The World Around

The Day the Heroes Were Summoned...

Fortress Varahi, Royal Capital of Dorad

The Royal Palace had never known silence.

Servants hurried through marble corridors. Ministers argued over reports. Knights stood guard beneath towering banners bearing the crest of the Dorad Empire.

Then—

"My Lord!"

"My Lord!"

A royal guard burst through the palace doors, struggling to catch his breath.

"There is... an issue with the Royal Treasure!"

King Alexander V Dorad, who had been discussing military affairs only moments before, immediately stood.

"The Royal Treasure?"

His expression darkened.

"Take me there."

The treasure chamber lay deep beneath the palace.

Heavy iron doors groaned open.

The royal scholars, priests, and guards were already gathered, whispering among themselves.

No one dared touch the object planted into ground.

The King's footsteps echoed through the chamber.

"...Explain."

One elderly scholar stepped forward.

"Your Majesty..."

"The Sword of Founding..."

"...its inscription has changed."

The King's eyes narrowed.

Impossible.

For over a Five hundred years, the sacred sword had been passed from emperor to emperor.

Its ancient inscription had never once altered.

Yet...

Today...

Every symbol carved along the blade was different.

Alexander slowly looked at the sword.

The metal itself remained unchanged.

Only the letters...

No longer resembled any known record.

The scholars exchanged uneasy glances.

"We've compared it against every preserved manuscript..."

"...None match."

The King stared silently at the unfamiliar script.

"...What could this possibly mean?"

No one answered.

Far away from Royal capital.

The northeren plains echoed with steel.

Explosions.

Fire.

Cries of the wounded.

Commander Hawks stood atop the battered fortress walls, watching countless banners bearing the crests of the demon Lords approach towards the Fort stellar.

Another knight stumbled toward him.

"Commander!"

"We're being overwhelmed!"

"The eastern wall won't hold much longer!"

"What are your orders?"

Hawks never took his eyes off the battlefield.

"...Order every civilian evacuated."

"The remaining companies begin a strategic retreat."

"B-but Commander—"

"That is an order."

The knight saluted.

"Yes, sir!"

Before he could take another step—

Slash.

The sound was almost too quiet.

The knight stopped walking.

His body...

Split cleanly into two.

Blood stained the Floor.

Silence.

Everyone froze.

"...What?"

The soldiers instinctively drew their swords.

Another body fell.

Then another.

And another.

Men collapsed before they even understood what had happened.

Panic spread across the battlefield.

"WHAT IS HAPPENING?!"

"I CAN'T SEE ANYTHING!"

Commander Hawks tightened his grip on his sword.

"...Show yourself."

A figure finally appeared several meters away.

A massive warrior clad in dark armor slowly stepped from the swirling wind.

A colossal greatsword rested effortlessly upon one shoulder.

His icy cold eyes calmly surveyed the battlefield.

"So..."

"You are Commander Hawks."

His voice carried no hatred.

Only certainty.

"I am Baldoli."

"General of the Ice Lord's Army."

"I've come..."

"...to end this battle."

Without another word—

He vanished.

Clang!

Hawks barely raised his blade in time.

The impact shattered the stone floor beneath them.

The surrounding soldiers were thrown backward.

"So fast..."

Hawks muttered.

Their blades collided again.

And again.

Each strike forced the Commander further back.

Baldoli never rushed.

Every movement was precise.

And Efficient.

As though defeating Hawks had already been decided.

Meanwhile...

The remaining knights desperately escorted the wounded away from the fortress.

"Keep moving!"

"Don't stop!"

"We leave no one behind!"

Hawks smiled.

Good.

They're escaping.

Then—

CRACK.

His sword broke.

The battlefield fell silent.

Baldoli lowered his blade.

"You fought well."

Blood trickled from Hawks' lips.

"...Heh..."

"I suppose..."

"...this is where I fall."

He looked beyond Baldoli...

Toward the distant south.

Toward the Kingdom.

A faint smile appeared.

"You've won today..."

"...General of ice lord."

"But..."

His breathing grew weaker.

"...Prepare yourself."

"The real war..."

"...has yet to begin."

"The Heroes..."

"...have finally arrived."

A strange silence followed.

For the first time...

Baldoli's expression shifted.

Not amusement.

Interest.

"...Heroes..."

He repeated quietly.

Hawks collapsed.

The commander of Fort Stellar died with his sword still raised.

his body was frozen.

Baldoli looked toward the southern horizon.

"...Then..."

"...I shall welcome them myself."

He turned toward his army.

"Advance."

The horns of the Demon Army echoed across the northren plains.

Fort Stellar had fallen.

This news travelled through empire as rapid fire .

Warm sunlight slipped through the stained-glass windows, scattering fragments of crimson, sapphire, and gold across the quiet infirmary.

The room smelled faintly of herbs and incense.

Outside, the Cathedral bustled with life.

Footsteps echoed through the corridors.

Priests recited their morning prayers.

Somewhere in the distance, the rhythmic clang of swords striking against one another carried through the open window.

Life had continued.

Three days had passed since the Rite.

Three days since the Goddess's blessing.

Three days since the Hero named Vinaas Nullka had collapsed before the entire Cathedral.

Darkness slowly gave way to light.

My body felt... heavy.

As if every muscle had been replaced with stone.

"..."

A dull ache pulsed behind my eyes.

I tried moving my fingers.

They obeyed.

Barely.

"...So..."

"I'm alive."

The memory returned in fragments.

A silver tree.

A warm smile.

Golden light.

Tiara.

"..."

"So..."

"It wasn't a dream."

Slowly, I forced my eyes open.

The unfamiliar ceiling came into focus.

Wooden beams.

White curtains swaying gently in the breeze.

The scent of medicine lingered in the air.

"...Where..."

Before I could finish, I noticed someone resting beside my bed.

silver hair.

Peacefully asleep with her head resting against folded arms.

"...Angie..."

The word escaped before I could stop it.

I blinked.

"..."

"...Miss Angelica."

Almost on cue, her eyes fluttered open.

For a brief moment, confusion crossed her face.

Then relief.

"Vinaas..."

"You're awake."

A gentle smile appeared.

"I'll call Saint Rerisa."

She quickly stood.

I raised a weak hand.

"...Wait."

She paused.

"..."

"...How long was I asleep?"

Angelica hesitated.

"..."

"Three days."

The answer hung heavily between us.

Three days...

Tiara...

She was right.

My body really had needed time.

I let out a quiet sigh.

"...I see."

Angelica pulled a chair closer to the bed.

"You collapsed immediately after the Rite."

"The physicians couldn't find any injuries."

"They said your body was weak and about to shut down..."

"...but they couldn't wake you."

"The Holy Father visited the previous day."

"The apprentice priest were worried."

"someone named Elias came by more times than I could count."

A faint smile tugged at the corner of my lips.

"...Sounds like him."

She chuckled softly.

"It does."

For the first time since opening my eyes...

The room felt peaceful.

Angelica stood from her chair.

"You've barely eaten anything in three days."

"I'll bring you some fruit."

"I won't be long."

She smiled gently before walking toward the door.

Just before leaving, another woman entered.

She wore pristine white robes embroidered with silver threads.

Unlike the other priests, there was a quiet dignity about her.

black hair flowed over her shoulders, and calm emerald eyes settled upon Vinaas.

Angelica immediately bowed.

"Saint Rerisa."

The woman smiled.

"There's no need to be so formal."

Angelica turned toward Vinaas.

"Vinaas... this is Saint Rerisa."

"Please thank her properly."

"She stayed by your side and healed you while you were unconscious."

Vinaas slowly inclined his head.

"...Thank you."

Rerisa laughed softly.

"You should be thanking someone else."

She glanced toward Angelica.

"I merely healed your body."

"She was the one who refused to leave your bedside."

Angelica's cheeks flushed.

"S-Saint..."

"It wasn't anything special."

Rerisa chuckled.

"I'll leave you two for a moment."

Angelica quickly interrupted.

"I'll... get the fruit first."

Without waiting for another word, she hurried out of the room.

Once the door closed...

Rerisa pulled a chair beside the bed.

"So..."

She rested her chin on one hand.

"Is there something between you and Lady Angelica?"

Vinaas blinked.

"...No."

The answer came so quickly that even Rerisa raised an eyebrow.

"No?"

"We're childhood friends."

"And nothing more."

"I don't see why there would be."

Silence.

Then—

Thunk.

A fruit basket slipped from someone's hands outside the door.

An apple rolled slowly across the floor.

Vinaas turned toward the entrance.

"...Miss Angelica—"

She forced a small smile.

"I'm sorry."

"I suddenly remembered..."

"I have something I need to do."

Before he could say another word...

She quietly walked away.

The apple remained where it had stopped.

Neither of them spoke.

Rerisa let out a quiet sigh.

"...You really are honest."

Vinaas frowned.

"...Was I supposed to lie?"

A small laugh escaped her lips.

"No."

"But honesty..."

"...can wound people just as deeply as deception."

Vinaas lowered his eyes.

"I..."

"I didn't mean to hurt her."

"I know."

Rerisa smiled warmly.

"Which is exactly why she'll understand eventually."

She stood and picked up the fallen apple.

Placing it back into the basket, she continued.

"People don't always cry because they're rejected."

"Sometimes..."

"They cry because reality isn't what they quietly hoped it might be."

Rerisa's expression became more serious.

"Unfortunately..."

"The Cathedral doesn't have the luxury of dwelling on such matters."

She looked out the window.

"The Second Northeastern Front has collapsed."

"Fort Stellar has fallen."

"The news reached us shortly after the Rite."

Vinaas remained silent.

"The Demon Army has begun advancing faster than expected."

"The kingdoms are requesting immediate military assistance."

She folded her hands together.

"Originally..."

"The Heroes were expected to train for several months."

"Now..."

"We have less than three."

"The finest royal instructors from every allied kingdom have already arrived."

"Swordmasters."

"Mages."

"Knights."

"Strategists."

"They're all waiting."

Vinaas stared quietly at the sunlight spilling across the floor.

"...So the war has already begun."

Rerisa nodded.

"It never stopped."

Silence filled the room once more.

After a long pause...

Vinaas looked at his own hand.

"...Saint Rerisa."

"Yes?"

"...Can I use magic?"

She didn't hesitate.

"No."

The answer was immediate thou.

"...Your body is still in weak condition."

"After Rite something changed within you."

"But whatever happened..."

"...your body isn't ready yet."

"If you force mana through it now..."

"You may permanently damage your mana pathways."

"...Or worse."

Vinaas slowly clenched his fist.

"...I see."

Rerisa met my gaze.

"You wish to become stronger."

"So that no one else has to protect you."

I didn't answer.

Because she was right.

She smiled gently.

"Strength isn't gained in a single day, Vinaas."

"Your journey..."

"...has only just begun."

Vinaas looked out the window.

Beyond the Cathedral walls...

A world at war awaited.

Quietly...

Almost as if making a promise to himself...

He whispered,

"...Then I'll become strong enough."

No matter how long it took.