Chris, a 42-year-old man with slightly disheveled black hair, trudged along the sidewalk in faded jeans and a stretched-out t-shirt, his figure a little rounder than he’d like to admit. His bag slung over one shoulder, he muttered about the day’s annoyances, his mind already drifting toward what leftovers awaited in his fridge. Suddenly, a crackling hiss filled the air, and a blinding arc of blue-white light split the sky, striking him squarely in the chest.
Groggy and disoriented, Chris blinked awake on a rough-hewn slab, the ground beneath him cold and gritty. Strange symbols glowed faintly on the stones, casting eerie shadows around him. "Where am I?" he croaked, voice echoing off the vaulted ceiling as he struggled to sit up, his heart hammering in his chest.
A wizard materialized before Chris, towering and imposing, his beard flowing like a waterfall of starlight. The Wizard, with a commanding presence and a voice that seemed to vibrate the very air, looked down at him. "You are the Chosen One, summoned to save our world," he declared. "I think you’ve got the wrong person," Chris stammered, his eyes darting around in panic. "I’m just a 42-year-old geek who works in IT!"
"That is easily fixed," the wizard intoned, raising his staff high. Lightning arced from the tip, enveloping Chris in a cocoon of shimmering power. He gasped as his body shrank and slimmed, his face smoothing into the vigor of youth—suddenly, he was eighteen again. His shirt hung off one shoulder, jeans pooling around his ankles, and his sneakers felt like boats. "What—what happened to me?" he gaped, gawking at his oversized clothes.
"Let’s see about your wardrobe," the wizard mused, flicking his fingers. Chris watched in shock as his shoes morphed into sturdy, fur-lined boots, his jeans tingled and shifted, becoming a rough but warm loincloth, while his t-shirt vanished entirely. The cold air tingled against his skin, and he shivered, feeling very exposed. "A hero needs to look the part," the wizard insisted, his eyes twinkling mischievously.
A surge of power coursed through Chris, his body stretching upward, sinews thickening, chest broadening, and abs chiseling into a perfect six-pack. His reflection in a nearby polished shield stunned him: he looked every bit the legendary hero, sculpted and formidable. "Wow," he murmured, turning his arms and flexing, marveling at the transformation. His awkward self-consciousness melted away, replaced by a tentative spark of confidence.
The wizard smiled approvingly, waving his staff one last time. Chris felt his hair grow, swishing down his back in a cascade of shining blond. A leather strap settled across his now-massive torso, and a sword and shield shimmered into existence, fitting perfectly into his grip. "Now, you are ready, Chosen One. This world awaits your courage," the wizard announced, the torches blazing brighter as if to herald the dawn of a new legend.
