Charnald and the Lost Ones walked down the corridor. A budding friendship was forming between Jacob and Rogue, as if they were destined to get along well. Yanis and Alora trailed behind Charnald, observing the hall that seemed to belong to a castle. Gwendoline, meanwhile, walked cautiously behind them all, trying to grasp the improbable situation they found themselves in.
"Powers? Wizards?" Gwendoline thought. Who could have imagined such a universe existed? Even more perplexing, who was this Damahan? Why did he want to obliterate the multiverse? What was his goal? And if he truly was a superior being as Charnald suggested, why would he wait two years instead of acting now? More than anyone else, she had a barrage of questions about their current predicament.
The echoing silence, punctuated only by their footsteps, was broken when Yanis turned to Charnald.
"Do you think we could get some clothes? Remember, we're all in our underwear here."
"Except for me and Gwendoline," Alora chuckled.
"That's different. You sleep in pajamas. I sleep in boxers," Yanis responded.
"I just find it more comfortable," Jacob added.
"Your clothes – do you prefer the ones you wore before coming here or ours?" Charnald asked.
"Mine," Yanis answered without hesitation. Except for Gwendoline, who was already dressed, the others echoed Yanis. With a wave of his hand, Charnald conjured the outfits they had worn the day before their summoning.
With exceptional grace, Alora was dressed in a green and purple top with bare shoulders, paired with a black skirt adorned with white patterns at the edges. Completed with tights and black boots, her ensemble was stunning.
In contrast, Yanis stood out for his simplicity. He wore sweatpants and a jacket with white stripes, along with a white tank top and black shoes – a minimalist look that hinted at his urban upbringing.
Jacob donned the typical attire of an average teenager: gray branded shoes, ripped jeans at the knees, and a black t-shirt with "Invincible God" written on it.
Rogue's outfit was unique in its own way: a navy blue shorts, blue shoes, and a basic black tee. This ensemble contrasted with his enigmatic and captivating appearance.
Now that everyone was dressed, and their wishes granted, Charnald led the Lost Ones towards the surface.
*
As they ascended the final steps of their journey, they encountered a large wooden door, adorned with a royal motif, signaling the last hurdle before they could finally glimpse the outside after what felt like an eternity.
"Are you ready?"
Their agreement was expressed with a nod, and the wooden door slowly creaked open, revealing a luxurious-looking palace, flanked by soldiers from a bygone era and mages that evoked tales of yesteryears.
"This is amazing!" exclaimed Jacob, "It's really a kingdom! I've been isekai'd into a fantasy world!"
"Yes! It's so pretty!" added Alora.
While Jacob was already indulging his childlike fantasies, Gwendoline couldn't quite accept that this was real. Everyone else seemed to have adapted to this new world, but not her. It felt impossible.
Before long, the soldiers and mages turned to Gwendoline with astonishment. Echoing footsteps resounded across the palace as the soldiers, magicians, and Charnald knelt to welcome an illustrious figure.
"What are they all doing?" Alora wondered.
"It must be their famous King," replied Yanis.
As a charismatic King, standing two meters tall, made his entrance flanked by a young redhead in leather attire and two supreme mages, the soldiers and mages united to proclaim in unison:
"Good day to you, Your Majesty."
As he approached Charnald, the King presented himself in all his grandeur and noble majesty. His towering figure instilled a sense of intimidation among the Lost Ones.
"Charnald, did the summoning mission go well?" he inquired with his cavernous voice.
"In a manner of speaking... The brunette girl managed to enter our world. Her name is Gwendoline Bourcier. She said she took her own life, only to wake up among the Lost Ones."
As the King moved closer to Gwendoline, the red-haired woman dressed in a leather corset and primitive leather skirt warned him of a potential threat from the young girl:
"Be cautious, Your Majesty, she might be playing a part!"
"Worry not, Dasra. I intend to find out."
No one knew what King Rymis III intended for Gwendoline. With a hand imbued with power and authority, he placed his palm on the young girl's head. His hand's size matched the width of her head, a testament to his undeniable stature and strength. Blue runes and symbols suddenly appeared, hovering around Gwendoline.
[Royal Magic: Anima Identity]
The magic spell faded as quickly as it appeared. He removed his hand from the girl's head.
"I've looked into your soul, young girl... I'm deeply sorry for everything you've endured so far..."
She responded to the King's words with a mere nod. Her newfound comrades looked on, empathizing with her past sufferings.
"I see the truth in you, and you are not of evil intent... Now, do you truly wish to join the group of the Lost Ones?"
"Well... Yes... I want to be useful, and not repeat the mistakes of my past life."
The King leaned down to meet Gwendoline's gaze. His intimidating eyes seemed to penetrate her soul.
"Gwendoline Bourcier, answer my questions honestly. Are you sincere? Do you truly mean what you say?"
Though still hesitant about embarking on this journey, Gwendoline felt she had little choice. If she truly wanted to carve a new identity on Trillia, this new planet, she'd have to push herself and find her place.
"Yes... I speak the truth, Your Majesty... I..."
But as she was about to express her desire to join the Lost Ones, memories from her past life overwhelmed her. The images of her deceased sister and adoptive parents brought tears to her eyes, but it wasn't sadness they conveyed; it was her earnest desire to become someone else.
"I truly want to join the Lost Ones... I want... to grasp this new opportunity fate has offered me with both hands..."
"Very well... I grant you my trust, Gwendoline. Honor it."
With a swift turn, the King, shaking his majestic red cape, proclaimed:
"I, Rymis III, King of the Kingdom of Rymis, hereby decree, in my sovereign capacity, that Gwendoline Bourcier is now a member of the group of the Lost Ones!"
The crowd was taken aback. No one had expected this announcement.
"However! The reason for her presence will be investigated by the kingdom's expert mages."
The mages and soldiers applauded and congratulated the teenager for her new position as a member of the Lost Ones - those destined to combat an unknown, dangerous entity. But more importantly, for the new life ahead. Everything was happening so fast. A new life, a role, a journey, a quest lay before her.
*
From the majestic peak of the castle, the Lost Ones stood in awe at the splendors of this new world unfolding before them. The vast green expanses stretched as far as the eye could see, like a symphony of shimmering colors where the deep hues of ancient trees blended with the delicate patterns of climbing vines. The gentle glow of the sun tenderly caressed the land, illuminating each cloud with sparkling reflections, creating a celestial painting that seemed straight from a dream.
Nestled in the heart of this lush vastness was a village of staggering scale. Its winding streets seemed to get lost in the distant horizon, as if weaving the boundaries between reality and fantasy. Thatched-roof houses with stone walls huddled together, forming a picturesque tangle of ancient buildings filled with tales.
But what caught the eye even more was the surprising presence of some atypical villagers. Goblins went about their daily tasks with astonishing ease, mixing their activities alongside humans. Their playful and mischievous faces revealed their whimsical nature, but they seemed to be perfectly integrated into this colorful community.
Not far from them, colossal ogres carried on their robust yet essential duties. Their heavy and powerful steps seemed to shake the ground, but despite their imposing appearance, they exuded a surprisingly benevolent aura. They assisted farmers in their laborious tasks, thus showcasing the harmonious coexistence between beings, regardless of their appearance.
The village bustled with activity, like a lively ballet where the cheerful voices of merchants displaying their colorful wares mingled with animated exchanges between peasants sharing their ancient knowledge. Everyone listened to one another, weaving a strong and warm social bond.
"Welcome to Trillia, your new planet. We are in Érétide, the capital of the Kingdom of Rymis!" announced Charnald.
Alora's mouth opened in astonishment at the beauty of this world, which was indeed vastly different from their own.
"It's incredible, it's so beautiful. The air is so fresh!"
"So, what powers exist here?" asked Jacob.
"Well, firstly. Upon entering Trillia, you now possess energy, or more precisely, mana."
At Charnald's words, a thought raced through Jacob's mind:
Mana?! Like in video games?! Like in manga?! Oh boy! I feel like I'm going to have a lot of fun here, ahah!
Jacob immediately flashed a smile, perfectly conveying his imminent conquest of power. But as he was still lost in his wild thoughts, Dasra, the illustrious redhead clad in primitive leather attire, intervened in the conversation, addressing the Lost Ones:
"However, you must know that there are two other forms of energy in this world."
"Huh? What are they?"
"In this world, demons and archdemons possess demonic energy, a type of energy ten times superior to living beings."
"Really? But there's a balance to counteract that, right?" Rogue worried.
"Yes, and it's the final form of energy; angelic energy, which is slightly superior to demonic energy due to its nature to vanquish demons.
"There are angels in your world?" Alora inquired.
"The story goes that three Supreme Archangels, gods, shaped this world with their own hands. As humanity began building a society over millennia, demons appeared, sowing chaos and anarchy. To counter this, the three Archangels decided to choose five worthy living beings in each generation to receive their energy."
"That's insane!" added Jacob.
"A prophecy is also told..."
Dasra prepared to recount the prophecy, clearing her throat solemnly:
"Before I tell you this tale, know that angelic humans are chosen for their ability to endure trials and battles. They're like us, except they possess angelic energy and angelic magic."
"I see," reacted Alora.
"The prophecy speaks of the coming of a human who will dazzle the Archangels with such an act of bravery, that no other human in existence will have achieved until that point. He or she will be granted immortality, absolute resistance to the demon race, a new body, and the Archangels' unparalleled grace."
With Dasra's narrative, the Lost Ones pictured a being with wings and radiant goodness that could illuminate the entire universe. A being so powerful, it could destroy the whole planet. Simply put, an angelic being.
"I'm going to be that Archangel, ahah!" Alora teased playfully.
"Ahah! We'll see about that. If your power is dreaming, I'm not sure what use you'll be on a mission... Sleeping?" Yanis joked.
"You're really mean..."
Yanis subtly responded to Alora with a sly grin. Meanwhile, Jacob was intrigued by another detail about this world that ignited his geek instincts.
"Um, Dasra? Is that right?
"Yes, that's my name. What is it?"
"Are there any demon kings here?"
"I'm not sure why you're asking me this specifically, but no, there haven't been any. However, if it satisfies your curiosity: eight hundred years ago, for state-secret reasons, a Supreme Archdemon named Nerhel entered a titanic rage, allowing him to destroy more than two universes."
The astonishment was palpable among all when Dasra mentioned Nerhel's feats, except for Yanis who remained unfazed.
"I'm going to cry... What do you mean by 'two universes'?!"
"But everything's fine now, because a being calling himself 'metapotent' intervened. He sealed him and restored the two universes.
"He solos verses, the lad!"
In stunned silence, Alora and Yanis stared at Jacob, not understanding his words.
"What? Why are you looking at me like that?"
"What are you talking about?"
"Well, online, people debate about fictional characters just to see who's stronger. I'm just saying this Nerhel, he solos verses."
But wait, now that I think about it, I can also solo verses with my power!
Dasra coughed gently, signaling to the Lost Ones that she wasn't done speaking.
"Sorry, Dasra, go on, continue."
"I also need to mention an important detail before you acquire your powers."
With her inherently self-centered nature, Dasra quickly adopted a serious demeanor, indicating the gravity of her forthcoming words.
"During this era, eight hundred years ago, four unique demonic beings existed. They all vanished at once after Nerhel was sealed. They are the archdemons of emotions; Amaria, love and desire. Keria, sadness and despair. Yorgor, anger and rage. And lastly, the one believed to be the most powerful: Riui, fear and disgust. They all have complete control over the emotion they are associated with. What I'm getting at is that they are immensely powerful, and there's a high likelihood they will resurface during your journey."
With that note, the Lost Ones knew what they would face during their two-year stay on Trillia.