“-Sorry,” Alex said as he let go of the boy’s arm. The boy he bumped into was a head taller than him and also probably younger than him judging by his school uniform: grey slacks, white button up, blue tie and his school's emblem in the corner.
“It’s fine,” the boy replied in a small voice. The high school student stepped away to give them space, that’s when he took notice of his surroundings. “Where are we?”
Suddenly, Alex became increasingly aware of his environment which he hadn’t been paying attention otherwise or he would have realized too that they were no longer out on the streets. They were now indoors in a long rectangular hall built entirely by stone – like a scene from a medieval castle.
What the-, how did I get in here?
Circular green light patterned like a snowflake, glowed beneath their feet and disappeared leaving just the red carpet with gold bordered ascents behind. In fact, red and gold décor littered the hall in the form of banners hanging from the ceiling on each ends leading all the way to the platform at the end which staged a single gold throne.
Alex stared hard at the summoning circle. There’s no way this is what I think it is.
On the throne stood a man whose aura was commandeering and wise. Anyone would guess the man in his late fifties with the clean-cut beard who sat on the throne was an authorial figure. His mantle and the spectacularly gold crown he wore, would also queue Alex in that before them was some sort of king.
The supposed king had knights in shining armour surrounding him. Though they stood calmly, Alex couldn’t tell if they were there to guard the king or to entrap them. Especially when everyone looked at them wide-eyed and confused. Then whispering erupted from the hall as the King and his entourage of equally old men discussed in private on the platform. Alex was too stunned to react to anything.
When the consort dispersed beside the King – he cleared his voice and silence fell through the hall.
“My name is King Kaizer and you are currently presiding in my court” the King’s voice finally boomed through the hall. “I am sure you are confused as you are disorientated. Please, may I know who I am speaking to.”
Alex looked at the boy next to him. They were clearly gesturing towards them. Awkwardly, the boy next to him cleared his throat and mustered a stronger voice to reply, “Timon Lee.”
“Alex Araya,”
“Timon, Alex,” the King nodded. “You are no longer in your world. You are in Kingdom Alvayer. Legend has it the King’s Crown, passed down as a royal heirloom, has the power to summon an otherworldly hero every century to restore balance to our world. I must admit, we were sceptical but nonetheless, here you are. You have been transported from your world because you were deemed worthy to help the Kingdom restore the balance of light and chaos. ”
Oh my god, this IS an isekai!
Alex postulated that somehow this magical gemstone was able to copy him and Timon to the subatomic levels and have the space and energy to store, transfer and replicate them. That would mean somehow it was able to split matter into particles and transfer it into a target destination where it would be reconfigured. Alex shivered at the thought. That at least was how he understood one of the theories on teleportation back on Earth. King Kaiser was talking about real life teleportation and it was instantaneous too or at least it felt like it. His integration between Earth and Alvayer was seamless though he knew that this would break relativity – nothing can travel faster than light. Also, he had no way of telling how much time had pass since they left Earth. It was a shame he didn’t study physics or he might actually have some solid theories to investigate by.
The king continued, “However, the prophecy only spoke of one hero, which is why we are confused. The crown should have imprinted an insignia onto the chosen hero's wrist. Please, have a look.”
Alex tugged at both of his sleeve to reveal… nothing. He looked over at Timon to confirm this, but he was staring wide-eyed at his inner left wrist – a white sigil of the King’s Crown was tattooed in front of him.
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
“Ah, it seems like there IS only one hero,” King Kaizer spoke, then theorized. “Maybe you guys were together at the same time the magical circle summoned you. Though the radius of the circle should have only been enough for one person, I’m curious how one would be positioned so close-”
“I BUMPED INTO HIM ON ACCIDENT!” Alex chimed in abruptly.
“WE’RE COMPLETE STRANGERS!” Timon immediately corroborated which didn’t at all seem suspicious.
A moment of silence fell throughout the hall as Timon and Alex shifted awkwardly.
“Nonetheless,” King Kaizer spoke again. “It seems Alex, that you were accidently swept along in the transportation circle. I apologize for your inconvenience but the crown only has one return transportation per century so you can only be teleported back with Timon who is marked as the hero. We cannot afford to bring you back until the quest is completed."
Alex stood there frozen, getting a hold of the entire situation that he’s in. Suddenly realizing he had something important to do before he was teleported into another world.
“Woah, woah, what makes you think he will just blindly accept the quest.”
The court was stunned. A chorus of whispers erupted from the knights again.
The King contemplated slowly, “I must admit I did not foresee this outcome nor did I foresee our kingdom’s hero to just be a teenager. As we speak, my people are on the frontlines constantly fighting, researching and developing ways to save our kingdom. We have gotten far, though he we are still faraway from our goals, I would not underestimate them. However, though, I am sceptical about this prophecy, if it does prove to be true, then it will instil you with powers to help you with the quest and we need all the help we can. I do not believe the crown will choose a hero that will allow for millions to die.
“Millions to die? What’s the mission?” Alex asked.
“We need Timon to retrieve five crystals from the great shrines to replenish our dying World Tree.”
Yeah right, more like guilt trip him into fighting some sort of war.
“Oh, that’s it,” Alex replied sarcastically. “And the dying part?”
King Kaizer cleared his throat. “Our current World Tree is dying. When it can’t produce the mana, it produces these creatures of null mana to help replenish itself. We call them Voiders – they are connected to the tree. The eat the ambient mana which is -”
“-Everything around us. Creatures of Destruction,” Timon finished for him. “You need me to journey to all the great sage's shrines before the kingdom is completely engulfed in darkness.”
Okay help them or the world ends and everyone dies. Alex wasn’t a sociopath, if Timon could actually help these people, he wasn’t going to protest. However, all Alex wanted to do is go back home where he can finally ask Ashley out and enjoy his summer break. Who knows how much time will pass when he gets back. It will completely change everything in his life.
“How long are we thinking actually?” Alex nervously asked.
“Though we hope you can retrieve these crystals as soon as possible, we know the journey to these gems are no small feat. You will require training physically and magically and the right party will need to be assembled. The voiders come in waves – right now it’s once every six months but we expect this period to increase over time. My people are able to protect the frontlines as of now. We will do our best to hold them off as the crystals are assembled but we are no fool to believe that it could take years.”
Years! Alex didn’t have years! What are his friends and family are going to think if he disappeared for years. What’s Ashley going to think when she finds out he ghosted her.
“You’re not seriously contemplating this right?” Alex turned to Timon who was unnervingly calm throughout everything and just watched him shrug his shoulders.
“Excuse me, your highness, we need a minute to discuss this.” Alex said quickly before turning him and Timon’s backs to the King and his consorts. They huddled together like quarterbacks planning their offensives.
“This is a dangerous mission,” Alex started.
“It is,” Timon replied not missing a beat.
“I mean, yes, they’re kingdom is dying and it’s a tragedy don’t get me wrong. But King Kaiser said it himself, he has his people on it with or without you. I am sure they are more experience and well adept to save their world. You can’t risk your life for people you don’t know and a world you don’t know to navigate,”
“Right,”
“And we have a life to get back to, who’s know when we will get back, if we get back. We could die out here trying to bring back some tree and no one back home will know.”
“Right,”
“Besides look at us, we’re no heroes. No offense, you’re a high school student. I don’t care what the crown thinks, high school gym level isn’t equipped to save a kingdom with magical powers you don’t understand and a fantasy world you don’t understand. It was probably a mistake anyways – it made one with me. Who knows what else it screwed up?”
“…Right.”
“Good, good,” Alex patted Timon on the back satisfied with their talk.
The two broke from their huddle to face the King and his consorts.
“I accept the quest,” Timon said.
A moment of silence. Alex blinked. He turned to the perpetrator incredulously.
“WHAT THE F-”