“ “ (name) is normal conversation.
[ ] (name) is a person's thoughts.
< > (name) is conversation through device or telepathy.
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As the ship lands on a platform that's made of stone within the green space surrounding the castle, the door opens and the stairs descend to the ground. The pope gets up and starts walking towards the door and gestures us to follow.
As they get off the ship they see two rows of people lined up that give off an aura of professionalism. The row to the left is made by women of varying races, however, the predominant was still human, wearing black dresses with white aprons on top that had frills on the edges. The row to the right consisted of men from varying race, humans were still the most prominent, who wore white shirts with black coats over them and black pants on the bottom. Since they were at a palace they were probably maids and butlers.
Standing in between these two rows at the front was a man with chestnut brown hair and the same chestnut colored eyes adorned with the same attire as the butlers, except, he was wearing a longer black coat than the other butlers.
"We welcome the Pope of Light, the two cardinals, and guests to the imperial castle in the capital of Adeen, Asla. My name is Ra and I am the head butler here." (Ra)
"I thank you for coming to greet us, I believe you already have been made aware of why we have come here today." (Pope)
"Yes I have, we are making preparations for the whole process, we just need the decision. Since all of this was so sudden, the empress is currently busy with matters of the state, she can not see you at the moment. If you all follow me, I will lead you to a waiting room." (Ra)
The pope nodded and then the butler named Ra started to lead the way and they followed while the other butlers and maids dispersed, most likely returning to their work.
As the group walked on a path they neared a circular pond. It had a diameter of around twenty meters. In the center of the pond, there was a pedestal surrounded by water jets shooting water in the air, most likely a fountain, and on the pedestal, there was a statue of a man holding a staff and wearing a robe that looked to be flowing in the wind. The man, or boy, it should be said, looked to be around 16 and was wearing a mask with two holes for eyes and a bird beak for a nose. The mask cut off below the nose leaving enough room for one to eat without needing to take it off. The statue was made of what appeared to be platinum.
"That statue is of the hero ‘Kaiser', it was created after he left and is one of the most cherished things within the imperial palace. It is made of a Mithril/Nohilum alloy called Nocline(Nock-line) that has a ratio of 10:1. It is one of the most durable and prized alloy in our world. Even though mithril is one of the more common super rare metals, Nohilum(No-He-Lum) is considered one of the most prized metals in this world and others." (Ra)
Looking at their faces that showed surprise, the pope smiled. However, he knew that the surprise was not because of what Ra had said but because the names of the two metals used to create the alloy were foreign to the. It gave them, even more proof that this wasn't their home world anymore.
"That's the hero ‘Kaiser'. He was so young? Why did they make the statue with a mask on it?" (Elizabeth)
To Liz's question, instead of Ra, it was the pope who replied.
"When the hero was summoned, he had that mask on. No matter where he went or who he meet, he never removed it, well more like it couldn't be removed, much like that boy." (Pope)
After what the pope said, Lyle realized something.
["Shit, we never introduced ourselves to any of them. He introduced himself but we didn't, crap.]" (Lyle)
Having that realization Lyle stopped in his track. Seeing him stop, as well as his slightly guilty face, the others stop and looked at him.
"Is something wrong." (Pope)
"Was my explanation inadequate?" (Ra)
"Lyle, what wrong?" (Marc)
"You need to use the bathroom or something." (Salvador)
"Umm…, I need to go as well." (Lee)
While they stared at him and asked those questions, plus while hearing Lee's whisper and Elizabeth nodding in agreement with a blush on her cheeks as if showing she also has to go, Lyle shook his head in denial.
"[Well I do have to go a little but that doesn't matter at the moment.]" (Lyle)
"No, I just realized that we never introduced ourselves to you guys." (Lyle)
At his statement, the other four also realized this as well and made a troubled face. Lyle then looked at the pope who was standing next to Ra, and the cardinals who were at the pope's side and said.
"Hello, my name Lyle Shah and I am 17, about to turn 18 years of age, you all can call me Lyle. Nice to meet you." (Lyle)
Following his example, the others followed.
"Hi, my name is Salvador Martinez, same as Lyle, I am also about to turn 18. You can call me either Sal or Salvador. This beautiful little lady here is named Lee Yang, she's about to turn 17 in a month and she's also my fiance. " (Salvador)
At Salvador's intro of her, Lee blushed and shyly nodded.
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
"You all can just call me Lee." (Lee)
"I'm Marc,18, and this is my younger twin sister, Elizabeth, even if we have different hair and eye color, were still twins." (Marc)
"Hello, you can just call me Liz and I'm also 18." (Elizabeth)
At all of their introductions, the pope nodded while smiling. He didn't seem to care that neither Liz or Marc gave their family name. He then said.
" Then let me also reintroduce myself. I am the pope of the Alvaian Church, Abednego Auditore. The one with the horns is Sparda Faelen of the Lord Race and the one with pointed ears is Antonella Carose of the elf race. It is nice to meet you all." (Pope)
To his introduction, the two cardinals just nodded.
"And I am the empress's personal butler, as well as the head butler of the imperial palace, my full name is Ra-Sean Yukvil but please call me Ra, A pleasure to make your acquaintance." (Ra)
After they introduced themselves, they continue onward and entered the castle. They passed through the hallways that were decorated with many different ornaments and paintings of different people, places, and things, as well as paintings that seem to depict different battles. Then Ra suddenly stops in front of two doors that are 5 feet apart from each other with two different symbols on them, one for each door.
"Is this the waiting room?" (Elizabeth)
"No, these are the restrooms.The one on the right is for ladies and the one on the left is for gentlemen. " (Ra)
Ra said that in a completely calm and professional way. Elizabeth's and Lee's face turn bright red as Elizabeth grabbed Lee's arm and pulled her into the restroom. Lyle, on the other hand, tried to calmly walk in, trying his best to hide his emotions.
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They are currently seated in one of the reception rooms in the palace. Lyle is seated to the right of Marc and on his left is Elizabeth. On the love seat next to the couch, Lee and Salvador were seated. Across from the five in a single padded chair is the pope with the two cardinals slightly behind him, Sparda on his right and Antonella on his left.
Ra, after serving tea and snacks, left to see if the Empress was finished with her affairs and now available to come and meet them.
As they sat in the room enjoying the tea and snacks the pope motioned for the other servants in the room to leave. When they left he spoke.
"So how was traveling by airship for the first time. Did you enjoy the site of the capital? What about the fountain statue of the hero." (Pope)
"It was all amazing. Hard to believe, but .. still amazing." (Marc)
Seeing their faces filled with a variety of emotions plastered on them the pope sighed. He then put down his cup of tea and spoke with an extremely stern and serious face, one which he had not shown to them so far.
"I know this must all be hard to take in at once but what has happened is the truth and you all can't deny that. While Ra is gone, I will say this to lighten the burden on you and the Empress for when you have your audience with her." (Pope)
"She will ask you what you wish to do for now on. You all were summoned here because of what I believe to be a malfunction in the interdimensional array. I have told you what the methods are to return home to your world and out of the three, none are possible at the moment. The array has no more magic power and it will not have enough for at least another ten years. On top of that, before we can allow it to gather power, we will have to see what went wrong with it for it to bring you all here. So there goes your first option" (Pope)
"Your second option is impossible for no god summoned you here so none of them will be willing to send you back." (Pope)
"As for you third and last option, that is also impossible for none of you have the strength or knowledge to open an interdimensional tunnel, on top of that, I have enough confidence to say that, even if you did none of you know where your home world is located." (Pope)
Everything the pope said was the truth and it hit the five deeply. He even gave such valid reasons that it all made sense but Lyle was sure the others still didn't wish to give up.
"What you said all makes sense and I can't refute that. However, is it not possible to fix and gather power for the array earlier than ten years." (Sal)
"It is possible to fix the array and gather the power necessary for it to work earlier than ten years, however, to do that the sacrifices will be too large and even if we are willing to take responsibility for you all, those sacrifices are not ones the people of this world, or even the gods, would make." (Pope)
"As for other array in the possession of the Church of Darkness, it had completely broke and the time required to get it to function will definitely be more than ten years.." (Pope)
When the pope finished talking, there was silence in the room. The one to break it with sobbings sounds and a shaky voice was Lee.
"So are you *hic* saying *hic* ,saying that we *sob* can't *hic* return home." (Lee)
Seeing her tear up the pope's face visibly softened.
"No child, you can still return home, however, it will take over ten years, ten years for the arrays power to charge and an unknown amount of time for us to research the malfunction and fix the problem. In total, even I do not know how long it will take" (Pope)
With what the pope said, gloom covered the faces of the five teens. What he said made sense and we couldn't deny that. However, seeing their faces, the pope did not stop talking and continued.
"Ten years is a long time for you all who are only in their late teens. Because of this, I want you to listen closely to what I am about to say next." (Pope)
When he saw that he had their attention the pope said this.
"Stay here. Stay here with us in our world of Alderaan. Live your life here and grow old with the residents of this world." (Pope)