Lord son Weston Parks sat at the dining room table with his brothers and sisters eating silently as their father watched over them with a discerning eye. The barley stew was as bland as it usually is and he ate it mechanically. The bowl was halfway empty when his father tapped his dagger against his chalice.

“ Everyone, I have an announcement to make. First off, congratulations should be given to Alexander, your older brother. He has passed his exam and has been fully enrolled in Starlight Academy.”

Everyone, including him and the servants began clapping politely before his father raised his hand.

“ Next it has come to my attention that a gathering of noble sons and daughters is gathering in Nigal. It seems they are getting ready to open the summoned champions for partnering much sooner than expected. That means I will be sending some of you as well.”

Their father then took out a letter that was delivered earlier that day.

“ We have been granted four places. I have decided to give them to Alexander, Samson, Abigail and Millissa. You leave in the morning.”

With that said, their father put away the letter and stood from the table. Weston wanted to protest but knew better than to do so. Now that their father had left, his children were free to speak to one another. Samson looked at him sorry as the others started speculating about the otherworlder champions. Yet, none of them longed to join them more than him.

-----

All across the lands similar happening occurred. Later this event would be called the great noble migration that was said to begin the next era. But that is for another time.

-----

Weston sat in his shared room with his other siblings beside the window that had the setting sun shining through it. In his hands is a book labeled ‘The Heros' of the Current Age, The Age of Demons’. It was his favorite book and it spoke about the first hero of the age, the reincarnator, who was reborn on Fridel and raised as the fifth son of a kingdom that no longer exists. Of his journey and fables till his ultimate demise. Then the second half of the book spoke of the transmigrators. Those that were brought here alive from another world. A group of five to help turn the tide against the demons. Sadly, the book was full of stories and fables to inspire the masses and less about the actual truths of the world. Still, it did not help his dreams that he had a middling ability in all things noble. He was adequate at managing people, land, and assets. He only had a basic understanding of strategy and barely passed in both martial skill and magic ability. The only thing he was good at was retaining what he had learned. So he had no real hope of becoming the partner of one of the champions and fighting side-by-side with them as they pushed into the demon lands. No, what he wanted was more to document their journey and add a new chapter to the book he held.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

“ Weston, come here.”

Weston looked up from his idle reading in surprise to hearing his brother, Samson speaking to him. With a smile and an arm around his shoulder, Samson led him out of the room and into his own down the hall.

“ Now that we are out of earshot of the others, I was told by Father to ask you a single question. What do you have to offer the otherworlder champions?”

Weston opened his mouth to answer but quickly closed it to think about the question more in-depth. He came to realize quickly that each of his siblings had something to offer the champions other than their company. While not the best, they each had something to offer he plainly did not. He slouched his shoulders and shook his head in defeat.

“ At best I could be a scribe or lower administrator type role. With how many noble sons and daughters that will be going there, I have no real hope do I?”

Samson took a pitcher of water and a couple of cups and poured them each a drink.

“ I talked to Father after dinner. In truth, I do not want to go. In fact, I should not go. Alexander will be gone for at least the next ten years if he even does return. That leaves me next in line, and the obvious choice to become the steward of the land while Alexander is at the academy and following that on the front. If I vacate that spot then that opens the land to all kinds of problems if something happens to both me and our older brother.

And there is another thing, none of us, neither me nor our siblings; has an understanding of otherworlder like you do. You grew up reading and learning about them all your life. You have a passion unlike the rest of us that makes you more suited to going. So, Father decided to have me test you. If you had mentioned anything except the fact you would probably get along with them better than us, then you would have failed. Instead, you looked at things objectively and realized you had nothing to offer over me and the others, save for two things. One I already told you, and the other is you would be a blank slate.”

Weston looked at his brother confused as he took the undrank water from his brother.

“ You would be able to adapt to become anything the champions need. What if they do not need someone who can manage land and peasantry? What if they instead need someone who just can give advice, in a way they can understand? Do you think you are able to do that better than me?”

Weston smiled excitedly as he realized where this was going.

“ Of course.”

“ Good, pack your things, you leave for The Resort early.”