A hooded man trudged through the crowd, his breath visible in the chilly night air as he muttered to himself, "I can't believe I had to come out." He quickened his pace, weaving past people heading home.
"I didn't know I could finish a $500,000 Cup Noodles in a month," he said with a sigh, shaking his head. "I thought it a year or something." As he approached the road, he cautiously glanced both ways before crossing.
Just as he stepped off the curb, a car screeched to a halt after hitting him. Lucian, the hooded man, grunted in pain as he lay on the ground. 'Tsk, why the hell am I so unlucky?!' he cursed inwardly.
Gingerly, Lucian stood up, wincing in pain. A man rushed out of the car, asking, "Hey, are you okay?" Lucian curtly nodded and muttered a brief "thanks" before hastily departing, leaving the concerned driver behind.
From a young age, Lucian had been labeled as an unlucky child. The worst things one could imagine seemed to happen to him on a daily basis. Getting hit by a car was just another unfortunate event in his never-ending streak of bad luck.
As Lucian finally reached the convenience store, he let out a sigh of relief. "Thankfully, I was only hit by a car this time..." He trailed off, his eyes fixed on the entrance.
Just as he stepped forward, the sky darkened, and a deafening rumble shook the air. A bolt of lightning struck Lucian, its electrifying force sending him flying backward. The convenience store's lights flickered, and the air was filled with the acrid smell of ozone.
Lucian struggled to get back to his feet, his body smoking from the lightning strike. He stumbled, his vision blurring. "Seriously?!" he exclaimed, his voice laced with frustration and desperation. "What's next?!"
As though replying his taunt Four consecutive lightning strikes pounded Lucian's already charred body, scorching the ground beneath him. "Fuck..." he mumbled, his voice barely audible as his consciousness faded into darkness.
****
In a grand hall, a man adorned with a golden crown addressed a group of uniformed individuals. "Welcome, young heroes!" he bellowed, his voice echoing off the walls.
"Where are we?" a curious girl asked, scanning her surroundings.
"Heroes?" another girl repeated, her tone laced with skepticism.
The crowned man smiled warmly. "You are in the kingdom of Herrexia, summoned by the holy priestess to fight against the Demonic Overlord, who is on the cusp of ascending to power!" His expression turned grave as he spoke of the impending threat.
"Each and every one of you has an important role to play here, so I am counting on you all!" The king's smile returned as he gazed upon the summoned heroes.
Inwardly, he thought, 'This time, we'll eradicate you, Demonic Overlord!' A determined grin spread across his face, revealing his unwavering resolve.
In the heart of a dense forest, a spot on the ground began to radiate golden runes and symbols. As the markings pulsed with energy, a brilliant golden light flashed, momentarily illuminating the surroundings. As the light dissipated, the figure of a silver-haired teenager came into view.
"What the...?" the young man thought, bewildered, as he gazed at the fading glow of the circle beneath him. He then turned his attention to his surroundings, taking in the unfamiliar sights and sounds.
"Where the hell am I?" Lucian, the silver-haired youth, wondered aloud. Just then, a rustling of leaves caught his attention.
"I saw a golden light shine this way!" a female voice exclaimed, growing louder as the speaker approached.
Lucian was caught off guard, unable to hide as a group of hooded figures emerged from the underbrush. Despite sensing that they were all women, given their slender figures, Lucian's instincts screamed that they were dangerous.
"Shit..." he muttered, backing away as they closed in. Suddenly, one of the hooded figures spoke, her voice trembling.
"I—I can't believe it... The prophecy was true..." She stepped forward, her words cracking with emotion. "Lord Lucian is really back!" The woman's voice overflowed with joy as she removed her hood, revealing an breathtakingly beautiful face. Her ocean-blue eyes sparkled, and her long, pointed ears marked her as an Elf.
Lucian's eyes widened in astonishment as he stared at the woman, his mind struggling to process the unexpected revelation.
Lucian's mind raced as he tried to make sense of the situation. 'I don't know how they know my name... But why are they referring to me as Lord?' He thought, his unease growing. His instincts screamed at him to get away, but his curiosity kept him rooted.
"M—may I help you?" Lucian stammered, attempting to conceal his nervousness and fear.
The Elf woman's eyes widened in surprise, but her expression quickly transformed into a warm smile. "Yes, my Lord, as a matter of fact, we are in desperate need of your help," she said, her body bending into a graceful bow. The other hooded figures followed suit, their movements fluid and synchronized.
Lucian's anxiety spiked. "F—first of all, I really don't know who this Lord Lucian you refer to is..." He stuttered, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.
The Elf woman's brow rose. "Oh? Then what is your name?" she asked, her tone tinged with curiosity.
Lucian's mind scrambled for a convincing lie. "M—my N—name is Dumbslot Pennison... I'm a traveling merchant," he said, hoping his fabricated identity would stick.
The Elf woman's gaze lingered on Lucian, her expression unreadable. "How is it that I sense deception surrounding your identity, Sir Dumbslot?" she questioned, her voice rising slightly as she spoke.
Lucian's eyes widened, unsure how she had discovered his lie. He knew he had to act swiftly. Without hesitation, he turned and sprinted into the darkness, the Elf woman's voice echoing behind him.
"After him!" she cried, her words followed by the sound of footsteps pounding the earth as her group pursued Lucian through the cold night breeze.
***
This is my WSA entry please support!