Fire.
Mountains of corpses lie lifeless on the city streets as the full moon shines throughout the bloody red sky.
Thousands of buildings grew to rushes as fire continuously burned its momentum.
Bodies blood rubbed down the street so deeply that it made a full blood river from the city streets.
Fire.
I turn each corner of the streets only to find pleads of dead beings left on a cold floor. Dear God, how did this happen?
Just then, I saw Lucifer up in the distance, sitting on a statue in the middle of the town square. His sinister grin sent shivers down my spine as he surveyed the destruction he had caused. The eerie silence was broken only by his haunting laughter, echoing through the desolate city.
"Well, well, well. What do we have here?" He smile. "Oh, you poor girl, got separated from your mommy?"
"Lucifer, what have you done?" I scream. "These poor souls have never done to you. How could you do this?"
Lucifer chuckled darkly, his eyes gleaming with malevolence. "Oh, my dear, it's not about what they've done to me. It's about the power I possess and the chaos I can unleash upon this world." His voice dripped with malice as he continued, "And as for your precious Esmerelda, well, let's just say she won't be able to protect you anymore."
I gasped and stood still as I watched Lucifer stand up from the statue, then, out of a few seconds, he dashed at me at lightning speed as my life was fleshing through my eyes.
And then...and then...
I woke up.
I stood up from my bed as cold sweat ran through my skin. I wept it off and took a deep breath.
"It was just a nightmare." I reassured myself, trying to shake off the lingering fear. But as I glanced around my room, a sense of unease still lingered in the air.
It has already been two days since I've been transported to this world, and I still can't shake off the feeling that something is not right. The unfamiliar surroundings and the absence of any familiar faces only added to my growing unease. I needed to find answers and figure out how to get back home, but for now, all I could do was brace myself for whatever this new world had in store for me.
I turn to the window only to see it's already morning. I have to get up and sign up for the Adventurers Guild so I can make money today. As much as I wanted to go home sooner, Esmerelda suggested I have to be patient and wait till she opens a portal of some kind for me, but for now, I need to work for a living; otherwise, I'll end up in the streets.
I got out of bed and changed into my same school uniform. These uniforms are the only clothes I have since I've been summoned into this world, and they're getting dirty. I haven't washed it for days.
"What a pain! Why does everything never go as planned?" I sighed.
I bring my microphone and the magic songbook with me as I prepared to leave. Maybe it will assist me in some way.
As I walked through the hallway, I couldn't help but notice the stares and whispers from the locals. It was clear that my appearance was still a novelty in this world. Despite feeling self-conscious, I reminded myself that finding work was my top priority, even if it meant enduring a few more days in these grimy clothes.
As I already made it to the adventure guild, I noticed there were a lot of people then, usually. Tonnes of barbarians, rogues, rangers, wizards, and others filled the place, and noise filled the air as they panicked over something. All the staff are busy; all the receptionists are doing tonnes of paperwork while others answer some phone calls while the adventurers are waiting for their turn. The atmosphere was chaotic, and I could feel the tension and urgency in the air.
"What's going on? Why is everyone so busy all of a sudden? Did something happen?"
I spotted Mrs. Gertrude moving around, caring for piles of documents. She looks to be in the midst of something. I rang the reception bell.
"Hello! Excuse me!" I yelled, ringing the bell. "Mrs. Gertrude, can I please ask you a question?"
She sighed as she rolled her eyes. "The cafeteria will be closed until noon. In the meantime, you'll find some open restaurants near by."
"No, I mean, I want to know how I can enrol in the Adventurers Guild."
She then stopped what she was doing and looked at me. "You want to be an adventurer?"
"Yes, but I don't know how or where to begin with. Can you please insist on me joining the guild?"
"Oh, I wish I had to do paper work for you, but since the news broke out, I'm all hands full here!"
"What do you mean? What news?"
Her eyes went wide. "You haven't heard? THE DEMON LORD HAS ESCAPE!"
My heart skipped a beat at her words. The Demon Lord? Could this be connected to the nightmare I had just experienced? My unease deepened as I thought about the destruction and chaos I had witnessed in that dream.
And that day.
"Wait, the Demon Lord escaped?" I stammered, my voice trembling. "Is that why everyone is so frantic?"
Mrs. Gertrude nodded, her expression grave. "Yes, it seems the Demon Lord has broken free from his prison, and his minions are wreaking havoc across the land. Adventurers are being dispatched to various locations to quell the threats and protect the people."
Minions? So Tomas is not the only follower Lucifer has? What was he planning to do?
My mind raced. If the Demon Lord escape and will turmoil in this world, then maybe... just maybe, I also die without returning to my old world?
"I... I want to help," I said, my voice steadier now. "I want to join the adventurers and fight against the Demon Lord and his minions."
No, the truth is that I am afraid of confronting Lucifer. I am not sure I have the courage to meet with him again after he pushed me down the cliff. I tried to appear brave so that she would give me a job and I could obtain money right now. I don't think there are any other occupations out there that can support me. I'm not a citizen here.
Mrs. Gertrude regarded me with a mix of surprise and skepticism. "You? A young girl who just come here two days ago? It's not that simple, you know. Becoming an adventurer requires skill, training, and experience."
"I understand that, but I'm willing to learn. I've faced challenges before, and I'm determined to make a difference."
She studied me for a moment, her gaze assessing. "Very well. If you're truly serious about this, I can arrange for you to undergo a basic evaluation. It will help us gauge your potential and determine if you have what it takes to become an adventurer."
"Thank you," I said, a surge of gratitude welling up within me. "I'll do whatever it takes to prove myself."
"Report to the training ground in the back with the others. There, an experienced adventurer will assess your combat skills, physical abilities, and general aptitude. If you pass, we can consider your application."
I nodded, a mix of determination and nervousness coursing through me.
As I made my way to the training ground, I couldn't help but wonder about the nightmare, the Demon Lord, and the possible connections between them.
When I got there, they were bunch of people waiting for the extrance exam before me. Most of them where males but some where females. I was surprised to see so many people gathered. Some of them had a determined expression, while others seemed scared. I took a deep breath and stepped forward, ready to face the challenge.
A boy abruptly stopped and stood next to me. He had unkempt black hair and bags under his eyes. His body appeared emaciated but muscular, and he appeared to have gone days without sleeping. Anyhow, he is kind of cute; perhaps I might speak with him.
For a short while, I managed to get to speak to him. "Hello. Are you new here like me?"
He gave me a quick glance before turning away. Jeez, can a quick "hello" really make you feel uncomfortable?
Ignoring his rudeness, I continued. "So, um, are you here for the training ground? Do you have any interest in joining the guild? If so, what class are you hoping to be in?"
He looked at me again, this time he spoke. "You look weak."
I pause at his respond. I was too startled to even respond.
He said coldly, "I do not think you are glorified to become an adventurer by how weak your body is. You should leave right away and enroll in a different career."
After that, neither he nor I spoke again. I had no idea what to say or how to behave. I am simply so shocked and perplexed.
Just then, a door open and Adventurer walked in the room.