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CHAPTER 1: THE SUMMONING
THE ALARM CLOCK
The shrill buzz of an alarm clock cut through the silence of the early morning. A hand shot out from under the blanket, fumbling for the snooze button. The room fell quiet again.
Ten minutes later, the alarm blared once more. The hand emerged again, silencing it with more force this time. Beneath the blanket, a muffled voice groaned, "Just five more minutes."
But five minutes turned into ten, and the alarm screeched for the third time. This time, the blanket was thrown aside, revealing a disheveled figure blinking at the sunlight streaming through the window.
"Ugh, fine! I’m up!" he muttered, rubbing his eyes.
THE MORNING RUSH
It was the same routine every day. Late again. He glanced at the clock on his phone: 7:45 AM. School started in thirty minutes, and the bus stop was fifteen minutes away.
"Perfect," he said sarcastically, jumping out of bed. There was no time for breakfast—not that he had much of an appetite anyway. Grabbing a towel, he rushed to the bathroom, splashing cold water on his face before hopping into the shower.
By 7:55, he was dressed in his school uniform, hair still slightly damp, and slinging his bag over his shoulder. As he slipped on his shoes, he muttered, "If I miss the bus, it’s on me this time."
A STRANGE FEELING
He reached for the front door, but something made him pause. The air felt... off. There was a strange hum, faint but persistent, like the buzz of electricity. He looked around but saw nothing unusual. The house was quiet, just as it always was in the mornings.
Shrugging it off, he grabbed the door handle. As soon as he touched it, a strange warmth spread through his fingers, and a flash of light darted across his vision. He blinked rapidly, his heartbeat quickening.
"What the hell..." he whispered, stepping back.
The hum grew louder now, vibrating in his ears. The door seemed to glow faintly, a soft light leaking from the edges.
"Is the sun reflecting on it weirdly or something?" he asked, trying to rationalize the situation. Taking a deep breath, he turned the handle and pulled the door open.
THE BRIGHT LIGHT
The moment the door swung open, the light exploded outward, engulfing everything. He staggered back, throwing his arms up to shield his eyes, but the light was blinding. His feet seemed to lift off the ground, his body weightless as if gravity itself had vanished.
Panic gripped him. He reached out, but there was nothing to hold on to—just an endless expanse of glowing white. The hum in his ears became deafening, like a storm raging all around him.
"What’s happening?! Where am I?" he shouted, but his voice was swallowed by the void. His heart raced as the light grew brighter, hotter, until he could feel it burning his skin.
And then, just as suddenly as it started, the light vanished.
A NEW WORLD
He hit the ground hard, the air knocked out of his lungs. Gasping, he rolled onto his back, staring up at the sky—or what he thought was the sky. It was a deep, swirling purple, with streaks of gold cutting through it like cracks in glass. Strange, unfamiliar constellations blinked down at him.
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"Where... am I?" he whispered, his voice barely audible.
Shakily, he sat up, glancing around. The ground beneath him was smooth, almost metallic, glowing faintly with intricate patterns that seemed to shift and change when he looked directly at them.
THE FIFTH HERO
Before he could process what had happened, heavy footsteps echoed around him. Figures emerged from the shadows of the forest—knights in gleaming armor, their swords sheathed at their sides. Their expressions were stern, but their eyes widened slightly as they looked at him.
One of them, a tall elf woman clad in flowing robes, stepped forward. Her silver hair shimmered under the strange sky, and her emerald-green eyes studied him intently. She carried a staff topped with a glowing crystal, its light pulsing faintly.
“The fifth hero has arrived,” she said softly, her voice carrying a melodic quality.
Another figure stepped forward—a towering elf man in silver armor, a crimson cape billowing behind him. His chiseled features were sharp and cold, his piercing gaze filled with disdain as he looked the boy up and down. He rested one hand on the hilt of his sword and sneered.
“This... is the hero? This child?” he said, his voice laced with contempt. “Pathetic. I’ve seen peasants more impressive than this.”
The boy blinked, still disoriented. “Hero? What are you talking about? I’m just a—”
“Silence,” the armored elf barked. “You were summoned for a reason. Do not waste our time with your whining.”
The robed woman shot the commander a sharp look. “Enough, Commander Althar. He’s disoriented. It’s natural.”
The commander scowled but said nothing, stepping back with a huff.
THE COMMAND
The robed woman turned to the boy, her expression softening. “I am Lira, the summoner who called you here. This is Commander Althar,” she said, gesturing to the armored elf. “And these are the knights of the Silver Vanguard. We’ve brought you to this world because we need your help.”
“My help?” he asked, his voice shaky. “I think you’ve got the wrong person. I’m just a high school student—”
“You are now one of the five summoned heroes, chosen to protect our world from the threat that looms over it,” Lira interrupted gently. “The summoning ritual does not make mistakes. You were chosen because you have the potential to save us.”
The boy’s head spun. This had to be a dream. It was impossible. Summoned heroes? Other worlds? None of this made sense.
Lira’s expression softened further as she placed a hand on his shoulder. “I know this is overwhelming, but we’ll explain everything. You’ll meet the king, and he will share the full details of your purpose here.”
Commander Althar snorted. “If he survives the journey.”
“What do you mean?” the boy asked nervously.
“The capital is seven days from here,” Lira explained. “The roads are dangerous, and the forests are filled with beasts and bandits. But with the Silver Vanguard protecting you, you will be safe.”
Althar smirked, crossing his arms. “If he listens to orders and doesn’t slow us down, that is. You may be a summoned hero, but don’t think for a moment that you’re special. To me, you’re just another burden.”
The boy bristled at the comment, clenching his fists. “I didn’t ask to be here,” he muttered under his breath.
Althar narrowed his eyes but said nothing, turning to bark orders at the knights.
THE JOURNEY BEGINS
Lira gave the boy a reassuring smile. “Don’t mind him. He’s always like that. Come, we should leave. The forest isn’t safe after dark.”
The knights formed a protective formation around the boy as they began their journey, their boots crunching against the forest floor. Lira walked beside him, occasionally glancing at him with a mix of curiosity and concern.
As they moved deeper into the forest, the boy couldn’t help but feel a growing sense of unease. The trees seemed to loom closer, their branches twisting like gnarled hands. Strange noises echoed in the distance—low growls and high-pitched screeches that sent chills down his spine.
“What exactly am I supposed to do here?” he asked, breaking the silence.
“All will be explained in time,” Lira replied. “For now, focus on staying alive.”
The boy frowned, his unease growing. This wasn’t just some strange dream. This was real. And as the knights’ torches flickered in the encroaching darkness, he realized that he was far from home—and far from safe.
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End of Chapter 1