The realities of another world

"My dear brothers and sisters, let us praise the heavens!"

This day marks the fulfillment of the word transmitted by the Holy Scriptures.

Heroes from another world are among us.

Guided by divine light, they are the ones who will defend our world against the growing darkness.

Let us welcome them with faith and hope, for their coming is not by chance, but a miracle.

A sacred silence hung over the clearing, as if nature itself were holding its breath. Around them, armored knights knelt in reverence, their gaze raised with silent fervor. The echo of the priest's voice still resonated among the trees.

Mitsuki timidly raised her hand, her voice breaking the spell:

"Um... excuse me?"

The priest slowly turned his head toward her. His deep blue eyes shone with emotion. He took a few steps closer, his arms still raised.

"Oh, Holy One, your humility is like you... pure and sincere. You have no need to apologize. You are here by heavenly decree."

Mitsuki blushed, then took a step back.

"No, I just wanted to... uh... know where exactly we are?"

Kaito, standing next to Reiji, watched the scene with a suspicious look. He tugged lightly at the latter's sleeve.

"Do you think they're serious? 'Heroes from Another World'... It sounds like the beginning of a classic isekai."

The priest bowed respectfully.

"Please forgive me. I am Grand Exarch Silvanus, High Priest of Light." You are in the heart of Eloria's Sylve, an ancient sanctuary hidden in the thick of the forest. There, among the gnarled roots and mossy stones, remain the vestiges of a sacred past that time has not completely erased. The Holy Scriptures have foretold your coming... And we have waited all our lives for this day.

A slender, authoritative woman, dressed in light armor, stepped out of the ranks. Her eyes were sharp, her voice firm:

"High Exarch, they are disoriented. We must escort them to the Temple of Dawn for their protection. If the enemy learns of their presence..."

Silvanus nodded.

"Yes, Lady Kaelis. Let the Chariots of Light be prepared. The road will be long, and the darkness is already at work."

A distant rumble echoed to the north. Birds abruptly flew from the trees.

Reiji stood there, frowning.

"It sounds like... a roar?"

Silvanus closed his eyes for a moment, then declared solemnly:

"This area is now under the control of the wyverns. They are coming."

Kaito felt a chill run down his spine.

"Great." We're not even settled in yet, and we're already in danger..."

The rumble intensified, like thunder rolling underground. The leaves rustled, and an almost palpable tension settled in the air.

Professor Hiroshi stepped forward, instinctively placing a protective hand in front of Mitsuki. Her face was tense, but she kept her voice calm.

"We need to get away quickly. This forest is no longer safe."

"Wait," said Mr. Kobayashi, the driver, his brow furrowed. "What about the others? We can't just leave them there without telling them anything!"

Professor Kentaro, tall and square, nodded gravely.

"I agree. Even if this all seems... unreal, we have students to protect. Kaito, Mitsuki, you stay close to us."

Reiji, who had been silent until then, cast a worried glance in the direction they had come from. "If anything happens to those who stayed on the bus... I'll blame myself for the rest of my life. We can't waste any more time."

Silvanus raised his hand, and several white-robed figures emerged from the trees, carrying long spears and glowing insignia.

"The Dawn Escort will accompany you. We'll guide you along the Firefly Path. It's discreet and fast."

Mitsuki, pale, remained behind. Her legs trembled, her mind in disarray. She followed the group like an automaton, her gaze blank.

Kaito, though troubled, felt a strange excitement within him. A kind of fever, like when you start a new game. He looked around, taking in every detail: the symbols carved into the trees, the distant chants, the unearthly glow of certain plants.

"It's truly an isekai..." he murmured, almost fascinated.

The group set off, flanked by the white-clad guards. The ground seemed to vibrate beneath their feet. Every sound became suspicious.

As they approached a ridge from which the bus clearing could be seen in the distance, a red glow pierced the horizon, like lightning without thunder.

Hiroshi quickened his pace.

"Quick! If those creatures arrive before us..."

Silvanus stopped abruptly, placing a hand against a tree, his eyes closed.

"They're close... very close. But they haven't spotted us yet."

The group accelerated, descending through the dense foliage to the path. Mitsuki stumbled several times, caught first by Kaito, then by the teacher.

Finally, they reached the area where the bus was parked.

Most of the students were still there, some crying, others agitated. Upon their arrival, glances turned with relief, then concern at the serious expressions of the adults.

Reiji stepped forward, his voice firm despite his shortness of breath:

"We don't have time to explain. There are monsters approaching. Wyverns. We have to leave. Now!"

A second rumble, closer this time, made the bus windows rattle.

Faces froze. Panic began to spread.

Kaito clenched his fists, staring at the tree line on the horizon.

"This is no longer a game..." he murmured. "This is our world now... and it's coming for us."

A deafening roar split the sky. The trees bent in a sudden gust of wind.

Three gigantic shadows swooped toward the clearing, their wings spread like those of ancient dragons. Their dark scales glittered in the blood-red light of the sky.

The wyverns.

"Stay back!" Lady Kaelis ordered, drawing her sword with a swift gesture.

Her knights formed up in line, blades raised. A warlike tension filled the air. Beside them, Priest Silvanus already raised his arms, his eyes half-closed, reciting in a deep voice:

"Lux flamma!" (Flame of light!)

A golden magic circle opened beneath her feet, illuminating the grass with a sacred glow.

"All together! In formation! Stay together!" Teacher Kentaro's voice rose above the commotion.

He ran from one student to another, pushing them toward a gathering point. His glasses slid down his nose, his face tense but firm.

Hiroshi, the calmest of the group, leaned against a tree, his arms raised, palms visible. "Calm down! They're protecting us, look! They're their enemies, not ours!" He spoke loudly, slowly, as if to break the panic.

In the distance, Kobayashi, the bus driver, had huddled behind a tree trunk. His pale face was streaming with sweat. "This isn't... this isn't real... This can't be..." He huddled, his hands trembling, unable to look away from the monsters.

Ryo leaped forward, fire extinguisher in hand, ready to launch himself. But a hand roughly grabbed him.

"Are you serious, you idiot?!" Kaito shouted, pulling him back. "Do you want to die?!"

Ryo groaned. "I can't just watch and do nothing..."

"And what good are you to us if you die now?!"

The wyverns dove.

"Ignis!" (Fire!)

Golden flames burst forth, spiraling down on one of the creatures. It screamed in pain.

Kaelis leaped forward, blade raised. She landed on its back, plunging her sword into its neck. The wyvern fell, cut down by the white glare of the sacred steel.

The other two charged forward.

"Vincula!" (Chains!)

Chains of light shot out of the ground, trapping one of the wyverns. The other was pierced by energy spears hurled by the supporting knights.

A moment later, the three monsters collapsed, inert.

Reiji and Mitsuki were no longer moving.

But it wasn't fear that kept them rooted to the spot.

Their eyes stared at the battle scene. The golden glow, the monsters' cries, the silver gleam of the armor...

"This is insane..." Reiji breathed, his eyes fixed on the sky where unreal creatures and flashes of energy clashed. A scene of pure fantasy, straight out of a nightmare or a childhood dream. He took a step back, panting. "All of this is beyond me... and yet..." His fists clenched. "I have no right to look away. I'm their delegate. If they panic... I have to hold on." He swallowed his fear, but his anger was rising. "Then why do I feel so helpless?"

Mitsuki, mouth half-open, simply nodded. His wide eyes shone with a strange gleam, a mixture of fear and wonder.

Kaelis wiped his blade, then declared sharply:

"They were only scouts. The horde is approaching."

The priest, panting, added, stammering:

"The others... are coming..."

Without waiting, Kaelis gave the order to depart:

"We're breaking camp! Protect the civilians!"

From the forest emerged a group of covered carriages, each drawn by two horses, accompanied by an armed escort. A Dawn banner flapped in the wind.

Silvanus was hoisted onto it, protected by two knights. Kaelis mounted, his eyes fixed on the horizon.

"Direction: Temple of Dawn. Leave now, or stay here."

The group moved off, driven by fear. Kentaro made sure that no student was left behind.

Kaito took one last look at the clearing… The smoking corpses of the wyverns lay on the ground, and a heavy impression hung in the air.

This world is not made for us.

They traveled in carriages, each divided into small groups under the watchful eye of the knights' guard. The sound of the wheels on the dusty road echoed in the heavy silence. The light wind blew through everyone's hair, but the tension in the air showed no signs of dissipating.

Kaito, sitting in a separate carriage, watched the landscape speeding by, but his thoughts were far away. "How did we get here?" Images of the battle flashed through his mind. The red sky, the creatures threatening their group, it all seemed unreal. He glanced furtively at his companions, wondering how everyone was handling the situation.

Reiji, sitting nearby, watched the road carefully. His eyes never left the horizon, but his mind was elsewhere. "I must remain calm. It's up to me to guide them." Even though he tried to convince himself that everything would be alright, a feeling of doubt nagged at him. At the front of their carriage, a knight of the guard, imposing and silent, scanned the surroundings, like a bulwark between them and danger.

Mitsuki, at the other end of the carriage, stared at the ground, her thoughts racing. She hadn't had time to understand what was happening to them, but one thing was certain: "They won't come back. This world... This world is dangerous." She didn't want to believe it, but reality was sinking in. Everything around her seemed unreal.

In another carriage, Ryo, sitting next to Haruka, seemed more nervous than usual. The boisterous young man, always ready to joke, had become mute. He looked around, his eyes searching for danger where perhaps none existed. "It's like we're in a bad dream..." His voice trembled slightly, betraying the worry he was trying to hide.

Teacher Kentaro looked at the students worriedly. He tried to reassure them, but his voice lacked conviction. "Stay calm, we'll find a solution." But the more he spoke, the more he realized that the students no longer believed his words. The carriages moved forward, carried by sturdy horses, but none of them really knew where they were going. The only certainty was that the threat was approaching, invisibly.

At the front, the knights, clad in their gleaming armor, seemed indifferent to the group's concerns. Their imposing presence, though somewhat reassuring, left a strange impression. They were there to protect, certainly, but was that enough? The students wondered this, without daring to speak it aloud.

Finally, the sound of the wind mingled with the wheels of the carriage. The Temple finally appeared on the horizon, but no one really knew if this place held the promise of safety or a trap waiting to happen.

The group, still shaken, arrived at the foot of the grand staircase leading to the temple. An imposing structure rose before them, enveloped in an aura of supernatural calm. Priests and sisters dressed in white waited for them in silence. At their head, a man in a long blue tunic and with silver hair: Silvanus, the guide priest.

Silvanus inclined his head slightly, a calm smile on his lips.

"Welcome to the Sanctuary of Awakening. Here, you are safe. This place is protected."

He gave a discreet wave, and immediately, his acolytes approached.

"Lead our guests to their quarters. May they rest... They will need all their strength for the days to come."

The priests bowed, then guided the students toward corridors lined with blue lanterns. Single or shared rooms, modest but clean, awaited each of them. Some students collapsed onto their beds without a word, still trembling. Others whispered, torn between fear and relief.

In the large central room, now almost empty, Silvanus invited the three adults to stay with him near the central brazier.

Professor Kentaro was the first to break the silence, his voice sharp:

"We need answers. Now."

Silvanus didn't flinch. He nodded slowly, as if expecting this.

"I understand. You lost everything in an instant. But please... sit down. You deserve to know the truth."

The three adults sat down. Silence fell again, broken only by the crackling of the fire.

Hiroshi laced his fingers together, his gaze fixed on the priest.

"This place... What is it exactly? Where are we?"

"You are in Ervalem," Silvanus replied, his peaceful voice echoing through the room. "This world is connected to yours by a rare and unpredictable passage. We call this phenomenon the Link of Worlds. It cannot be caused... or reversed at will." »

Kobayashi frowned, looking suspicious.

"And what do you expect from us, then? Why us?"

Silvanus's gaze fell on him, more serious.

"I didn't choose you. The Link... it responds to an imbalance. It attracts those who carry within them the potential for change. Whether through strength, wisdom... or will."

Kentaro gritted his teeth, anger simmering in his voice.

"They're still children. None of them are ready to face another world."

"I won't tell you otherwise," Silvanus said, lowering his eyes slowly. "But... the Link never calls without a reason. Some of your students already resonate with Ervalem. Even if they don't realize it yet." »

Hiroshi took a breath, his voice calmer.

"Are you telling us... that we can't go home?"

Silvanus slowly looked up.

"Not yet. But there is a legend. Those who overcome the Trials of Balance can force the Link to open again. However... that path is long. And fraught with sacrifice."

A heavy silence fell. Everyone gradually realized the magnitude of their situation.

Then, Silvanus's voice softened.

"Tonight, rest. Tomorrow, I will tell you more. Nothing will be imposed on you... but this world will not wait for you."

The temple was bathed in a dim light, saturated with incense and ancient whispers. Despite the majesty of the place, the students remained tense, shaken by the wyvern attack the day before. Many had not slept.

In the center of the circular chamber, a divine artifact floated: a crystalline sphere, crisscrossed with luminous runes, suspended in the air like a sacred star. At its side, High Priest Silvanus, draped in white, bowed before a man in golden armor: King Arvandil of Asterion.

"By the blessing of the Crystal... may the hidden gifts of your souls be revealed."

To ensure the students' safety, the adults decided to proceed first.

Mr. Kobayashi stepped forward. A scarlet light enveloped him, harsh as a primeval fire. A golden notification appeared:

[Class: Summoner]

The king whispered something to Silvanus. The priest nodded, visibly impressed.

Professor Kentaro followed. The artifact pulsed a brilliant green.

[Class: Alchemist]

Acolytes murmured in astonishment. Silvanus gave a small smile.

Next, it was Professor Hiroshi's turn. A silvery-blue light enveloped her.

[Class: Master Swordsman]

The king straightened, as if filled with respect.

"Your teachers... are more powerful than many veterans."

An almost palpable tension settled over the large circular hall of the Shrine of Awakening. Around the crystalline crystal, the students, arranged in a semicircle, exchanged glances of mixed apprehension and curiosity. The awakened adults, Professor Kentaro, Mr. Kobayashi, and Professor Hiroshi, formed a reassuring barrier between the novices and the unknown.

Now it was the students' turn. A heavy silence reigned in the large stone hall, broken only by the echoes of the sacred fire dancing in the center of the sanctuary. Everyone held their breath, apprehensive about what awaited them.

Sitting behind Reiji, Mustuki glanced anxiously at the hooded priest, then leaned forward slightly to whisper in her classmate's ear, "Do you really think that after this ceremony... we'll be able to defend ourselves against the creatures of this world?" »

Reiji, his eyes fixed on the altar, replied in a serious and calm tone, "I'm not entirely convinced by this priest's words... But so far, he hasn't harmed us. And in this unknown world, he's the only one who has reached out to us." He paused, taking a deep breath. "So, even if I have my doubts... we have no choice but to follow his instructions."

At the back of the room, the first students were advancing towards the awakening circle, where the light of the ancient runes began to pulse in time with their steps. Destiny was being written. And for each of them, there would soon be no turning back.

Those who had noticed the adults' power after their awakening felt a mixture of envy and fear. In particular, some of them, the most ambitious, were galvanized by the idea that, soon, they too might receive unique abilities. The obsession with feeling special, different, and dominant in this new world seemed to be increasingly overwhelming them. For them, achieving high rank was not just a matter of survival, but of identity.

Some students had even begun to imagine themselves in the best positions, believing that this ceremony would be their ticket to a power that would place them above all others. Their eyes shone with excitement, while a thrill of anticipation ran through the air, like a collective breath ready to burst at any moment.

This was particularly the case for Ryo, sitting not far from Haruka. He was restless, his eyes fixed on the awakening circle, a spark of impatience in his eyes.

"I can feel it... Our destiny begins here!" he said quietly, his fists clenched on his knees. "If this world needs a hero, then I will become it. No matter the dangers, I will protect everyone!"

His words sounded like a line straight out of a heroic tale. He seemed filled with an unwavering faith in his role.

Beside him, Haruka, more reserved, struggled to hide her confusion. She watched Ryo out of the corner of her eye, torn between admiration and concern. This new world intimidated her deeply, and she wished she had the strength to share her classmate's enthusiasm. But deep down, her emotions were mixed with a dull anxiety: what if this ceremony changed their lives forever?

As the first student approached the awakening circle, carried away by excitement or fear, a voice rose timidly from the ranks. Faint at first, almost trembling, but clear enough to break the heavy silence of the room.

It was Kaito, discreet to the point that some had almost forgotten he was there. Standing there, his hands slightly trembling, his gaze shifting, he seemed to be struggling with his own shyness. Yet, his words resonated with a strange lucidity.

"Don't you think that's... absurd?"

Eyes turned toward him. Some raised their eyebrows, others exchanged surprised whispers. But Kaito continued, his voice a little firmer.

"We're in another world. Saved by a mysterious priest. We're asked to undergo an awakening ceremony to gain powers... and you think that's normal? Don't you think about your families? About your life before?"

He paused, searching for words, then continued, his throat tight.

"Since when does our reality function like an anime storyline? Archetypes, power classes, monsters... Don't you see? It all seems like a fictional world. Maybe... we don't even exist in our real world anymore. Maybe we're... trapped."

His gaze clouded over. Anguish was evident in every tremor of his body.

"What if we're just... characters? What if all this has no meaning, no way back?" »

His words, initially perceived as strange, began to weigh heavily. A chilling tension gripped the assembly. Even the priest, impassive until then, slowly raised his head.

Kaito brought a hand to his forehead. Breathing heavily, reality seemed to be cracking around him.

"If I'm the only one who realizes this... then maybe I'm the problem. Maybe... I'm going crazy..."

And suddenly, without warning, his body faltered. His legs gave way. He collapsed to the ground, unconscious.