- The Hero’s Party

The world of Aetheria was built upon stories. Stories of dragons that once ruled the skies before humanity claimed the land, stories of ancient gods who shaped the mountains and seas with their bare hands, and stories of heroes who rose during times of despair and became legends remembered for centuries after their deaths. Most people grew up hearing those stories. Few ever expected to become part of one.

For the past twenty years, darkness had been spreading across the continent. At first, the signs had been small. Monsters appeared in places they shouldn’t have, ancient dungeons thought long dormant suddenly became active again, and strange disappearances became increasingly common along trade routes. Villages near the northern border reported hearing voices in the woods at night, while travelers spoke of shadows moving where no shadows should exist. Then things became worse. Entire regions fell silent, cities lost contact with neighboring kingdoms, and monsters once considered rare became common enough to threaten entire armies. Soon, a terrifying truth became impossible to ignore—the Demon King was awakening.

Faced with a threat humanity could not overcome alone, the kingdoms turned to the oldest solution recorded in history. They summoned a Hero, a young man from another world chosen by fate itself. His name was Aurelian. To the people of Aetheria, he was everything a Hero should be: strong, kind, fearless, and the sort of person bards loved to write songs about. Within only a few years, his accomplishments had become famous across the entire continent. Tales of his victories spread from kingdom to kingdom, nobles praised him, adventurers admired him, and children dreamed of growing up to become heroes just like him.

As his fame grew, so did the strength of the companions who traveled beside him.

Aurelian — The Hero summoned from another world. Charismatic, determined, and impossibly talented, he carried the hopes of an entire world on his shoulders. Despite his fame, there were moments when traces of the ordinary Earth teenager he once was still surfaced beneath the image of a legendary hero.

Lyra — An elven priestess whose healing magic was said to rival miracles themselves. Gentle and compassionate, she possessed an unwavering faith that inspired everyone around her. Her kindness made her beloved wherever she traveled, though she was far stronger than her soft demeanor suggested.

Seraphina — A knight known throughout the continent as the Crimson Rose. Beautiful, disciplined, and fiercely loyal, she stood as the party’s shield and protector. Her swordsmanship was feared by enemies and admired by allies alike.

Mira — A beastkin ranger blessed with extraordinary senses and unmatched accuracy. Cheerful, energetic, and endlessly curious, she often became the source of life within the group whenever the mood grew too heavy. Few people could stay gloomy for long when Mira was around.

Cedric — A prodigy archmage whose mastery over magic had already surpassed many scholars decades older than himself. Quiet and highly intelligent, he often preferred books to people, though his loyalty to his companions had never once been questioned.

Together, they formed the Hero’s Party, the strongest adventuring group in the world and the people destined to defeat the Demon King.

At least, that was what everyone believed.

Tonight, however, none of them looked particularly heroic. The Grand Summoning Hall buzzed with anticipation as nobles, priests, knights, scholars, and adventurers crowded around the enormous chamber. Hundreds of people had gathered to witness a ritual not performed since the Hero’s arrival years ago. The kingdom was summoning another person from another world. Nobody knew why. Nobody knew whether it would even work. Yet everyone had come to watch.

The magic circle carved into the floor suddenly ignited. Ancient runes blazed with golden light as overwhelming magical energy flooded the room. The air trembled, the walls shook, and gasps spread throughout the hall as the ritual reached its peak. Then, in an instant, everything became silent. For a brief moment, the world itself seemed to stop moving.

And then you appeared.

Standing directly in the center of the summoning circle, surrounded by fading golden light, you found yourself staring into a room filled with hundreds of unfamiliar faces. Murmurs immediately erupted throughout the hall.

“It worked…”

“Another Otherworlder…”

“Impossible…”

“A second one?”

Confusion churned inside you as countless eyes remained fixed on your figure, but before you could even begin processing what had happened, movement near the front of the room caught your attention. Standing near the throne was a group of five people whose faces were known throughout the entire continent. The Hero’s Party.

Lyra looked surprised. Mira looked excited. Cedric looked curious. Seraphina looked skeptical.

But Aurelian looked completely stunned.

His eyes widened the moment he saw you. For several long seconds, he simply stared, frozen in place as though he had forgotten how to move. Then, much to everyone’s confusion, he suddenly laughed.

“No way.”

The Hero rubbed a hand over his face before looking at you again.

“No actual way…”

“Aurelian?” Lyra asked, clearly confused. “What’s wrong?”

He didn’t answer. Instead, he stepped forward, then another step, and then another, until he stood directly in front of the summoning circle. The entire hall fell silent as everyone watched. Nobles exchanged confused glances. Priests whispered among themselves. Even the king seemed unsure what was happening.

Aurelian stopped only a few feet away from you. His gaze remained locked on yours, and for the first time since arriving in this strange world, there was someone looking at you not with curiosity, fear, admiration, or suspicion—but with recognition.

The Hero let out a slow breath before speaking.

“Please tell me I’m not imagining this.”

Then, in a language nobody else in the room understood, he quietly asked:

“You’re from Earth too, aren’t you?”

The reaction was immediate. Cedric frowned. Mira blinked. Seraphina narrowed her eyes. Lyra looked completely lost. None of them understood what had just been said, but the look on Aurelian’s face made one thing abundantly clear.