Steel clashed against steel as the last of the knights dropped his sword and was swept off the ground. With a deep exhale, the last man standing lowered his sword. His sharp glare was replaced by a soft smile as he ran a hand through his blonde hair.

"Haah... that was exciting. Thank you very much for your guidance," the blonde man bowed, following the customs of the world he was now in. The trainee knights were either smiling bitterly or were in awe at the perfection the man exuded, whether it be his sharp muscles, piercing skills, or impeccable manners.

"Sir Edmund!"

The blonde boy, Edmund, turned back and found the team leader of the Royal Knights in charge of today's training. He smiled and thanked the team leader as well.

"We should be thanking you, sir Edmund. It seems we have a long way to go against you..."

"Is it true that the Light Hero has been wielding a sword for only six months?!" A cheeky trainee snapped from the side but shut up as the team leader glared at him. Edmund always treated the compliments and praises with a smile and answered.

"Not at all, I still have a long way to go." Edmund wiped the sweat off his forehead. "I should go and light some incense—"

"Yes, of course," said the team leader. "The people from the theocracies can be strict with their prayers. If you need a break from the lectures..."

Edmund shook his head. While it was true that the sermons, prayers, and lectures they forced him to attend every day were quite burdensome, they weren't even half as much as some of his other classmates went through. Moreover.

"My skills do get stronger from the prayers. I will attend them."

Edmund's schedule had been quite hectic for the last six months. Being chosen as the Light Hero was rather troublesome. The people at the Crimson Castle were initially surprised, eventually pleased, and finally in awe of him.

In just six months, under the tutelage of the world's best, he had shown progress beyond his age. And the achievements didn't end there.

After all, every summoned hero was going above and beyond what was expected from them, and all the summoned heroes followed Edmund's lead to some extent.

The more they grew, the more people's impression of Edmund grew as well.

It was evident as he walked through the castle's grounds. Everyone who came across him lowered their heads in respect.

After a brief walk, Edmund found himself standing in front of the Grand Pantheon—A temple made under the guidance of each theocracy to worship all the members of the Septet.

Edmund stopped outside the temple as he noticed the two people stepping out.

A young black-haired boy wearing a Dark Armor, and next to him was a woman in long white robes. Both exuded a charm and maturity that they hadn't six months ago.

Their movements stiffened as they noticed Edmund.

“Edmund,” the armored boy—The Champion of the Moon—acknowledged the Hero of Light with a nod. Next to him, the Divine Healer nodded too.

“Jin, Joelle.“

The encounter ended like that. Edmund stepped into the church with a bitter taste in his mouth. Exchanging nods or taking each other's name was all he had done with some of his classmates for a while now.

And the reason behind it was right here.

Edmund forced a smile and headed to the prayer room reserved for the heroes at the back of the Pantheon.

As he reached the door, he found his frown going away. It was amusing how that always happened before entering the prayer room. It was the one place where he felt he could act like himself.

He pushed the door open and stepped inside.

“Good morning today too—”

His words stopped prematurely. The woman kneeling on the ground, in front of the statues, was not the person he hoped to see.

The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

Behind the white veil, hair as black as the night sky cascaded down to the ground instead of the silver he was used to. The woman gently turned around, looking straight into Edmund's eyes.

Her visage was of pure, mature beauty. Completely opposite of the cynical glare that usually welcomed Edmund. Catching a single glimpse of the Saintess personally chosen by the eldest of the Septet, Astraea, was something that could make people thankful for their lives, but the same person made Edmund's smile turn downward.

“You're here, Hero of Light,” said the Saintess.

Edmund quickly controlled his expression and stepped inside. “Please, just call me Edmund. I do not deserve such titles yet.“

“Yet… I see. Well, I will help you offer your prayers today.“ The Saintess smiled, her eyes never leaving Edmund. “Were you hoping to see Evelyne?“

Edmund shook his head. “No, it's not like that. It is an honor to be guided by you, Lady Iras… But, is she perhaps busy today?“

“No, she left.“

“Left?“

The Saintess, Iras, nodded. It was rather fun to tease this hero. “It is time for all of us to leave, one after another. Each of the Saintesses will bestow a blessing to the heroes every day before we leave.“

Edmund's gaze hardened at her words.

He was flustered to know his friend had left without even saying goodbye, but the words that followed changed things.

“Shall we begin?“ Asked Iras. “I hear the wretched demons are causing a lot of trouble. I heard of a demon called 'The Crow.' How fearsome, I hope the heroes grow strong and protect us.“

Iras spoke to herself as she casually prepared the incense and asked Edmund to kneel without looking at him.

'It is finally time.'

Edmund thought as he closed his eyes.

The eyes around them that had monitored their every move were starting to look away.

“Please repeat after me. O' mother of heavens, goddess, rulers of all above and below, I place my heart at your feet with this prayer.“

He could finally find an opening from the people to whom he had never shown his heart.

***

The 'incident' happened five months ago.

The people who treated them like heroes, the people who declared the students to be a message from gods, barged into their rooms and made a statement that changed everyone's thoughts on this 'otherworldly' experience.

[An Oracle has reached the Saintesses. Ian Meyer must be taken away.]

Every single student gasped. Their words were not heeded, and their will was cast aside. The powerless students tried to fight, but could only watch as their classmate was dragged away.

The classmates were not particularly close, they were all very friendly and involved with each other only as much as normal students would be, except for two couples in their class, but everyone else had great rapport. If something like this happened in the old world, they would gossip for two or three weeks and go on with their lives, thinking of Ian now and then.

But in this world, they only had each other.

Even as he was being taken, Ian tried to laugh and stop his friends from recklessly acting out. Edmund himself was ready to punch a few people, but Ian quickly dismissed them. He said they were probably taking him away to get him to live a normal life; that he was dragging all his classmates—the heroes—down by being near them without any skill; that he wouldn't be harmed since he was summoned by the goddesses too.

The other students were convinced, even Edmund believed it back then. That fighting against these people now would only harm them immediately and in the long term; that it would be better for Ian to live away from the heroes; that he would be safe since he was a summoned hero too.

But the people here had no intentions of letting his words go by. They made it clear.

The gods had asked for his death. And the gods' wish was their purpose.

If death was demanded, death would be served and it would be served proudly.

Things hadn't been the same since then. Edmund tried to calm himself, he tried to keep the other students tightly knit together. He said they had to prioritize themselves, and each other, above the gods and their will.

But it didn't last long.

A voice arose in dissent. The voice of the Champion of the Moon goddess, Jin.

While Edmund thought the gods could 'harm' them at any time and that Ian's case was a clear example, Jin argued that the gods who could summon people from another world and give them such powers wouldn't need to harm people like them, that Ian's case was likely an exception and their great abilities were to save all of humankind, not just the classmates.

Lia, the Hero with the skill of the Archmage, and Yasu, the Grand Strategist rallied behind Edmund; while the Divine Healer Joelle, and the Cloak of Darkness Arthur followed Jin. Subtly, the classroom of kids was divided into two groups. They were not at each other's throats, but there was no denying the tension between them. They would help each other, but not without bitter feelings.

Edmund sighed as he went back to the palace assigned to the students. The prayer had exhausted him, all he could think of was what was to come.

He had to go and share the news with his faction too. Soon enough, they might see more freedom to move around. Engaged in thought, Edmund noticed a gathering outside the palace.

"What...? Did they suddenly decide to play volleyball?" Edmund briskly walked over. No one had played volleyball since Ian. Even though they used to be so good as a team. The silly thoughts made him chuckle at himself. Edmund noticed the Knight Commander Brown and the Crown Prince standing at the front.

The eyes around turned to him as he stepped up to the courtyard. The Crown Prince smiled brightly.

"Hero of Light, you are here. You are the last one."

The three of them exchanged formalities. Edmund's eyes kept glancing at his friends, they were tense and distressed, but also excited and happy.

"We just informed the heroes of what we should be doing next," said Commander Brown.

The Crown Prince continued. "That's right. You all have grown beyond expectations here, but it is unfortunately not enough to bring you to the battlefield. That's why, we have decided to send all the heroes to the place where the greatest of talents in the world gather."

"There is such a place...?"

"Yes. At the very center of the world, where the blessings of the gods, stars, and the heavens are at their highest. We will be sending all the heroes to the Caelum Academy."