“They want us to do what?” Jasmine queried sternly, glaring up at the royal knight.

The sounds of training resounded in the background. Both Peter and Lucy slinging magic all around the training area. They were outside, in a soft meadow under the glow of the sun. Ice and fire swirled around them as they tested their powers to the fullest.

"Please blessed one, the emperor himself is making this request."

Jasmine huffed, clearly annoyed and shaking her head. “Fine. Where are we going?” She asked, accepting the decree.

The knight sighed, revealing saddened eyes. He apologised with a single look, a gesture Jasmine both noticed and accepted. “Sorry blessed one, you and the other blessed are being sent north to the Kingdom of Helgos.” He explained, nodding his head.

Her mood shifted ever so slightly; her expression became contemplative. “I see.” Is her only reply, casting her gaze to the others. “You may call me Jasmine. No need for the title.” She said, not taking her eyes off her two companions. The knight sputtered, ready to protest as he so enjoyed doing. Sensing the religious tirade to come, Jasmine turned back, holding up a finger to silence him. “I insist.” She added, not placing the knight further on edge.

Ultimately, he accepted, bowing low and taking his leave. Upon leaving the grounds, the stoic and proper Jasmine creaked her neck. The weeks that passed on this world were both amazing and concerning. She would let none of that show, however, the sentiments of her father were far too strong for her. “Never let others see what lies within.” She repeated like a mantra.

Once she finished her internal pep talk, she turned to her involuntary companions. She was not happy to be stuck with a high school nerd and the little terror that was Lucy. Both their personalities were in stark contrast to her own cold and calm demeanour, honed after years of practise. These two lacked any such discipline, yet never lacked for enthusiasm.

The allure of magic powers was a tantalising hook these Arintians loved to dangle. They whisked her away to Arintia, the name of the planet. Instead of her studies and training under her dad's tutelage to take over the company. She was training with a couple of high schoolers in using spirit magic.

Not that she minded. The power she wielded was intoxicating. No matter how stoic and controlled someone can be. She doubted anyone could resist revelling in that feeling of power. She, occasionally, indulged, of course, she would never admit it.

Pulling herself out of her thoughts, she turned to her companions. Her gaze causes them to cease their antics. Peter had become quite skilled with his water magic. Able to transform bodies of water into ice successfully. He is currently freezing cups of water, sharpening them into darts and sending them flying at a tree. Besides the other abilities within the field of water bending. His ability to breathe underwater was most impressive. He remained submerged in a lake for over an hour, ascending after his body turned into a prune.

Lucy had scared her companions. Ever since her powers manifested, the cadence of her voice and her mannerisms shifted. Right now, she was literally destroying a tree with an all-consuming fire. She performed this act of arson by getting angry at it. She had evolved into a little girl with a literal fiery temper.

“Peter, Lucy, I have news.” Jasmine announced, pulling their attention to her.

Both dropped what they were doing, arriving before her soon after. Peter was levitating ice cubes in his palm, twirling them around in mid-air. Upon further inspection, someone had carved them to resemble dice. Jasmine ignored this if she made any comment. Peter would go into another explanation of his favourite game. Labyrinths & Wyverns, or L&D for short. It was a testament to her patience and memory that she even kept the term.

“So, are we finally going to do some hero stuff?” Peter asked, throwing one of the ice cubes into his other hand. The ice halted just above, rotating in a circle.

Jasmine had noticed his interest in the ice sculptures. Apparently, he had been trying to craft figurines from his favourite game. She didn’t understand his obsession; it was a waste of time in her eyes. But then again, few had such a strict upbringing as hers. Perhaps in another life, with another family, she would appreciate such distractions.

“I haven't got the details yet. You will know when I know.” She explained, casting her gaze at Lucy.

The girl had been staring at the cupped flame in her palm. Jasmine had seen her talking to the fire when no one was looking. She was worried that the young girl had developed a mental illness. That was until she learned how some spirit magi could speak directly to spirits. It was a rare case and the younger the magi, the more attuned they were.

She let Lucy be. It made her happy, so there was no reason to intervene. With all those thoughts aligned, she turned the pathway leading to the palace. Gesturing her companions to follow, they made their way towards the stoic guards. The steel plated behemoths fell into step with their charges.

Soon after, they ushered into an unfamiliar room in the palace. The trio found themselves face to face with four individuals. An unfamiliar wizard wearing the typical garb of their kind. He was standing in front of an archway, set into the centre of the room. Besides him were the three individuals charged with the guidance and protection of the heroes.

The first was Halmar Uchena, the swordsman and spirit magi of the wind. He gave a slight nod to Jasmine, a person he was acquainted with. Jasmine replied, keeping with the polite etiquette she observed.

Next to Halmar was Elisara, the witch and spirit magi of water, respectfully. They assigned her protecting and guiding Peter as he mastered his skills. Last, and situated to the far left, was a newcomer. Unlike his two comrades, he was neither a wizard nor a spirit magi. In fact, he was a bit of both. His name was Frederik, and he was a peculiar imperial knight. He spoke little to the other heroes, but was always lively with Lucy.

Jasmine saw him as the fatherly sort. It made her feel things for just a moment. Quickly letting go of the distraction, she turned her attention to her own bodyguard. “Halmar, what is going on?” She asked.

“We will take a portal to Helgos. The capital city of Erataus has a spot of bother.” He explained, using a somewhat British idiom.

Jasmine ignored the statement, filing it away as something to consider. “What kind of bother are we talking about?” She queried, casting her gaze across the four assembled.

It was Elisara that spoke, her melodic voice reaching all present. “Helgos has always had issue with the crown. They were once independent and had a far greater wizard population. Insurgents are likely drumming up chaos. So, we need to show the people that the heroic trinity is alive and well.” She explained clearly and carefully.

Understanding the situation immediately, Jasmine nodded. Casting her gaze to her comrades, she could see Lucy with her eyes wide and Peter downcast. He was probably disappointed it wasn’t some epic quest. She was fine with the situation; it had only been a few weeks and rushing things was unwise.

Agreeing upon the answer, the group made their way to the archway. The wizard to the side had finished his preparations and began muttering indistinct words. They had that whole wizard quality about them, as if multiple people spoke at the same time. The act enraptured Peter. He was always partial to the wizards.

During his time here, he had pestered every wizard he met. Asking about cantrips, spells or whatever they were called. Jasmine had little interest. She preferred to keep her mind sharp and vigilant. Her powers were a boon, but she knew everything had strings. Shaking her head, she cast her gaze back to the now shimmering portal.

The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

In a flash, the archway glowed an iridescent blue, filling the centre with swirling energy. Shortly after, the energy erupted and expanded, making way for a path to another place. The group stepped through the portal. Everyone is familiar with the action except for the three heroes. Jasmien entered first, suspicious for a moment and then content the next.

Peter gaped like a schoolboy, his eyes darting everywhere as he passed through what he saw as a wormhole. “Cool.” He muttered before passing through.

Lucy instead took a few steps, paused anxiously. She held a spark of fire in her palm. “What do you think, sparky, should I go in?” She asked the flickering flame. Instead of responding, it seemed to bob its head. With that reassurance, she entered the portal, her bodyguard close behind.

Arriving on the other side of the portal. The group found themselves in an entirely new location. It appeared to be a rather garish and opulent room. Stepping out of the archway, into the spacious room. A small welcoming committee greeted the group. From the looks of it, a few imperial knights, wizards, and spirit magi were in attendance.

They spoke to the trinity's keepers in hushed tones. Neither of the heroes could make out their words. Yet Jasmine understood much from just their looks. They were nervous, downright fearful. It reminded her of the time her father attended a board meeting for one of his companies. The board members had that same look, preparing to give bad news, yet were unsure of whom they feared more.

So, she watched and waited for their private chat to reach its end. Peter couldn't care less. His eyes brimming with curiosity, he inspected the portal's archway. He had always found any form of magic fascinating. To his credit, he was quite skilled. He mentioned to Jasmine that his skill is likely proportionate to his pop culture knowledge.

Jasmine couldn’t believe that simple knowledge of comic books, fantasy books and some board game would provide such skill. Yet she could not refute his claims to magical power. She herself had little skill at manipulating the forces of magic and spirit. Relying solely on the boons granted, which were considerable. Strength, endurance, and a godly amount of stamina.

Peter excelled at the intellectual side of things. As his knowledge grew, his finer control over the element of water ascended. Still, their powers were nothing compared to Lucy. Neither the most powerful nor the most skilled. She was closer to the spirits than either.

Lucy could directly converse with them, a skill thought to require years of practice. Unlike Peter and Jasmine, who could neither converse nor hear the soft melody of the elements. Lucy could literally talk to the fire, even make requests. It was such a surreal thing for the two to witness. Her having a full-on conversation with a candle.

Finally, after pulling herself out of her thoughts, the trinity was ushered into a series of rooms. What greeted them at the end was a dining room. Rising from the head of the table is a middle-aged man. Dark hair and equally dark eyes. His appearance was odd compared to most imperials. He looked vaguely Asian in descent.

Wearing a grey doublet, he appeared regal and posed with a touch of nobility. “Oh, how lovely to see you all!” The man spoke, jovial and sincere. “Halmar, last I saw you, you were but a boy.” He further remarked, approaching the young man and taking him in a bear hug.

The scene was surreal, at least to Jasmine. Based on her first observations, he seemed like the no nonsense, always professional figures that crowded her father. She had learned something important that day. Don’t judge a book by its cover. It was an odd thing to learn. Her experiences had been the opposite.

The man continued his overly affectionate greetings. Kissing Elisara’s hand, a little too long that it seemed a tad creepy. Looking up to notice the blush on the witch's face, she wondered if there was something between them. Finally, he reached the stoic Frederik. Again, he made his way to a bear hug, only to be rebuffed with a shake of the knight's head.

“Lord Anthos, now is not the time for pleasantries. The Empire is in turmoil and time is of the essence.” The knight butted in, keeping his tone calm and sharp to the point.

This was enough to pull the apparent lord out of his bizarre greeting habits. Straightening up and reclaiming the dignity expected of a noble. He put on his serious face for about a second. “Come now Freddy, the empire is always in turmoil. When has it ever been stable, my man?” He asked, sporting a wide-brimmed smile and a crooked eyebrow.

Frederik harrumphed. He did not like that jab at the imperial crown. Ignoring his words, the knight continued. “HIs majesty has charged me to perform the unveiling ceremony in Helgos. Talk of unrest among the populace has reached his ear. We put the people at ease,” He explained, gesturing to the three assembled summoned heroes.

Drawing his attention, Anthos cast his gaze appraisingly over the three. Bowing deeply to each of them, oner after the other. “It is an honour to greet the trinity.” He remarked, raising his gaze to meet them. “Please, before we get into the festivities, I wish to invite you for lunch.” He offered, gesturing to the table.

Both Peter and Lucy beamed. The thought of a feast made their mouths water. Before Frederik could protest, Anthos insisted with a soft clap. Like clockwork, several figures entered, ferrying treys of food. He had clearly planned this in advance, and Frederik could not refuse. Halmar sighed, while Elisara seemed quite pleased with herself. Jasmine suspected she was aware this was going down.

Next thing they knew, everyone had seated around the table, ready to dig in. The waiter served her a dish resembling roast chicken with a sauce similar to creamy mushroom. Peter decided on the meat loaf and salad. According to him, it tasted just like the one his mother made. Lucy had a dish that reminded her of pasta, except the spaghetti was thick and wavy. The dish tasted similar, and the chef served it with a pesto sauce and chicken.

The meals served were delicious, on a par with those of the earth. It made Jasmine curious what typical commoners dined on every day. She had lingering images of impoverished peasants eating maggoty bread for days on end. The image of the European Middle Ages never left her psyche. Regardless, magic existed in the world, perhaps that offered options and convenience not found in our history.

Immersed in her meal, Jasmine neglected to cast an appraising gaze to the décor. Her father would scold her for this misstep. He always drilled into her the necessity to size up another's domain. The realm where a man makes his home says a lot about him as a person. She scoped the man's domain with that in mind.

It was not as ostentatious as she had expected. The walls had a light grey colour with few decorations or patterns visible. This room seems to be a simple dining room, except for something she should have seen before. Behind Lord Anthos, appears to be a cabinet, with a single object neatly placed. From a glance it appeared quite familiar. In fact, she had seen one before.

The fact she had recognised the object was not the most important factor. It was where she had seen it and the where was in fact earth. Sitting upon the cabinet for all to see was a vintage samurai sword. Not only that, but it also appeared to be a Shintō Katana. Those weapons are ancient, made around the 16th century.

Noticing, Jasmine’s gaze cast to the weapon. Anthos smiled widely. “I see you eyeing Uchinaru. You have a discerning gaze.” He remarked, before taking a gulp of his soup.

The rest of the table shifted their gaze to Jasmine. She didn’t flinch from the sudden shift, instead; she reorientated herself. Putting down her fork, she sat up straight and replied. “Indeed, it's an exquisite piece.” She remarks, genuinely in awe of the weapon.

Anthos' smile widens. Taking a cloth to his mouth, he ascends. Gently pulling the sword from its cradle, presenting the weapon for the table's inspection. The occupants cast furtive glances at the work of art. None more intrigued than Jasmine and Peter.

“Woah, is that a samurai sword?” Peter asked, his eyes widening.

Taken aback, Anthos was struck dumb for a moment. Quickly, he took the reins of his composure back. Nodding a few times, he spoke. “Indeed, it is. You know of the samurai?” He asked, resting the blade on his shoulder and leaning forward.

Peter’s eyes gleamed, the glee was clear. “Of course, man, they were badass swordsman back in the day. I always wanted to visit Japan and meet an actual samurai. I heard there were some still on the imperial guard.” He explained rather energetically.

The words seemed to spark a growing interest. Anthos licked his lips before speaking. “Japan you say?” He spoke, phrasing it like a question. Shifting a few furtive glances to the ancient weapon.

Before Peter could reply, Jasmine held up her hand. “You know of Japan? The Empire of the Rising Sun?” she queried, fixing her appraising gaze to his form.

He nodded again, presenting the weapon for all to inspect. “Yes, I know of it and the fact they you as well is most intriguing.” He said, sitting back down.

Eyeing the weapon suspiciously, Jasmine spoke. “Tell me, Lord Anthos, where did you come by such a weapon?” She asked, directing the conversation.

Looking down at the blade, his eyes grew soft. It was as if he could glean something from the peculiar markings along the sheath. Eventually, the look faded, taking aim at Jasmine. “A family heirloom, passed down the generations.” He answered wistfully.

She was understanding. The clues were clear and downright obvious. “Let me guess, one of your ancestors was from our world?” She blurted, fixing her gaze to his.

Suddenly everyone at the table silenced, shifting their gazes back and forth between the two. Anthos nodded, turning to the Katana. “This blade belonged to one of my ancestors. Going back over five generations, her names was Ayako Sasaki, and she was the hero of fire.” Shifting to Lucy, he bowed deeply. “Lady Lucy, it is in honour to greet the new champion of Pyrus.” Raising his head, he smiled at the awe-struck teenager.

Anthos put the rest of the table at ease, and likely several members were aware of the situation beforehand. Anthos returned to his seat, placing the weapon atop its cradle. "Now that we have made introductions." Let us discuss the festival.” He segued, casting a glance at the assembled heroes.

“What festival?” The three collectively queried.

Anthos tilted his head in response before smiling. “Why the festival of heroes, a celebration in honour of you?” He explained, as if it was an obvious fact.