diff --git a/classes/state/level_state.gd b/classes/state/level_state.gd
index 6282dca..d4adeaf 100644
--- a/classes/state/level_state.gd
+++ b/classes/state/level_state.gd
@@ -11,8 +11,8 @@ var level: Level
 
 func _ready() -> void:
 	await owner.ready
-	level = owner as Level
-	assert(level != null, "The LevelState state type must be used only in the level scene. It needs the owner to be a Level node.")
+	level = owner.owner as Level # ugly i know. im so sorry im so fucking sorry TODO: SAFER IMPLEMENTATION
+	assert(level != null, "The LevelState state type must be used only in the level scene. It needs the owner's parent to be a Level node.")
 
 
 func _enter(_previous_state_path: String, _data: Dictionary = {}) -> void:
diff --git a/scenes/level_director/level_director.tscn b/scenes/level_director/level_director.tscn
index b5d61b5..cbb0bf7 100644
--- a/scenes/level_director/level_director.tscn
+++ b/scenes/level_director/level_director.tscn
@@ -1,8 +1,14 @@
-[gd_scene load_steps=2 format=3 uid="uid://4eo7g5abxolw"]
+[gd_scene load_steps=3 format=3 uid="uid://4eo7g5abxolw"]
 
 [ext_resource type="Script" uid="uid://bio2cjqps6kg1" path="res://scenes/level_director/level_director.gd" id="1_4q8ux"]
+[ext_resource type="Script" uid="uid://dikxx4j1auywf" path="res://scenes/levels/states/level_starting.gd" id="2_ywjt3"]
 
-[node name="LevelDirector" type="Node"]
+[node name="LevelDirector" type="Node" node_paths=PackedStringArray("initial_state")]
 process_mode = 3
 script = ExtResource("1_4q8ux")
+initial_state = NodePath("Starting")
 metadata/_custom_type_script = "uid://dqjaxgmyxq3rx"
+
+[node name="Starting" type="Node" parent="."]
+script = ExtResource("2_ywjt3")
+metadata/_custom_type_script = "uid://dioh6egp2x760"