Chapter 6: Bring out the summoning stone.

The warrior girl stood at the center of the room, her voice echoing through the stone walls. Ethan, who had been scanning the area, turned to face her, while the guitar man sat on the windowsill, his hat covering his eyes. Another girl lay flat on the bed, her gaze fixed on the ceiling.

"Are you all alright with this?" The warrior girl asked, her gaze sweeping over the group.

Ethan furrowed his brows, unsure of what she meant, while the girl on the bed swung her legs back and forth restlessly. The guitar man remained silent, his expression unreadable.

"What do you mean by that?" The girl on the bed asked.

"With staying here for the night," The warrior girl clarified, her tone patient. "I just wanted to check if anyone had any objections or concerns."

Ethan shook his head, while the girl on the bed let out a small sigh. The guitar man remained quiet, but his nod was enough to indicate his agreement.

Without warning, the guitar man broke the silence, "You disappoint me, I was expecting you to ask the bigger question, why are we suddenly in another world...doesn't that pique your interest?"

The warrior girl turned to him, her expression serious, "You guys don't know about the summoning stone? I was sure everyone was taught about it during preschool".

"Summoning stone?" The girl on the bed sat up, her legs dangling as she struggled to contain her excitement. "What's that?".

The warrior girl's expression was filled with disbelief as she asked, "You really don't know…" She paused for a moment and then continued, "What about the Sezen ritual? The Riki comet? The legend of Arith?".

The others remained silent, each lost in their own thoughts as they tried to piece together any semblance of familiarity with the terms mentioned. However, they were met with nothing but confusion as they realized that they had never heard of any of these before.

The guitar man let out a deep sigh, his eyes scanning the room before he spoke in a slightly annoyed tone, "I hate to break it to you, but everything you mentioned sounds like something straight out of a manga."

Ethan's eyes suddenly widened in realization after the guitar man spoke, and he raised his hand slightly, seeking permission to ask a question.

The group turned their attention to Ethan, curious as to what the quiet guy had to say.

"Excuse me, may I ask a question?" Ethan spoke calmly, his tone steady and unwavering.

The others nodded, waiting for him to continue.

"Have any of you ever heard of Kailand?" Ethan asked, his gaze locked on the group.

The room fell silent as everyone turned their attention towards Ethan, curious about his question. The warrior girl furrowed her brows, deep in thought, while the girl on the bed looked at him with confusion.

"Kailand?" The warrior girl repeated, "I've never heard of it before. What is that, a weapon?".

"It's a place where I come from," Ethan answered. "I was just wondering if anyone else here is from there too".

The guitar man leaned forward, interested in the conversation. "And where is Kailand exactly?".

"It's a country… on Earth," Ethan replied.

The girl suddenly uncrossed and recrossed her legs, a confident look on her face as she raised her fingers. "That's impossible," she declared, "there's no country named Kailand. There's Japan, USA, Russia...em… I think…"

Ethan raised an eyebrow at her before turning to the guitar man. "What about you?" he asked.

The guitar man tilted his hat before sighing. "Not one," he admitted. "Those names sound nothing like a country. I haven't heard of them."

"I see." Ethan muttered, his mind racing with possibilities. He turned to the warrior girl, his expression serious. "And you?"

The warrior girl looked to the ground, her eyes filled with questions. "I don't remember the Shogun ever mentioning names like these," She admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

'That answers the question.' Ethan thought to himself, looking at the puzzled expression on their faces, 'Every single person here… came from an alternate world, not something I expected'.

…..

As the sun rose over the horizon, the summoned heroes stood in front of the grand palace, a multitude of curious eyes fixed upon them. The king and his daughter stood atop the palace steps, their faces solemn and regal.

The heroes' expressions varied - some showed apprehension, while others looked determined. Ethan stood tall with his arms crossed, his gaze fixed upon the royal family.

The guitar man leaned casually against a nearby pillar, strumming a tune on his guitar. The warrior girl stood with her head held high, a fierce determination etched upon her face.

As the crowd hushed, the king spoke with a booming voice, "Today, we welcome our summoned heroes, chosen to save our land from the darkness that threatens it."

The heroes looked at each other, silently acknowledging the immense responsibility that had been placed upon their shoulders.

After what felt like an excruciatingly long time, the king's booming voice suddenly ceased addressing the masses and transitioned to the main event.

"Bring out the Relics!" The king commanded with authority.

Immediately, the guards sprang into action, rushing in with six crimson-hued stones placed atop mammoth boxes, positioning each one in front of the respective summoned hero.

The crowd's murmurs increased as they watched with bated breath, eager to witness what was about to unfold.

As the king spoke, the summoned heroes were transfixed on the six red stones that sat atop the large boxes, each one emitting a faint aura that pulsed with power. The anticipation in the air was palpable as they listened to the king's words.

"These Relics are divine artifacts passed down from the gods themselves," The king proclaimed, his voice echoing through the courtyard. "Through them, you will be able to attain your Weapon and your class of magic, granting you immense power and the ability to fulfill your destiny."

The heroes' eyes remained fixed on the stones, their hearts beating faster with excitement and nervousness. The king's words had filled them with hope and determination, and they were eager to begin their journey.

"All you have to do is place your hands upon the stones, and the Relics will do the rest," the king finished, gesturing towards the boxes.

The heroes exchanged a look, their expressions a mixture of determination and uncertainty. Slowly, they stepped forward, each one approaching their respective box with a sense of reverence and awe.