Stability Lost

Chapter 1

A red blip. It was just a warning. The bar still had some left. A simple spot heal covered it. They were back to half health again. A simple problem to fix.

“Raid wide incoming! Don’t forget your mits this time!” Two seconds later half of the monitor splashed in purple and black spikes erupting out of the ground all around the boss. Circles of attacks spread wider until everyone took the hit.

Instantly, the whole party’s health shrank to zero. Groans came over the call while I allowed a small sigh still muted. It was obvious what happened. I was certain everyone knew.

“I’m sorry everyone! I thought I hit it in time,” the fencer said over everyone’s voices. He was a youngish sounding boy, probably still in high school. Never met him before in person, but he seemed like a kind kid, maybe a little in over his head.

“It’s alright, we’ll get it next time,” said the main tank. I always guessed he had to be some young office worker or manager from his positive attitude and go team spirit.

“Sorry, we couldn’t get back to our prog point.”

“Same time on Friday everyone?”

“Hey, my final project’s coming up and I’m going to need to start focusing on that hard. I don’t think I’m going to be able to raid three nights anymore.” Here it comes.

“I traded shifts with a friend, so I’m not free Friday anymore.” And you’re just telling us on Wednesday?

“How long before you have to knuckle down on the project?”

“If I’m being honest it should have been last month.”

“Last month, man?! What the hell’s wrong with you?”

“I thought I could handle it.”

“Guys, guys, it’s fine. Do what you need. We’ll find a replacement, no worries.”

“I’m not feeling it anymore dude. We’ve been at this for a month already.”

Silence, it spoke so loud. I slumped a little in my chair. The tank kept trying to talk to everyone, but I was already starting to fade. Everyone seemed to see the writing on the wall. I stayed in the call until it finally ended. As much as I considered leaving early, I couldn’t do that.

Spinning the chair around, I looked over my apartment, reminded that I hadn’t cleaned it lately. ‘Guess I have been raiding a lot…’ The game went idle as I stepped away. My foot kicked through a box like I was a rubber suited kaiju tearing through a city.

There was no doubt now. “I need to clean up…this is bad.”

My city destroying rampage concluded with three trash bags worth of rumble. I successfully brought the city to its knees.

With a bit of sweat and kaiju pride, I sat on the balcony draping my legs over to cool off. A cheap beer and a cool night breeze, things could be worse. Then I glanced back towards the now black monitors. “It was fun. Six guys hanging out for a month. They weren’t bad, but everyone always gives up and leaves.”

I thought it might last, at least for the whole wing. But I really should stop getting my hopes up. I drank down half of the beer with a hurried force. “At least the room’s clean.” I leaned my head against the rail staring down at a couple walking home. Their happy smiles made me stare at my beer again.

Dropping back against the floor, the stars offered a less depressing view. They twinkled at me in silence. It was kinda calming in their own way. Always just there, I could count on that. Though I guess it’d be pretty terrifying if I couldn’t. I didn’t need those sorts of thoughts.

A cheery jingle interrupted the void. I tilted my head up towards my room in confusion not recognizing the tone. It ran for five seconds before looping. It was grating. Then I saw faint light pooling over the tatami in my darkened room. Right, Kaori changed it as a prank when I was back home for the weekend. The next time I see her, she’s getting her wallpaper changed to a screenshot of her desktop.

But the ringing just kept going. I was needed. Who the hell’s calling me at this hour? Hauling my tired body up, I made it halfway into the room before I felt faint suddenly. It wasn’t a headache, I think. A white noise erased everything. The ringing disappeared with the room. What’s happening? What’s wrong with me?

Nothing.

Did I pass out? Was I really that tired? I’ve never fainted before, is that what it’s like?

“…they…ke…” A strange voice reached my ear. Is someone in my apartment? It’s not the phone. I needed to move if there’s an intruder! Yet my body remained still. What’s wrong with me? I couldn’t even feel it. Was it them? But when? How?

Am I going to die?

“Where…I…” Another voice, two people? Why did it feel like there’s a lot of eyes on me? My body really needed to start moving. I pushed at the numbness or whatever it was that took me down. There was a heartbeat, my heart, two, then three. I was alive!

Quickly, I drew in air and then regretted it immediately, choking and coughing. My eyes opened finally and I could feel my limbs. Perhaps it wasn’t bad. Everything started to feel normal again. Normal, if it wasn’t noon with the sun blaring in my eyes. I winced from the pain.

Noon? It was night, close to midnight. I nearly jumped to my feet, but only made it to a half kneeling stand. It took a few seconds for my eyes not to be in pain so that I could get some hints of shapes and shadows.

More colors came in and none of it looked like my apartment. Those voices kidnapped me? But I could move my hands and legs. And close to me I could see three others with me. We were all caught? What did they want with us?

Even as I tried to formulate some sort of silly notion of escape against someone able to kidnap four people, a voice boomed out through the chamber. It was a deep and commanding voice with age, a little unnerving. I tried not to sweat. “Welcome Passers! Come stand!”

‘Passers? The hell?’ Standing did seem to be possible, my body fully felt normal. Though the light still fought my eyes, making me blink frequently. How long was I out for?

Murmurs and similar questions I had came from the other three around me, nothing any more distinct than confusion. It did give my eyes enough time to finally see properly and I wasn’t in Japan anymore.

Unless I got dropped in the middle of a movie set, I was in some massive stone and wood trimmed interior. It was like those old castles I saw in period pieces or documentaries. Though with far crazier elements. Floating lanterns, crystalline windows, a mounted horned beast head and a general smell of cinnamon vied for my attention.

Then the people had this avant garde fashion show with bright hair colors sparkling, maybe glowing. And not content with a single color, they all were a gradient two-toned. They were nearly twinkling at me like stars.

“What’s going on?” Damn, I should haven’t said that. But it seemed like an appropriate response.

The others around me probably mirrored my same confused face. I realized that there were a lot of knight looking people lined up on either side of us. They had us surrounded with the middle-aged man seated upon a large wooden throne. And joined by him a strikingly tall woman with a glowing red book in hand.

“Yes, this must all be disorienting for you. But to answer your immediate question, you aren’t in your homeland anymore. You’ve been summoned to our world. The Passers that came before you have died. Such is tradition, we sought support in you, the new Passers. Your unique skills and knowledge can help to see that we can continue forward.”