CHAPTER ONE: Nameless Goddess

              Though Lavan usually found himself easily engrossed in his favorite class’s curriculum, his father’s words from the day before distracted him. They played in a never-ending loop, mocking him, keeping him from his studies even more effectively than his phone or videogames could.

              ‘… I know you don’t want to end up a failure… You’re already eighteen… You just don’t try hard enough… Why can’t you apply yourself like you do for the class you like… You have to learn to put the games down…’

              They hadn’t fought. They never fought. Lavan couldn’t find the energy to defend his laziness and lethargy—though he’d become much better at controlling them over the years—while his dad didn’t have the heart to raise his belt or his voice. Yet, it sure felt like a fight. It hurt just like a fight.

              Lavan finally dropped all pretenses of paying attention to his beloved teacher and laid his head on his arms, hoping the Sandman would have mercy on his soul and give him respite from his own thoughts, even if only for the last ten minutes of the class… Only for another being’s thoughts to intrude on his mind.

              ‘Congratulations, Chosen children!’

              Despite having a good idea of what could have happened, the boy did not react to the soundless voice. He didn’t even open his eyes, simply wondering if he was imagining it.

              ‘I am a goddess whose name you do not yet deserve to hear, but perhaps one day might.’

              Oh. It was actually happening… And the Deity in question was the arrogant type. Possibly bad news, but that didn’t lessen the potential awesomeness too much. Lavan shot to his feet and forcefully slammed his hands onto his desk, gathering his class’s attention even as the goddess continued speaking.

              ‘You who hear me have been selected as Chosen Ones because of your dissatisfaction with life and will be transported to another world where you will be challenged by my Quests. Fail them and suffer. Complete them and revel in rewards.’

              Several of Lavan’s classmates flinched before they all turned to see who had caused the disruption, but nobody else showed signs of following the proper protocol for these circumstances.

              ‘Of course, the world you are being sent to is one bearing so-called “magic”, which you will have to learn in order to survive. But do not fret, because it is a simple system that some of you will no doubt excel at.’

              “MS. JACKSON!” Lavan hollered with all the force his lungs could muster, in case he wouldn’t be treated seriously. “I’m not joking, nor is this a secret drill. Contact by Deity!”

               The reality of Lavan’s situation finally settled in and caused his heart to race as he watched some of his peers shift uncomfortably in their seats and look toward their teacher, while others immediately gathered their belongings and headed for the door. One girl whose desk was beside the exit bolted to leave as though Lavan had threatened to blow up the school.

              Then again, he might as well have.

              “Um, thankfully it’s a world transfer, but, you know…just in case,” Lavan hurriedly tacked onto the end.

              Ms. Jackson’s despair was clear on her wrinkled face as she gaped at Lavan for a second before regaining herself with a shake of the head. Then after a slow and deliberate nod to him, she hurried her students to leave and pull the Deity alarm on their way out.

              ‘Lastly, you are offered a choice in the danger rating of your Quests. You have ten minutes to decide before your transportation will begin.’

> [One-Star Danger Rating] <

[Two-Star Danger Rating]

[Three-Star Danger Rating]

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              Seeing a translucent blue box containing words appear in his vision as though through a hologram, Lavan allowed gravity to pull him back into his seat and ignored the “Good luck”s and “I’m so sorry”s that his classmates threw at him as they rushed out of the room. His ears soon shook from the intensity of the Deity alarm blaring.

              ‘As you might have inferred, the default danger rating of only a single star is the safest choice and yields the worst rewards, while three stars is highly likely to kill you but in exchange will make you all the stronger if you survive. Do attempt to judge your aptitude for combat and measure of willpower before deciding on your danger rating, in order to choose wisely.’

              The boy didn’t even bother trying to think of a way out of his situation, since if school was any indication of what life on modern Earth as an adult would be like, he wanted no part of it. Instead, he accepted the Deity’s challenge as inevitable and followed her recommendation of evaluating himself. Partly because he was a fantasy addict who craved power and indulged in videogames, anime, and manga…and also because he didn’t care enough. Didn’t care enough about anything but entertaining himself. The world transfer promised just that.

              It was probably exactly what led to him becoming a Chosen One… His father’s words echoed again.

Lavan wrung his hands while staring at his options, knowing there wasn’t a chance in all the universes that he would stick to the default rating of one star. Regardless of if the higher danger ratings decreased his odds of survival wherever he was about to be dropped, his new life in the other world would likely not be very comfortable. According to the data accrued from the testimonies of past Chosen Ones who survived their off-world Trials and returned to Earth, the likelihood of being transported somewhere without the everyday conveniences of modern technology was high. The most likely destination was a typical “fantasy” world home to biomes very similar to Earth, while the least likely were sci-fi and apocalyptic worlds.

With all of that being the case, Lavan would need all the personal power he could get... He mentally clicked on [Three-Star Danger Rating]. Yet, he didn’t confirm because…even if it would land him the most rewards, he’d have to survive to get them.

Could he survive? The goddess had explicitly said that three stars was “highly likely” to kill him. He’d probably be signing his death certificate because he overestimated himself.

‘But my point about needing all the power I can get still stands. If even after completing my Quests I’m not strong enough to stand up to whatever else the world will throw at me, then there’s no point. I might NEED to survive the three-star Quests in order to live comfortably in that world.’

Arguing with himself, Lavan switched between the two- and three-star options, juggling his choices as he refined what information he had in order to make the best educated decision. Would he be allowed to live comfortably if he went down the easy path? Would living comfortably require walking the difficult path?

He didn’t notice the other person’s presence until their cold hand touched his arm.

Lavan jumped out of his skin before shooting a glance over his shoulder to see Ms. Jackson, her expression sad, but her wrinkly eyes full of determination. She hadn’t evacuated with the rest?

“I heard some students from a different classroom yelling about their friend becoming a Chosen One,” she said over the blaring Deity alarm. “Though it pains me that more students will be in danger, I am glad to know you won’t be alone wherever it is you’ll be taken.”

Lavan’s nerves settled as he nodded. “Yeah, the nameless goddess said there were several of us.”

The two went silent for a moment as they took in the circumstances, before Ms. Jackson eventually released her grip on the boy’s arm and walked away. Lavan assumed she had decided not to take her chances, and left in case his world transfer was messy—as rare as that was—but the old woman soon shuffled back to his side.

With a plop, she dropped a heavy stack of papers in front of him, picked up his backpack from beside his desk, opened it, and took back the paper stack before finally stuffing it in his pack. Then she zipped the backpack closed and placed it in his arms.

“You probably won’t be allowed to bring anything, but—”

“—but better safe than sorry, yeah. Thank you,” Lavan finished her sentence, grateful, because he’d actually forgotten to gather supplies in the uncommon case he would be allowed them.

              Only a few minutes until the world transfer remained and Lavan thought Ms. Jackson was done, but she proved him wrong again by motioning for him to stand as her eyes glistened. Her compassion shone like the sun.

              Lavan rose from his chair and accepted the tearful embrace.

              “I know you won’t let this be a final goodbye,” she whispered. “All of my students are my children, and I refuse to outlive my children.”

              A pang of sorrow struck Lavan’s heart. If he’d been the more sentimental type, that line would have had him bawling. Only a sniffle escaped him.

              “Thank you.”

              “No need. Thank me when…when you return home.”

The aged woman’s shoulders shook from the sobs she fought to contain.

Lavan found a bitter smile forming as his eyes threatened to water.

“No, that’s not what I meant,” he intoned, his arms growing shaky as he held her tighter. “Thank you for being a good teacher… The best teacher.”

The person Lavan respected most could no longer hold her grief, as the wails of a surrogate mother echoed as loudly as the Deity alarm.

Lavan’s mind grew unnaturally fuzzy as he recalled his first day as Ms. Jackson’s student four years ago, and remembered the impacts her teaching had on his life every day since. He had been more selfish and self-centered. Less capable of holding himself together.

He couldn’t remember how many emotionless robots going through the motions had taught his classes since middle school, attempting to drill academics into his brain with a rusty fork, killing his enthusiasm to learn, destroying his will to live. Meanwhile he could count on one hand the number of good teachers he had the pleasure to learn under.

The woman currently weeping for him stood above them all.

“And tell my dad I’m sorry.”

Lavan thanked his favorite teacher one last time before he confirmed his choice and his vision went white.