Crystal's Journal Entry #1

[*Verdant Path, Crystal Andrews: Journal Entry #1. Month: Rootwane. Day: Glowday, 18. Year: 2250*]

Testing. Testing. This is weird. Really weird. Really, really, really weird. I'm in a cave with a mushroom person in what seems to be another world entirely. And I seem to be able to just think in order to write in this journal. I should be freaking out much more than I am.

I should write down everything I know so far, just to keep my own sanity. I'm in a place called Muragu. It's some kind of jungle with constant rain—not gentle Oregon drizzle, but heavy tropical downpours. The mushroom people are called Myconari. Spohr is the only one I've met. He seems peaceful, though communication is limited to spore-cloud telepathy, which is... an adjustment.

Oh…hey! I can sketch using finger movements! Now, that's kinda cool!

[*Translation Matrix activated. Current language exposure: Myconari Sporespeak. 12% comprehension. Continued interaction will improve fluency.*]

Thanks, Verdant Path…I think? The Verdant Path seems to be some kind of biological interface or AI system. Kinda reminds me of those stupid video games my high school ex-boyfriend used to play. Everyone has their own version of it. Mine looks like a fantasy RPG menu with vines and glowing elements. I have unlimited inventory storage—which still doesn't make any logical sense, but I've literally seen my textbooks disappear into thin air. Not to mention, I'm nowhere near Oregon anymore.

I need to figure out if there's a way home. No idea how I got here. One minute I was driving in Oregon, then sudden fog, and now I'm in fantasy mushroom-jungle land. My car is still out there somewhere, probably getting covered in whatever passes for moss in this place.

[*Objective suggestion: "Find Your Way Home" can be added to your Objectives tab. Accept?*]

Yeah? Maybe? Is there even a way back? I mean…med school midterms are in a month. If I'm not back by then... No, I can't think like that. I will find a way back. I've survived worse. Mom always said I was stubborn enough to argue with a brick wall until it moved.

The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

Current inventory: Clothes I'm wearing, backpack, taekwondo uniform, water bottle, protein bars (5), phone (no signal), wallet with ID and $43 (which is most likely useless now), textbooks, notebook, pens, small first aid kit, car keys (useless now). Let's face it, my entire life was in my car. Technically, I have everything from my car, but I don't really feel like listing every sentimental or practical thing I've kept.

[*Inventory cataloged. Items accessible via Inventory menu. Perishable items will be preserved in stasis while stored.*]

Oh, okay…That's actually kinda cool! So, note to self, put any foraged food items immediately into system inventory. That's going to be so handy! Anyways…

Physical condition: Tired, hungry, slightly dehydrated. No injuries. Mental condition: Surprisingly calm considering the circumstances. Maybe I'm in shock. Or maybe after everything else, even being transported to a jungle world feels manageable.

[*No physical indicators of shock.*]

Um…I guess that's true? Are you going to just keep having YOUR input into MY journal entries? You do realize that journals are supposed to be private, right? Gosh…What am I saying? I'm arguing with an AI! I'm sure the Verdant Path is just doing its job…Whatever that is.

Spohr is in what seems to be some kind of collective consciousness or memory bank for the Myconari. He's "rooting" now—physically connecting to the ground to access it. I wonder if it contains information about humans or Earth….

[*World Memory: First Dreamseed detected. The Deep Spore contains ancestral memories. Connection possible through future Radix-Bonding.*]

Okay…I'm not sure what those terms mean. You'll have to explain them to me like I'm five, Verdant Path. No? Fine, I'll find someone who can.

Short-term plan: Wait out the storm. Learn more from Spohr and about this Verdant Path. Find food and water. Long-term plan: Figure out how I got here, then reverse the process (if possible). Get home in time for midterms.

If anyone ever reads this, not that they SHOULD, —I'm not giving up. I've been alone before. I've started over before. This is just another bump in the road.

[*End Journal Entry #1*]