I woke up that morning around 6 AM, thinking that it might be the last day of its kind—the last day with my parents, the last day with my friends, the last day with my family, the last day in this house, the last day in this country, the last day in this world, or even the last day in this life. Don't worry; it's not as if I'm going to commit suicide or something, but I will really miss this life.

I took a bath and wore the clothes Mom bought me the day before—a beautiful black dress. She said she didn't want me to forget about her, and that's why I should keep that dress. I grabbed my handbag and started putting things randomly in it. I wanted to put everything in my room, maybe even the whole house, but I figured it out: it's too small to keep all those things in it. So, I just took my phone, charger, earphones, sunglasses, perfume, lip balm, handkerchief, and a family photo.

Then, I went to the kitchen to find my mom, who had woken up a while ago and was preparing breakfast. She was holding back her tears so hard. I gave her a warm hug and helped her with the breakfast.After preparing the table, I called Dad to come and eat. I saw it in his eyes when he came out of his room; he was definitely crying a lot. I had no comment since it's because of me, and I had nothing that I could do. So, I just invited him and sat at the table. I always liked fried eggs, but the ones I ate that morning tasted like trash.When we were done with breakfast, it was already past 8. We heard the car at the front door, and we knew at that moment that we're having the last minutes together. So, we had a warm hug full of tears, and they came down with me after I got all my bags ready and took them down to the front door, where we found a black car waiting for us. A man wearing a black suit came out of the car, took all the bags, put them in the car, and opened the door behind for me to go in. But he stopped my parents when they wanted to follow me. So, I went out to give them one last hug, one last kiss, one last smile, and my last wishes for them. Then, I got into the car again.

The man in black closed the door and got in the car too. The car moved as we got far from the house I've spent my life in and far from my parents that I might not see again. Now, I have the time to recall what happened to me to get into this situation.My name is Shonobara Yumi. I'm 16 years old. I live—or should I say, I used to live—in Ostalis, a southern city of the Minopolate Kingdom...

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

I had a completely normal childhood as a Minolian (that's what we call people from Minopolate). My parents showered me with all the love a child could need; after all, I was their one and only. They raised me with care, affording me a life fit for royalty. From the very beginning, I showcased exceptional talent as a student. Each exam I aced, earning the highest marks, consistently ranking first in my class. I was praised by everyone for my intelligence and educational prowess. But it all changed on that fateful day.

I was at school, it being a typical Tuesday with classes in session. A group of mysterious men in black entered the school, capturing everyone's attention.

We hesitated, peeking out the window to catch a glimpse of these unfamiliar faces, only to return to our seats when the math teacher walked in. His usually stern expression now betrayed a hint of nervousness. He urged us to calm down.

"Quiet, quiet," he said. "I will explain everything, so just be patient. Our world is structured in a way that, I suppose, many of you remain oblivious to. To comprehend why these men are here in our school, you'll have to listen carefully."

With chalk in hand, he drew a large circle and a smaller one in its center, dividing the area between them into five equal parts.

We were all overly curious, but our attention intensified as two men in black entered. We eagerly awaited the teacher's revelation. However, when one of them noticed the drawing, he abruptly grabbed the teacher and escorted him out of the class.Shortly after, another man in black entered. Both of the previous men bowed as he passed by. He strolled into the class, pausing beside me. This proximity allowed me to examine him closely—an elderly man with a notable scar on his left cheek, piercing blue eyes, and hair that had succumbed to the passage of time, adorned by strands of white. He smiled at me and continued his walk.

He signaled for the men in front of us to commence their work.They rolled up their left sleeves, revealing peculiar watches around their wrists. Walking through the rows, they stopped at each student, adjusting their watches, waiting, and then moving on. When one of them reached Theron, a loud noise emitted from the watch, prompting them to escort him out of the class. Anxiety gripped me, fearing the unknown, especially since our math teacher's unease hinted at the severity of the situation. I prayed fervently as they approached, but when they reached me, the watch emitted a resounding noise.

The man in black appeared startled, signaling the old man behind us. I turned to see him nodding with a reassuring smile, dispelling all my concerns. The man gestured for me to follow him outside, where he requested I wait until their process was complete.