“Young Hero…”

A voice?

From where? Eli heard it faintly in his ears. The last thing he could remember…the last thing…

He couldn’t remember anything…

A flash of white then suddenly…

“Young Hero, please wake up.”

The voice was softer this time, like a pillow. Kind of like the pillow he was laying on. Wait, when was he laying down?

Jolted awake, Eli shot up from whatever he was resting on. The large oak pillars and soft cotton sheets suggested a bed. Looking down at the sheets and then towards the location of the voice, a fluffy maid uniform greeted him.

It was a woman, green hair and brown eyes, clad in this black uniform complete with a ruffled headband. The bags under her lifeless fish eye glance didn’t really pose a warm welcome to Eli.

“Good morning, Brave Hero. I trust you slept well.” The pillowy soft voice Eli heard was actually a very tired and low one. Whomever this girl was, it was clear she was overworked.

“Uhh…” Eli stammered.

“I trust you have questions, but for now you are being summoned.”

With that, the green haired woman drew back the covers from Eli’s lap. Eli jumped even though he was wearing clothes. Something about a woman taking a blanket off of you, I guess. It was at this time that he realized that his clothes were still soaked with rain.

“I have prepared a change of clothes for you. Here.” The woman handed Eli a folded pile of clothes.

Dumbfounded, Eli took the clothes. He was still shocked from the events that had happened a couple of minutes ago.

“Uhh..I don’t understand anything that’s going on… am I being pranked?” Eli placed the clothes on the side of the bed and swiveled to put his feet on the floor.

“Pranked, sir?” The green haired girl’s head tiled slightly in confusion.

A pang in Eli’s heart stopped him from talking.

“Arrgh, she called me Sir! What is this?”

Without any response, the girl made her way to the door, opening it only slightly then turning back to Eli.

“Brave Hero, I request you change as soon as possible. I will return to collect you for your summons. Please be ready.”

“Hey, wait!” It was futile, she was already out of the door.

Eli took a second to look around his room before trying his best to recollect his thoughts.

“Okay, what happened a couple of minutes ago? I was….hit by lightning? But before that…I was…..I was…”

He couldn’t remember for the life of him what he was doing prior the flash of lightning. Where he was, what he was doing…even who he lived with. He was all by himself in his thoughts.

He began to freak out, scratching his head for answers.

“Come on! COME ON! Anything?”

Nothing.

Suddenly, Eli got up from his bed and surveyed the room. It was rather old fashioned for a bedroom. Only a dresser and the bed with a very old desk were present. Paintings of ships adorned the walls.

Outside the windows was something else. From the structure, it seemed that he was in an estate of some kind. A mansion if anything. The view was still very amazing. A lavish rose garden with a hedge maze was in his sights at the bottom. Small children were running in and out of the garden except….

“What are these kids wearing? What is this, the 1800’s?”

The boys wore something you’d see on Sunday church service and the girls were all done up in poofy dresses complete with petticoats. The elder men and woman were the same, all dressed up with hats and smoking pipes.

Eli would stand out in his graphic T-shirt and cargo shorts for sure.

“I’ve been sent to another world, no doubt about it. Either that or I’m dead and this is Purgatory…” Eli settled the matter right then and there.

Maybe it was just him blocking it out to prevent further freak outs. He finally made his way over to the clothes he was given and looked them over. A red shirt and black jacket. Black pants and boots also accompanied the ensemble.

“What the heck is this?” Eli held up a shoulder guard from the top of the folded clothes. The metal shimmered in the weak candlelight above him.

Stripping himself of the wet clothes, he took no time putting the new ones on. The mirror attached to the desk didn’t offer much coverage to see the whole outfit but from what he could see, it fit him pretty well.

“I wasn’t out long I don’t think but, maybe I was out long enough for that girl to take my measurements…” Eli thought to himself.

Either way, the clothes were snug but not uncomfortably so. He was okay with the choice of apparel that was chosen for him.

tap tap tap

There was a knock on his door just then.

“Young Hero, I have returned for you. Are you decent?”

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

“Uh, yeah. I’m good, come in.”

The door slowly opened to show the green haired girl from before and another face. This time it belonged to a blonde and scowling boy. He looked to be Eli’s age.

“Young Hero, will you please come with me to the Throne Room?” It wasn’t much of a request rather than a direct order.

“Yeah, alright.” His voice was low but he didn’t want to cause trouble. It seemed as the minutes went on, more things were being thrown in Eli’s face.

“Thank you, this way please.” Her tired voice echoed though the hallow halls.

Eli and the blonde boy walked side by side behind the green haired maid. He couldn’t help but steal glances at his walking partner every so often.

He was wearing something rather plain, a black button up and black trousers. From what he could gather, it seemed he was transported here just like him.

The blonde boy looked over at Eli just as Eli was trying to sneak another peak at him. Eli, in turn, snapped back to attention. The view of the green maid’s hair the only thing in his view and he continued to walk.

“Take a picture then, why don’t you?” The boy then spoke. His voice sounded like a teenager that had just hit adulthood. Deep but with a boyish charm to it.

“Sorry, I wasn’t meaning to stare. All of this is new to me, is all.” Eli tried his best to apologize.

“Hmmph.” Was all he got out of that.

The halls were quiet again. Eli was too scared to say or look anywhere else. The maid was stone cold quiet as she led the boy to a pair of large double doors.

“Inside this room is the King of this land. Please be respectful and save your questions for when you are to ask them.” She extended a hand to the door and relayed the instruction.

Both Eli and the boy nodded their heads in understanding. As the maid was satisfied with their response,  she then turned towards the door. Knocking on one of the doors three times, it then opened very slowly. She backed away to the side to allow the boys to walk into the vast chamber.

The walk was a long one to the throne. Atop sat a very withered looking old man. His eyelids were drooped over so far, he seemed to have his eyes closed. He wore a brilliant crown of jewels on his head and was draped in a lavish cape. He looked relaxed as he sat back on his throne.

Around the room were guards armed with spears and swords. Beside the King were two of these guards.

“Hero Eli. Eli…is it?” The King suddenly spoke. His voice was not something Eli expected. Booming and full of force.

“Y-yes sir!” Not knowing what else to do, he suddenly snapped his hands to his sides and bowed deeply.

“Yes, yes. It is good to see you. After a hundred years… we can begin anew.” The slow speech of the King echoed through the chamber.

Eli didn’t know what he meant by this. This was the first time he had ever seen the King. Any King for that matter. Where he was from, a product town in America…King’s weren’t really easy to come by.

“I’m sure there are questions you are dying to ask, and in due time I will allow them. For now, you must know your purpose for your summoning.” The King’s voice boomed throughout the chamber. Eli could feel the goosebumps rise.

“Young Atreo. You will be King.”

The silence was deafening. The boy with blonde hair took a step back in shock. The once scowling face swept over with fear.

“Do not falter, my boy. It will be quite some time before you claim my throne. I may be a hundred years old but I still have life in me. Not so much as of late, but I still live.” The King humbled.

“K-King…” Atreo stammered. He was completely taken aback.

“In this land of Evangel, there are laws. Every hundred years, a Hero must claim the three crystals to adorn the Heir. After the Heir has acquired thus, only then can he sit the Throne. There is no King without the Hero. Without a King, the Hero has no purpose.” The King lamented.

Both Eli and Atreo listened intently to the laws. Suddenly the King held his hand high.

“Hero Eli, you were summoned to defeat three powerful monsters. The likes of which only you can defeat. Only by your hand can the crystals be recovered.”

Eli felt his blood run cold. All of a sudden the reality hit him. He was going to be fighting monsters in a matter of life or death. All so Atreo could sit the throne.

“Once Eli has given you these crystals, only then can you acquire the power to protect the people of Evangel. Through the labor of the adventurer, can you understand the burden you carry.” He lowered his hand back to the rest.

“I humbly apologize that we must meet like this… but it is true. You both have been pulled from your world onto ours. A prophecy bound to fate by the Original Creator. It is to be unbroken.” The King adjusted in his seat before continuing.

“I was once like you both. I do not remember my home world. I do not remember my family or my town. The Hero sent to adorn me had only recently died of natural causes. He was a dear friend of mine. I fear…I am not far off as well.” His voice was low as he remembered his friend.

Eli hung his head in a fit of emotion. It wasn’t enough that he was transported here, but the King leading him was also ported here as well. He lived his whole life in Evangel only to soon be dethroned by prophecy.

“If you have any questions, please feel free to ask.” The King finished.

“Yeah, I have one.” Atreo suddenly spoke, hand in the air.

“Atreo, yes.”

“What is the meaning of this? I’m supposed to be okay with this? I was pulled from my home with no memory! And now I’m supposed to be King of a land I know nothing of?” He was seething.

“I understand your anger. It was much like mine when I was told the exact same words I have just told onto you. The fact of the matter is…yes.” The King’s voice dropped about a million octaves at the reply. Atreo dropped his hand right then and there.

“Yes, you must accept it. There is no going back from once you came. The wiping of your memory is to cope with the loss of family. The vagueness of a home world is to help you move on. The hold onto such thing would only cause the balance to shift until it eventually tumbles.” The King said.

Atreo balled his fist and looked at his shoes. From where Eli was standing, he could see his teeth clenched in anger. All of this wasn’t easy for Eli either but it was doubly hard to see another person take it just as horribly.

“Hero Eli, do you have any questions?” The King turned to him.

Snapping to attention again, Eli tried his best not to stammer as he readied his question.

“Just one, sir. You said I had to fight monsters only I could defeat… what kind of monsters are we talking about?”

“Hmm, you’d like to know about Bosses. This kind of lecture is best suited for Deacon.” The King then waved a hand towards the door, to which is opened suddenly.

A man was already waiting there. Walking into the Throne Room and into better view, he had chestnut colored hair and thin glasses on. The casual suit he wore spoke class as he stopped right next to Atreo.

“This is Deacon Masters. For the time being, I have instructed him to be both of your tutors to prepare and teach you about the new world around you.”

At the introduction, Deacon bowed and rose to greet both the boys. Atreo had gone back to scowling and crossing his arms, seeming as if he was already done with today. Eli lightly bowed back.

“Good to meet you. I hope we can become acquainted warmly.” Deacon said. His voice was that of an adults. He spoke calmly and precisely.

“After you depart from the city, Deacon will become Atreo’s right hand until he is throned. From then, it is Atreo’s orders where Deacon’s purpose lies.”

Atreo looked up at the proclamation, then at Deacon. Deacon was also looking at Atreo with a neutral look. He seemed to be all business, cookie cutter and straight edge.

“I hope we can get along until your reign.” Deacon offered a hand to shake. One Atreo took and shook a couple of times before dropping his hand.

“We’ll see. If we both last that long.” How curt. Even Eli flenched at how bratty this kid was being.

It didn’t seem to bother Deacon one bit, as he stood back up to attention in the presence of the King.

“If there are no further questions, I would like to turn you both over to Deacon as I retire for the night. Tomorrow you both will be free to venture out into the city to explore the new land before you. I hope, before long, you will set out for the crystals, Hero Eli.”

Eli offered a firm nod in understand towards the King.

As The King rose from the Throne, every head in the chamber bowed. Deacon soon bowed to his Grace. Following suit, Eli and Atreo bowed as to not upset order.

“Until then, be strong.” With that, the King was escorted out of the room to his private chambers.