Chants could be heard all around as a circle of priests preformed their ritual. A bright light was emanating from within the circle, casting light out even the highest windows of the church. The chanting continued, and after a few moments a huge gust spun into the room forming a giant tornado spinning ferociously but contained within the circle. Suddenly screams could be heard as a multitude of people were suddenly flung from within the tornado out of the magic circle. After one last person was spit out the gust vanished leaving the priests and the students gasping for air.
Clapping suddenly erupted from the head of the church, causing all within the room to look over, the priests bowing immediately despite their fatigue. Standing on a small podium was an older looking man dressed in what the students could only call the strangest fashion. He had an old white shirt on with a faded "you're a shining star" on the front with what looked to be a pair of cargo pants at least double his size held up by some rope. His grey hair hardly visible behind a pink visor. "Hello my fellow students." The man rose his hand making a V shape with his fingers "My name's Théoden and I come in peace."
The class couldn't take it anymore having recovered enough to not only start laughing at the man but a few even took out their cell phones and started snapping pictures. The priests started to look around confused by their reaction. One of the few female students walked up toward the podium bowing to Théoden before whispering "I think you're being fooled with sir." After she gave her tip she took a couple steps back waiting to listen what Théoden was going to say.
The man visibly turned red as he tore the visor off. He took a deep breath and smiled returning back to the people before him. "As I was saying, welcome, you have been summoned to another world. The few people started to laugh saying things like "No way" and "Awesome" before a few questions started being raised.
"Where's Hatamiya?"
"Do you see Sanami anywhere?"
The girl who had helped the man looked around as she counted the number of people that were with them. Ten. There were only ten people including herself. Suddenly the atmosphere got a lot colder as they all stared icily toward the podium, waiting for answers. Théoden had gotten very pale before letting out a cough, "As I am sure you are aware there are probably less of you than there was when you were summoned. I am afraid to tell you that everyone that is not standing before you is dead. Their souls could not withstand the conversion over to this world. I am terribly sorry-" He had begun to bow in condolence before a shoe hit him in the face, causing him to bend over with tears in his eyes holding his nose, trying to stem the flow of blood.
"Sanami was my girlfriend you prick!" The boy who had thrown his shoe yelled, held back by two of the other students as he tried to fight toward Théoden. The girl by Théoden caught his attention, shouting "What are you just standing there for sis? Isomara's not here so why are you just standing there? Answer me Kiora!" Kiora turned to face the boy, tears still streaming down her face that had poured over the moment she heard the news.
"It won't change anything! All you're trying to do is get yourself killed... They wouldn't want that you know that just as well as I do Kodasu." Kiora turned back around, not able to look at her brother while he was in pain, especially when the torrent within threatened to consume her. But what she said was true. They were in an unfamiliar land with unknown rules and powers that could kill them at any moment. Those were the lessons she took to heart knowing what normally happened in these stories thanks to Isomara's addiction. She would not let herself be fodder for a nation that killed him. The world may not have cared what happened to him after his family died, but Kiora had been there for him when no one else had been. It was strange, Kiora couldn't place it but it felt like his spirit was watching over her, granting her strength in her hour of need. She wasn't about to die and let Isomara's existence be forgotten.
Kiora wiped her tears away steeling herself, ready to meet this world head on. For both their sakes. Besides, who else was going to take care of her kid brother? The situation started to die down letting the man continue, still holding his nose trying to prevent its flow, "You have been summoned to our world of Altear, to help us in the upcoming war with the demon king and queen." One of the students hiding toward the back of the group rose his hand, half hoping he wouldn't be noticed. But the man had seen and immediately jumped to help the boy, "Yes my boy, what's your name and question?"
The boy lowered his hand surprised he had to share his name as well. "Um, hi. My names Takachu. Um, you said Demon King AND Queen, does that mean there are t-two most powerful monsters?" Takachu managed to choke out, stuttering. Everyone turned back to the man who had a knowing expression still on his face.
"Yes, Yes I almost forgot that you wouldn't know due to past summons, but indeed, every two hundred years our world is terrorized by two super monsters. They are reincarnations of the First King and Queen of the land seeking revenge for the mutiny that took place in the early stages of the kingdom. We try to find them before they can reach each other and mate but it's nearly impossible to distinguish them from normal monsters until the third evolution but by then its normally to late." The students looked at Théoden confused by most of what he had said. But he didn't seem to realize until one of the priest tapped his shoulder to get his attention before she whispered something in his ear.
"Ah so I have just been informed that the majority of you do not know about evolution trees and their properties in our world. Again sorry, we have not been forced to do this for two hundred years. So a lot was forgotten in that time." Théoden bowed, this time without a shoe flying at him. He stood back up and continued, "Evolution is achieved by all creatures that hit the level threshold of ten. They then go under a series of changes after a nights rest evolving into their next form in sleep. For humans it's less pronounced than other species since our bodies don't change in appearance. A blessing that must have been passed down upon us from the heavens." Kiora felt a wave of unease roll over her stomach at those words, she started to get the feeling she was in an anti-life society and that never ended well.
"Of course that does not mean evolution does not benefit us in the same ways as those monsters. It is when the selection process for the active skills of your specific evolution opens to you. Where as monsters have active skills on birth we are given our brains and resilience to stay ahead even with this disadvantage." Théoden smiled, having been fairly sure that the students would be ready to depart at once, especially after asserting the strength and perseverance of his people. He was not ready however when the entire group of people rose their hands in unison and said "No thank you!"
Théoden's face fell "Might I ask why?" he shakily asked.
Kiora stepped forward, "First you kill over half our class, then you don't even try to hide your contempt for those who evolve. You wouldn't have demi humans on this world would you?" She glared down Théoden having read the situation like anyone could with their knowledge on not only novels but history itself. "A race that segregates never wins sir. They just create bigger enemies and spread hate."
Théoden stood aghast at what he heard. "Sure I had expected you all to reject me at the stead of your friends but I had not expected you all to think of my country in that manner. This is a giant misunderstanding." The king bowed his head, "I am sorry for the pain we have caused but you must understand we knew the risks and still decided the grand scale of life as we know it outweighed them. I am sorry but I did what I had to for the kingdom."
Kiora looked at Théoden with new eyes after his slip of the tongue giving away his position, immediately kneeling, leaving the rest of her classmates taken aback. "I had expected you to be of importance but I didn't expect the King to treat us so informally. I'm sorry for mine and my classmates actions." Kiora's classmates quickly followed not risking a beheading for their ignorance.
The man turned red in embarrassment having given away his secret, "Y-Yes I am the King of the Kingdom of Rain. I must apologize again. I'm terribly sorry to have deceived you but it was thought that being a person of relativity would ease you into our world."
"You did a poor job just so you're aware." Kiora couldn't help but smile, despite her loss she couldn't help but feel like Isomara would have preferred to have died and have her help these people rather than leave them for dead. She was sure of it.
"Yes none of this went according to plan but now that I finally have your attention I will continue with the explanation and I will not tolerate any interruptions now that my position has been made aware." Théoden looked around at the ten students before him, their eyes on him in silence. Satisfied he continued, "Our Kingdom is at peace with the Kingdoms of Lava, Sea, Gales, and Mountain. Two of which, the Kingdoms of Gales and Sea are demi humans and the Kingdom of Mountain is occupied mainly by dwarves. Our hatred of monsters is not unfounded however as countless innocents have been mercilessly killed by them for millennia for a reason that's still unfounded to this day. My wife and daughter being a few of them during the last wave."
The king took a deep, steadying breath before continuing. "Waves are masses of monsters that spill out from dungeons during the time of war with Demon's. Waves start happening in reaction to the King and Queen's rebirth as to better create an army. We are still unsure why the world and the dungeons react in accordance with their will and we doubt we ever will. All we know for sure is by summoning hero's from another world known as Earth we could defend our land with their help. Your latent power is greater than any on this planet due to its forced awakening in transit with the elements when you were brought into this one. Each one of you has a system that the rest of this world does not have access to, that makes it easier for you to adapt. It was gifted to you from the Earth Protector when you were selected. Its format is different each time since it changes with the times as do all things. To access it, you simply say 'status' and it will display itself before you."
The king waited as he watched the students, obviously expecting them to do so. All of them said "status" in varying levels of enthusiasm but were all surprised by the screen popping up nonetheless. Kiora stared at the miniature version of herself in wonder as she spun herself around on the screen. She teared her eyes away from the model as she looked at the stats that listed itself on the left.
Name- Kiora Tsuhisa
Level- 1
Race- Human
Title- Hero from Earth
HP- 10/10
MP- 14/14
Strength- 4
Agility- 4
Stamina- 4
Spirit- 7
Intelligence- 8
Kiora inspected the Hero from Earth title causing an info tab to pop up taking up part of the screen. Hero from Earth- Hero imbibed with power from the elementals gain double skill progression rate. Wow she really started to feel like she might actually have a chance after all, clenching her fist after finally getting some good news since arriving. Kiora turned around to her brother and the rest of her classmates "Guys with this title we might actually be able to pull this off!" She proclaimed wanting to ease their fears.
Kodasu looked at his sister, along with the others. "What title sis?" Kiora felt a void open in the pit of her core. The King couldn't help but overhear this little exchange and spoke up at once.
"Are you saying that only this young girl has the Hero from Earth title?" The King asked exasperated. The students slowly nodded their heads, the hope of survival shattered within not only the King but Kiora as well. There was no way she could take on the Demon King let alone the Queen. The King quickly collected himself as to not cause panic, trying to look through the darkness for a hint of light. "Even though you don't have the title you still have the system so you should still stand a chance against the forces of the Demon King and Queen if you work together."
One of the boys on Kodasu's right spoke up, "Yeah that's right, in some isekai's the main character gets strong just with the system! We still have a chance guys! We were blessed by God himself with these systems so he must not have felt we needed the handicap this time. Well most of us anyway." He said, the other eight nodded in agreement. It made sense and with the King on their side they could get to live their otherworldly dreams along the way. Kodasu looked over at his sister knowing that she had just been given a massive weight to bare on her own and he wasn't sure if he could be there to help her when she needed him most despite being her twin.
Kodasu resolved in the moment that he would not lose anyone else and he was going to fight for Kiora and avenge Sanami, when he got strong enough. He'd be a brother that she didn't have to look at as a burden. He would train until he puked if he had to, he was going to be her equal and share her burden.
All the while Kiora had been thinking along the same lines, if she was to be gifted this blessing then she was going to use it to save the people of this world and return her brother safely home. But she had no plans of her own to leave, Isomara died on earth and so did she. If she lived she wanted to stay and use strength to protect the world from the monsters even after defeating the Demons. Their problems probably didn't just vanish over night after the King and Queen's defeat.
The first order of business was to learn more about the dungeons the King was talking about since they normally held all types of answers in all the stories Isomara made her read. The Kings voice brought Kiora and the others out of their heads. "It is getting late so the priests will guide you the dorms of where you will be staying."
Kiora raised her hand again faster than anyone else. "Dorms sir?"
The King gave her a knowing smile before saying, "Of course, you still have to go to school after all." And with that the king began to walk toward the opening of the church, leaving all of the students stunned.
"We still have to go to school?!" The boy that spoke out earlier cried out as he threw himself to the floor in anguish, "What about my dreams of adventure?" Kiora couldn't help but sympathize with him. This would slow her down in the long run she thought staring after the Kings retreating back. A priestess walked over to Kiora, a hesitant smile on her face. "Miss Kiora if you would follow me I can guide you to your room. It's not too far from here.
"Sure lead the way." The priestess nodded before turning to walk after King. Kiora followed immediately without a look back, focused on what was to come. Not aware of the pain it caused her brother, his ego bruised even more.