“I believe that you delivered some scrolls?” The Headmaster asked in a serious tone.

“Yes, I did, Headmaster. They are waiting outside to be deciphered,” Elias responded.

“Good, good,” the Headmaster nodded in acknowledgment. His gaze shifted to Haruki and Lila. “I also believe that they are your escorts?” He turned back to Elias.

“Yes, they are. I personally requested for them,” Elias confirmed.

Lila stepped forward, offering a formal introduction, “It is an honor to meet you, Headmaster. I am Lila, hailing from Shyrlaiqua, the Kingdom of Elves in the North-West.”

Following Lila, Haruki introduced himself respectfully, “It is also an honor to meet you, Headmaster. I am Haruki Kazanarugi. I come from another world.” At the mention of “another world,” Elias and the Headmaster displayed a respectful demeanor. It was customary to treat individuals from other worlds with reverence and regard.

“H-Haruki-san! Y-You are an otherworlder?” Elias stammered, taken aback by the revelation. “Y-Yes, I apologize for not informing you first hand,” Haruki responded.

“N-No, No, it’s okay,” Elias panicked, feeling flustered by the unexpected disclosure.

“It is also an honor to meet another otherworlder,” the Headmaster interjected, his tone a mix of reverence and curiosity. The acknowledgment of Haruki’s origin as an otherworlder intrigued the Headmaster, adding an air of fascination to their encounter.

“Otherworlders have been summoned from different kingdoms across this world. I believe you are the third one to be summoned by Eldoria,” the Headmaster clarified in response to Haruki’s inquiry about others like him.

Haruki listened intently, absorbing this newfound knowledge. “So there really are others like me?” he asked, a mixture of surprise and intrigue coloring his voice.

“Yes, indeed,” the Headmaster confirmed, “Your arrival marks the summoning of individuals from various realms, drawn here by Eldoria’s call.” This revelation opened Haruki’s eyes to the existence of fellow otherworlders, adding depth to the mystery surrounding their summoning.

“Where are these two otherworlders?” Haruki inquired with curiosity.

“Hmmm… I really don’t know, Haruki-san. I have no recent news about the two, but I heard that they were taking a journey along with some people to the very South,” the Headmaster responded, his expression thoughtful as he shared the limited information he possessed about the other summoned individuals.

The mention of otherworlders embarking on a journey to the south sparked a new layer of intrigue and wonder in Haruki’s mind. The unknown fate and whereabouts of these individuals added a sense of mystery to the unfolding narrative of Eldoria’s summonings.

“Ah, Well, without further ado, Elias, I ask you to bring those scrolls here in my office,” the Headmaster instructed.

If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

“Right away, Headmaster,” Elias acknowledged respectfully. “Also, call Silas, will you please? He is in the library downstairs.”

“Yes, I’ll notify him that you’re looking for him,” Elias affirmed, noting the request to summon Silas.

As the trio descended the stairs, Elias spotted Silas engrossed in a book within the library. “Silas, the Headmaster is looking for you,” Elias informed him.

“Yes, I’ll head to his office shortly,” Silas responded calmly, bookmarking the page before going to the Headmaster’s office. Roderick, seated in the carriage, greeted them, teasingly remarking, “Took you some time. How did it go?”

“We’re delivering these scrolls to the Headmaster from the upper floor,” Haruki explained.

“Care to join?” Lila invited Roderick. “Yeah, I’m getting tired of waiting,” Roderick agreed.

“Take the crystals as well; they’re not that big, but not exactly light,” Elias instructed. The group gathered the scrolls and crystals, and Elias handed Finnian the crystal he had requested. Together, they proceeded towards the Headmaster’s office, carrying the items meant for him.

As the group entered the Headmaster’s office, they found Silas engaged in a discussion with the Headmaster, discussing some reports. Upon their arrival, the conversation momentarily paused.

“These are all the scrolls and crystals that the King sent to you,” Elias announced as he carefully placed the scrolls on the table in front of the Headmaster’s desk.

However, as Elias began to count the scrolls, a problem arose. He quickly realized that two scrolls were missing from the collection, a discrepancy that raised immediate concern and prompted a moment of tension within the office.

“1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8… 8? I should have 10 of these,” Elias exclaimed, his panic evident. Turning to Haruki in distress, he inquired, “Haruki, are there any scrolls from those bags?” Haruki swiftly checked the bags they carried, only to find crystals and no scrolls. "There are only crystals here, Elias-san,” he reported.

“Are there any left in the carriage?” Elias asked urgently. “There’s nothing left in the carriage, but I’ll double-check,” Roderick responded, hurrying outside to inspect the carriage.

Returning swiftly, Roderick confirmed, “There are no scrolls or anything in the carriage.”

Amidst the confusion, Silas’s inquiring gaze added to the mounting tension in the room, “Elias-san, what’s the meaning of this?”. Elias felt his panic rising. “I-I don’t know! I-I was supposed to have 10 scrolls that were given by The King!” he stammered, looking visibly distressed. The disappearance of the scrolls raised immediate concern, leaving everyone bewildered and seeking answers.

“Perhaps those bandits took the scrolls?” suggested Lila. “B-But how!? You prevented those bandits from getting close to me!” Elias exclaimed in disbelief.

“I think they could have managed it without us noticing,” Haruki conjectured. “They might have possessed some form of magic for concealment or employed tactics beyond our awareness.”

The possibility of the bandits covertly absconding with the scrolls, utilizing some undisclosed abilities or strategies, surfaced as a plausible explanation for their sudden disappearance. The realization left the group grappling with the alarming likelihood that the scrolls had indeed been stealthily taken by the bandits during the earlier encounter.

“You three, recover those scrolls from the hands of those bandits immediately!” the Headmaster commanded in a stern and urgent tone.

The determination in their response spurred the trio into immediate action. With a resounding “Yes!” in unison, Haruki, Lila, and Roderick swiftly sprang into motion, ready to undertake the challenging task ahead. Time was of the essence as they prepared to embark on their mission to recover the stolen scrolls from the elusive bandits.