Heroes of Gegar

“Mimi!” Nozomi yelled out but to no avail. Mimi slips out from the funnel of light fading further away from her sight. Hand stretched forward, she cried. Tears filled her eyes and a sorrow pierced deep into her heart. She holds herself. Due to her grief, weak and faint, her eyes close awaiting the funnel to take everyone to their destination.

One student sees Nozomi in her distraught state. Strands of her hair quickly turn into an array of colors. Yellow. Black. Red. It goes on. Without knowing, his hair begins to also change colors.

A blank expression becomes a sense of fear and anxiety. It overcomes him with a distorted sight of their bodies as the funnel bends reality. Their hair continues to blaze colors. Nozomi floats motionless towards their destination, eventually the distortion becomes nothing but a nightmare. The student takes quick breaths to calm himself. The refracted funnel took a toll on his mind. Drifting beside each other, other students begin to wake from their slumber. Weary and jaded, they spring to life, attempting to catch themselves, yet they float in a constant movement set by the funnel. No senses. Smell. Touch. Only the sight of pure light. Bent and refracted alongside the echoes of sounds.

“What’s going on? How did we get here? ” One student asked. He panics and starts using his arms for some level of balance. It doesn’t work and as a result, he starts flipping around continuously.

“I- I don’t know! This is unreal!” Another student said, nervous as he tries not to panic.

“Whoa, whoa! I think I’m going to be sick!” He continued.

“Seiji, you idiot…”

“Shut up, Takeru! Have you ever been scared before! It’s like a roller coaster! Twisting and swerving… Oh no! I am getting sick.. Please… help…” Seiji said. He kept flipping faster and faster due to the acceleration.

“What a fool…” Takeru thought. He looked at his surroundings and found others taken aback from the situation. All moved with caution while anxiety showed on their faces.

“It seems only a few of us got teleported. Suguru, Shizuki, Takumi, Souta, Ryuusei, Seiji the idiot, Mamoru, and…Nozomi? Takeru notices Nozomi’s state by her face.

“What happened? Why is Nozomi crying?”

“What is that!?” Yelled Ryuusei. Takeru looks at a portal made of some sort of white energy. Warm and soothing, they make it to the end where they fall onto a room of black granite. Exquisite in every way. Beautiful chandeliers and windows of stained glass. A banner of a red falcon surrounds the room.

“Ow… that really hurt,” said Takeru.

“You can say that again.. I landed on my face! Do I have a nosebleed?”

“If you say one more thing out of your mouth.”

“What are you going to do about it?”

“I’ll smack you, Seiji.”

“I would like to see you try it, Kameda!” Seiji replied. Their rivalry comes out with an explosion however Shizuki looks forward at someone with a stern voice he speaks.

“Now is not the time to fight. We have bigger things to worry about.”

The room echoed in loud decibels. Not any room but a throne room. Upon the throne stood a king. A Cape of red and black stripes. Encased in silver armor with decor of gold. His features of an older man who seemed to have ruled for decades. Streaks of grey and scars on his right cheek and left eyebrow.

“Ahem!” The King’s eyes brought fear to the students like an earthquake of horror. Everyone stands silent when the king stands. Increasing the tension. His stature is gigantic. Steps of thunderous echoes. Armor rings in the ears of the students.

“We shall start the Ceremony of Heroes. Eda.”

“Of course your majesty.” Eda said. She clears her throat and steps forward. A woman stands before them. Robes are beige and white. She moves to the center of the throne room, taking center stage. Steadfast and full of grace, she speaks eloquently.

“Welcome heroes from another world! My name is Eda. A sacred mage of the great Kingdom of Gegar. Under the command of King Tartarus, We have summoned you to fight on our behalf! Please state your names to heed our great god to bless you with great abilities to slay the darkness who threaten our great nation and the state of our world! ”

“We have to fight? Fight what?” asked Mamoru.

“Us heroes? Maybe we can be famous. Hero Seiji. Has a nice ring to it right.” Seiji said with a smile on his face. His hand on his chin thinking about the vast heroic deeds he would do.

“Seiji, please take this seriously.” Said Takeru.

“You’re such a grouch, Takeru. Always disagreeing with me.”

“I agree with Kameda, and I’m worried about Nozomi. She doesn’t feel and needs rest.”

“Whoa, What happened to Nozomi, Mamoru? ”

“I don’t know, she fainted when I woke up. She was also saying something about Mimi.”

“Masaki? I don’t see her here.”

“I want to know what happened before we make a decision.” Mamoru looks up to the king and with confidence his voice rings into the throne room.

“King Tartarus, I ask we postpone the ceremony until my friend is okay.” The King’s eyes shift from terrifying to merciful. Stature relaxed from his threatening demeanor. Eyes closed he spoke.

“Hmm…. very well, I will grant your request. However, under conditions that you will bear arms against the daemons of the north or you will never go back home.”

The students look at each other with uncertainty. With confusion in their eyes, they say nothing but sighs clicks from their tongues. Sharp utterances reflect in the throne room like a cave, angering the already disgruntled king.

“You have a deal King Tartarus, as long as we are not

Eda, see to it all the heroes given quarters and servants to them at their whims.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. It shall be done.” Eda replied.

Oh, and Eda. After it is done, return to my side at once. We have much to discuss.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.” Eda bows and turns to the students.

“Follow me to your chambers. We will start your training once you have said your vows and your companion has recovered.” Eda walks to the other end of the room where doors are opened by guardsmen. The students tread carefully behind Eda.

“Are you sure you don’t want help, Mamoru?”

“I’m fine, Takeru. Seiji. Thank you.” Although Mamoru declined his friends for help, he struggled to keep himself on his feet. Step after step, they kept an eye on Mamoru. Eager to assist him if he faltered. With deep breath and resilience, he kept his pace and kept Nozomi close to him. Eyes aflame, Mamoru keeps a watchful eye on the people smiling in front of him.