The Call of Heroes

The man with the glowing blue eyes stepped closer, his staff tapping lightly against the stone floor. His presence silenced the murmurs of the students, their attention drawn to him like moths to a flame. He inclined his head slightly, a gesture of respect, before speaking. 

"I am Archmagister Eldrin Valestar, High Keeper of the Arcane Citadel and advisor to the crown of Aradorn. I understand your confusion, and for that, I offer my sincerest apologies. But your arrival here is no accident. You have been summoned to aid our world in its most dire hour."

The students exchanged nervous glances. 

Miss Tanaka stepped forward again, her voice steady despite her visible unease. "Summoned? Aid your world? These are just high school students. There must be some mistake."

Eldrin shook his head gravely. "There is no mistake. You are all here because the threads of destiny have deemed it so. Our world faces an unprecedented threat—a scourge known as the Realm Eaters."

Eldrin raised his staff, and the crystal at its tip projected an image into the air. 

The students and Miss Tanaka watched as the image swirled, forming shapes of monstrous, shadowy creatures with gaping maws and glowing red eyes. 

They seemed to move with a primal hunger, consuming everything in their path—forests, mountains, and even cities.

"The Realm Eaters," Eldrin continued, "are beings of pure malevolence. They come from the void between worlds, an abyss of endless hunger. They devour all things… life, magic, even the very essence of existence itself. They first appeared over a century ago, during what we now call the Cataclysmic Dawn. Entire kingdoms fell before their might, their lands reduced to barren wastelands devoid of life."

The image shifted, showing armies of knights, mages, and beasts battling the creatures. 

Though the defenders fought valiantly, they were vastly outnumbered. Cities crumbled, and the skies darkened as the Realm Eaters consumed everything in their path.

"It was only through the combined efforts of the greatest heroes of that age that the Realm Eaters were driven back into the void. But their victory came at a great cost. Many of our strongest champions perished, and the seals that banished the Realm Eaters were weakened. Now, the seals are failing, and the creatures have returned, more ferocious than ever."

The image dissolved, and the room grew silent. Eldrin's gaze swept over the students, his expression was one of both hope and desperation. 

"You have been summoned because our world needs heroes. The magic that brought you here is ancient and sacred, attuned to seek those with untapped potential, those who carry the spark of greatness within them. I believe you possess the strength, courage, and ingenuity to protect our lands and vanquish the Realm Eaters."

Takashi broke the silence, his voice shaky. "W-wait. Us? You think we can fight those things? Did you even see what they did in that projection? We're just normal highschoolers, some of us haven't even turned 18 yet!"

Miko crossed her arms, her expression skeptical. "He's got a point. This feels like a bad dream or some elaborate prank. There's no way we're equipped to handle… whatever those things are."

Eldrin looked at them calmly. "I understand your fear and doubt. But within you lies the potential to become far more than you believe. This is your chance to rise above the ordinary, to become the champions our world so desperately needs."

His words hung in the air, a feeling of uncertainty weighing on the students. 

Miss Tanaka stepped forward again, her voice firm. "Archmagister Valestar, with all due respect, these are children. They are not warriors or mages. If what you say is true, then surely there must be others more capable of facing this threat."

Eldrin's gaze softened. "Your concern is valid, and I do not ask them to face this danger unprepared. If you choose to aid us, you will be trained, equipped, and guided by the finest minds and warriors of Aradorn. You will not face this challenge alone."

He straightened, his voice rising with determination. "The Realm Eaters grow stronger with each passing day. If they are not stopped, your world—and ours—will be consumed."

The students exchanged glances, looks of curiosity and unease as they processed Eldrin's words.

"Trained and equipped… like knights or something?" Takashi muttered, scratching the back of his head. "That could be kinda cool, right?"

Aya, her phone clutched tightly in her hand, frowned. "Cool? Are you serious? This isn't some game, Takashi. These Realm Eater things sound like a nightmare."

"Still," Haruka interjected, arms crossed, "if they're offering to train us, maybe it's not impossible. I mean, we can't just sit around if these things are a threat to… well, everything."

Miko smirked but shook her head slightly. "This whole 'chosen ones' thing feels like it's straight out of a fantasy novel. What's next? Magic swords and prophecy dreams?"

Souta adjusted his glasses, glancing at Eldrin. "He mentioned training… but how long would that even take? And what happens if we fail?"

Yuto, clutching his book, spoke softly, almost to himself. "If their world falls, ours might not be safe either. The connections between worlds… it could explain how we got here."

Kenta, always the optimist, tried to lighten the mood. "Hey, maybe this is a chance to be heroes! You know, like those Isekai anime. Magic powers, epic battles, glory—"

"Shut up, Kenta," Aya snapped. 

At the back, Rikuya had remained quiet, with his arms crossed. But now, he lifted his gaze, his lifeless black eyes narrowing at Eldrin. 

"All of this talk about training and fighting… but what about going home?" Rikuya asked, his tone flat but edged with sharp skepticism. 

"Is it even possible to send us back? Or are we just stuck here, playing your chosen ones forever?"

The room fell silent, all eyes turning to Eldrin. Even Miss Tanaka, who had been trying to maintain a composed front, now looked at Eldrin with concern, her hand clutching her blouse near her chest.

"That's the real question," Rikuya said as ne narrowed his eyes. "Can you—or can't you?"

Eldrin's expression turned somber, and the glow of his staff dimmed slightly, casting shadows across the chamber.

"I know many of you are already longing to return to your homes, to your world. I wish I could offer you that reassurance. However..." He paused, his eyes flicking over the gathered students, as if searching for the strength to deliver the news.

"...I cannot send you back."

The words dropped like a thunderclap, leaving a stunned silence in their wake.

"What?" one of the students gasped, her voice trembling.

Miss Tanaka stepped forward, her hands clenched into fists. "What do you mean you can't send us back? Surely there's a way—some kind of spell, or ritual, or... something!"

Eldrin shook his head gravely. "The magic that brought you here is ancient, its knowledge fragmented and scattered through the ages. It was only by sheer luck—and no small amount of desperate effort—that we managed to activate it at all. The summoning circle was designed centuries ago, its purpose lost in time until now. To study it, decipher its mechanisms, and then reconfigure it to send you back would take years—perhaps decades." He hesitated, then added softly, "And that is time we do not have."

A wave of disbelief swept through the group. Some of the students staggered back, their faces pale. Others began murmuring frantically to one another, their voices rising in panic. Miss Tanaka stared at Eldrin, her expression a mixture of shock and fury.

"You... You summoned them here without a way to send them back?" she demanded, her voice trembling.

"You brought children into this—into this—without considering the consequences?"

Eldrin met her gaze, his expression filled with sorrow. "I understand your anger, and I take full responsibility for the burden placed upon you and your students. But please understand: we had no other choice. Our world is on the brink of annihilation. Without intervention, there will be no future for anyone—here or elsewhere."

The students' voices rose as they murmured among themselves. 

Eldrin raised his staff, its crystal glowing brightly to draw their attention.

"But!" he said, his voice cutting through the chaos, "if you stay… if you choose to aid us… I can promise you this: you will not be forsaken. On my magic circles, I swear it."

The light from the staff formed glowing runes that shimmered in the air around him. Eldrin's voice grew steadier as he took made that oath.

"The king himself has decreed that should you lend your strength to our cause, you will be treated as nobility. You will want for nothing—luxury, protection, education, resources—all of it will be yours. You will be honored as heroes, your names etched into the annals of our history. This, I swear, is the promise of Aradorn."

Some of the students looked hesitant, some a bit excited of the promise of a life they could only ever dream off before now. Others remained rooted in shock, unable to process the scale of what they were hearing. Even Miss Tanaka seemed momentarily at a loss for words. 

"I cannot undo what has been done," Eldrin concluded, his voice heavy. "But I offer you a chance—a purpose. To fight for something greater than yourselves. To save not just this world, but countless others that might fall to the Realm Eaters. The choice is yours."

A sly grin spread across Renji's face as he stepped forward. 

"Count me in." 

"We'll do it."

He glanced around at the others, his gaze locking onto each of them in turn. 

"Who's with me?"

There was a brief pause, followed by reluctant nods and hesitant agreements. Takashi gave a sheepish smile, scratching the back of his head once again. "I guess… I'll go along with it," he muttered, a bit unsure.

Miko tilted her head, a small smirk forming at the corner of her lips. "Why not? It sounds like a one-way ticket to adventure."

Aya let out a sigh, lowering her phone. "I don't like this… but it's not like we have a choice. Count me in."

ned quiet for a moment, but finally spoke softly. "If we can protect both worlds, then it's worth the risk."

Kenta grinned enthusiastically, clearly excited. "This is gonna be epic! Let's do it!"

Renji turned back to Rikuya, a knowing smirk on his lips. "What about you, Riku? Still doubting?"

Rikuya shot him a cold glare, his lifeless black eyes piercing through the smug expression. "Look at you, getting all excited. Who died and made you king?"

Renji's grin widened slightly, but he didn't falter. "Someone had to step up," he said with a casual shrug. "Might as well be me, but I guess that isn't something a guy with no goals or a life would understand."

Rikuya simply sighed and shook his head. 

One by one, they reluctantly agreed. 

Eldrin watched them with a calm gaze, a warm smile gracing his lips. "Splendid."

"Now, follow me. We'll head to the royal court. There, you will introduce yourselves to the king. He will oversee the awakening of your classes—a vital step in harnessing your potential to fight the Realm Eaters."

With that, he began leading them towards the grand hall.