"Are you perhaps related to the king or something?"
Regal was still attempting to regain his composure as he noticed he seemed to have lost it.
"Just so you are aware, I ate that biscuit on accident. It tasted horrendously sweet, just like a child's food", the others at the table nervously put down the biscuits they were eating.
"A-Anyway, I have no relation to the king, my situation is rather special.", Regal gave his response to the question at hand while wiping off some sweat from his cheek.
"Your situation allows you to speak that way to the king…?", William questioned further.
"To be exact, I talk to him like that because I want to.
The reason I can get away with it is special, but that's more on the personal side. It's not that I won't tell you or anything, it's just annoying to.", Regal finally regained his composure as he spoke, erasing the memory of the biscuit incident.
"Back on topic, the reason you lot can speak the same language as this world."
The heroes increased their focus as they listened.
"So you see…", the heroes leaned in as Regal created suspense.
"I don't know!".
In response to Regal's answer the heroes almost fell off their chairs.
"You bastard! Why say you were gonna explain it if you don't know anything!", Eric shouts at Regal.
"Well, I don't know exactly how it works to be precise, but I can make a solid guess.
The magic circle used to summon you was pretty complicated, it has a whole function dedicated to finding someone with 'talent". Even I don't know how a spell does that.
So it's pretty likely it has a way to imprint our language within that complicated algorithm", Regal explained as best as he cou- well, maybe not that well, but the heroes got the gist of it.
One thing the heroes were very curious about was this topic that seemed to be brought up quite often. Magic. Spells. Summoning. This supernatural idea of a special power.
"You called, Sir Regal?", a man suddenly spoke up from next to the table as if appearing out of nowhere
"Ah, Pamel! So you settled on 'Sir'?", Regal was unsurprised, it was more like he was waiting for this.
In William's mind however, 'Wasn't that the name of the servant he asked for just a moment ago? How has he already arrived?'
At the same time, a similar thought went through the minds of the other heroes.
A question that took priority was asked seemingly quite late by Hikari, "Sir Regal, that spell you mentioned that summoned us… I vaguely remember some drawings in that room we woke up in. Can that be used to send us back?".
"Nope", Regal completely shattered the heroes' hopes before the other 3 even realised what was asked.
"Well, not yet. There could be a spell lying around but I doubt it, I am certain the ancients didn't summon people from another world just to send them back.
Even when they fulfilled their purpose, I bet they were forced to remain here by simple lack of option.", Regal went on without a care for the declining mentality of the heroes.
"However, it's possible for me to make a spell to do that, especially when I have the spell from earlier as a reference.", giving the heroes hope, Regal's words made their faces light up.
Eric shouted first, "Then can you send us-!"
"Nope", with the way Regal was responding, it was like he was messing with them.
"You bastard!", Eric, still using his very much outside voice, shouted some more.
"Just wait a moment, will you?
It takes a long time to do something like make a spell, and I don't really feel like it.
The king ordered me to summon you, so that's what I did, go shout at him if you have any similar or such complaints.", Regal's attitude was slowly getting William and Hikari just as riled up.
"So I have a proposal. Spend a year in this world"
The heroes collectively paused, but it wasn't long before Eric couldn't hold himself back anymore.
"You're responsible for summoning us in the first place! You should be sending us back out of obligation!", Eric finally lost himself in rage as veins started bulging out of his face.
"Take it up with the big boss~", Regal playfully shrugged Eric off.
"That's it!", suddenly Eric rose to his feet, almost in a jump, and threw a long-deserved punch directly toward Regal's face.
Regal's smile widened.
Suddenly a single magic circle appeared in the path of Eric's punch, it immediately launched water that wrapped around his arm like a snake.
"Wha- What the hell!?", Eric launched himself back in surprise, falling on his bottom.
"I guess that settles it... you've never seen magic before, you lot must have no magic in your world. Either that or you are an incredible deceiver", As Regal spoke the heroes were awestruck, this was the first time they witnessed magic in their lives.
"W-w-was that magic!?", Hikari completely lost her earlier anger as she wanted to learn more about this phenomenon. A spark was strongly lit within her with such spectacle.
"Indeed, and that's as simple as it gets, magic is capable of so much more", Regal smirked as he spoke about a topic he actually cared about.
William was also awestruck, but he didn't plan on avoiding the problem at hand. "Regal, with powers like this, do you truly need our help to fight the demons…?
Are demons truly that dangerous and powerful?
We… we can't do anything about enemies that can even fight back against this! This is simple? Well, it's already far beyond what our world is capable of. Please send us back!"
In William's mind, magic was starting to seem like a power capable of anything. At first it was used to describe how he was summoned, and now he sees that the most 'simple' of magic can easily overpower a grown man. Not only that but if there's water magic, then there must also be other elements too...
'If it really is so strong… then what about the demons?'
"The demons are indeed powerful… but they won't be a problem for you lot.
Also, I think you are underestimating magic. You take one look at something like this and think the demons are strong? This sort of magic couldn't leave a scratch on a demon.", Regal spoke words that didn't help the situation, it simply painted a worse image of demons to the heroes.
Noticing the confusion, Regal had an idea.
"Demons are more or less wild animals with extra qualities. They possess mana... or rather something similar, but only the stronger ones can harness it properly.
I think it will be easier if I give a demonstration, a demonstration of what you will one day be capable of, as well as showing you the demons you are so concerned about"
"You keep saying that!
There's no way we can become powerful enough to fight creatures with powers like that, our world has nothing of the sort!", William pleaded.
"Pamel… I believe the forest outskirts will do", Regal ordered as he ignored William's plea.
Suddenly a large magic circle covering the 6 of them appeared above. It had 6 layers and shined with the same light as the spell Pamel used yesterday.
"What's going on!?", Eric shouted as the light surrounded them.
"This… it's also magic", Hikari was amazed and could easily guess that this was another showcase of magic.
Anne simply stood with dark eyes directed at the light, she believed she was about to be obliterated
Suddenly the garden was silent.
***
"Butler, arrange for a carriage tomorrow morning to depart for the Riverwood residence here in the capital", Rosel who had left the audience chamber not so long ago, was making preparations for the heroes' comfort.
Unlike Regal, Rosel feels empathetic for their situation. They were practically kidnapped with no way to return.
More than that, she was worried that they were placed under Regal. It's obvious that they're safest when with the Archmage, but he was also a person with no consideration for others.
"It shall be done Miss Tempest", the butler replied before leaving.
As she watched the butler leave, she tried thinking about how to improve the hero's comfort. She wanted the heroes to 'want' to help them, she didn't want them to feel forced the whole time. It also runs the risk of the heroes turning on the kingdom after becoming powerful.
'Perhaps I should request for them to be placed under me…
No, it's too late. The nobles and the king included are happy with this decision.', Rosel shook her head while standing in thought.
All of a sudden an idea struck her, 'I can discover the heroes' interests and complaints if I speak to them personally'
She then began walking down a corridor that presumably leads to the royal garden.
'They must be with Lord Riverwood…', as Regal appeared in her thoughts, she began to remember him from 10 years ago in the academy.
**
"Greetings Lord Riverwood, my name is Rosel Tempest of the Tempest family. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance", a young girl with wavy black hair said as she held her hand out to the man in front of her.
The man known as Regal Riverwood, 44 years old, looked at her for a moment.
"Piss off", his words attracted looks from all around from this interaction occurring around the academy gates.
"…huh?", Rosel was simply confused as she remained with her hand out.
"What, you don't understand? Leave. Go away. Shoo!
I may formally be a student but I'm not interested in conversing with children. I'm just here to observe.", he answered with slight annoyance on his face.
Rosel was still flabbergasted. She had no idea there was someone so rude that they would speak this way to another noble, a lady, in public.
After not receiving a response, Regal walked away first as she passed her with her hand still out.
'T-that rude scoundrel!
Even if I'm a child, this is an opportunity to form a connection with my family, with me!', Rosel felt her anger rising from her first interaction with this man, but decided that there was still the opportunity to be friendly.
A while later while in their first class, Rosel was seated a few seats behind Regal.
"And so you see, when you create your magic circle, it becomes capable of moving by your will.
As you increase the number of circles you can control along with your mana, you can form multiple circles and use multiple spells at the same time", a teacher was explaining magic principles to the class before him.
Rosel looked toward Regal who was unimpressed and bored. His head resting on his hand.
It wasn't long before Regal got up and walked through the entire class to the door.
"S-student Riverwood! Where do you think you're going!?", the teacher exclaimed as he watched this happen.
"I'm more interested in the practical stuff, I'm off to practice my control, see you.", Regal said before walking out.
Everyone seemed to be confused by Regal, the teacher was more troubled by him, but considering Regal's situation, he is technically a similar age to the professors. It is hard to argue with someone both the same age and more powerful, even if they're a student and you're a teacher.
Rosel was curious, she wanted to know what this unique student she met on her first day was like. What he was doing and why he was so rude.
Throughout her school life, she attempted to sate her curiosity by getting closer to Regal. However, the answer was always similar.
"Piss off", "Children should focus on their studies", "Go practice your magic instead", "If you had the time to follow me then you'll have the time to practice magic".
Various answers to try and get rid of Rosel. Eventually, even Rosel decided to give up, she instead tried to prove herself by doing better than the infuriating individual in exams.
Practical exam:
1st place - Regal Riverwood
2nd place - Rosel Tempest
…
Magic Theory exam:
1st place - Regal Riverwood
2nd place - Lloyd Armcrest
3rd place - Rosel Tempest
…
"…", Rosel could say nothing when she first stood in front of the result board.
Regal was walking through the corridor as he glanced at the boards, "Haah… I'm literally competing against children here, I should've held back"
This sentence as he walked off struck a nerve within Rosel. She felt the most competitive she had ever felt, and her one-sided rivalry with Regal began from this day onward.
Regal on the other hand knew her as the most annoying student he ever met. Constantly pestering him.
**
"Tch, he was just as annoying back then!", Rosel spoke aloud as she entered the royal garden.
Rosel stopped and took a quick glance for anyone seated before noticing a maid nearby.
"You there, where are Lord Riverwood and the ones with him?", she asked.
The maid looked confused briefly before turning around and speaking, "Well Miss, they are just seated over there…", the maid suddenly realised that no one was sitting where she had pointed.
"…huh?"
Rosel had a vague feeling of what occurred.
'That bastard! He really kidnapped the heroes!?', she thought with one hand pressed against her head.
"…that man makes so much trouble".