As the golden pillar pierced the sky, another crimson beam rose alongside it. The red pillar appeared to slowly bend and close the distance until the two pillars touched. The golden beam appeared to resist its scarlet counterpart, but if one looked closer than any of the city's inhabitants milling about the streets possibly could, they would see the golden column shake a little before changing its direction slightly. A hair at a time, but enough.
Many looked up and cried out in surprise and delight. The populace had been informed that the Summoning was today. And while their misgivings had been relieved, none of their own being chosen for the Offering, few were old enough to know what the Ritual looked like. Those who did were shocked and confused. And those who knew nothing of what the ritual was looked up at the pretty lights and then found themselves cringing away.
Words could not describe it, but the ruby pillar of pulsing light pressing against the gold felt… evil.
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Scylla sat in class, as distracted or more than her classmates. Not dreaming of other worlds or anything similar. She had been on a video call with her father in England in the early hours of the morning so they could jointly watch the football that was of course played at an ungodly hour now she lived in Australia. As such not even the wind howling outside or the rain that had given her a fair soaking was enough to keep her awake and focused. Not to mention being taught English by an Australian felt… somewhat insulting?
Australians habitual need to shorten everything to the point of obnoxiousness and come up with sayings that were incomprehensible unless you had lived there for a long time was absolutely bizarre. And the fact that without any prior agreement or organization, literally all Australians around the country know to teach visitors or new residents about drop bears? Like how?
Her mother had brought her over several years prior after a messy divorce, but school was boring no matter which country you lived in. The football was a game Scylla and her father bonded over and she loved him dearly, the pair rooting for Swindon (their local team) which had played an amazing nail biter of a game until they lost on penalties.
"Swindon, Tottenham or England, whichever team I go for they always seem to lose on fucking penalties" she complained under her breath.
It was genuinely at the point that when a game went to penalties she almost gave up. But she was also couldn't turn the game off, on the one in a million chance they pulled it off.
When England had got into the finals a couple years ago, she had been in England visiting just in time and her family had collectively lost their minds. If tickets weren't an ungodly price, they all would have attended but getting Scylla to and from Australia wasn't cheap so they settled to watch the event on TV. The result was…. Disappointing as once again, they were beaten on penalties. Leading her to believe any team she rooted for was destined to be meet the same fate.
The rain that was hammering the windows suddenly went silent. The wind ceased. Not slowly, that would have most likely gone unnoticed, but suddenly going from howling gale force winds to dead silence drew every eye in the classroom. Even the teacher removed his glasses and went to the window to look. As he did so, a blinding light enveloped the class. At first it seemed like it was coming through the windows, but then it was on all sides.
It grew brighter and brighter, until everywhere they looked, the class saw nothing but pure white light. With the light came a painful burning sensation, growing until it was impossible not to scream, before losing all consciousness. When the light faded, there was no sign of the group, their souls already flung thousands and thousands of light years away….
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When Aaron opened his eyes, he was lying on the floor of a bright white room, and he wasn't alone. A few metres away he saw Jarred lying on the floor too, slowly stirring as if just awakening from being knocked out. Both were now clad in white comfy bath robes.
As Aaron rose slowly and looked around, he found it hard to describe where he was as a 'room'. The pale whiteness extended in every direction as far as he could see. There was nothing, no frame of reference to use. Aaron strode over and nudged Jarred causing him to stir more quickly. As his eyes opened, he blinked several times before trying to stand too quickly and immediately falling on his backside.
With no frame of reference, its difficult to quickly gain your bearing and stand when you can't see anything in reference to the ground. Alex grabbed him by the arm and slowly helped him to his feet, using each other as a guide on where 'gravity' was holding them.
"Ahem" Suddenly they weren't alone. As a large glowing figure seated on a golden throne embroidered with a sun stared at them. Or at least it appeared that way, with only a shape of light it was hard to gauge the beings' intentions or even know in which direction it was looking.
Sensing their obvious discomfort and confusion the androgenous and amorphous being shifted until it's appearance resembled their school principal, Ms. Winters.
"Ah fuck" Jarred exclaimed at the sight. "We're dead, aren't we?"
Aaron said nothing but agreed silently. He doubted modern technology could pull off a prank of this level. Not to mention they were still underage if barely and this level of kidnapping plus changing them while they were unconscious would be jail time for anyone.
"Yes, in that your time in the world you were in is over. No in that you are not dead permanently, only in a transitionary stage" The fake Ms Winters replied.
"Does this form suit your abilities to understand and speak with? Or should I take the form of another?" It flicked through several notable famous people and movie stars, until settling back at its original version of their veiny and grumpy looking school principal with iron grey hair and strict expression.
"That's fine" Aaron replied, "What do you mean by transitionary?"
"Oh shit" Jarred said, before the being could answer.
"Are we being summoned? Or reincarnated or something?"
A faint hint of shock followed by surprise and excitement crossed Aaron's face.
It was one thing to daydream about it every day, but for it to actually happen was another.
The being nodded slowly, please at least that while many of the sources of entertainment used by the humans of this planet were ridiculous, it at least made them quick on the uptake.
"That is correct, you are being summoned to be the Champions of our world, Nilarea"
"Champions, so being summoned like that implies we have something to fight? Like a Demon King or something?" Aaron questioned
"Also correct, I will gift you both a portion of my power for this. Normally we would share our full power with only one champion, but something has manipulated the process. It will cost me a great deal; I will not be able to assist you much after this point and I will have little to gift future Champions who would quickly suffer, and die should you fail. So, you must not. There are only two Demon lords left in this world, if you defeat them then their evil will fade forever more. But if you fail, they will multiply and consume this world before moving on to the next"
"Cool, so no pressure" Jarred mumbled which the being chose to ignore.
"You may both ask for a gift that suits you"
The pair looked at each other. Obviously, this was the time to get their super OP superpowers to let them dominate in the other world.
"Can we talk about it?"
"No and be quick, it may not seem so, but time is of the essence!"
Again, with nothing visible apart from themselves and the being before them it was hard to gauge anything including the passage of time.
Aaron was deep in thought, he'd had a hundred ideas of what powers he'd like but his main one which was the ability to go into and live out any book, movie or form of entertainment he chose and learn their powers seemed pointless now that he'd already left his world. Even if it was granted, if the world he went to had no concept of stories containing over powered abilities then he could end up just another scrub.
"What about video game like powers? You know like statuses, leveling up, skills, inventories and stuff like that?" Jarred said suddenly.
"Done" Was the beings indifferent reply before flicking its arm and Jarred just disappeared into thin air.
"And you?"
Aaron was still deciding when his family crossed his mind. He might not greatly miss his brother and parents, after years of pressure the possibility of escape was in a way… comforting. But thinking of them brought him to think of Shauna. Having her back. It would be worth anything.
A touch on his shoulder brought him back to reality seeing the fake Ms Winters staring at him with ageless eyes.
"What you truly want I cannot give you. But with the Summonings remaining power I may be able to bring her soul over. Be warned though, it would be sent to a random body that fits it, whether its owner will relinquish the body or if you will ever even find it will be a matter of chance. I may be able to guide you once, but that will be all I can do to intervene"
Aaron nodded resolutely. Being weaker in this new world would be worth it knowing that Shauna is out there, just waiting for him to find her. If he could find her, defeat the Demons and bring her home…
"Fear not, a single soul of an already passed person is far easier especially during a Summoning. In fact, it is something I could probably only do now. Go forth with the blessing of Aelia, Goddess of the Sun" The Goddess said kissing him on the forehead.
Aaron felt an intense heat wash through him. Then the Goddess smiled and waved her hand. Aaron felt a falling sensation before he once again felt unconsciousness claim him.
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Phidar, God of Magic gazed down at the swirling summoning pillars. Unlike Aelia, He cared little about letting Champions choose their gifts. Since they were a bunch of children what would they know about power? So, after a discussion that lasted barely a millionth of a second, the 12 gods agreed to abide by Aelia's choice and gave all the children and their teacher the same gift. Admittedly all with their own spin on it.
Now that his Champion and sacrificed his life, he had the power remaining to gift to the next generation but seeing the Demon's plan he begged one of the others to take on two of them to his one. This one sat before him, far less pleased about the turn of events than her classmates. She was furious, demanding to be sent back to her world. Phidar had the mind of a god, so as he spoke with her, his main attention was focused on how to disrupt the demons plan with the little power he had remaining.
"Impossible" Phidar said firmly. "Summoned heroes cannot be sent back, not until the Demons are vanquished. The bodies you possessed in that world are no more, you have no way to return. Should you save this world however, we, the Gods of this world, shall send all of you home in the new bodies you are summoned into"
The girl clearly did not find this acceptable and began another tirade to which the God of Magic waved his hand and sent her soul hurtling downwards to join the others, spiraling down at the centre of the golden pillar. Even now as its ruby contender pressed against it the golden pillar quaked and shook, no longer just being moved but pressed against, the shining red column of pure magic beginning to slow coil around it like a snake.
Had there not been many complicated laws preventing him from taking direct action Phidar would have just dispelled it easily, but direct interference was not possible. Then his eyes alighted on the body of his former Champion, his breath slowing as his heart was pierced and blood pooling around him. His only eye gazing at the sky where the two magic towers battled for supremacy.
Phidar's formless body lit up as he inwardly smiled. Reaching down with what little power remained and injecting it back it his champion, his consciousness touched Aegan's like a feather whispering.
"One last task, my Champion…"
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The time was at hand. Everything was going as his master had planned. The Thrall standing at the centre of its magic circle watched as its energy began to wrap around the golden spire, cracks beginning to appear in what almost seemed like a shell around it as bright white lights appeared inside, hurtling down like stars falling from the sky. This was their victory. This was the moment.
The Thralls body exploded as the pent-up energy and essences of two Demon lords, guided and given life by the two remaining took form as two brilliant black stars, so dark they appeared to eat all the light surrounding them. These beings inspected the situation, taking the shape of the Weeping Lady and the Sneering Man before the two onyx meteors shot up along the route guided by the red pillar.
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"One last task, my Champion"
Aegans eye had begun to glaze over, his vision dimming as he felt himself slip down into deaths gentle embrace until these words filled his mind. Suddenly he felt himself filled with energy. His body was spread eagled, looking up through the open window with the golden summoning magic pouring out, so he was the only one in the room who could see the scarlet magic attempting to swallow the Summoning pillar with the souls of the new Champions falling to earth.
Fear clenched his punctured heart as he saw the souls of the Demon lords hurtled upwards to meet those of the summoned champions, still weak and defenseless against any kind of attack. Suddenly, the final words of the Demon lord fading on the battlefield made sense. This had been their plan. And somehow, he knew what his God was asking of him.
.....................................
Allaan was still standing outside the edge of the blue magic circle. His eyes unseeing as they focused on the body of his friend. The jeweled dagger in his hand. The blood dripping from its edge.
All the diplomats above had their heads bowed in respect. Even Aedir, cantankerous bastard that he is, had his eyes lowered and his staff gripped tightly, tears streaming from his eyes after witnessing the end of a great man and student. Aegan had not been a young man, while the power of the Champion kept his appearance at that of a man in his middle years, between the years on his own world and that in this one he must have been in his mid to late 70's.
But still his loss after giving so much to this world was devastating and several of those spectating the end of the Champion who gave everything were already trying to think of an appropriate way to commemorate his life up to its end.
These thoughts swirled through the minds of all present as well as memories shared for those who had them. All except Allaan whose mind was still numb. Hence it took him a moment to realise as his friend that he had slain with his own hand, slowly rose back to his feet. At first Allaan thought it a dream or shock affecting his sight until he looked around and saw others staring with jaws dropped, entranced by the sight.
A golden aura surrounded Aegan. Blood still trickled from his chest as he stood facing away from Allaan, looking up at the sky at something none of the people in the chamber with him or the one above could see.
Turning slightly, he smiled over his shoulder at his friend before forcing his body into the golden pillar pouring up from the magic circle in front of him. Magic hissed and spluttered as Aegan let out a mighty roar that shook the cathedral and his body was consumed, leaving nothing but a blindingly bright soul in its place within the magic pillar. The soul raced upwards at blinding speed towards both those coming down and the black counterparts also heading upwards on a collision course that would decide this worlds fate.