In an office on the moon, a man is exploring his office and is making a surprising discovery. Hey, these computers actually work.
Nicki didn’t know what he expected. So far everything he had seen in the office had worked the way it should. He just didn’t expect that the computer wasn’t just some kind of decoration. I wonder if I get internet? He watched as the computer went through a rather normal boot screen when another idea hit him. Maybe it's inter-dimensional internet? Maybe I can play games from other worlds.
Before he could explore what his work computer could do, he felt the tug in the back of his mind, he had come to associate with new Heroes. Though he was surprised that they weren’t already there. Did I always get a warning before they showed? He wondered. He had never been in the office itself when a Hero show.
Nicki straightened his desk and brushed off his hoodie, in case there were crumbs, tried to ignore the red stain on his professional hoodie, and attempted to look like a professional. He wanted to make a good impression when the Hero appeared in the office. One last thing. Nicki willed a folder to appear on his desk. He did not want to have to experience another's final moments if he didn’t have to. It was unnerving, especially after last time. I wonder if they just appear or theres a rift or something.
All at once thirty confused teenagers, and a flustered middle-aged woman appeared, completely crowding the office. Surprisingly they had all appeared on the other side of the desk. They all looked lost.
Nicki on the other hand was shocked and confused. He didn’t even know more than one person might show up at a time. Was he supposed to send each one to a different world? Or to the same? Not for the first or probably the last time, he wished he had actual training or even a handbook. When he noticed the middle-aged woman holding a dry-erase marker, and the single file on his desk he remembered some stories he read of similar situations. I guess it really is just one job.
Without thinking he asked, “Are you all from the same class or something?” It was not the smartest thing to say as it gave all of them someone to focus on breaking whatever held everyone in place. Thats when the shouting started.
#
One moment Valentia Diaz was in her classroom writing out the homework on the board. As the children behind her were talking, taking notes, drawing, or various other things she learned to just let them do as they were causing no harm. Even as a teacher she couldn't fully stop them, learning early that some kids needed these distractions to learning. But she did her best to keep the ones who wanted to learn upfront.
But when she and her entire classroom was suddenly engulfed in light, and transported to a strange office that kind of reminded her of when she went down to her local city government and tried to get permits for an extension on her house. An entire affair she had decided to do herself since learning how much a contractor adds to the cost of labor. That and with her salary, there was no way she could afford to hire one.
It had taken Valentia three years of work and not an insubstantial amount of favors from her friends and family. She was nearly finished with the extension the last of the flooring having just arrived that morning. The flooring that took her a year, the style apparently on backorder for months, to even get. Now. Now the world had just completely shifted, there was a man just sitting behind a desk staring at them, and all she could think of was if she would be able to finish her extension.
“Are you all from the same class or something?” The man in the stained jacket asked.
For some inexplicable reason she knew this man knew what was going on, he had that look that her students got when they did something they weren’t supposed to do. Valentia was in no mood for whatever was going on. She felt incredibly annoyed by the fact he was in jeans, a t-shirt, and what looked to be a stained jacket. If he is going to be in an office like this he should at the very least be professional.
Valentia tried to push her way through her students, shouting and trying to demand answers. Only for her voice to be drowned out by the rest of the students, and some of the more scared students were clinging to her. She was just trying to push forward, when the man shouted.
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"QUIET!"
A wave of something flowed over and through Valentia swallowing up any and all sound. The room was now impossibly quiet, yet looking around she could see her students trying and failing to speak, shout, or make any noise at all. Valentia, for the first time, thought of the stories her Abuela told her as a girl. Stories to scare her. Now she wondered if some of those stories were true, as she stood glaring at the creature in front of her. She turned to her class as they all turned to her looking for answers. She pointed towards the ground. One by one each of them sat some fearful others filled with hope, They all watched as she walked forward and sat in the chair in front of the desk. I hope this is the right thing to do.
Looking the man up and down she thought he looked fairly ordinary, cute in a nerdy kind of way. Dark messy hair, and a lazy attitude. She knew she should be terrified but he reminded her too much of her students to really drum up any fear.
The man smiled. “Now let's start.” His worded shattered the silence, sound rushing back like a crashing wave. Valentina winced and a few of the kids yelped or groaned. “Sorry about that.”
Did he mean to do that? Valentia tried to keep her voice steady, “Now do you mind explaining what is going on?” She didn’t want to panic the children, if they panicked things could get worse.
“That's a bit tough..” The man paused looking at her and then turned to the kids. “This might be simpler. Raise your hand if you're familiar with the term Isekai?”
About half the children raised their hand. Isekai? Valentina on the other hand had never heard the term before.
The man pointed towards Gina one of her straight-A students who liked to draw. “You please explain to the others.”
Valentia sighed she knew Gina didn’t like to be called out, so she was a little surprised when she answered, “It's an anime term where someone goes to another world. Usually after... dying.”
“Are we dying?”
“Did we die?”
“Are we going to another world?”
The voices began to rise, but before the man could silence them again Valentia raised her hand cutting them off.
“There are so many of you.” The man said looking out concerned. “Sorry. I’ll make this as simple as I can. For all intents and purposes, you are dead to your world. I will send you to a new one, one with magic. I’ll work with you all to find one that fits you all.”
“Magic? And why can’t we go back?”Valentina asked trying to understand.
Surprisingly, it was Gina who answered. “It’s how Isekai’s work Ms. Diaz. You go to another world. Get magic. Fight the demon lord, and then go home.”
“Fight a demon lord? They’re children, not fighters.” She said slamming her hands on the man's desk. There taking child soldiers.
“I know. These children and you will receive great powers to help you. Stuff even the people there can’t do. You will all be unbelievably strong.”
A lot more of her kids seemed excited at the idea than she liked. It was all too sales-many and she didn’t like it. “Bullshit.”
“I’m sorry Ms. Diaz but it’s what's happening. Or rather happened. Now it's my job to find a world that fits you all.”
That wasn’t even the short of the arguing between Valentia and the man. They kept going back and forth for the next hour. A few surprise demonstrations of power before Valentina fell back in her chair. Finally understanding there was no going back, she could feel it somewhere deep in her soul. At least not yet.
“Are you at least going to train us, before sending us to war?” She asked self
The man paused, tilting his head in confusion as he frantically began to look around, before grabbing his head.
“Are you ok?”
The man held up one finger. After a minute he raised his head his eyes bloodshot. “Sorry about that. I think I have the perfect world for you all.”
“And training?”
“Of course!” The man replied with a pained smile.
#
In a place of holy magic. A place worshipers come to commune with their deity. A choir is singing, a gospel filled with the faith of a thousand, parishioners. It was a song that was filled with the glory of their God, and guided by the Conductor. The highest of their spell singers. The Conductor resonates his baton with the vibrations of his choir, weaving and guiding them into harmony. True power was building, and the air was becoming distorted. As sweat appeared on the singers' faces. But the choir sang and sang, as the first person fell to their knees power draining from them.
The song wouldn’t falter, it could take a few discordant notes. The Conductor smoothed them out as they sang, and wove a true song of prayer. A plea. A gift.
The world itself vibrated, as they reached the major lift of the song, as the power continued to grow. Only the conductor and five singers remained standing the others had fallen. Then all at once, the room was enveloped by an all-consuming Holy Light. Leaving only silence, and the feeling of their God enveloping them. A rapturous experience for the priests.
All too soon the light faded, and the priests turned with expectation. Only to stare at what was sitting in the middle of the summoning circle. It was just a small piece of parchment. That wasn’t right. There was supposed to be a hero. Confused and curious as to what they had actually summoned. The Conductor walked up to the piece of paper and read:
We are experiencing higher waiting times than normal. Please hold for your Hero.
We here at Hero Inc pride ourselves on matching the perfect hero for you.
And one will be along shortly. Please keep an attendant around to ensure the Heroes are seen to, as they may be disoriented on arrival.
“What is this?”