Jonady fell abruptly, the wind knocked out of him. Slowly, he pushed himself off the cold ground and looked around to examine his surroundings. He found himself in a grand hall that resembled the interior of a castle. Upon closer inspection, the architecture evoked that of European medieval castles. The walls were adorned with rich tapestries, and colorful stained glass windows let in a muted, ethereal light.
Around him stood guards clad in full armor, armed with halberds, motionless as statues. Not far away, men and women dressed in opulent clothing appeared to be nobles or members of the aristocracy. All eyes were fixed on him, their expressions a mixture of surprise, suspicion, and curiosity.
Directly in front of him stood an elderly man wearing a crown encrusted with precious stones, positioned on a slightly elevated dais. His richly adorned attire and regal bearing left no doubt about his status: he was the king. Beside him stood a young girl, likely his daughter or a princess, observing Jonady intently. Her curious, almost amused gaze seemed to pierce through him, as if she were trying to discern who he was and where he came from.
Jonady took a deep breath, attempting to mask his unease. After a brief moment of observation, he stepped forward cautiously and gave a slight bow, adopting a respectful posture.
"Hello," he said, his voice polite but steady. "You seem to be the king. May I ask where I am?"
A murmur spread through the assembly, but the king raised his hand, commanding silence.
"You are in the nation of Ednia," he replied, his voice deep yet composed. "It is a large island, inhabited mainly by humans."
Jonady listened carefully, noting the strange but comprehensible accent with which the king spoke.
"This world," the sovereign continued, "is composed of nine nations. Ednia, once prosperous, is now on the brink of collapse militarily. Our enemies have formed an alliance against us, and our resources are dwindling."
He paused, his gaze heavy as it fell on Jonady.
"That is why we have summoned you."
Jonady felt his heartbeat quicken. "Summoned?" he thought. It all felt unreal, like a strange dream.
"Why me?" he dared to ask, striving to remain respectful.
The king raised his eyebrows slightly, then turned to a younger man clad in robes adorned with mysterious symbols.
"According to our ancient texts," the latter explained, "only those with unique potential can be called through the summoning ritual. However, the precise circumstances of your role remain unclear."
The princess, who had remained silent until then, finally spoke, her voice soft yet tinged with curiosity:
"You are not from here, are you? Your appearance, your manner of speaking… everything about you seems different."
Jonady nodded, confirming her suspicions.
"You're right. I come from another world," he said, a hint of nervousness in his voice.
Another murmur rippled through the hall, but this time Jonady detected a note of fascination in it.
The king straightened slightly on his throne, his expression grave.
"If our summoning succeeded, it means you are the hero of our tale your destiny is in the fate of this kingdom.
Jonady clenched his fists, trying to calm his racing mind. What he had thought would be an ordinary day had turned into an adventure he could never have imagined.
"Very well," he said finally, lifting his gaze to meet the king's. "I don't fully understand yet, but if I can help, I will do what I can."
The king seemed satisfied with this response, while the princess allowed a faint smile to play on her lips.
Thus, Jonady took his first steps in this unfamiliar world, unaware that this meeting would mark the beginning of a journey that would change not only his destiny but that of Ednia itself.