The whole room went silent for some reason before the priestess spoke out.
"Everyone, the spirits have gathered to bless these heroes, but fear not, for they will be the ones to help this world."
She placed her hand on Logan's shoulder and then gently tapped him as if to tell him that everything would be fine. The boy went back to join the others who had taken a seat and sat on an empty chair.
"Welcome kings, queens, delegates and the great nobles of our kingdom... As you have seen and heard, we will gain unprecedented strength with the help of our new heroes. I have gathered everyone here with the power of the Temple of the Seven Sprites so that you may meet the heroes and offer your support to them. Having completed our task of summoning these heroes, the kingdom of Elris will retain them while they gain strength over the next six months."
The king looked around, clearing his throat before continuing his speech.
"Now, heroes, we know it was our greed that brought you out of your world to help us. Everyone here sincerely apologizes, but you must understand that it was not without reason. While you are here, we will provide you with unlimited resources, manpower, and wealth. We will work with you until those demons have been vanquished."
"Hura, Hura!"
As the lengthy speech ended, the room resounded with cheers of various kinds. It was the moment when people raised their cups and began to savor the delicacies before them.
The class seemed more eager to eat than to seek answers for now, as many plates filled with meats, stews, and sweets were set before them. Logan himself grabbed a huge drumstick with a fork and knife and began adding what looked like rice and beans to his plate. He felt a bit apprehensive about holding his golden spoon, adorned with various jewels on the handle, but his stomach demanded it be filled, especially with the enticing fragrance of the food.
Besides the food, waiters brought a variety of drinks, both alcoholic and carbonated. Logan chose one that smelled of berries and began clearing what was left on his plate with even greater motivation. Within half an hour, everyone was full, and the soft music began to change into upbeat tunes. Some students got up to use the restroom or gather in groups.
The "idiot trio," always seen together, became easy targets for those seeking the strongest students. They not only attracted the most formidable-looking representatives but also beautiful ladies, daughters of nobles or royals, who came in hopes of forming alliances with them. Young and handsome men also tried their luck in seducing the teacher and various girls within the class, attempting to gain their favor.
Logan didn't know why, but he was glad that Lisa was too busy talking to the oracle, who no one wanted to bother. As for Logan, it seemed something about him didn't sit well with the representatives. It might have been the fact that he radiated a loner vibe. He busied himself pretending that the drink was the only thing that mattered at the party, but it also made him think about needing to use the restroom.
The noise of the room didn't sit well with Logan, but he also didn't feel like walking around and being forced to speak to some random stranger. It was only when nature called urgently that he got up and went to the rest area to quickly alleviate himself. After finishing his business, he had two choices: go back to his seat or find an isolated area.
He chose the latter and found the perfect spot—the balcony where few people ventured to avoid the cold night. Before leaving, he grabbed a glass from a nearby waiter and exited the area. Within seconds, he felt better as the noisy banquet faded into the background, replaced by the serenity of the empty terrace, where the night sky full of stars and three moons was visible.
Each of the three moons radiated a different color. The smallest was red, the largest was gray with a small blue halo around it, and the third, just about to set, was yellow with many visible craters. What caught his attention even more was how everything seemed not only clearer but also as if he himself had the ability to see further when he tried to focus.
He looked at his hand and noticed an eerie tattoo around his ring finger that had bled earlier because of Lisa. It appeared like a ring that came and went—one moment it was clear, and in the next, it faded, almost like a computer glitch.
"Good evening hero… it seems the cold does not phase you."
Logan jumped up as he heard a sweet voice beside him. Without him noticing, a striking figure had stepped into the moonlight. She was a tall beauty with long red hair that draped over her bare shoulders. Her skin was pale, almost luminescent under the glow of the three moons, and like many otherworlders, she radiated a red hue that warmed the area around her.
Logan couldn't help but notice the confidence in this young girl's eyes, which sparkled like rubies in front of flames. He was filled with awe, especially when she moved closer, stood next to him, and began stargazing.
I hope my presence makes things better, hero, as I am blessed by the Spirit of Fire. It should at least make the cold night bearable, especially while you're next to me."
"Ahem, yes. Well, thank you. My name is Logan." His voice, tinged with a shy demeanor, wavered slightly. He turned back to the wonders in the sky, taking a sip from the glass he had brought, and waited to see what the young woman needed.
"Nice to meet you, Hero Logan. I am Rubina Rosengard. As you know, we nobles are allowed to invest in your growth. This usually means allying with a kingdom or noble house, which provides you with benefits, be it monetary or otherwise..."
The young girl tucked some of her silky red hair behind her ear in a seductive manner.
"My father, Earl Rosengard, believes that endorsing you would be the best choice. As you know, in this world, to grow, you need to slay monsters to overload their cores..."
Logan, who had been listening somewhat inattentively, showed a reaction to this last part.
"Cores?"
The young girl seemed to understand that they weren't on the same page, so she decided to ask a few questions.
"Yes, cores. They are what give us power. Mine, for instance, needs the help of the Great Spirit of Fire to be refined. It's with whom I have made a pact to enhance my fire affinity. Now that I think about it, aren't you linked to the Great Darkness Spirit? You should know that great being is the hardest to contract with, right?"
Logan stood confused, unable to give an answer. Ruby nodded in understanding before speaking again.
"I see you're one of few words, and also that your world seems quite different from ours."
"Yes, very different. For one, we don't have any magic… I was also just a student in a normal school."
Logan felt strange. He knew it—the last drink he had gotten from the waiter had something in it.
"Also… we only have one moon. Hmph, the sky is dirtier, and we have huge cities with skyscrapers—like buildings with one hundred or more floors. Cars and airplanes, animals without powers that are only normal colored… We also don't have spirits…"
Logan began to scratch his hair, feeling hot around his ears. His legs felt like gelatin, making him grip the handrail harder.
"Are you alright, Hero? It seems the drink they gave you was particularly strong… it might have been Ghostbrew from the northerners. It's usually tasteless."
"I… I am fine, thank you… about the endorsement thing, that's fine. I will see you about it tomorrow? It seems I will need your help with a few questions about this world, you see…"
Rubina, seeing that Logan could not further stand, called for a waiter to take the empty glass. She then used her shoulder to support the drunken hero inside. She had already achieved her goal: securing at least one hero to her side, one that her family particularly needed. Now, she only needed to make others think she had gotten close to him to keep them at bay.
She spotted her father speaking to a few important royals from other nations, a move she knew would benefit her family as he wasn't one of the most respected nobles within the Elisya Kingdom. She overcharged her core, using it to enhance her arm strength just enough to keep the hero up and walking.
While dragging the hero toward the exit, Rubina noticed one particular stare directed at her. It was from another hero—the girl who had been chosen as the saintess.