The group exchanged uncertain glances, their confusion only deepening with the king's words. June stepped forward hesitantly, her voice trembling but resolute. "Heroes? Fate? I think there's been some kind of mistake. We're just… normal people. We don't even know how we got here."
King Alaric's expression softened slightly, though his posture remained regal and imposing. "There is no mistake. Each of you bears the mark of the chosen. You may not understand it yet, but your arrival was foretold in the prophecies. The very balance of Eldorath depends on your actions."
Axel scoffed, crossing his arms. "Prophecies? Marks of the chosen? This has to be some kind of elaborate prank. I'm not buying it."
The king's sharp gaze flicked to Axel, silencing him with its intensity."This is no jest, young man. The enemy we face is a force of pure destruction, tearing our world apart piece by piece. If it is not stopped, it will consume this world.
Dylan, still taking in the grandeur of the hall, raised an eyebrow and smirked. "Okay, so let's say we believe you. What exactly are we supposed to do? Fight dragons? Slay some evil sorcerer?"
The king's lips curved into a grim line. "You are to reclaim the sacred relics scattered across the land—artifacts imbued with ancient power that can seal the Rift. Without them, our world will fall into chaos."
Caius, who had remained silent until now, stepped forward, his voice calm but firm. "And what if we refuse? You've taken us from our world without warning. Why should we risk our lives for a place we don't even belong to?"
King Alaric's gaze hardened once more. "Because the Rift threatens to consume all worlds. Refusing is not an option. The fate of countless lives rests upon your shoulders."
As the weight of his words settled over them, the group grew quiet.The reality of the situation was beginning to sink in, though it still felt surreal.
A distant rumble echoed through the hall, the faint vibration sending a ripple through the air. The group instinctively turned toward the massive double doors at the far end of the room, watching as they trembled slightly, as if responding to some unseen force.
King Alaric's expression darkened, though his tone remained calm and steady. "Do not be alarmed. That tremor is a warning—a ripple from the Rift's growing influence."
The guards exchanged wary glances but held their positions, their weapons still at the ready. The room seemed to hold its breath as the rumble subsided, leaving only the crackle of torches in the oppressive silence.
The king turned back to the group, his piercing gaze locking on each of them in turn. "You may not feel ready, but the danger is already upon us. The Rift's corruption spreads faster than we can contain it. If we do not act, it will swallow all that we hold dear."
The group exchanged uncertain looks, the weight of his words sinking in. They weren't fighters, nor were they heroes—at least not yet. Whatever their lives had been before, it was clear that those lives had been left behind.
The silence that followed King Alaric's words was heavy, broken only by the distant crackle of torches. June took a shaky step forward, her voice trembling but resolute. "You're asking us to fight something we don't even understand. How are we supposed to help you when we don't know anything about this... Rift?"
King Alaric regarded her with a measured gaze, his tone softening. "I do not expect you to understand everything, not yet. But you have been brought here because of what lies within you—potential far greater than you realize. Eldorath has its ways of choosing those it needs, even if they do not see it in themselves."
Dylan, leaning casually against one of the stone pillars, smirked. "Well, that's reassuring. So we're chosen because... what? We're special?" He gave a playful shrug. "Not saying I mind being the center of attention."
Alaric's lips twitched in what could almost be a smile, but his tone remained serious. "You may joke now, but the truth will reveal itself in time. For now, you must focus on learning who you are and what you are capable of. There is a reason the Rift's corruption hasn't reached this castle—it is a sanctuary, one of the last. And within its walls lies the knowledge and power you'll need to face what's coming."
Axel crossed his arms, his skepticism still evident. "And what if we refuse? What if we just wait this out and go back to our lives?"
The king's expression hardened. "There is no going back—not unless the Rift is defeated. Your world's safety depends on what happens here. If Eldorath falls, so will the boundaries between worlds. Your refusal would doom not only us but your own home."
Caius, who had been silently observing, finally spoke. His voice was calm, but there was a sharp edge to his words. "If this Rift is as dangerous as you say, then we need more than vague explanations and prophecies. We need answers. What exactly are we up against, and what makes us so important?"
King Alaric nodded, his respect for Caius's pragmatism clear. "A fair question. The Rift is not just a tear between worlds—it is a void of chaos and destruction, a force that devours everything it touches. It is drawn to power, and with each relic it consumes, it grows stronger. You are important because you possess the potential to wield the relics—not to destroy the Rift, but to seal it before it consumes all."
The group fell silent, the gravity of the situation settling heavily over them. June looked down at her hands, as if expecting to see some sign of the "potential" the king spoke of. Dylan, though still grinning, seemed to shift uneasily. Even Axel, despite his stubborn stance, seemed to be considering the king's words.
Finally, King Alaric gestured toward a side passage leading out of the hall. "You will have time to think and to decide how you wish to proceed. For now, you should rest. The journey ahead will not be easy, and you will need strength—both of body and of will."
Guards stepped forward to escort them, and the group reluctantly followed. As they passed through the grand stone corridors, their thoughts were consumed by the same question: How had their ordinary lives led them here, to a world on the brink of destruction? And more importantly, could they truly be the ones to save it?