Eliot could clearly see the interior of the gun's muzzle, pointed at his forehead. -"Sorry, man, but I can't let go now that you saw this."
*BAM*
Rugedy old man pushed the trigger. Eliot instinctively closed his eyes.
1 second, 2 seconds, 3 seconds.
[Always thought that dying would be painful] - He thought and opened his eyes.
"GREETINGS, OH HERO FROM ANOTHER WORLD!" - a man in bizarre, colorful clothes and a funny hat screamed in Eliot's face. He wasn't tall or short, skinny or fat, but just a completely generic middle-aged man covered by the most rainbowish piece of clothing imaginable.
"What..." - The room in the middle of which he appeared was huge, illuminated by polished creamy white chrystals imbodied directly in the walls, and adorned with more gold than he had ever seen in his whole life as a scavenger. Along the walls, and behind him, in front of the massive door, silently stood two rows of guards. Everyone wore the same set of armor, but the front row had short swords and shields while the ones behind held long spears.
[Seam ready for combat]- Eliot observed.
Meanwhile, the colorful man continued his loud speech -"WE ARE GLAD TO ANNOUNCE, THAT A GREATEST PRIVILEDGE WAS JUST BESTOWED UPON YOU!"
[Why is he screaming...]
"HIS ABSOLUTE MAJESTY, EMPEROR OR THE EMPERORS, THE FIRST SWORD OF THE GODDESS, JULIUS REGULUS ALTO THE SECOND..." - The man fell on one knee and elegantly pointed back.
Only now did Eliot notice probably the most noticeable thing in the room: a throne, majestic and surprisingly, given the rest of the room's decorations, not excessive. Made completely of something similar to quartz from Eliot's home, it shined with a warm white light. The boy immediately felt more at peace just by looking at it.
The man on the throne complemented perfectly the painting of holiness and purity. The emperor was in his fities, with some gray hair here at there but not even the royal robe could hide his imposing physique, envied even by knights in their prime. Eliot, pressured by the raw sence of authority, unconsciusly bowed slithly forward.
"...HAS SUMMONED YOU, TO SERVE THE GODDESS, AND BE THE HERO WHITCH OUR WORLD NEEDS!"
Eliot wasn't exactly sure about the right answer. - "It's my greatest honor, to be chosen by his majesty for this important task." - But even given his young age, he already had some experience in the art of sucking up to powerful people. Whithout it he wouldn't even survive 5 years in his home World, let alone 15.
The colorful man nodded slightly, and smiled, apparently satisfied by this perfunctory answer. The guards also visibly lowered their guard down.
"Good."-The emperor calmly spoke.-"Forgive our lack of manners, summoned one." - He gestured towards the guards. -"The heroes from other worlds not always are as peaceful and friendly as you are." - He slowly stroked his short beard. - "Many times they are not even humanoid, but just some sort of monsters whose intelligence we can not confirm."
Eliot didn't know what kind of monsters the emperor spoke about but he also wasn't very keen on discovering it. -"Your majesty, i wanted to ask something."
Julius gave him a head sign to continue.
"What is the hero supposed to do?" - A long silence followed and...
"Ha...haha...HAHAHAHAHAHA" - Starting with the emperor himself everybody started laughing.
"HAHAHA"
"HEHEHEHAHAH...khe, khe, khe." - Colored man started coughing and his face became as red as his hat.
After a whole minute his majesty stopped, and so did everybody else. - "Ha..ha...what a funny question. Sometimes I forget how not every world follows the teachings of the Goddess."
"Heroes serving the goddess protect the world from evil. They purify demons and heretics by sending their sinful souls back to the eternal embrace of the Goddess." - He placed his hands together and closed his eyes in what seemed to be a silent prayer.
[So, the hero basically kills everybody who doesn't believe in goddess...] Summorised Eliot.
The Emperor reopened his eyes. -"So, would you like to help this world by becoming a sword of mercy in the Goddess's hands?"
[That's a way to present it. They might execute me if I don't comply.] - "I would be my greatest honor, and my first time serving such a noble and grand cause." - The boy, mimiked the knee drop that the colored man did before. -"I want to pledge my life and soul to the goddess!"
The emperor suddenly stood up and quickly walked down from the throne. [Was this too much...?] Eliot's face slightly twitched.
Suddenly a big callous hand dropped on his shoulder. -"The second I saw you, young hero, I knew that you would understand the importance of our mission." - The tone, full of righteous emotion made a stark contrast with Julius's stone-cold face. [These are the eyes of a psychopath. Why am I so unlucky.] Inwardly lamented Eliot but just forcefully smiled on the outside.
They stood there in an awkward silence for a few seconds when the emperor spoke again. -"Well, I suppose you are tired after this huge task was placed on your shoulders, and you need to think more about your new responsibilities..."
[Also I would love to eat...]
"...Guards will take you to the living quarters."- He snapped his fingers and two soldiers stepped forward.
Just as the three of them were to walk towards the exit and Eliot let out a sigh of relief, an old raunchy voice stopped them.
"Your majesty, I am extremely sorry for being so late." - A hunched man just appeared from the air next to the emperor who wasn't even surprised. -"No problem Zack. Did you finish the task?"
"Yes, my lord."- The Emperor nodded and looked at Eliot with a strange nearly unnoticeable glint in his eyes. - "Young hero, this is my Head Mage, and since he managed to return to the capital now, we need to do a little formality before you can go to rest."
Eliot immediately felt something amiss. -"Sure, what should I do?" - Instead of Julius Zack answered. -"Oh, so you are the new Hero we summoned? Delightful! You don't need to do anything just hold this stone for five seconds, and give it back to me."- He extended his wrinkly hand towards Eliot and a small, perfectly cubical black stone flew towards him.
Eliot hesitated for a second but Zack immediately reassured him in a very friendly tone.-"It's absolutely harmless, no need to worry." - the boy grabbed the stone.
One, two, three, four, five, nothing happened. Zack raised his wrinkly hand and the cube flew back to him.
"Hmmm, I see...I see." - The emperor waited patiently. - "AH!"- Zack suddenly dropped the rock. There was a mix of disgust and fear written on his face. - "Your majesty..."- His voice trembled slightly. -"There is a problem."
Julius's face remained the same but the voice became cold. -"Speak."
"He...he...he has no innate ability! HE IS NOT BLESSED!"
Eliot suddenly felt everyone's gazes directed at him. Not very friendly gazes. -"Is it so bad?" - He tried to ask.
The emperor remained silent and just went back towards the throne. While passing the colored man he made a hand gesture towards Eliot.
The man bowed slightly before looking hatefully at the boy. - "GUARDS! THROW HIM TO THE PLAGUE'S KITCHEN. SUCH TRASH BELONGS ONLY TO A PLACE LIKE THAT."
[Another world, but still trash. Just for different reasons.] A thought appeared in Eliot's mind before a guard's punch connected to his abdomen severely limiting his ability to think at all. -"Move, you f*cking heretic!"
The second guard that minutes ago was assigned to take him to the palace's living quarters spat in his face and toghether they dragged Eliot outside the room.