The silence was dense, suffocating. The presence of that being floating before them felt like a giant shadow covering the entire sky.
Finally, the hooded figure spoke, its voice echoing like a whisper in the void.
—"You have been summoned from a realm beyond your world."
Lili and Susan looked at each other, eyes wide with shock.
—"What…?" Susan whispered, her voice trembling.
—"Summoned? From another realm?" Lili took a step back, feeling the cloudy ground slightly give beneath her feet. "What the hell are you talking about?!"
The being continued, its tone devoid of emotion:
—"I am here to fulfill the wish of that realm. You have been chosen to become the heroes that world needs."
The words weighed on their minds like an inescapable sentence. Susan felt a shiver run down her spine, while Lili clenched her fists, trying to steady her breathing.
Both turned to Ras, expecting some kind of reaction. But he remained there, his ever-present smile on his face, observing the being with the same unwavering calm.
The silence grew uncomfortable until Ras broke the tension with an unexpected remark.
—"You're telling us we're going to be heroes… but you show up with a creepy aura. I don't know, sounds kind of suspicious, doesn't it?"
Lili and Susan stared at him in disbelief.
—"What?!" Lili exclaimed. "That's all you have to say?!"
The being didn't seem offended by his comment. In fact, it responded with the same serenity as before.
—"You see me as ominous because you are human. But I am a god. What you feel… is my power."
Ras lowered his head for a moment, still smiling. Lili, unable to contain her frustration, shouted at him:
—"Aren't you scared, Ras?! Just look around! We're shaking, and you're standing there like nothing's happening!"
Susan grabbed her hand, trying to calm her down.
—"Lili, relax…"
But before she could say more, Ras spoke in his usual charming tone.
—"Enough."
His voice was firm, yet it carried his characteristic lightness.
Then, he turned to the god and, with a sharp gaze, asked:
—"God, what do you want us to do? I doubt we can just leave, can we?"
The being nodded.
—"I will grant you powers. Whatever you desire. With them, you will become the heroes of that world."
The words resonated heavily in their minds. Powers? Could they ask for anything they wanted?
The god extended a hand and pointed at Susan.
—"Tell me, what power do you desire?"
Susan stiffened. Her mind went blank for a moment. What should she ask for? Strength? Speed? Magic?
Lili watched her nervously, waiting for her response.
Finally, Susan swallowed hard and, still unsure, said:
—"I want… I want to be able to use the four elements."
The god gestured with its hand, and a light enveloped Susan's body. A warm and vibrant energy coursed through her being. When the light vanished, she felt different, as if a dormant force had awakened within her.
—"Susan, with the power you have requested, you shall be the Elemental Sorceress," the god declared. "You will wield fire, water, earth, and wind."
Susan looked at her hands, feeling a faint tingling in her fingers.
The god then turned to Lili.
—"Now, tell me, what power do you desire?"
Lili remained silent for a moment, her mind clouded with nerves. Then, suddenly, she remembered a TV show she used to watch. In it, a man tamed wild horses using only his presence and voice.
—"I want… the power to tame any creature."
The god extended its hand again, and the same light enveloped her. She felt a deep connection to something greater, something wilder, as if she could hear the heartbeat of nature itself.
—"Lili, you shall be the Beast Tamer," the god announced. "You will form bonds with any creature, so long as it agrees."
Lili blinked, feeling the weight of what she had just received.
Then, the god turned to Ras.
—"Now you. What do you desire?"
Ras narrowed his eyes and opened his mouth to respond.
But before he could speak his wish, the god raised both hands. Suddenly, massive walls of dark energy rose around him, isolating him from the girls.
—"What…?" Ras frowned, looking around.
Susan and Lili screamed his name, pounding against the barrier to no avail.
For the first time, the god revealed a wicked smile.
—"Come now, Ras. Make your wish."
A chill ran down Ras's spine. Did this god know what he was going to ask for?
His smile never wavered, but his mind worked rapidly.
Finally, he spoke in his usual tone, but with a sharp glint in his eyes.
—"I want to be immortal… and to copy abilities."
The god let out a faint chuckle, its twisted grin growing even wider.
—"So be it."
A darkness engulfed Ras, colder than anything he had ever felt before. His body trembled, his blood burned, and his vision turned red. His fangs lengthened, his nails sharpened into claws for a brief moment before returning to normal.
When the darkness faded, the god spoke solemnly.
—"Ras, from this moment forth, you shall be the Vampire King."
Ras exhaled sharply, feeling his body change—stronger… but also emptier. He placed a hand on his chest, as if expecting to feel his own heartbeat.
But there was nothing.
He was no longer human.
The god concealed its smile and dissolved the walls of energy, returning him to the girls.
—"Ras!" Susan and Lili ran to him, their faces filled with concern. "Are you okay?! You scared us!"
But Ras didn't respond immediately.
His mind was consumed by a single thought: I am no longer human?
He remained silent for a few seconds until, slowly, his smile returned.
—"Relax," he said in his usual tone. "Everything is going to be fine."
Susan and Lili exchanged doubtful glances but didn't press further.
The god watched them in silence for a few moments before speaking again.
—"It is time."
With a snap of its fingers, everything changed.
The cloud-covered ground vanished, and suddenly, they were standing in a vast garden. The vegetation was lush, crystal-clear fountains reflected the sunlight, and before them stood a grand palace—its white marble walls adorned with golden details.
It was beautiful.
And so, their destiny as heroes began.
4: BEGINNING
Susan was confused and afraid, though she tried not to show it too much. However, the way she frowned and clenched her fists betrayed her anger. She couldn't accept what had happened.
Lili, on the other hand, was visibly shaken. Her eyes shimmered with restrained tears, her hands trembled slightly, and her breathing was erratic. She could barely process the situation.
Ras, still in shock, maintained his calm expression, but inside, his mind kept repeating the same thought:
"I am no longer human. I look the same, I feel the same… but I'm not."
His heart, or what was left of it, felt strange. It didn't beat. There was none of the warmth he used to feel. Is this what immortality means? Am I now a creature of the night, a monster?
Before he could continue sinking into his thoughts, a movement on the palace balcony caught his attention.
From above, an imposing man with golden hair and a white robe with silver details observed the scene. His features were noble and refined, a blend of kindness and power. Beside him, a woman with pale skin and long silver hair, her eyes as blue as a clear sky, radiated an almost inhuman elegance.
Two young women stood with them. The elder had a strong and confident presence. Her long, reddish-brown hair was tied in an elegant braid, and her golden eyes were sharp, observing everything with keen intelligence.
The younger one had an angelic face, with curly blonde hair and sky-blue eyes full of innocence and sweetness. Her white dress emphasized her purity and youth.
The royal family was, without a doubt, of inhuman beauty, as if they had been sculpted by gods.
At that moment, a group of mages in the garden raised their hands and cast a spell. The king's figure floated from the balcony, descending gently until he stood before the three newcomers.
The king gave a slight bow and spoke in a solemn voice.
—"Forgive me for bringing you here without warning. I know this is sudden and unfair to you. I sincerely apologize."
His tone was genuine, but Susan was in no mood for apologies.
—"Apologize?" she spat, her voice filled with rage. "You brought us here without our consent! You tore us away from our lives without even asking! We want to go home immediately!"
The guards and mages surrounding the scene tensed at her defiant tone. Lili swallowed hard, her heart pounding as she tried to calm her.
—"Susan… maybe we should…"
But Susan wasn't listening.
The king lowered his head sadly and sighed.
—"I understand. Your anger is completely justified. But please, I beg you to become our heroes. And after helping us, we will send you back to your world."
Susan gritted her teeth in frustration.
Meanwhile, Ras kept his gaze lowered, his mind analyzing everything rapidly. "I must not reveal my powers to anyone. I don't know how strong I am now, nor what else has changed in me. If the king, his soldiers, or his mages notice anything strange, I could be in trouble."
Finally, Ras stepped forward and placed a hand on Susan's shoulder.
—"Susan," he said with his friendly aura, "let's calm down a little."
Then, he turned to the king with a relaxed smile.
—"Is it true that you can send us back to our world?"
—"Yes…" the king answered, though there was a slight hesitation in his voice.
—"Then we want you to do it now," Ras continued. "We can't lend you our powers or be your heroes. We prefer to return home."
The king forced a smile, closing his eyes for a moment. But something in his expression betrayed him—annoyance.
Still, when he spoke again, his voice remained peaceful.
—"Please… I beg you to help us."
Ras lowered his head slightly, his smile unwavering, but suddenly, a dark aura began to surround him.
—"Can you really send us home?" His tone was deeper, sharper. "I don't like being lied to."
The king, surprised by the ominous presence emanating from Ras, stammered.
—"I… we…"
Before he could continue, the eldest daughter stepped in.
—"Yes, we can return you to your world," she affirmed confidently, "but we cannot do it right now."
Susan narrowed her eyes.
—"Why not?"
—"The Lord of the Abyss, a powerful demon, has covered our land with his magic. Until his influence disappears, we cannot use the magic required to send you back."
Susan felt a knot in her chest.
—"If you can't send us back… how did you bring us here?"
—"Summoning heroes is easier," the princess explained. "Summoning magic searches for the best candidates and transports them. But sending someone back requires knowing their point of origin, their exact location in the universe."
Lili listened carefully, her mind racing with thousands of thoughts.
"So, there are demons… humans… what other creatures exist in this world? Who exactly are we supposed to save? I don't want to fight… I'm just a normal girl. I'm not a warrior."
Ras, after hearing everything, let his sinister aura fade away and returned to his relaxed demeanor.
—"Well, if there's no way to return now… then I'll stay and help. And after that, you'll send us back home. Is that acceptable?"
The king stopped stammering and took a deep breath. "That dark aura… was that his power? Or just his attitude? Why did I feel fear? Why did I feel threatened?"
Finally, the monarch spoke.
—"You must be tired. Go to your rooms. Rest, change, take a bath. In a few hours, we will call you for dinner to discuss everything calmly."
The Supreme Mage, the Captain of the Army, and the Royal Guardian stepped forward.
—"We will escort them," said the mage.
The Supreme Mage, Alzareth, was an elderly man with white hair and a black robe covered in golden runes. His gaze reflected immeasurable wisdom.
The Captain of the Army, Sir Gaius, was a robust man clad in gleaming steel armor. His dark hair and the scar on his cheek gave him the air of a seasoned warrior.
The Royal Guardian, Vaelis, was an elf with silver hair and green eyes. His presence was imposing, and his movements were graceful and silent.
Each hero was led to their respective room.
Ras, sitting on his bed, pondered. "I must win everyone's favor here, just like I did in my world. The more they like me, the easier it will be to manipulate the situation to my advantage."
Susan, frustrated, collapsed onto her bed, recalling her life on Earth—her job, her moments with Ras and Lili.
Lili, alone in her room, let a few tears fall. She wanted to be with Ras. She wanted to go home.
"How will we fit in here without them suspecting us? How will we move forward without getting hurt?"
But one thing was certain: they had to keep moving forward.
And so, the fate of the heroes was sealed.