Alex came back to earth. Bright light accompanied him on arrival. He found himself back in his room. The alarm clock in the corner of his desk read 13:07. Damn. Now he had missed nearly all of the school day but it seemed so meaningless to him right now.

In a moment clarity he remembered what was important right now, informing his parents. He grabbed his cell phone and found 50 missed messages first. He got queasy. Somebody might just be really angry right now. He called his mother back, ready to get scolded.

“Alex is that you?” asked his mother.

“Yes and before you get mad at me. Listen. No matter what you do, never think about the pattern from your dream. Do not try to understand it, do not draw and do not describe it, nothing. Please, this is very important.” said Alex.

“Do you want to distract me from you cutting school? Don´t lie to me. You should be truthful.” said his mother in an unusually reproachful tone.

“I will be absolutely honest with you once you get home. Promise. I had a good reason.” said Alex.

“I am very disappointed but if you had a reason you can´t tell me right now.” his mother said, her voice becoming low, “We'll talk when your father is home.”

“Yes we do and apologize me,” said Alex.

“I can do. I love you,” said his mother in a bitter sweet tone.

“Love you too,” said Alex.

Fortunately, the school only called his mother, so he didn't have to explain anything to his father over the phone but he didn´t pick up his phone. So he wrote him a message. Next he called Malle.

“The King Malle is listening,” said Malle.

“Whatever mate,” said Alex.

“It really is you. Tell me, were you kidnapped and calling from the trunk of the car or something?” asked Malle.

“The true story is wilder. You have to listen to me very seriously now. Do you understand that?” asked Alex.

"Clear dumpling broth,” said Malle.

"Good enough. No matter what you do, don't think about the dream and the pattern, don't draw it, just ignore it as best you can. Got it?” asked Alex.

"Tell me why,” replied Malle.

“Later and one more thing, tell the people you care about. But don't tell anyone that I told you that.” Said Alex. Then he hung up.

-

It was later that evening. Alex was sitting in the living room, his parents across the little table. His mother's eyes were piercing. While his father showed nether emotion nor intention.

“Alex, I'm curious,” said his mother.

“Let me tell you about my day first. Then you understand. I woke up. To be precise, I overslept but everything seemed fine to me. I was relaxed and a strange drive made me draw the pattern and the next moment I disappeared. I found myself in the tutorial.”

His father interrupted him. "What are you saying? Alex, don't lie to us. Skipping school is already bad enough but telling your parents all this nonsense.”

“Be honest with us Alex, are you in trouble? We'll help you.” said his mother.

"It's hard to believe but see for yourself," said Alex. Then he summoned the glaive. Pure astonishment was on their faces.

"Do you understand now?" asked Alex. His parents stayed silent. Astonishment, horror, doubt, everything could be seen on their faces. However, they couldn't doubt what was happening in front of their eyes and that made it worse.

"Well, we'll tell the school that you were sick and that we had communication problems at home," said his mother. She tried to look composed but how could you cope with something like that. They didn´t question him any further. Instead Alex explained to them the crazy things that happened to him and he advised them to do sport. His father didn´t need such a tip but his mother did. From there on Alex finished his day. It was already long and way to straining.

-

The next morning the alarm clock rang and Alex got up on time. Alex turned around one last time before standing up. Everything seemed so normal. He could enjoy an average day.

During the course of his morning routine, he had to take a quick look at his hand. With a little willpower, the symbol began to glow. Before it completely cleared up, Alex stopped himself. What had gotten into him, even testing the symbol, but his body did it without even thinking. His blood boiled once more and that scared him.

He reprimanded himself. Then he cycled to school, and Malle met him halfway through. He had long, tousled hair. Additionally he wore sunglasses that were way too dashing when riding his bike or in any circumstances for that matter. To finish his style Malle always wore shorts. You could say he made an impression in his very own way.

“How are you Alex. You missed Mr. Wanowski's surprise test. You are guaranteed to retake that today. Have to ask Lotte about the tasks. I forgot them again.” said Malle.

“It will be fine. More importantly, did you keep my request in mind?” asked Alex.

“Of course, I don't care anyway. What important Friday is a party in the house, will you come? ”asked Malle.

“Yeah sure.” said Alex.

When they arrived the first lesson was English with Mrs. Hasenbeck. Alex and Malle came running into the room with a minute left. Malle was completely out of breath yet Alex sat down in a relaxed fashion. Strange, he thought. Malle used to be at least as athletic as he was.

The clock struck 8 and five seats were empty. Apparently more people went to the tutorial. Nonetheless, the lesson started normally. Nobody seemed to understand what happened in the world.

The lesson itself war boring at best. Alex stared out the window and couldn't get motivated to study. Usually he would listen and take notes. Good grades were important to him, but after staring into the face of death, it seemed so irrelevant to him, so useless.

Break time came. It good hectic in the room. Alex went to Lotte to ask for the math question of the test. Three other girls and Vincent swarmed around Lotte´s desk. A video was playing on Vincent's cell phone. Alex only saw the end of the video but when he saw the red haired woman from the tutorial again, he briefly held his breath, as he lived through the bloody battlefield once more.

Alex pointed at the cell phone. "Who is she?"

“Olympic fencing champion Lina Fadenschmeck. Do you think she’s hot?” asked Vincent. Alex looked at him, holding his irritation back. A simple “No” was a he said.

Vincent gave him a silly grin. “It's natural. She sexy but be careful. She´s just as crazy. Wanting to make people believe that there is a bloody tutorial, where one has to fight for their survival. But the CGI effects of the video are top notch.”

Now Alex understood. "Don't you believe her?"

“Are you already drunk and can I have a sip?” asked Vincent.

“No to both,” said Alex. Alex took upon him the duty to show them the bitter truth that was the tutorial or at the very least confirm its existence. All he had to do was summon his glaive. Vincent´s eyes became bigger, nearly exploding. Some girls screamed and Alex absorbed his weapon again. “It is true and every gory story you heard came from a survivor. The dead could not tell theirs, which are for sure much more terrible.” He absorbed his glaive and said in a cheerful voice. “I would be careful.”

The entire classroom was in silence even a needle could have been heard dropping to the floor. Alex focused on Lotte and saw her horrified gaze. Now he felt bad, especially since he wanted to ask her for some insignificant math questions. Who cares about that stuff anyways?

The test came the next lesson. Mr. Wanowski did look surprised when he saw Alex sitting in the room. “I'm glad you're back. However, it does not save you from the test.”

Mr. Wanowski took Alex to the small adjoining room, gave him the test and looked at him again. “I wish you success. You know every math tests decides your life. Very important.” Alex rolled his eyes. Mr. Wanowski liked to say stupid stuff like that. In the next 15 minutes Alex solved all the questions and handed in the test.

The rest of the school day passed at a snail's pace. The world didn't feel the same anymore. His thought drifted away. Did real aliens create the tutorial or was it a god? The mere thought of these power made him shake. Furthermore what came after the tutorial and how will the world end?

Alex got home without realizing it. He really wanted to learn more, clear every floor. He wrote to his mother that he would be busy for a while. Then with a mere thought, the tattoo on his hand became visible. A little later he was in the middle of the tutorial. There was a stone circle under his feet and in the distance stood a huge, similar stone circle. But everything behind it was covered by a crystalline like wall.

“The second floor will consist of a duel. Defeat the champion and you can go to the third floor. Your opponent is in the circle in front of you. You can escape from the fight if you leave the stone circle. You can return to your place of origin by returning to the circle under your feet. "

Alex summoned his glaive, stretched, and went into the arena. It was like walking through a waterfall. A monster greeted him on the other side. It was the horror figure of an insect. Its five deep black eyes stared straight at Alex. It was sharpening its four arms as if it couldn't wait to cut into the soft flesh of a person. There were also three pairs of legs.

Alex walked up to the monster step by step. Seven, eight. Then the monster raced towards him. Alex took the force of the attack by dodging backwards. Alex parried the first two attacks. Then he landed a stab to the insect's shell. His glaive bounced off, leaving only a scratch.

The monster landed one cut cleanly. The bone was visible below the flesh. Alex held his glaive with one arm and ran. But during the escape he received two more cuts on his back. Alex barely managed to get out. The insect terrifyingly fast. Alex collapsed on the ground.

Behind him lay the arena and the deadly best. Only through the slight flickering of the air could one guess what was hidden there. Alex held his healing ring over the wound on his arm and activated it with little effort. His arm healed completely and the wounds on his back stopped bleeding. Then he stretched his arm to completely heal his last wounds.

Alex lamented his retreat. The insect wasn't much bigger than himself but the armor and the number of arms with razor sharp blades made it a formidable foe. He smiled and went back into the circle. The monster greeted him again. The damage to the shell was gone.

Both started anew and Alex liked it. He took seven steps forward and concentrated. He felt the force vibrantly. Now all he had to do was keeping it up. His mindset was clear. It was time to begin. Taking the last step, the monster charged.

Alex greeted it with his glowing steel. The glaive cut through the insect's arm. The monster made a high-pitched scream and slammed its remaining three arms towards Alex. In return he cut off one more Arm, while dodging the others.

Performing these attacks while moving was extremely taxing on his mind. Alex felt a headache forming but he kept on going. His determination unwavering but the next thing happening shocked him. The deep black of the insect shell turned red. As a result the insect got faster. The furious attacks cut against the glaive and sometimes hit Alex arms. There was no patterns or reason to the attacks only randomness and power. Alex let himself be pushed towards the wall. His mindset broke. He saw no opening and could only fell fear. In the end he jumped back and out of the arena. The bloody crazy beast had beaten him again. Alex was ashamed and disappointed. He had no more Mana to heal his wounds. It bled strongly and Alex popped a healing potion. One of his precious was gone.

He took a breather and left shortly after. Barely 20 minutes had passed but it felt like hours had gone by. Never in his life had Alex lived such an intensive life. His heart was racing and he realized that his hands were shaky. Then he smiled. He loved it and wanted to go back but not now. He needed to rest. His body was exhausted and his Mana gone.

Later on Alex met Malle outside the housing estate. The dude sat was on a tree stump. Malle was just handing him an unopened bottle of beer while he drank from his own.

Alex shook his head. “Don’t need that. It's okay.” Malle frowned. “Really no beer?”

“Really,” Answered Alex.

Malle shaking his head and put the beer back, “Then I'll drinks yours too.”

Off topic Alex asked. “Do you remember how we fought with sticks as children?”

“Sure,” said Malle.

“We should do that seriously to train,” said Alex.

“The look in your eyes has changed. I don´t like it. It´s so unlike us to be serious all of a sudden.” Said Malle.

Alex was surprised but laughed. “Damn you. Shut up and get going.”

“Sure but did you now that Norway's king and the Norwegian government confirmed the existence of the tutorial.” said Malle.

“What does that have to do with anything?” asked Alex.

“I found it interesting,” said Malle.