12. Slehtkubi’s summoning ritual

Waldina touched the surface of the mirror softly. The surface stirred and a brilliant lightshow sprang up. It blinded her and she had to fight against her natural urge to close her eyes. She didn’t want to miss anything the mirror had to offer her. Any information would be useful.

After the lightshow dimmed a row of holograms of human-like beings appeared in front of her. Their expressions were sour and cold. None of them said a word. Waldina tried to interpret their expressions, gestures and appearance. Anything.

“Congratulations young lady, you’ve passed the first stage-exam,” a female voice stepped forward - at least her hologram seemed to do so, breaking the long lasting silence.

“Stage-exam?” Waldina raised her eyebrow questioningly, as if she didn’t already know what a stage-exam was. A couple of the holograms sighed showing their annoyance.

“Yes. The stage-exam for heroes. As you pass these, you’ll slowly get closer to becoming this world's savior, namely a hero,” the female figure explained with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. The hologram figures behind her appeared to be laughing and mumbling with each other. The sight quickened Waldina’s pulse. Something wasn’t right and she couldn’t quite figure out what.

“Not that it matters to you,” one of the male holograms snorted in the background.

“What do you mean? Hero? Why?” Waldina’s head was overflowing with questions.

“This world is threatened by the rise of demons, and that is why we have chosen to summon a hero who defies fate to save this world. A hero is someone whose power is granted by the goddess, a promised Messiah, savior to everyone. A hero’s job is to train to become more powerful and then finally fight against the demons.”

“And if I don’t want to? Or I want to go back home?”

More laughter and snorts.

“It matters little what you do,” an older female figure stepped forward from the backlines. Her annoyed gaze met with Waldina’s. Before Waldina managed to ask for an explanation, another hologram spoke up:

“Yes, you are just our back-up heroine. In case our first choice hero would fail. Though you don’t seem that promising. As if a mere ninja could save us.”

“Back-up?” Waldina’s eyes squinted as she could feel her blood boiling, “in that case, I suppose you could just let this useless back-up heroine get back to her world.”

“The summoning works one-way only. Only goddesses could return you to your beloved home, but goddesses aren’t interested in things like that.” The words hit her like a bullet train.

“The goddesses are at best interested in heroes like Oziel, who will actually save the world,” an admiring voice stated from the background.

“Oziel?” Waldina mumbled more to herself than to the holograms. She was sure she knew that name from somewhere, but she just couldn’t figure out where. “And how do I get the attention of a goddess?”

“In your case, I doubt that’s possible. The goddesses aren’t interested in useless beings,” the words rang out with laughter.

I see how it is, Waldina thought to herself. Just what she wanted to hear.

“If I’m so useless to you, then why summon me?”

“The ritual pointed to two individuals who held the power of god, and we weren’t sure which one of you was the right one. Oziel is a brilliant knight, better fitted to battle. You on the other hand,” the hologram figure measured the ninja with her gaze, “I’m sure you know your limitations.”

“Hahaha,” the situation was so absurd Waldina couldn’t help but laugh, “and who are you guys?”

“We’re the people of Slehtkubi,” one of the holograms stated reluctantly.

“Good. It was not nice to meet you, dear leaders of Slehtkubi. Let’s not keep in touch,” Waldina nodded with a cold smile. Without waiting for answers she threw the mirror that was showing the holograms, to the ground, shattering it to a million pieces.

It was just her luck to get summoned somewhere without an actual need for her skills. In vain. There was not a single being who needed her in this world and she couldn’t really plan on returning to hers either. The only ‘good’ thing was that at least now she knew this wasn’t just a long lasting dream, but her new reality.

Not that it made this any easier.

“Kiandra? Stop hiding and let’s go,” Waldina called out to Kiandra who was still hiding at the edge of the square. After a while the fairy began flying shyly towards her.

“W-where do we go?” Kiandra’s voice was barely audible.

“I’m sure you heard what they said,” Waldina pointed with her hand to where the holograms had been, “I’m going to complete all of these stage-exams and grow stronger, just cause I can. I’ll show them what a ninja is capable of. And perhaps a goddess will shower me with their interest, giving me a chance to go back home.”

Kiandra admired the determined Waldina, whose purple hair danced with the wind. She didn’t dare question the sudden invite in joining Waldina’s journey and she stayed quiet as she flew next to her.

And thus the duo head towards their next challenges. Between all the annoyance Waldina noticed the growing excitement. She loved showing off to people who didn’t believe in her. It was useless to beg for forgiveness later on. She’d reach the top, just because she could. Laughing at the top was always sweeter.