Between Kingdoms and Monsters

                                                                      "High Priest," he said in a low but firm voice, "these Summoned are powerful. Far too powerful. If only one of them had shown such predisposition, I could accept it as a favor of fate. But that all of them possess the potential to surpass our greatest heroes... I am beginning to doubt their nature. Are they truly human?"

Silvanus, draped in his heavy priestly robes, inclined his head slightly. His face remained impassive, but his eyes reflected suppressed concern.

"Your doubts are legitimate, Your Majesty," he replied in a measured tone. "I share your fears, and I know that the Supreme Archbishop harbors the same reservations. That is undoubtedly why he has convened a council in the Holy Empire of Elyndra. All other sovereigns must have already been warned."

The King remained silent for a moment. His gloved fingers tightened slightly on the armrest of his throne as he stared at the silhouettes of the young heroes disappearing into the distance. A shadow passed over his gaze.

"Let's hope," he said finally, "that the flame we've just welcomed won't set our kingdom ablaze."

While the banquet had not yet begun, two familiar figures moved into the room: Professor Kentaro and Professor Sakura. Their worried gazes scanned the crowd of students, who were beginning to relax, some even joking despite the still-fresh shock. Everyone seemed to be gathered around a core group: Reiji's group.

"Reiji," Professor Sakura said, approaching, "have you seen Kaito? He's not with you."

The young man nodded, crossing his arms.

"He left us right after the High Priest's explanation." He seemed a little... shaken."

"He went that way," Ryo interjected, pointing to a discreet corner of the room, near an ornate pillar.

And indeed, isolated, almost erased in the shadow of the carved stone, was Kaito. Silent, he stared into space with an expression that was difficult to read.

Without waiting, the two teachers approached. Sakura was the first to speak to him, soft and calm.

"Kaito... are you all right?"

He turned to her, slightly surprised, then replied respectfully,

"Yes, ma'am. Don't worry about me."

Kentaro crossed his arms and stared at Kaito for a moment before speaking, in a more direct tone:

"Your reaction is probably the most sensible of all of us. We've literally just been thrown into another world, and most of us accept it as if it were a school game. We're the strange ones."

Kaito inclined his head slightly.

"Thank you, sir." 

Kentaro continued, softening his tone:

"That said... even if your panic attack caught us all a little off guard, that's no reason to isolate yourself like this."

Sakura turned slightly towards Kaito, a small smile on her lips:

"You forgot that he's always been a quiet student. Solitary, yes... but attentive."

Kentaro raised his eyebrows, visibly surprised by his own remark:

"Oh... sorry, Kaito. I got a little carried away."

Kaito shook his head gently, a slight smile on his lips:

"It's nothing, sir."

At that precise moment, a solemn announcement sounded. The great gate opened wide. King Arvandil entered, accompanied by High Priest Silvanus and the knight Lady Kaelis, in gleaming armor. Their mere presence imposed silence.

The King raised his hand.

 "Peace be upon this assembly. Let the banquet begin."

The guests began to take their seats. Elegant maids came to serve the first courses in a perfectly choreographed ballet. Exotic aromas rose in the room, and little by little, the tension dissipated, giving way to curiosity and, timidly, joy.

A week had passed since the banquet.

The great white stone castle, once filled with voices, peals of laughter, and nervous hesitation, was now bathed in an almost solemn silence. The courtyard was empty, the rooms echoed with the slightest footstep, and only the golden light filtering through the stained-glass windows reminded them that the world continued to turn.

All the summoned had left, each having chosen their own path.

The majority had followed King Arvandil to the Royal Capital, drawn by the promise of rigorous training and new horizons. Mr. Kobayashi, the driver who had become silent and attentive since their arrival, had naturally joined this group, driven by a protective instinct towards his former passengers.

Another, smaller group had turned to the knight Lady Kaelis, hoping to undergo martial training in the spirit of this new world. Aoi, the young lady with the determined gaze, and Miss Sakura, their teacher, were among them.

As for the students awakened to sacred magic, they had accepted the invitation of High Priest Silvanus and were now taking the road to the Holy Empire. Ryo, designated as Hero, as well as Haruka, whose gentle inner light had touched the hearts of the priests, were among them.

Mr. Kentaro, however, had made a different choice. Eager to learn more about magic and the mysteries of this world, he had obtained, with the King's help, special permission to travel to the Sorcerer's Kingdom. There, he found the Omnis Academy, the cradle of magical knowledge.

And Kaito?

He had stayed.

Not out of fear or hesitation, but out of instinct. He wasn't yet ready to follow in someone else's footsteps. He wanted to understand this world in his own way.

And what's more, he had retained his homebody habits.

Since then, he had spent his days in the castle's vast library. Entire shelves were filled with ancient tomes with dusty covers and indecipherable titles.

The first time he opened a book, he squinted, puzzled.

"Of course, I understand everything..." he said. "The cheated hero who reads even otherworldly languages as if it were nothing."

Against all odds... he truly understood. Or rather, he read, as if some invisible magic were translating every word for him.

He soon discovered that his class—Elemental Mage—was far more complex than he had imagined. Most elemental mages controlled a single element. A few, rarer ones, wielded two. Prodigies, three. And legends... four.

"Hm. So that's how it is?" he murmured.

Browsing the dusty shelves of the library, he came across an unremarkable-looking book, its faded leather cover and yellowed pages suggesting nothing special. Yet, when he reached out to pick it up, a strange sensation ran through him, like a slight shiver, but charged with an energy he didn't understand. It was unlike anything he had ever known: a warm breath against his fingers, almost alive.

He opened the book. Immediately, a pale glow escaped from the pages, soft but insistent. The characters traced on the paper seemed to undulate, then, one by one, disappear as if sucked into an invisible veil. The light concentrated, enveloping his eyes in a bluish-white glow, and his mind began to absorb the contents of the grimoire with disconcerting fluidity. Every word, every line, every incantation was etched in his memory before he even realized he had read it.

This was how he learned the spell called Veil of Nothingness. To him, at that stage, it was merely a strange speed-reading ability, a miraculous gift for assimilating knowledge in an instant. He was still unaware that this spell, linked to void magic, held a much greater potential. This experience marked his first contact with the world's fragile and fascinating magic, and aroused an irrepressible curiosity in him.

He then began researching spells related to different elements. Finally, he found an ancient ritual, simple but reliable, that allowed him to determine his affinities. The result left him speechless for a moment.

"Lightning... light... darkness? Three affinities?" he whispered, a wry smile.

"It confirms that in this world I am a prodigy."

It was said humorously, but deep down, he knew what it implied: enormous potential, but also a silent responsibility.

Thanks to his accelerated reading, he learned all the elemental spells he could find in the library. Unfortunately, his still-low mastery only allowed him to use the first level for each of his three elements.

Two weeks after the others left, Kaito asked to meet with a castle steward.

 "If I remember correctly, the king gave us funds for this, right? I also want food, swords... and if possible, a map of the Eloria Forest."

The man complied, though surprised. A young maid brought a detailed map and designated several areas, highlighting them with red ribbon.

"These areas are the most dangerous. My lord, stay within the blue circles if you wish to explore without major risks."

Another, more timid maid questioned him.

"You... will be alone? Are you sure?"

Kaito nodded, slowly putting on his new traveling tunic.

"I used to do this kind of exploration in my world."

He added, smiling lightly:

"It's just camping, right? It's not a magical forest populated by unknown creatures that's going to scare me... well, not too much."

A few hours later, a carriage took him to the edge of the woods. The sun was setting over the horizon, painting the sky a deep orange. Before him, the trees of Eloria stretched as far as the eye could see, ancient, majestic... and menacing.

Kaito climbed out of the carriage, adjusted the strap of his satchel, and set off into the forest.

Alone, for the first time in this new world.

The forest of Eloria opened up before him like a green sea, alive and rustling, populated by mysteries. Kaito took a deep breath, then set foot on the moss-covered ground. It was official: he was entering uncharted territory.

He'd barely traveled a few hundred meters when a small group of slimy creatures appeared. Translucent, gelatinous, bouncing masses.

"Slimes? Seriously?" he blurted, half-amused, half-weary.

"That's all that was missing. Cliché number one of any self-respecting isekai."

He drew one of the swords, recently sharpened. Although he was a mage, he had spent hours reading fencing manuals in the library. Theoretically, he knew the stances, the sequences, the guards. But between theory and reality... there was a world of difference.

He lunged.

And missed.

The slime dodged the blow with a lazy bounce, then tried to wrap a sticky tentacle around him. Kaito panicked, backed away, and struck blindly. It took him several long minutes, a few humiliating slips, and a good dose of frustration before he finally finished it off.

"There... first monster defeated... I could have done better. Or worse," he sighed, sitting next to the vanished puddle of slime.

He had promised himself he would only use magic in cases of real danger. Even though he already knew several spells, he was only able to cast one per element.

Until evening, he continued to hunt slimes. Little by little, his blows became more precise, his body more flexible. He felt his reflexes, stimulated by combat, sharpening.

When night fell, he found a quiet spot near a lake. He threw a small lightning bolt at the ground. A spark burst forth, then a timid flame rose.

 "A living torch... electric version."

He settled in, caught some fish, and grilled them over the blue flame. The taste wasn't great, but he'd experienced worse.

The next day, he returned to the forest. The slimes didn't have much left to teach him, but they were still good training. His movements flowed better, more instinctively.

That's when he saw it.

A red boar.

A massive beast, covered in dark, bristling fur, with glowing red eyes. Nothing like slimes.

"Okay. Now we're getting into the real bestiary."

For the first time, he used magic in combat.

He cast "Eclipse," the only Dark Magic attack that could use...

A dark mist rose around the boar, slowly obscuring his vision. The beast growled nervously, then backed away, striking the air, disoriented.

Kaito leaped to the side, slid under a root, and plunged his sword into the creature's flank. One last grunt... and silence.

Not a scratch.

He smiled, panting.

"Now that was cool." »

The following night, he was awakened by low growls. Wolves. Half a dozen of them, crouching among the bushes. They were surrounding the camp.

"Oh no, not that."

He raised his hand.

And "light."

A white sphere burst above him, casting a bright light in all directions. The wolves, dazzled, retreated. Some howled. In the confusion, Kaito shot two of them. The others fled.

Once again, he made it out alive.

Hours passed. Kaito explored, confronted, studied. His body grew stronger. His mind too.

Then, one day, at a bend in a path overgrown with brambles, he looked up... and stopped dead in his tracks.

He recognized the place.

This was where he had made his first steps into this new world. Surrounded by the forest, fraught with danger, a small, devoid of vegetation.

In the center of the clearing, still standing despite the chaos around it... the bus.

Silent. Inert. Like a memory frozen in time.

He approached, placed a hand on the door.

"How long has it been? Two weeks? Maybe even three?"

A sigh escaped him.

He decided to spend the night here. Not out of nostalgia… but because, deep down, this place reminded him that it all began here. And that he was no longer the same.

The next day, he would leave again. Toward the unknown, once again.

But for tonight, he would sleep in a familiar setting.

Kaito settled into the bus, placing his things in the central aisle as if he were returning to his student position. The place was dusty, but at least offered a roof over his head and memories.

He unrolled the map he had retrieved. The forest he was in served as a natural border between the kingdom of Asterion, to the west, and that of Tholaris, nicknamed the kingdom of adventurers. According to the notes, the bus is in Asterion territory, but if it traveled any further east, it would enter much more dangerous areas.

Kaito sighed.

"Well... I've survived this far. I used a quarter of my funds to equip myself, with the rest I can make it to the capital... Provided I get out of this damn forest alive."

He put the map away, took a last sip of water, and fell asleep, muttering,

"Heading for the Royal Capital, huh... Let's see what fate has in store for me. It'll be nice if I join an adventurer's guild. A true classic of the genre."

Unfortunately for him, it was already well into the night when a roar broke the silence. Kaito bolted upright, his heart pounding in his chest. He didn't even need to look outside to understand: the air vibrated with the powerful beat of gigantic wings. An immense creature, dark but terrifying in silhouette, hovered above him, dominating the night sky with an overwhelming presence.

"A wyvern... Seriously? I'd forgotten about those."

The bus shook violently as the beast landed on it. Kaito leaped out of the vehicle, two swords in hand.

He knew he stood no chance. But he smiled nervously.

"Die without trying, or die fighting? The choice is easy."

He shot a lightning bolt at the creature. Zero effect.

"Of course. Why would that work?"

The wyvern charged. Kaito rolled to the side, barely dodging. He used the light to blind the beast, allowing him to approach and attempt a strike. His blade ricocheted against the scales.

A swipe of his tail sent him flying. He crashed against a rock, coughing up blood. His legs trembled. He was in pain, but he got up again.

''If this were really real, that single attack would have one-shotted me."

He smiled. Bloody. Determined.

He dodged again and again, until the opportunity presented itself. He cast Eclipse, his darkness spell, plunging the wyvern into oppressive darkness. It hesitated. Kaito took advantage.

He plunged both swords into the beast's flank and launched Lightning Bolt directly at the blades. This time, the wyvern screamed in pain. Sparks lit up the night.

"Finally, I'm taking some hit points from it..."

He staggered, staring at the creature. He rolled his eyes and muttered mockingly,

"This is usually when a pretty, badass elf comes along and saves me... or I get a power-up out of nowhere thanks to the plot armor."

Nothing.

"Okay, so I'm the one who has to die first. Great scenario."

He saw the wyvern charging at him again. He ran too, gathering his last bit of strength.

And then, he felt it. A chill in the air. A different energy.

"Now or never..."

He unconsciously used Void Veil. Everything around him seemed to slow down. The creature's movements became blurred. He dodged beneath it, dodging one claw, then another, and slashed inside its belly with both blades, charging them with lightning.

The wounded wyvern took flight to escape. But Kaito wasn't done. He ran, jumped, and barely clung to it.

"Idiot. Reckless. Crazy." "I'm crazy."

He continued to strike until the beast began to fall. He lost one of his swords, barely clinging to the creature.

Then he concentrated what little magic he had left.

And a brilliant light burst forth.

White lightning.

The impact shook the sky.

The wyvern crashed to the ground with a clatter. Dead.

Kaito, lying nearby, gazed up at the starry sky, panting.

"That was... such a cheat... and yet I survived a fall of several meters."

He collapsed, unconscious, a smile on his lips.

Kaito remained unconscious for long hours, his bruised body lying next to the wyvern's still-smoking carcass. When he finally opened his eyes, a searing pain shot through every limb. The slightest movement was enough to make him groan. He remained motionless, staring up at the sky through the branches.

"Honestly... surviving a monster like that only to starve to death would be ridiculous." He gave a painful smile.

But even pain couldn't compete with hunger. Slowly, gritting his teeth, he crawled to the sword he had dropped nearby. Using it, he struggled to his feet, then walked over to the wyvern's corpse.

Carving the monster's flesh with trembling arms was anything but easy. He gathered a few twigs and pieces of wood, lit a fire as best he could, and grilled some meat. The taste was foul, a bitter, acrid, and savage. But his stomach decided otherwise.

Once sated, he lay down against a tree.

"If only I had sacred magic..." he thought aloud.

"Light is all well and good, but it doesn't heal a twisted leg..."

At dawn, his injuries still ached. Yet, he straightened up. As best he could, he stocked up on meat, packing what he could, then chose a direction at random, using a stick to help him walk.

Each step wrung a gasp from him, but strangely, walking gradually made him forget the pain. He discovered with amusement that the scent of the wyvern he was carrying seemed to keep the forest beasts away. Wolves, wild boars, even a bear slipped away after sniffing him from afar.

''New skill unlocked: 'Dragon Essence!'" he called out, laughing.

He then thought back to the attack he had used during his fight. 

"White Lightning... Cool name, right?

It works as a special attack," he murmured with a proud smile.

During a break, he tried a new combination: lightning and darkness. The result was a devastating black flash.

"Ooh... Black Lightning. That's even cooler!"

Satisfied, he continued on his way. But soon, a strange noise caught his attention. Curious, he approached discreetly... and saw a tree with a humanoid face strangling a boar with its roots.

A Treant.

A formidable monster, typical of the borderlands of the kingdom of Tholaris.

Kaito wanted to retreat, but the roots lunged towards him. He narrowly dodged.

"Well, apparently I'm doomed to fight every break," he said with a sigh.

He drew his sword, slicing through the roots. He activated Void Veil, his perception of time slowing, allowing him to move closer to the living tree. Once within range, he planted his blade and launched his new attack.

Black Lightning.

The attack had been brutal, impactful, putting an end to the fight. The Treant collapsed with a sinister crack. Kaito, panting, leaned on his sword.

"It seems this whole world revolves around fighting... and that's the main plot. What bloodthirsty monster will come after me next?" he murmured, a faint, wry smile on his lips.

He decided to take a break before danger struck again. Taking advantage of the Treant's wood, he built a small fire to cook the wild boar he had caught earlier. This time, the meat seemed to have a more pronounced flavor—or perhaps it was simply his body beginning to adjust to this new life.

With the Trean's presence, he realized he had gone too far into the forest to reach Thoralis's lands.

"That wasn't the plan... But hey, as long as I'm discovering things, I'm fine with that."

He resumed walking after resting a little. And after a few minutes, the trees became thinner. A large plain stretched to the horizon, bordered by cultivated fields. And in the distance, he finally spotted a town.

His face lit up.

"Finally... The starting town!" he said with a dramatic air worthy of an RPG. "New place added to the map."

Kaito finally headed toward the town. His legs could barely carry him, but the sight of the stone walls, tiled roofs, and the large swinging gate was enough to give him a boost of energy.

As soon as he entered, he noticed something strange. Passersby were all discussing the same thing. On every street corner, at the market stalls, even the children were whispering...

"Visitors from another world," "travelers," "strangers from elsewhere."

He lowered his head, feeling uneasy. As an introvert, approaching someone was already difficult, but in this situation where everyone seemed to be looking for people like him, it was becoming a real nightmare. He quickened his pace, avoiding stares.

He finally found an inn with a typical style: exposed beams, a wooden sign, and the smell of beer and warm bread wafting through the air. A true fantasy cliché. 

Inside, he met a warm-looking woman. She had a gentle smile and a natural kindness in her voice.

"Hello, young man. Are you looking for a room?"

Kaito nodded, then took a gold coin from his purse—a coin bearing the coat of arms of the Kingdom of Asterion.

When she saw her, the manager stopped in her tracks. Her eyes widened, and she immediately asked a series of questions:

"Are you from the kingdom of Asterion? Have you seen the summoned? Have you heard of the hero?"

Heads turned around them. Silence fell over the inn.

Kaito swallowed. His heart was pounding. He hated being the center of attention. The only time he'd ever spoken in front of others was... during the awakening ceremony. And he'd fainted.

Seeing his discomfort, the woman immediately stopped the questions.

"Oh, I'm sorry! I shouldn't have rushed you."

She continued in a calmer tone:

"The King of Tholaris has returned from a meeting of monarchs in the Holy Empire. There, the Supreme Archbishop warned of the arrival of people from another world... Since then, everyone has been curious. Rumors say they are powerful, and that a hero is among them."

Kaito immediately thought of Ryo.

The woman continued:

"And since you come from the kingdom of Asterion, where the summoned were seen, I thought you would have more information..."

Kaito replied timidly:

"I don't know any more than you do..."

She bowed slightly.

"I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."

Then she changed her tone:

"And what name can I register your room under?"

Kaito hesitated for a moment. He didn't want his real name to spread too quickly... Then his mind turned to the username he always used at the start of each game:

''Kyle," he finally replied, his voice low but confident.

"All right, Kyle. I'm Rose. I'm the manager of this inn," she said with a smile. "For one gold piece, you get a comfortable room and three meals a day for a month!"

She handed him a key. Kaito took it with a discreet nod, then climbed the stairs to his room.

The room was simple but clean. A soft bed, a small desk, a window overlooking the rooftops.

He collapsed onto the mattress, sighing contentedly.

"Finally, a real bed... Camping is nice for two days, but after a week, your back starts to complain." »

Without even taking off his shoes, he closed his eyes... And fell deeply asleep, overcome by exhaustion.