The Sixth

Darkness.
The ringing in his ears slowly faded.
Cold stone pressed against his hands.
A faint scent of incense drifted through the air.
His fingers twitched."..."He slowly opened his eyes.
The ceiling above him stretched impossibly high, covered in murals of dragons, blazing suns, and unfamiliar constellations. Countless candles illuminated the vast chamber with a warm golden glow."...Where..."His voice was barely audible.

Nearby, someone gasped.
"W-Where are we?"
Luna had awakened.
She quickly looked around, her expression frozen between fear and disbelief.

One after another, the remaining students regained consciousness.
Asher immediately stood, placing himself in front of the others.
"What the hell is this place?"
Ava stared speechlessly at the rows of armored knights surrounding them.

Dozens of soldiers stood perfectly still, silver spears resting against the marble floor.
Behind them were nobles dressed in luxurious robes.
At the end of the chamber sat a grand throne.
Upon it sat a middle-aged man wearing a crown of white gold.
Standing beside him was an elderly man draped in deep blue robes, his silver hair flowing to his waist.
He leaned heavily on a crystal-tipped staff.
The old man's tired eyes never left the summoning circle.
Relief slowly spread across the king's face.

"It..."His voice echoed throughout the chamber."...The Hero Summoning has succeeded."The knights struck their spears against the floor.

**CLANG!**

The sound thundered through the hall.
"Long live His Majesty!"
"Long live the Heroes!"

The six students exchanged confused glances.
Heroes?
The elderly mage didn't celebrate.
Instead...He counted.

One...
Two...
Three...
Four...
Five......
His eyes widened.
"...Six?"
The smile vanished from his face.

He stepped closer to the magic circle, carefully examining every rune engraved into the marble floor.
His fingers traced the ancient symbols.
"No..."he whispered."...The ritual is correct.
"The king frowned.
"High Mage Magnus?
"Magnus slowly looked up.
His normally calm expression had completely disappeared.
"Your Majesty...""There should only be five."
Silence filled the chamber.

Several nobles glanced at one another.
"What does he mean?"
"The prophecy speaks of five heroes."
"Then who is the sixth?"
Magnus looked toward the center of the summoning circle.
Five glowing pedestals surrounded it.
Each hero stood upon one.

Fire.
Water.
Earth.
Wind.
Ice.

Then there was the boy in the center.
No pedestal.
No engraved symbol.
No prepared position.
He simply stood there, breathing quietly.

The king descended the steps from his throne.
His gaze swept across the six students before stopping on the quiet boy.

"What is your name?"
For the briefest moment...Another name reached the edge of the boy's lips.
He swallowed it.
"...Ziod."

The king nodded once before looking toward the High Mage.
"Begin the appraisal."

Magnus raised his crystal staff.
At its tip floated a transparent orb no larger than an apple.
"The Hero's Crystal has never failed."
"It will reveal each summoned hero's blessing.

"Asher stepped forward first.
The crystal emitted a brilliant crimson light.
A wave of heat spread across the chamber.
Ancient golden letters formed in the air.
**Hero of Fire**
Excited whispers erupted among the nobles.

Magnus gave a small nod."
The prophecy is correct.

"Next came Ava.

A deep azure light filled the hall.
**Hero of Water**
Then Ethan.
Brown light.
**Hero of Earth**

Luna.
Emerald light.
**Hero of Wind**
Finally...Alice.
A pale silver-blue glow spread across the chamber.
The temperature around the crystal dropped noticeably.
**Hero of Ice**
The hall erupted into applause.
Five heroes.
Exactly as foretold.

Magnus turned toward the final student."...Ziod.
"The quiet boy stepped forward.
The crystal floated before him.
Silence.
Nothing happened.
No light.
No letters.
No blessing.
Magnus frowned.
He poured more mana into the crystal.
Still...Nothing.
The ancient artifact remained perfectly clear.

A murmur spread throughout the court.
"...Impossible."
"The Hero's Crystal has never failed."
"Is he... not a hero?"
Magnus lowered the crystal slowly.
His voice was calm, but the uncertainty in his eyes was impossible to hide.
"...Your Majesty."

"The ritual summoned someone the prophecy does not recognize."
"The king looked at Ziod for a long moment."
Then he turned toward the assembled court.

"No one leaves this chamber."
"His voice became firm."
"What happens here today is to remain known only to those present."
"Every knight struck their spear against the floor."
"As you command, Your Majesty."
"Outside the palace, bells rang throughout the capital."

Messengers rushed through the streets with joyous smiles.
"The Five Heroes have arrived!"
"No one spoke of the sixth."
No one outside the chamber would ever know he had been summoned.
As the celebration echoed across the city...Ziod quietly watched from the center of the hall.

For reasons no one could explain...He did not belong.