[Congratulations!]
The seemingly holographic monitor appeared from nowhere, and I found myself in a pure white void, dressed in my daily wear, a button-up shirt, blue jeans, and cowboy boots, despite the rugged bedhead I wore and the stubble on my chin from a day's missed shave. It's a day off and I didn't exactly plan on going out as soon as I woke up. Some of us like our beauty sleep. Despite my slight agitation and general unreadiness, the void around me was uncaring, a stark contrast to my dull colored self. The monitor before me changes, it's words morphing in the blink of an eye with a soft digital bell.
[The requirements have been fulfilled!]
"Wait a second, what's happening, I was just asleep-"
It cuts off my words as it suddenly changes again, its message appearing with another soft chime, echoing in the vast expanse of the endless void. It's slight transparency tinting the everlasting plain beyond a bright green, with it's black font standing out like a star in the sky.
[A Goddess has recognized your efforts and has seen the way you care for those around you!]
"Goddess? My efforts? I'm not a great entrepreneur or anyone important like‐"
Again, the monitor like window chimes over my words, it's words changing in an instant to yet another message, this time shifting slightly to the right, in a way that I can only describe as meant to take my attention. This little panel is starting to bug me with all this interrupting.
[The seed of a hero has taken root within you!]
I think it's about time I introduced myself, seeing how this rambling TV won't give me the time of day. I'm James Mayer, and despite how the world seems to want to prove me wrong here, I'm a simple man with a simple life. I own the local grocery store, and I try my best to be a good steward for my neighbors. I live alone, I never did find the right one for me, and kids seemed more like a far off dream than a plan for the near future. I hadn't spoken to my father since my mother had died, he'd hit the bottle, and I couldn't stand to see him like that. I sent him money, so he could get by. I hoped he would use it right. Long story short, my life was honestly pretty boring, and not all that full, but it was enough for me. I was thinking about starting a band though.
[The seed is Evolving!]
I'll be honest, I've got no idea what's going on any more than the next 32 year old guy, but one moment I was sleeping, the next this is happening. I've never exactly been in an endless void, or talking to a fancy looking hologram (always thought they would be blue), so I'm out of my element here. I'm open to suggestions.
[The seed has sprouted, you've been granted the Magic Class: Protector]
Seeing as how I'm being ignored, I think I'd rather just think this through.
...
Yeah that isn't going to well, I'm pulling a blank. It said something about magic, but what does that even mean. Is it talking about some new video game trend? I haven't kept up with it since I was a kid, never interested me I guess. Is it some Disney World "magic"? Am I about to see a really fancy movie theater. They wouldn't get at me in my sleep though. Maybe this is some sort of a dream?
[You will now be transported to the Kingdom in the Sky. Rejoice hero, for Zenith has called upon your aid!]
"Zenith? Who's Zenith-"
Suddenly the void disappears, the explosion of color and dim light hit me like a blow to the stomach, and the nausea didn't help matters. Holding off from getting sick, I took in my surroundings. They didn't help me much either. I was in the middle of a large golden glyph inlaid into a marble floor. The Glyph itself was far to complex to take in all at once, hundreds of smaller symbols encircled each other, forming 7 concentric rings, each broken only by strings of characters crossing them in strait lines to form two overlapping triangles. Most concerning of all, the symbols hummed with a power that the back of my mind screamed at me about. Magic.
Beyond the overwhelming circle, there were others standing in the room. To my left was a man dressed like an American soldier from the Second World War, standing in a circle much like my own. He wasn't in his battle attire, but in his more formal wear, a number of ribbons decorating his left breast, over the heart of his brown jacket, and three echelons covered his shoulders. He looked as tired as I was, as if he had just woken up. His brown hair was disheveled, but he was clean shaven and looked more than ready for a fight. His strong jaw was locked close in a frustrated grimace. He was looking around at everyone else in the room, piercing green eyes looking at everyone in the room with a cool anger and studying us as if we were his next meal. Unsettling. I'd always heard military men could stare down a bull, but I've never been on the receiving end of it.
To the left of that soldier was another man in yet another circle, this one dressed in a very expensive looking navy blue suit, complete with a daring white tie and handkerchief. His silver watch was surprisingly loud, ticking away on his right wrist, and on his middle and index fingers of the same hand were two rings, one golden and the other silver, with a band of dark blue glowing in the center. Also on his right hand was another intricate circle, much like the ones we stood in now, though instead a deep blue against his skin. His black hair was well combed, possibly professionally styled, and his blue eyes stared at me through silver framed glasses, deep and curious, but as predatory as the soldier next to him. Apparently, I had caught his interest, go me. He looked the most awake of those in the circle, as if he'd just had his afternoon coffee, but his mouth was in a firm line, and his brow low, looking concerned by his current situation.
To my right, bringing up the last in the room standing in any circles I could see, was a man who looked broken. Despite his young age, he had bags hanging under his eyes, his blonde hair a long mop covering both his eyes from view as it hung in front of his face. The purple hoodie he stood in was old and stained dark with time. What little I could see of his eyes seemed confused, their dull gray tone half empty, but a light was growing in the back of his eyes. He shoulders were low, he was not standing proud. He was unassuming, the least intimidating of us here, even including my meek and confused self, but a smirk was forming on his face as I watched.
In front of the group in circles stood 2 people in lab coats, though something was hiding their features, making their faces and figures blurry. That is something I've never seen before, at least. From what I could see, I managed to make out that one was male and the other was female.
The male was taller than all of us, I'd say somewhere around 6'6", a giant by my standards, but thin as a rail. He stood tall and proud, and his dark hair was drawn back into a pony-tail that reached down to his shoulders, and he seemed to be looking over the 4 of us.
The female was shorter, only around 5' tall, with red hair that fell to the small of her back, she stood less confidently, fidgeting slightly, and seemed to be looking between the group and her male colleague, her blurry form belied her nerves.
"Ah, another batch of rejects." The man spoke, his deep voice echoing around the room, sounding eerily final in his tone. "This group showed so much promise, too."
"Get rid of them like normal, sir?" The woman spoke, a high pitched and nervous voice, reminding me almost of a mouse.
"Yes, yes. We must prepare for the next attempt." The man turned as he spoke, walking away from us. Towards a doorway blurred much the same as he was, carrying a tablet of some sort. The small woman followed, poking at a tablet of her own as she scrambled to keep up.
"This isn't gonna be good." The man to my right spoke up, as if he already knew what to expect. His smirk had faded, replaced with a thoughtful frown, tension was in his figure beneath the hoodie, like a squirrel ready to bolt any which way, and he stood taller, with much more poise and confidence.
And then the floor was gone. Not falling beneath us or folding into the walls, but simply gone as if someone has highlighted it and hit delete. Poof! Looking down, I could see a forest at least 2 miles beneath us, but we weren't in anything like a plane, it was as stable in that room as if we were on the ground. The land beneath us stretched out as far as I could see in any direction, but the sudden rush of air made the details fuzzy beyond only a few miles from us. And then we all started to fall, away from the odd room.
This was working out to be a very long day.