in enhancing your physical prowess during your tenure."
What followed was a detailed critique of Aria's recent combat performance, with Trevor offering observations on her technique with all the precision of a Victorian fencing master. The stone corridor became an impromptu classroom as he demonstrated proper stances and movements, his massive frame somehow making even the most delicate maneuvers look elegant. A few hours passed in what felt like mere moments while Aria found herself thoroughly engrossed in battle strategy discussions with Trevor. The technical discourse was so engaging that neither noticed the quiet return of Vaeloria, accompanied by a diminutive pixie wearing scholarly spectacles perched precisely upon her tiny nose.
📡 End of Transmission
Oliver here - That was quite a chapter! Our dimensional frequency is picking up intense emotional resonance from Aria's world. What did you think of her decision? The comments below are buzzing with theories from other interdimensional travelers...