There are many ways to summon a Hero. The most common is to perform a ritual with an arcane summoning circle. These are common because of how cheap it is in comparison to a summoning skill. A summoning skill requires an extremely powerful mage to be cast, and powerful mages are always in high demand.

The last, but least often used summoning method is to have the Church summon the Hero through the power of God. This almost never happens because the Church is renowned for staying out of the affairs of the kingdoms. In all of known history only four Heroes have been summoned by the Church. These four are forever known to history as the greatest and most powerful Heroes in existence. Their arrival in our world was what kicked off the Age of Summoning and brought us out of the Age of Despair.

-A brief description of the types of summoning taken from the notes of an unknown student writing in the Age of Summoning.

Dear Diary. My attendant insisted that I begin writing this diary according to the Quack’s orders. My attendant said that it is imperative that I begin writing it out because of the important historical events that will no doubt be recorded in this journal. Today my assistant arrived and prepared a luxurious breakfast for my sweet Bitsy Pookums and I. It was good, but still not quite up to my standards.

Afterwards, he tried to have me write my first entry, but I only pretended to in order to get him to let me go to the opera. I had not been to the opera in so long that I feared I should go mad if I did not go. The young lad was kind enough to provide me transportation, and so we left for the opera. Not even a quarter of the way into the opera the poor child insisted that we leave immediately. I of course agreed immediately so that we could attend the party we were invited to at what he said was the most luxurious hotel in the world.

After we exited the opera, we were mobbed by the press who undoubtedly desired my photo for the papers. I fear that the flashing of their cameras disoriented me, but my dear servant had obviously helped me along so that we could arrive at the grand hotel. When I regained my senses, we were in a magnificently decorated lobby. I stood with little Pookums in my arms as I motioned for my servant to make the arrangements for our stay with the receptionists.

I noticed the poor boy was rather pale, and the staff must have noticed as well, for one of them stepped forward and placed a hand on the boy’s head. This was no doubt to check for a fever. They did the same for me, but I never fall ill, so it was all in vain.

I let them speak for a while, and then announced loudly that I was tired and required the finest room in the hotel. Many of the staff stared, and finally one stood from his seat and left the room. I can assure you that I was most shocked! He left without even motioning for us to follow him to our rooms, so without needing any further direction I followed him.

I had to walk a great distance to reach the chambers prepared for me, and some of that distance was two flights of stairs! I don’t exactly trust elevators, but this hotel is obviously not five stars if it has no easy way to ascend to the next floor. Finally, the staff member arrived at my new chambers and went in. I followed so that I could inspect the room and make sure it was up to my standards. And my word! It is easily one of the nicest rooms I have ever stayed in.

I thanked the staff member and asked him to leave so I could prepare myself for bed, but there seemed to have been a miscommunication. He refused to leave and even told me to get out! The nerve of that bearded, gilded, fat lard ball! For a staff member he seemed pretty full of himself, so I taught him to respect his elders and told him to get out of my chamber. He was so shaken by my lecture that he threw himself out the window just to leave my presence sooner and allow me my peace and quiet.

Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

Finally, my dim-witted attendant arrived and helped me get ready for bed. It had been a long enough day, and I was impatient for sleep. I had to stop before resting to write this entry in my journal however. Now that I have laid my account out, I must retire. I feel as if I will drop to the floor if I do not get some sleep.

-Granny Ethel.

Laurence groaned in agonized embarrassment. Ethel had finally fallen asleep for the night, but this hardly relieved any of the stress that he was feeling, especially after all the trouble she had caused earlier. They were stuck in a right old mess now, and the poor man had no idea how to unstick himself and his patient. He sat back and began to recall what had happened.

Things had gone downhill when Ethel and himself were brought to this fantasy looking castle by the shining lights, and things only got worse. Ethel had obviously been badly thrown off by the sudden transition, as she showed no cognitive responses to anything Laurence said to her. As such it was a relatively quiet walk to the castle while following the oddly dressed men. After navigating the corridors of the castle, they arrived in what could be nothing other than a throne room. He and Ethel were brought to the foot of the throne and face to face with a king.

At least, that’s what it seemed like. The king began to speak and the leader of the men who had brought them here. The man responded and turned to Laurence.

“You there! His Majesty asks you to step forward and hear his request!”

Laurence was not prepared for an unknown language to be spoken to him, and it finally hit him that they might actually be in another world. This shook him and he quickly lost color until he was a pale white. His anxiety became worse when the hooded leader stepped up to Laurence and laid a hand on his head. The man spoke again, chanting in a low, monotone voice this time,

“Let this stranger before me hear my words and comprehend; As once you spilt out knowledge, so let it be spilt out here; Universal Translation!”

Upon the completion of this chant, Laurence began to understand the words that were being whispered in the throne room by the recently arrived court. He didn’t pick up much from their hushed communications, but he heard a few key words, some of which being, hero, summoned, demons, and despair. He turned his attention to the King once the hooded man had cast his spell on Ethel.

Once the man had returned to the King’s side, the King spoke up loudly,

“Greetings honored Hero! We welcome you and your companion to Our kingdom! We are sure you have questions, but the simplest answer is that we require your aid! The King of Despair has arisen in this world once again, and we are at a loss as to what we should do to combat him. We humbly ask for your assistance!”

Laurence sighed, and shook his head. Of course, Ethel just had to land them into this mess. Now they were going to be asked to fight some ‘King of Despair’ or something. On top of that, it seemed as if the King was addressing Granny Ethel when he was speaking. Laurence decided to clear a few things up and cleared his throat before speaking,

“Excuse me sir, but who is this hero you are talking about? You can’t mean Ethel, can you?”

The King looked gravely at Laurence.

“But of course, young man, who else could We be speaking to? We have heard that she is the Hero that was summoned. She will no doubt bring peace to our world!”

Laurence was horrified. Now they were telling him that Ethel is the so-called Hero too? That was the worst idea that anyone could possibly have, especially after the library incident where Ethel almost shanked a police officer with a thread cutter. Sure! Go right ahead! Make the ninety-two-year-old with dementia and a habit of causing trouble the Hero who will save the world! Laurence could just see the lawsuits that would be filed against them after only a few days in this world. Hopefully Ethel wouldn’t cause to much of a commotion on their first day.