Disclaimer: The only part of Fantasy Life I own is a physical copy you buy at a store or on the eShop.

But in all seriousness, I do not own Level-5 or Fantasy Life, just my OC.

Some of the writing in this story (not just this chapter) is slightly inspired by "Saffron's Fantasy Life" (both Original and Rewritten) by Miko 2495.

Anyway, enjoy!

This is a magical and peaceful land called Reveria. I used to look down upon it from the sky, but now I gaze up at the clouds.

There's a hazy moon floating up there. It is called Lunares. Lunares bathes Reveria's landscape with its beautiful silvery light.

Dawn approaches. Is my hero nearby?

I sense a presence. Someone deep in a conflicted dream.

Will they mine? Will they smith? Will they fell? Will they cook? Or sew? Or saw?

Or will they fish? Hunt? Swing a sword? Conjure? Brew? Or fight for valour?

Some say that there are other worlds – worlds completely different to ours. Worlds where people live their own Life in completely different ways. Some also say that people can traverse between these worlds into different ones.

Is my hero from one of these worlds? If so, then how did they get here? And why?

It is almost daybreak in Reveria… It is time for our story to begin.

Castele, 6 months ago

The citizens of Castele were wrapped in their warm blankets on a dark and heavily stormy night. In a small building near the south gates, a woman – Pam was her name - closed her books and sighed. "Business is quiet, as usual…" Before she could move, she heard her doorbell ring, along with a knock, before suddenly a thud.

Widening her eyes, Pam rushed to the door, and opened it. At her doorstep was a young brown-haired girl, wearing clothes unfamiliar in style to the woman. But the girl was in a heap at the step. She was unconscious, and soaking wet.

Taking her in, Pam sat her in a chair and covered her with a towel, before immediately brewing a pot of tea, hoping that it would help. The girl didn't seem to have any wounds, but it was obvious she was exhausted. As she was brewing, she heard a groan from the girl.

"Oh, coming to, now?" she asked as the tea finished brewing. The girl just continued groaning in response.

"W-who…? W-where?"

The girl's voice was so soft that Pam could barely hear her. Placing the teapot on the table, she poured the two mugs and placed one near the girl. The girl scrunched her nose, before letting out a sneeze.

"Bless you. You poor thing…" Pam said, her eyes looking over the young girl – who she guessed was about 15 at most.

Slowly, the girl opened her eyes. "Where am I… who are you…?"

"Easy, now," Pam replied. "I'm Pam. You're in the city of Castele. Though judging by your attire, you're definitely not Reverian."

"Re…verian?" the girl asked, slowly become more alert. "Castele? Never heard of it."

Pam was a little shocked, to say the least. "Now, who are you, young lady?" By now, the girl was wide awake.

"Azura. Azura Cecilia."

6 months had passed since Azura – Cecilia was her middle name as she had stressed to Pam – "My surname isn't something you can pronounce," Azura had said in terms of that – had arrived on Pam's doorstep, and she had since integrated into Castelian society, somewhat. Despite being "friends" with Fern, the girl usually stuck to herself. She mentioned to Pam about her family a few times.

"Where's your family?"

"Not here. Another world entirely. Mom, Dad, Egil… all three of them are probably worried about me." She clutched her arms. "But I don't know how to get back."

Despite the rather unbelievable story, Pam had felt sorry for the young 15-year-old and let her stay in the attic room of her house – free of charge, of course. Her many sisters were delighted to meet her, but Azura had kept to herself, aside from requesting that she alone should tell her life story should she deem it appropriate. "Seems like she's the distrusting sort," Beth, her sister that ran the stables, remarked.

"She has no idea how she got here, it's only natural," Pam had replied.

Once Azura got acquainted with Castele, she began researching the different Lives that Reverians could take. She was quite the bookworm, almost always neck deep in a book while living in the attic – otherwise she'd be out practicing archery in the Castele Forest.

Then, on the morning before receiving her licence…

Castele, Present Day

"OW!" Azura cried, clutching her head. She had just rolled off the bed in her sleep, landing on the hard wooden floor.

"Azura?" Pam rushed into the attic room. "Are you alright?"

"Ouch, ouch, ouch…" Azura shook her aching head and looked up to see Pam's worried face. "I should be fine…"

"Tumble out of bed, did you?"

"Something like that…" Azura didn't really want to mention that she had another nightmare. She had already worried Pam enough.

"Anyway, you've got a letter! I bet it's from the King!"

"And what gave you that idea…?" Azura muttered, just before Pam rushed back outside. Sighing to herself, she got changed into some Castelian clothes – a blouse and skirt – and went outside, rubbing her eyes. She had decided to take the Hunter Life first up, but she was tempted to eventually take on every Life Reveria had to offer. Not that swinging swords was on her list of things - she sucked at it.

Taking the letter out of the mailbox, she was unsurprised to see the King's seal on the royal envelope.

Dear Azura

Once you have received your licence, I would request your presence at the Royal Court.

King Erik of Castele

Prelude: Welcome to Reveria!

"See, it is from the King!" Pam squealed.

Azura groaned. "It's probably an automated letter for people who choose a Life."

"Oh no, this is the King's own handwriting. He does all these letters personally! I remember my letter from the King… ah, memories…"

"Okay, I get it! I should go get my licence, now."

"You know the way to the Guild Office, right?" Azura just gave her a pointed look. "Ah, right. Oh, before you go, here's something I made, in case you get nervous." With that, Pam handed her a wrapped piece of candy.

"Thanks, Pam," Azura replied with a smile, before heading off towards the Guild Office, popping the candy in her mouth along the way. She was surprised at Pam's cooking skills when she first arrived, and sometimes helped in the kitchen. Once I get my Hunter Licence, maybe I should look into getting the Cook one next, she thought to herself, entering the Guild Office.

"Ah… hello," the gruff voice of the Guild Master echoed. "Azura, right? Here's your Novice Hunter Licence." He slid a piece of paper across the desk, which Azura put away in her pouch. "Now, I know you've done a lot of research into how Lives work, so you don't want to keep His Majesty waiting."

Azura silently nodded, uninterested in keeping a conversation with the man she knew she would see multiple times.

"Just to remind you, the castle is north of the square."

"EEEK!"

"Wha-?" Azura asked, suddenly snapping to attention. Rushing back outside, she saw some commotion in the square.

"I didn't mean to offend!" a tiny voice, one sounding like a young girl said. "Please, just let me flutter by!" As Azura got closer, she saw a butterfly, as well as…

"Butch and Pierre…" Azura muttered, all too familiar with the two of them, having run into them multiple times during the time she had been in Castele.

"Settle down, ya damn butterfly!" Pierre remarked. "We ain't gonna hurt ya."

"Please, let me go!" the young voice cried, which came from the butterfly.

A talking butterfly? Azura thought. Well, stranger things have happened.

"Not a chance!" Butch remarked. "We're gonna sell ya and make some Dosh!" Pierre suddenly whacked Butch on the head.

"I'll do the talking, Butch!"

"Sell me? Nooooo!"

At that point, Azura felt she had enough. "Hey! Pierre! Butch!" she yelled, stomping to the group with her arms crossed.

Pierre noticed her and shook his head. "Oh, it's the-"

"It's the Hawk!" Butch cried, cutting off Pierre.

Azura's eye twitched. That name again? Ignoring Butch's apparent shock, she stood in front of the butterfly. "Seriously, picking on a butterfly? You only make Dosh from selling mushrooms, and neither of you have a Life. Are you really that desperate?"

"I-I appreciate your help," the butterfly said. "But I'm fine. I can deal with these-"

"Shush," Azura interrupted. "Don't make this situation any worse for yourself."

Pierre just huffed. "We're desperadoes, it comes with the territory. Now, if you know what's good for ya, you'll be givin' us your Dosh! Butch, search her pockets!"

Azura sighed. This was going nowhere. Butch, apologetically, came forward to search her. It was unfortunate how he basically followed Pierre everywhere they went. It reminded Azura of someone she knew… but she forgot their name.

Pulling out her pockets to show they were empty, as well as her pouch which only had her licence – with her name on it – the only thing in Butch's hand was the empty candy wrapper.

"Not a single Dosh to ya name, eh lass?" Pierre remarked, disappointed. "You'd better get yourself a Life-"

"Already have, in case you haven't noticed. Maybe you should get one. Now, if you've stopped picking on the butterfly, why don't you shove off?"

Once the two of them went off - with Pierre grumbling - the butterfly thanked Azura, then flew off towards the castle. Since that was where she had to go, she headed inside herself.

"What?! What do you mean, I can't enter? I have the letter of invitation!"

To say the least, Azura was rather… upset since the guards wouldn't let her in to the Royal Court.

"Sorry, miss, but no exceptions. You could get yourself a tie or a bow…"

"Oh, screw yourself," Azura muttered. Looks like they're really taking it seriously… With no other options, she turned away.

"Oh, you MEANIE!"

Wait, is that? Azura thought. She looked over the railing to see… That talking butterfly again! Why is she here? From what she could see, the butterfly was doing a mini rant to the Minister. Heading down, she heard the butterfly plead to be let in.

"Oh, hello again!" the butterfly exclaimed once she saw Azura.

"I must say, I've never seen a butterfly that talked or sparkled before…" the Minister remarked to himself.

"He's being a big meanie!" the butterfly said. "He won't let me see the King!"

"Nobody's being mean. Protocol dictates that insects aren't allowed in the Royal Court. Furthermore, King Erik is a very busy man, and doesn't have time to listen to the prattling of a butterfly."

"What?!"

"I'm sorry, but I have no choice. I must ask you to leave." With that, the Minister walked away.

"I can't believe this! The prejudice one faces for being a butterfly! By the way, why are you here?"

"I'm here to see the King, since I got a letter from him personally," Azura replied. Still think those Life letters are automated… "Unfortunately, I got turned away for not wearing something like a tie or bow. The nerve…"

"Oh! I have an idea!"

"What idea?"

"Just lift your chin a bit."

"Why?"

"Just trust me on this!"

"Okay…" Azura lifted her chin, and suddenly the butterfly flew and attached herself to the neck of her blouse.

"Ta-da!" the butterfly exclaimed. "Behold, the butter-tie!"

"Uh…" Azura muttered. "Okay?" What's with this butterfly?

"Let's go see the king!"

Well, who am I to argue? Azura shrugged, before heading back up to the stairs. The butter-tie – what a stupid pun – on her neck seemed rather weird, but the butterfly assured her it was fine.

"Halt! I said to you not moments-huh?" The guard started before he noticed the sparkle on Azura's neck. "Oh, that's a very nice bow tie. You should've put it on earlier. Anyway, you're allowed to go through!"

"See?"the butterfly muttered. "It worked!" Azura said nothing, just smiled and entered the Royal Court.

However, she was surprised to see a little boy sitting on the throne, with a woman standing next to him. This can't be the king, surely? She thought to herself.

"Ah, so you've come," the boy said. "I am Erik, the eleventh king of Castele and ruler of the realm." Erik then went into a spiel of how Castelians chose to pursue the different Lives, as well as congratulating Azura on her chosen Life.

Either that woman is his mother, or this boy is really a man who got zapped by magic, Azura thought to herself, remembering the stories told by her father.

"Aww… he's so cute, like a little boy!" the butterfly remarked softly.

"Please be quiet…" Azura muttered.

"Muttering to yourself, are you?" Erik remarked, startling the pair. He smiled. "You need not worry. The formalities and speeches are over."

Well, that's nice.

"To my left is my darling wife, Queen Ophelia." The woman then congratulated Azura and requested her to do her best.

Okay, definitely zapped.

"And to my right is my beautiful daughter, Laura." However, there was no one there.

"Er, darling… Laura's gone out."

"Again?" Erik asked, before going on a small tirade of how his daughter continues to defy him. "I don't know what to do with her."

Returning to the matter at hand, Azura was then handed a map of Reveria – Wow, there's a lot here – 300 Dosh, and a set of Novice Hunter clothes, which she was told to put on in the Royal Court.

Don't these royals have any shred of decency? Azura thought once she put on the clothes.

"Your Life Master, Fern, should be located east of Castele." After another small spiel about choosing how to live her Life, Azura was dismissed, and soon left the castle. The butterfly then flew off her neck.

"Wow! That was incredible!" she cried. "Thank you so much! Well, I guess this is where we part ways…" The butterfly flew a bit way before stopping.

"Something wrong?" Azura asked.

"Uh… I just realised… being a butterfly is pretty hard… could I stay with you? You might feel a bit naked around the neck, and… I could use the company."

Azura thought for a moment. Having someone to talk to would be beneficial, plus she could enter the Royal Court whenever. "You know what? Sure."

"Yay! Thank you!" the butterfly cried. "Oh, I should introduce myself. I'm Flutter. Nice to meet you, Azura!"

"Nice to meet you, too."

Prelude - Completed

I'll admit this chapter was rather short, but there will be longer chapters coming up. Look forward to those, and I should have Chapter 2: "At One with Nature" out in the next few days to next week. Spacing it out, you know?

As for Azura's backstory, I won't go into detail until later chapters. Until then, there'll be little bits and bobs.