Chapter 16 - 15/Divergent thoughts

While Logan had already begun his journey, his freshly summoned companions were receiving their quarters in the royal palace.

"Damn, this is awesome, we're freaking kings! Look at these luxurious rooms, no more boring high school life!" exclaimed Shawn as he threw himself onto a plush bed.

"Oh man, I was really scared to live here, but in the end, we're going to live a life we could never have had on Earth." added Méverick, his eyes widening at the sight of the gold and gemstones adorning the furniture.

They were discovering magnificent rooms with beautiful tapestries. Some objects were adorned with gold and precious stones, while the beds were beautifully built from solid wood, decorated with jewels and sumptuous sheets. Through the windows, they could admire the gigantic palace courtyard, a spectacle of lush gardens, elegant fountains, and majestic statues. Further on, the view extended to the royal capital of the Kingdom of Sigma, named Attal.

"Holy crap, that's the capital. I can't wait to go take a look around." marveled Maël.

"This kingdom is as beautiful as this castle." added Emma as she observed the gigantic city and the more than luxurious castle.

The twenty newly arrived high school students were each given a sumptuous room. The promise of this new life already had them envisioning grand possibilities, somewhat easing their doubts. Some were leaving behind their old lives, friends, and families. For some, glory and fortune were enough to erase everything, while others would need time to adapt.

"Maïli, you don't seem very happy." observed Emma as everyone gathered in one of the palace's common rooms.

"For some, you already seem to like it here. They dangle wealth and glory in front of you, and that's enough. I remind you that some of us are going to have to risk our lives." retorted Maïli, bringing everyone back to reality with a trembling but determined voice.

Silence fell at this brutal reminder. The excited smiles faded, replaced by more serious expressions. Each took a moment to reflect on the truth of Maïli's words. This new life, as appealing as it was, carried dangers and responsibilities they didn't yet fully understand.

"But didn't you hear? We have received gifts and skills that most people born in this world can't even imagine." replied Emma with urgency in her voice.

A bright light suddenly emanated from her, bursting and blinding everyone in the room. The blazing glow gradually diminished, leaving the room bathed in a soft and soothing light.

"You see, we are the heroes of this world." declared Emma with unwavering confidence, a confident smile lighting up her face.

"Very well, Mrs. Heroine, what about your family you left behind?" asked Maïli, her tone icy and her expression impassive.

"But didn't you hear? We can't go back home anyway." replied Emma, visibly irritated by the question.

"And so, it doesn't bother you that they played with your life?" insisted Maïli, a spark of defiance in her eyes.

"You're just repeating Logan's words. I conclude that maybe you want to join him?" intervened Shawn, a mocking smile appearing on his lips.

"At least he had courage compared to some here." replied Maïli, her eyes fixing Shawn with a burning intensity.

"So why aren't you with him?" asked Maël, joining the conversation with undisguised curiosity.

"That's true, you should just join him." added Méverick, his voice full of provocation.

"If I let him go, it was for several reasons. First, opposing the King directly is suicide. Second, Logan is smarter than all of you combined. He will find a solution, I have no doubt about it. Not stopping him because he couldn't fight with the skills he received was a smart choice. The proof is when they saw he had no abilities, they discarded him. And it would have been the same for you if you didn't have these professions and skills. Third, if I have the chance to save people with what I've received, I will." explained Maïli with unwavering conviction.

"She's right, for now, we're just their instruments. They summoned us without our consent." intervened a new girl called Eva, her voice tinged with sadness.

"For example, I'm going to be forced to live here when I enjoyed my life before. My mother, my father, my brother... I didn't want to be separated from them." added a young man named Dan, his face marked by melancholy.

"And then, if some of us didn't support Logan, it was simply because of fear. And we didn't mock him or give him reproachful looks like some here." said another young man called Max, his tone full of regret.

"Good for some if you didn't like your previous life or if you don't find it very serious. But don't lump everyone together." added a last person named Mäne, her voice trembling slightly with emotion.

"Pfff, you talk to us about fear, but if you didn't react while some of you agreed with Logan, that simply makes you a bunch of cowards." retorted Shawn with contempt, his eyes shining with defiance.

"No, it's…" began Max, but he was immediately interrupted.

"It's what! Don't lie. If you stayed, it's to enjoy the advantages they promised you. Because if you had left, you would have found yourselves alone in this world, forced to fend for yourselves." cut Shawn, merciless.

"He's absolutely right. You're cowards and hypocrites. Even though we mocked him, even though we didn't support him. So why are you still here?" added Maël, his tone cutting.

"Then don't give us moral lessons. I intend to live my life to the fullest here. If some want to lament their fate, go ahead. And I don't regret at all what happened to Logan. I could never stand him. Always first, better at math, in French, better in sports, better than everyone! Praised by the teachers, that bastard thought he was better than everyone!" spat Shawn with palpable bitterness.

"So that was it. You're ridiculous, you just felt inferior to him, that's why you enjoyed bullying him with your gang." Maïli cut sharply, her tone like a knife.

"He didn't even react when we attacked him. He told us we were pathetic. While behind his top-student facade, he was a loser living in poverty, a fucking orphan. And his sister was a whore prostituting herself to make money. And yet, he always had that arrogant look and thought he was better!" screamed Shawn, his words full of venom.

"Oh, I'm going to cry. The truth is, you're the loser. You're so pathetic, you really make me feel sorry for you." replied Maïli, her gaze full of disdain.

"Bitch…" began Shawn, furious.

Fire shot from his hand, rushing rapidly towards Maïli. She didn't even move, her expression remaining calm and focused. With a fluid gesture, she raised her hand and a whirlwind of wind instantly formed around her, dissipating the flames in a split second.

Without losing a second, Maïli made a precise movement with her fingers, and a thin blade of wind materialized. Before Shawn could react, she made a quick, precise cut on his cheek, leaving a thin line of blood. Shawn stepped back, his hand instinctively going to his injured cheek, his gaze filled with rage and surprise.

"Don't ever do that again." murmured Maïli, her gaze cold and determined, a silent but clear warning.

The entire room was silent, everyone holding their breath, absorbed by the palpable tension between Maïli and Shawn. "You don't deserve the title of hero. And Logan didn't think he was better than others, he was the best. One last thing: the next time you do that, I'll aim for your throat," declared Maïli, her voice as sharp as a blade.

"What's done is done, we'll have to get used to it, so let's try to get along, okay?" added a girl called Karine timidly, trying to defuse the conflict that threatened to explode again.

"Maybe the others were hypocrites and cowards, but not me. So I'm telling you: mind your own business, Logan will manage just fine. For now, let's see what happens next." continued Maïli, her tone becoming calmer but still full of determination.

After this heated argument, revealing the different and heightened tensions and emotions of each, everyone returned to their rooms, leaving behind a silence heavy with reflections and resentments. In his room, Shawn fumed, his fists clenched and his face red with anger.

"Damn, that bitch!" he swore, violently punching the wall.

They only had a few days of rest after their summoning to acclimate to this new world that was foreign to them. Their intensive training would soon begin, promising new trials and challenges to overcome.
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There will be no chapters next week. I am spending many sleepless nights writing this story, not to mention writing my second novel which is currently 500 pages long. With also the conclusion of the first volume of Alone in my darkness in French version. Sorry I need a little break however, you can read the following chapters here : https://bit.ly/3i1HaYm

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