It was a fine, sunny afternoon at Hillcrest High School. Puneeth, Prem, and Arjun were strolling across the rooftop of the school, enjoying their lunch break. They were long-time friends, bonded over their shared love for TV shows, and as usual, they were laughing and teasing one another. Puneeth, the athletic martial artist, was animatedly recounting the latest episode of his favorite action show. Prem, the serious and sharp vice president of the student council, rolled his eyes but couldn't help chuckling at Puneeth's antics. Arjun, the average but witty student known for his knack for giving compelling speeches, added in a few quips of his own, causing another round of laughter.
Suddenly, mid-conversation, a shimmering magic circle appeared in front of them on the rooftop, glowing with an eerie yet mesmerizing light. The laughter abruptly ceased as all three of them froze, staring at the circle in utter disbelief.
"What the—" Arjun managed to say, but before any of them could react, they were enveloped by the light. A split second later, the rooftop disappeared, and they found themselves standing in the middle of a vast, ruined castle.
The grand hall they stood in was half-collapsed, debris scattered across the floor, with cracks spiderwebbing up the walls. High ceilings that must have once been magnificent were now chipped and broken, and large windows allowed beams of moonlight to filter in. At the far end of the hall, two figures lay on an enormous bed, holding hands, surrounded by people who appeared to be praying.
"Where… are we?" Prem muttered, his voice laced with confusion.
Before they could make sense of the situation, a girl dressed in elegant robes and holding a glowing staff approached them. Tears welled in her eyes as she sighed in relief. "Thank goodness it worked."
Prem, ever the logical one, took a step forward. "Who are you? What is this place, and why are we here?"
The girl, wiping away her tears, introduced herself. "I am Princess Selina, heir to the Kingdom of Lunaris. We summoned you here from another world to save us."
"Another world?" Arjun's eyebrows shot up as he took in the crumbling surroundings. "Wait, does this mean magic is real? Are we in some kind of fantasy world now?"
Selina nodded. "Yes, you are. Our kingdom has been on the brink of collapse. We're isolated on an island, far from the other kingdoms, and have been branded outcasts. The stronger kingdoms have been attacking us, and we're too weak to defend ourselves. We needed heroes with special abilities—so we turned to forbidden magic to summon you."
Puneeth, who had been uncharacteristically quiet, glanced at the bed with the two figures lying motionless. "Who are they?" he asked.
Selina's face darkened, and her voice trembled as she explained, "They were my parents—the king and queen. To perform the summoning ritual, a living sacrifice was required. They didn't want to take anyone else's life, so they offered their own to bring you here… to save the kingdom." Tears began to spill down her cheeks as she spoke, her grief raw and palpable.
The three friends stood there, stunned and speechless.
As the night set in, Selina urged them to rest, promising to explain more in the morning. A soldier was called to escort them to a safe place to stay. As they walked through the capital, their surroundings grew more grim. Buildings lay in ruins, with smoke rising from several parts of the city. Citizens were huddled in alleyways, their faces gaunt and eyes hollow. Children sat in doorways, crying from hunger, while others wandered aimlessly through the rubble.
The sight was harrowing.
Once they reached a small, intact house on the outskirts of the city, the three sat in silence, the weight of what they had seen pressing down on them.
"We have to help them," Prem finally spoke, breaking the heavy silence. "It's not like we have a way back. And if we don't do something, we'll end up just as dead as the rest of them. This kingdom needs us."
Puneeth nodded. "Yeah, we're stuck here. Might as well make the best of it."
Arjun, though hesitant, agreed. "It's not like we can sit back and watch people suffer."
The next morning, the three of them met with Selina again. After much discussion, they declared their willingness to help.
Selina's eyes sparkled with hope. "Thank you. You don't know what this means to me… to us." She led them to a chamber, where a large, crystal orb sat on a pedestal. "As beings from another world, you each have a unique magical affinity. Touch the crystal, and it will reveal your attributes."
One by one, they placed their hands on the crystal.
Puneeth's hand caused the crystal to glow brightly, revealing that he possessed control over all four elements—air, water, fire, and earth. Selina gasped, "This is incredibly rare. Only a few in history have had control over all four."
Next was Prem. The crystal shone with a warm, golden light. "Light magic," Selina explained, her eyes wide with astonishment. "This is the magic of the gods—an attribute used for healing and manipulation of light. Only a few people have this gift."
Finally, it was Arjun's turn. The moment his hand touched the crystal, the light turned dark and ominous. "Dark magic…" Selina whispered, her voice laced with caution. "This is the magic of demons. Very little is known about it, but it's said to hold immense power, though dangerous."
As they discussed their newfound powers, Arjun spoke up. "If we're going to rebuild this place, we need to give people hope. We should spread a rumor that a new ruler has taken over and start rebuilding from scratch."
"Wait, are you suggesting we overthrow Selina?" Puneeth asked in disbelief.
Arjun met Selina's gaze. "It's the only way. A fresh start for the kingdom. You'll need to step down."
To everyone's surprise, Selina nodded. "If that's what it takes to save my people, I will do it."
The room fell silent, and for a moment, the weight of responsibility hung in the air.
The dawn of a new kingdom had begun.
Author's Note: Hence, the tale of Lunaris, a fallen kingdom on the edge of despair, finds new hope in its unlikely heroes. The journey to rebuild had only just begun.