“Huh?”

  My head is killing me. I feel like it’s going to burst anytime now. I slowly open my eyes and I see some sort of wooden ceiling.

  This isn’t my house nor a hospital, where the hell am I?

  I manage to get into a sitting position but my entire body is aching. Jeez, I know I took a beating but c’mon this is too much. I look around the room and I don’t recognize anything. The only thing I recognize is Ciara grabbing my hand while she sleeps. You dummy, that’s bad for your backbone. You complain about it too much already. Paying more attention, I see some sort of lamp with a yellowish stone providing light to the entire room.

  The room was quite simple. 2 beds, 1 huge desk, tons of books scattered across the floor, tons of weird clothing as well. Next to the other bed was a set of black knives and tons of silver needles. The room itself was hot, which was weird since it’s wintertime and unless you have an expensive modern house, you would feel the cold. But the walls were made out of pure stone blocks, so it was quite odd.

  “Ciara, wake up. Your gonna cry about your backbone and I don’t wanna hear it.”

  “Ngghmmm, don’t wanna.”

  But all of a sudden she opens her dark brown eyes and stares at me. In a quick motion, both of her hands are on my face and she sighs in relief.

  “YOU’RE FINALLY UP!”

  After those words, she simply hugged me and I feel like water is dripping on my shoulders and on my right cheek. Ah. Those are tears. And she’s crying. And when she starts crying it usually takes time for her to stop.

  “Uhm, big sis, you’re kinda choking me here.”

  “DON’T CARE!”

  She quickly gives me some space, stares into my eyes, and more tears start dripping from her eyes.

  “DO YOU KNOW HOW WORRIED I WAS? YOU SPENT 3 DAYS SLEEPING!”

  “3 days? Oh damn, Miss Garcia is going to kill me.”

  “Your sister is crying in front of you and you dare to speak and think about this Miss Garcia? Who is this Miss Garcia?”

  “She’s the lady from the grocery shop where I wor… Oh, fuck.”

  “Ahahah, my ears must be deceiving me. You see, I actually thought you said that you were working. You know, like you had a job. Ah, silly me.”

  Oh no. She’s smiling like a crazy lady while applying quite some pressure on my humerus. Okay, don’t panic, go nice and slow. Explain that you’re only working part-time and you get free groceries.

  “You see, it’s just…”

  “Yurem Mistral Truesdale. Are you actually telling me that you got a job when I forbade you from getting one?”

  “It’s just 4 hours a day and I don’t go every day! And I get free groceries. Fresh produce so we can make the salads that you love!”

  Okay, yes. I went behind my sister’s back and I got a job when she kept telling me to focus on my studies. But I was just trying to help. She spends a lot of time working. The only times that I manage to see her is when she comes home for dinner or when she asks me to drop by her office and get her something to eat. If I’m going out of my way to make and deliver you dinner, let me make sure at least is good enough! But how do I explain that to my older sister who sometimes behaves like a mama bear?

  “I told you to focus on your studies, Yurem.”

  “Fine. Whatever. I got a job. I’m not gonna quit anyway. Miss Garcia took a shot with me, so until the school year is done, I’m staying. My grades are fine anyway. Now, the really important topic. What’s with your getup?”

  Ciara usually wore a suit to work so seeing her in a mix of techwear with medieval clothing is a bit odd.

  “Yeah… about that. What am I about to tell you is going to sound ridiculous to you, the same way it did to me and the others.”

  “Others?”

  “Yeah… your classmates.”

  “Okay…” I feel a headache incoming. “Let’s hear it.”

  “The explosion that we’ve heard in your classroom was the result of ancient magic that people from this world used. Our souls were chosen to save this world from a phenomenon called ‘Spawn’. Our souls were randomly chosen and there is no way to get back home unless we clear these ‘Spawns’.”

  Oh, great. She hit her head and she thinks this is a Light Novel.

  “And if you think I’m joking, focus your vision on the top left corner of your view. You’re gonna see a little cog. When you’re done, think or even say it out loud: ‘Status’. You’re going to see what you are capable of.”

  She’s trying really hard to sell me this story. Wait. Why is there actually a cog there? Did I got stuck in the afterlife and got sent into an RPG? Do I get to ride a big bird?

  Realizing I was daydreaming, Ciara made sure I snap back to reality by hitting me on my head that has a bandage, god knows why.

  Yurem Truesdale

    Level: 1

    Attack: 2

    Magic: 4

    Defense: 3

    Magic Defense: 2

    Movement Speed: 1

Skills: -

  Honestly? I just hope that everyone starts this weak. And really? No job specification? No skills? No cool weapons? Nothing? Nada? I’m useless! Okay, don’t panic. Everyone starts like this, right?

  “So, how strong is my baby brother?”

  Please don’t grin at me. Don’t smile. Don’t tell me every one of them is completely OP and I’m worse than a perfume sample that shopkeepers give you at your local mall.

  “Ciara, tell me everyone starts this weak and useless or I’m going to cry.”

  “What do you mean? Tell me your numbers.”

  The more I tell her, the smaller her grin gets. Please don’t open your eyes. No. Don’t frown. No, we all start weak, right? I’m just a tiny bit behind. Yes, that’s it. Fine. Time to face the music. I’m utterly useless.

  “Okay. Let’s think about this. You have room to grow. Yes, that’s it. Let’s think you are a late-game character! Yes, they start weak but they get super buff later on!”

  “Ciara, tell me your numbers before I start crying.”

  Ciara Truesdale

    Level: 1

    Attack: 55

    Magic: 35

    Defense: 23

    Magic Defense: 27

    Movement Speed: 56

Skills:

    World Language

    Appraisal

    Lucky Drop

    Detect

    Shades of Black

    Lucky Step

  You’re a monster. She’s too strong, what the hell is wrong with this? Did I sin that much in the other world? Did I make the god or whoever summoned us mad? I know I’m not religious but I never made bad remarks about religion! Okay, I did, but that’s not the point!

  “According to what we were told, I’m the strongest here. So don’t you go around and compare me to others or to yourself.”

  “Ciara, if that’s supposed to make me feel better, you’re bad at it. But hey, if you’re that strong, it’s gotta be thanks to me. I did tell you to go into those self-defense classes. I knew something like this would happen. Yes, I truly am a genius. Bow before me, lowly peasant.”

  “Don’t even joke about it. We woke up in a sort of chamber where they slowly told us everything. We quickly had a meeting with the King of this place and soon as our stats were announced they started to call me the ‘Chosen One’. I’m 19 years old and a bunch of old dudes started bowing before me and calling me special soul and whatnot. The hell is that, the ‘Chosen One’? Dragging me into this without my consent and praising me left and right and treating me like I was never treated before. Who do they think they are?”

  “You are enjoying this, aren’t you?”

  “Very.” She manages to finally laugh. Finally. In the middle of this, I missed hearing her laugh. It’s been a while. We are as close as a brother and sister can be but due to the fact that she spends her entire time working, we barely see each other. But we still took our Sundays to make sure we watch TV and play games together. It was the ritual we started when our parents left. One day for the family, like we never had.

  "By the way, sis, you have this thing called World Language, right? It means that you understand everything that is said to you, right?”

“Oh right. Everyone has it. How come you don’t? That’s stupid!”

  “You do realize that not having that makes me a cripple, pretty much, right? And by the way, what the hell are those knives and needles?”

  “Oh. On the second day of our arrival here, we were taken into this place called the training grounds here in the castle.”

If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  “Huh?”

  “Oh, right. I forgot. We are in the kingdom of Astax, the capital of Oworis. The King, Elis the Invincible is letting us stay here while we train but as soon as one of us reaches level 20 we are supposed to go around and travel with our own party. I’m counting on you to be on mine, so… I called dibs.”

  “I’m not the passenger seat of a car, you know? But tell me more about where we are.”

  “You’re no fun at all. Okay, anyway. Astax is surrounded by 2 forests and a mountain. On the East, you have the Altane Woods. It’s where most of the pure elves live. For decades, the king of the elves and king Elis have been trying to form some sort of pact of non-aggression due to the Spawns but they still couldn’t make a deal suitable for both parties. According to what I’ve been hearing in the castle, they are going to meet again in a couple of weeks. So, luckily everything goes swell. On the South, you have the High Woodland. Several demi-humans tribes have villages there and they formed their own little province. Each tribe has a representative so you can say that they are some sort of democrats. North we have the Empty Peaks. It’s the home of the dwarves and their kin. The name comes from the fact that dwarves are mining and smithing experts and apparently they almost ran the entire mountain dry.”

  “That’s a lot of information. But according to all of that, one can assume that Astax isn’t at peace with nothing more than humans, right?”

  “What makes you say that?”

  “The fact that you haven’t seen a demi-human or an elf so far.”

  “Why do you think that I haven’t?”

  C’mon, are you seriously gonna try to play this game with me?

  “Let me see… Demi-humans, from our own game knowledge, are usually animal-based people, right? Are you telling me that if you ever saw a cat-person you wouldn’t immediately tell me? You? Ciara Sylvan?”

  “You know what nobody likes? Nobody likes a show-off.”

  “I’m the one showing off? Look at the amount of information you dropped on me. Is it my fault I know how my dear sister behaves and acts? Now, go on. I know there’s still more.”

  “Sometimes, really, only sometimes, like once in a blue moon, I hate that about you. Moving on. On the West, we finally have another country. Asparia. Asparia has a truce relationship with Astax due to the fact that both Queens are sisters. Which is quite convenient. The Queen of Asparia promotes equality to everyone so slavery is absolutely forbidden there. Even if you travel with one, as long as you are in the country, you are forbidden to mistreat your slaves in any way, shape, or form.”

  “Okay, now tell me something. Every country suffers from the Spawn, right? Then are more summoned everyday guys like us?”

  “Good question. And the answer is no. The 4 kingdoms that are in this continent made an agreement. They take all of the souls summoned to themselves and in exchange, when the Spawn comes, Astax will provide with several armies to protect their population. And obviously, we are supposed to travel all around the continent, so we can always help.”

  “That’s stupid. What’s the point of summoning everyone to the same place if they are going to end up dispatching us to other places? Unless…”

  “We are officials of Astax so everything from what we do to how we act needs to be according to them.”

  “So they exchange low capability armies and get us in exchange? Are we supposed to be that much stronger than a normal person?”

  “Well, yeah. For starters, regular citizens have level caps. The normal citizen level cap is 50. We don’t have one. And our future party members, if we ever decide to take in people from outside the summoned souls, also get benefits. Their level cap is abolished and they can keep progressing until level 100. However, for one to overcome the level 100 cap there needs to be authorized from the King or the royal family. There are also prices to be paid when that happens. And from level 100, the next cap is at 150, then 200, and on and on. Also, it gets even more expensive to do as such, and once again, you need authorization.”

  “So they can prevent rebellions? It’s counterproductive, to be honest. I mean, I understand that not everyone should be allowed to have a high level but that means that everyone in the army gets over the level cap easily since they are working directly under the King.”

  “Nop. Only the officials declare soldiers that can go through the level cap upgrade. There are also class upgrades where you can choose skills while you raise your cap but we were told that we would get a more detailed explanation later on.”

  “Ah, that’s not dangerous at all. It’s not like several rebellions started from the inside of armies. Na? Never. Never in history.”

  “Don’t be like that, Yurem.”

  It’s history. History is always bound to repeat itself.

  My legs feel quite heavy so I decide to stand up slowly. Apparently, the reason I was knocked out for so long was due to blood loss. My nose got busted pretty heavy and when we got summoned here since I wasn’t in any condition, I fell pretty bad as well. No wonder I’m all sore.

  “Can you walk?”

  “Yeah, think I’m alright.”

  “You know, there’s this girl besides me that has been visiting you.”

  What are you on about? I have 0 friends. 0. If this was an RPG, I would be one of those NPCs that you would kill just for fun. If this was a dating sim, I would be one of the guys in the background that stay idle.

  “Oh yeah? Who’s that then?”

  Knock, knock.

  “Come in.”

  This is my room, why are you telling people to come in. And why are you smirking like that? What are you plotting? What’s your deal?

  “Hey, Ciara, how is he d… oh you’re up! Finally. I’m so glad.”

  “Hi there, Jasmin. Yeah, he just woke up. Just gave up a brief summary of what happened.” Since when are these 2 such good friends? What am I missing? And from the looks that these 2 are giving me, they are probably thinking about the reason for my puzzlement. “If you’re wondering why am I getting along with 1 of your classmates is due to the fact that she was the one that warned me about what those kids had planned for you.”

  “Uh. Ain’t these some weird occurrences.” I was dumbfounded but I practiced my poker face and my monotone voice for years now. If I went to a Poker World Series no one wouldn’t even come close to understand that I don’t even know how to play. Fear the power of the emotionless gaze.

  “Yeah, we can tell from the look on your face.” Ciara starts laughing because she is the opposite of me. Ciara has a cheery voice, sparkly eyes and she can’t hide her emotions. I’m the opposite. Dead eyes like I’m a dead rabbit in a butcher shop, monotone voice that if it were inserted in an audio editing program would be confused with having nothing recorded and an expressionless face. And I think that’s why we get along so well. If she is the sun, I am the moon. That kind of stuff. She is intelligent but acts a lot based on emotions while I spend more time thinking about facts and on what can be done to maximize results.

  “Thanks for worrying about me, I apologize for bothering you.” I give a small bow which leaves Jasmin embarrassed. Embarrassed enough to make her stutter.

  “It…it…it’s n-n-n-no problem!”

  “Why are you so embarrassed, little Jasmin?”

  “I’m not, Ciara! And stop calling me little, we have the same height!”

  Yeah, then why the stutter, miss? Why are you blushing? You can’t fool me. If I’m a reader, you are an open book. Behold, the years of solitude made me an expert at reading faces and expressions even though I keep it to myself so I don’t stand out.

  “Either way, Yurem. If you can walk it’s time for you to see the King since he wanted to speak with you. And since I’m such a doting sister, I’ll go with you so I can explain to him your situation. Ah, behold the best big sister.”

  Don’t say those embarrassing things, you’re the oldest in the room yet you act like the youngest, please, stop. Pain, pain, go away.

  “Hm, what situation?”

  “Remember what we discussed about those skills? Yeah, little Yurem here has none. So he is pretty much mute.”

  “Oh! That’s awful!”

  Why are you covering your mouth like it’s a big revelation? I mean, yeah, I get that all of you have the ‘World Language’ skill but it’s also no surprise to me since all of you were talented at something while I had nothing to be proud of. My sister can’t be a skill. Ohh… but she can carry me out of this world. AH. Behold, peasants, the truest Hero of this story is related to me and not to any of you.

  “It’s alright. As soon as Ciara started explaining everything I could more or less see this coming.”

  Yeah, I said this with confidence but I was low-key freaking out. This means that unless I actually went out of my way to learn the language of this world I would be utterly useless even later on. I slowly pointed towards the door while I waited for those 2 to show me the way. Ciara gave me some sort of boots to wear while I’m in the castle. They are like the one she is wearing. This is very techwear. I love it. It’s a style that I always loved but couldn’t wear for 2 reasons. First. It’s expensive. Second. I’m fat and it would look awful.

  “Hum, Yurem?”

  “Yeah, Jasmin?”

  “How can you be so calm?”

  “Why wouldn’t I be? The worst thing that could happen was the King render me useless and tell me to sit on the sidelines. If that would be the case, I would gladly support Ciara in the background by learning everything I can and making sure we can get home. Unless he suddenly declares me invalid and sends me to the guillotine or something like that but I don’t think she would allow that.”

  “You can count on me.” Ciara puffs her chest trying to sound convincing enough for me to not worry about anything. Yeah, that’s my hero alright. Save me. “You are good at learning languages anyway, I can make some sort of diagram with the regional alphabet and you can go from there.”

  “There is also that. I assume this castle has some sort of library of sorts, right?” While I look around, Jasmin stares at both of us dumbfounded. I think that in her head we are either too in sync or we look straight out crazy.

  “How can you 2 act like that?”

  Bingo

  “What do you mean?” Ciara looks actually confused, so adorable.

  “How can you 2 be so calm and collected when we were dropped here against our will in order to do stuff that should be done by armies and politicians and… ahhhh. It’s taking everything in me to look composed since I was nominated vice-captain while we are here but you 2 put me to shame.”

  “Vice-captain????”

  Oops, I messed up. I made it sound insulting.

  I clear my throat and try again.

  “Who’s the captain then? Wait… don’t tell me.” I look at Ciara. My eyes tell her everything. She simply gives me a peace sign with the biggest smile she could muster. “So you’re the leader of the group? Then we are all dead.” I chuckle but as soon as those words leave my mouth, Jasmin snaps.

  “W-w-w-w-wwhat do you mean???? Yurem???”

  “Calm down. It’s a joke.” She grabs both my shoulders and shakes me. Not much because she doesn’t have any strength for it. Oy, the hell, she actually has strength. Oh, forgot, I’m the only one with lousy stats. “She may look like an airhead but she is intelligent and has good decision making.”

  Dunno if I sounded convincing enough but I can’t really waste my team explaining every single joke we do.

  Jasmin shakes her head and lets go of my shoulders. Finally, that was actually starting to hurt, you know?? She looks at me ready to apologize but with a quick motion of my hand and she smiles a bit.

  Jeez, you are actually pretty, now I see why all of them fell for you.

  “Anyway, the library, yay or nay?”

  “Yeah, they have one. What’s your plan?”

  “Well, like it or not, I’m going to have to learn the language. I’m going to be fast about it but I’m going to bluff it out.”

  “Meaning?” Jasmin looks at me confused. C’mon, you are intelligent, and yet I have to explain everything? Are you that panicked or I have become too numb that I actually stopped feeling things?

  “I’m going to take at least a month in a library. I want to learn the language in a week with maximum efficiency. The rest of the time I’m going to learn as much as I can. I’m only following the same logic that the lawyers that Ciara works use anyway. Think about it, if this ‘Spawn’ thing is happening now and they knew a way of summoning heroes or summoned souls or whatever they call us, it probably happened before. So, if this actually happened before, I’m just going to hope that our seniors left us some form of information. Either it may be of how does one control magic, how to get skills. Anything.” Ciara nods at me showing her agreement with a cheeky smile. “Besides, I didn’t tell you since you didn’t ask but my stats are as low as low gets. So I would be useless on the battlefield anyway. I’ll rather focus on getting you 2 pieces of information so you can maximize your strengths.”

  “Look at you, starting to look out for someone besides myself. That’s making me jealous, ya know?”

  “Oy shut it. It’s not like that. Jasmin took time to visit me, it’s the least I can do anyway.”

  “Never took you for the consideration type.”

  “Ciara, I think I got bullied enough, please stop.” I fake a cry and she laughs like there’s no tomorrow. Meanwhile, Jasmin looks relaxed and starts laughing as well. Maybe she finally understood that overthinking isn’t going to do anything. Look at that. Character development.

  We stop in front of a huge double door. 2 guards are there. 1 in each door. Ciara turns around and looks at me with the most serious face I’ve seen her put.

  “Okay. It’s game time. You’ll be quiet. When I motion, you take the knee and give a bow. And, I don’t wanna hear any complaints, but you are going to have to look the King in the eyes. He’s a bit… particular with that stuff.”

  “What? Oh…. fine.”

  “Jasmin, are you coming with us?”

  Jasmin nods affirmatively. “I am the vice-captain, right? I need to learn about all of this, I’m counting on you, Ciara.”

  “Ehh, look at that, I have someone looking up to me. If you don’t step up, you’re gonna lose your big sister.

  “And when that happens I’ll be the happiest man alive.” And while I laugh, Ciara pouts. I grab her shoulders and try to rotate her towards the door but she is taking advantage of her stats. Seeing me struggle, she chuckles and goes along with me. I give her a little hug then I let go. “I’m counting on you, big sis.”

  She is an airhead. She is stubborn. She is beautiful. Anyone can give her countless praises and compliments but I know that those words are the ones that make her smile the most. We went through a lot and we are the only family we have. We only had each other. But now she is responsible for more people. Some of that she doesn’t even like. But I’ll know she’ll pull through. Because that’s who she is.

  “I got you.”

  And as soon as she says those words, the 2 doors in front of us open. Now it’s up to her. Let’s just hope she can produce a decent explanation for what’s going to happen.