Chapter 1.2: A dream kinda come true?

The warm glow of the tavern enveloped Yuki and Caelric as they settled into their seats. The air buzzed with chatter, clinking mugs, and the faint strumming of a bard's lute in the corner. Plates of steaming food were set in front of them, and Caelric wasted no time, tearing into his meal with the enthusiasm of a man who hadn't eaten in days.

Yuki chuckled softly, resting her chin on her hand as she watched him. "Geez, you eat like you're in a food commercial."

Caelric glanced up briefly, his mouth full, and gave a muffled grunt that might've been acknowledgment before going back to his meal.

Yuki's gaze wandered across the room, her awe barely concealed. "I mean, wow. A real fantasy tavern." She trailed her finger along the edge of her plate, her curiosity piqued as she took a tentative bite of her food. Her chewing slowed, and her brows furrowed slightly. "This… tastes weirdly familiar."

She tilted her head, trying to place the flavor. It wasn't the spices or ingredients, but something about the preparation. It nagged at her like a word on the tip of her tongue. Why does this remind me of something from back home?

Before she could chase the thought further, Caelric finished his food with a satisfied sigh and leaned back in his chair. "Alright, let's get to the point."

Yuki snapped out of her musings, blinking at him. "Huh? What point?"

Caelric's tone turned serious. "You're not going to the Demon King."

Yuki's jaw dropped. "Wait, what? That's the whole reason I'm here! I mean, yeah, I'm still figuring out how my skill works, but I'm sure I can find a loophole or something—"

"Stop." Caelric held up a hand, cutting her off. "Yuki, you can't even handle goblins. You'd be dead in seconds if you tried to face him."

"I just need time to—"

"No." His voice was firm, and his piercing gaze silenced her. "This isn't one of those stories where you magically become stronger through sheer determination. Your skill is weak. You have no experience. And the people who sent you don't care if you succeed. They're counting on you to fail."

Yuki bristled, crossing her arms. "Okay, first of all, rude. Second of all, I'm not just going to sit around and do nothing. There has to be a way to make this work!"

"There isn't," Caelric said bluntly. "You don't know this world. You don't know its rules. And if you rush into things without thinking, you'll just end up dead."

Yuki clenched her fists, frustration bubbling inside her. She wanted to argue, but deep down, she knew he wasn't entirely wrong. Still, she couldn't just give up. "So what? I'm supposed to just wander around aimlessly? Hope that someone else takes care of it?"

Caelric leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table, his face etched with a grim seriousness. "Listen, Yuki, the Demon King we're dealing with isn't just some random tyrant sitting on a throne. This one has been around for decades—maybe centuries—and their power is beyond anything you can imagine."

He began ticking off on his fingers. "They've got abilities that force people into contracts they can't escape, magic that can destroy someone's body from the inside out, and there's even talk of them manipulating...."

"Stop!" Yuki cut him off, waving her hands frantically. "I get it! The Demon King's OP! That's, like, rule number one in this kind of world. Do you think this helps my confidence at all?"

Caelric smirked faintly. "I did say it's just rumors. Probably."

Yuki groaned, slumping forward with her head nearly touching her plate. "I'm so cooked. Even if I don't fight the Demon King, then what? What am I supposed to do? Go back to the kingdom and beg them to send me home?"

Caelric raised an eyebrow, leaning back and crossing his arms. "Yeah, that's not happening. You can't just waltz back and ask them to undo the summoning ritual. It doesn't work like that."

Her shoulders sagged further, her face full of defeat as she muttered, "Of course not. Why would it be that simple?" She poked at her food with her fork, her appetite seemingly gone.

For a moment, there was only the sound of clinking dishes and distant chatter. Then, breaking the silence, Caelric said quietly, "I might know a way for you to go home."

Yuki's head snapped up, her eyes wide with a mix of disbelief and cautious hope. "Wait... what?"

He didn't elaborate immediately, letting the words hang in the air.

"There are old tales—stories about people like you, summoned from another world, finding a way back home. The key is a specific ritual. But it's not just any ritual; it requires a spell that's split across seven pages, each held by one of the seven kingdoms."

Yuki furrowed her brow. "Why would they split it up like that? Doesn't that make it ridiculously hard to use?"

Caelric shrugged. "Your guess is as good as mine. Maybe it's some kind of safeguard. Or maybe it's just politics—each kingdom wanting a piece of the power. What I do know is that the Kingdom of Greed—the one that summoned you—has one of those pages."

Yuki's eyes lit up momentarily. "Then why didn't you just grab it before we left? Wouldn't that save us a lot of trouble?"

Caelric shot her a sharp look. "I may not have the best reputation, but I'm not about to steal from a kingdom's archives. That's a surefire way to end up on every wanted poster in the land."

Yuki winced and lowered her voice. "Right. Sorry. I didn't think about that."

Caelric exhaled, his tone softening. "Look, it's not going to be easy, but I'll stick with you and help you figure this out. First things first, you need proper equipment—and some basic training so you don't get flattened by the next goblin you meet."

Yuki glanced away, her face flushing with embarrassment. "Yeah, about that... Thanks for saving me back there."

Caelric smirked but didn't press the issue. Instead, he stood and tossed a few coins on the table to cover their meal. "Come on. We'll need to stock up on supplies before we leave."

"Leave? Where?" Yuki asked, scrambling to her feet.

"First stop, the Kingdom of Lust," he said casually as he walked toward the door.

Yuki froze mid-step, her eyes widening. "The what now?!"

Caelric didn't look back, his smirk widening. "You heard me."

She hurried after him, nearly stumbling over herself as she followed Caelric through the bustling village streets, her mind began to wander. The Kingdom of Lust... The name alone set her imagination into overdrive. She pictured gleaming palaces filled with lavish decorations, an air of romance and intrigue swirling about like a perfume. Then her thoughts derailed entirely.

Her cheeks flushed as vivid images of gorgeous men and stunning women danced in her head—elegantly dressed nobles, seductive smiles, and—

"Yuki!" Caelric's sharp voice jolted her back to reality.

She jumped, flailing a bit. "What?! I wasn't—uh—thinking about anything weird!"

He raised an eyebrow. "Right... Anyway, I was saying it's probably a good idea you understand the world you're in, especially if we're going to be traveling through it. So, listen up."

Yuki blinked, suddenly feeling like a student about to sit through a lecture.

Caelric began his explanation. "This world is divided into seven kingdoms, each aligned with one of the Seven Sins. These sins aren't just concepts—they're tied to the goddesses worshiped here. The people believe that each goddess represents a sin, and every few generations, they summon heroes from other worlds in their name to fight the Demon King."

"Wait, so you're telling me this whole world runs on sins?" Yuki asked, tilting her head.

"Not exactly. The sins are more like guiding principles—strengths and flaws that shape each kingdom's culture. For example, the Kingdom of Greed values ambition and wealth above all else, while the Kingdom of Lust... well, you can guess that one."

Yuki's mind briefly threatened to derail again, but she forced herself to focus.

"These summoned heroes are supposed to embody the ideals of their respective kingdoms, using their unique abilities to defeat the Demon King. Once the job's done, they either stick around or find some way back home. You're one of those heroes, though it seems like they weren't expecting much from you."

"Gee, thanks for the confidence boost," Yuki muttered.

Caelric ignored her and continued. "The current Demon King is Velasine, the Shattered Mirror. She represents Envy and is said to exploit people's insecurities, turning allies against each other and sowing chaos. No one knows exactly how strong she is, but the rumors..." He trailed off. "Well, let's just say you're not ready for that fight."

Yuki sighed heavily, resting her hand on her jacket pockets. "Great. So I'm in a world run by sins, summoned as a 'hero,' and expected to fight some overpowered Demon King..."

Yuki paused for a moment as she took out one hand out of jacket and glanced at at it, flexing them as if willing her ability to feel more significant than it seemed. "Seven kingdoms, seven sins, and I'm one of these 'heroes,' huh?" she muttered to herself, her voice tinged with doubt.

"Something on your mind?" Caelric asked, glancing over his shoulder.

Yuki hesitated, her steps slowing slightly. "I guess... I just don't get it. A god chooses someone to help defeat a demon king right, then why would they even summon someone like me? My skill doesn't exactly scream 'hero material,' and let's be real—I almost got killed back there because I thought I could just bullshit my way out of trouble."

Caelric slowed his pace slightly, giving her space to think and speak.

"But," Yuki continued, her voice steadier now, "I guess it's what I've got. It's not flashy or overpowered, but it's mine. If I can copy other people's skills, even if it's delayed, then maybe... maybe I can make it work somehow."

Caelric smirked faintly, a rare softness in his expression. "That's the spirit. Doubt is natural, but if you're willing to put in the effort, you might surprise yourself. Just don't get cocky."

Yuki gave a small smile, a flicker of determination lighting up her eyes. "Yeah. I'm probably not going to win any hero-of-the-year awards, but if I don't at least try, what's the point?"

"Exactly," Caelric said, turning his attention back to the road ahead.

With her resolve firming up, Yuki fell in step behind him. I'm not some chosen savior, she thought, but maybe I can still do something.

Even as doubts lingered in the back of her mind, she felt a small ember of determination spark to life. It wasn't much, but it was enough to keep her moving forward.