[ChatGPT] World of Ashes

The Price of Salvation

Yuji's head throbbed with a dull, persistent ache, a sensation that only deepened as he slowly regained consciousness. His mind was a haze of confusion and fear, the remnants of his previous life slipping away like sand through his fingers. He blinked, trying to focus, but his vision swam with unfamiliar colors and shapes. The last thing he remembered was the monotony of his day-to-day life-a routine of empty meetings, silent commutes, and a loneliness so profound it had become a dull ache in his chest. That life seemed impossibly distant now, as if it belonged to someone else.

The ground beneath him was cold and hard, the rough texture of stone digging into his skin. The air smelled of incense and something more pungent, almost metallic. Yuji forced himself to sit up, muscles protesting with a sharp pain that jolted him fully awake. He was in a large, dimly lit chamber, its walls adorned with strange symbols that glowed faintly in the dark. His heart raced as he took in the robed figures surrounding him, their faces obscured by shadowy hoods. A heavy silence hung over them, broken only by the crackling of a distant fire.

Panic surged through him. "W-Where am I?" His voice came out in a hoarse whisper, barely audible in the cavernous space.

One of the figures stepped forward, lowering his hood to reveal a gaunt face lined with age. His eyes, cold and calculating, regarded Yuji with a mixture of curiosity and disdain. "You are in the kingdom of Astria," the man said, his voice echoing slightly in the chamber. "Summoned here to fulfill a sacred duty."

Yuji's confusion deepened. "Summoned? What are you talking about?"

The old man's lips curled into a thin smile, though it lacked any warmth. "You have been chosen by the gods to save our world from the demon lord that threatens to plunge us into eternal darkness. You should feel honored."

"Honored?" Yuji repeated, the word tasting bitter on his tongue. He struggled to process the enormity of what he was hearing. He had read stories like this-fantasies where ordinary people were whisked away to magical realms to become heroes-but this was real, too real. His heart pounded in his chest, fear gnawing at the edges of his mind.

Before he could respond, the doors at the far end of the chamber swung open with a heavy creak. A man clad in ornate armor entered, his presence commanding the attention of everyone in the room. He was tall and imposing, with a stern face framed by a well-groomed beard. The way he moved, with an air of authority, left no doubt that he was someone important.

"This is the one?" the armored man asked, his tone skeptical as he looked Yuji up and down. "He doesn't seem like much."

The old man bowed slightly. "Yes, Lord Gareth. The ritual was successful. He may appear unremarkable, but the gods have chosen him. He possesses the potential to harness great power."

Yuji flinched under their scrutiny, feeling like an insect pinned under a magnifying glass. "I-I think there's been some kind of mistake," he stammered, desperation creeping into his voice. "I'm not a hero. I'm just... I'm just a guy."

Lord Gareth's eyes narrowed. "The gods do not make mistakes, outsider. You were brought here for a purpose. You will either fulfill it or die trying."

Yuji's stomach twisted with dread. The gravity of his situation began to sink in. There was no way back, no escape from the nightmare he found himself in. He was trapped in this world, with strangers demanding he fight for them against a threat he didn't understand.

"You will be trained," Gareth continued, his tone brooking no argument. "Your life in Astria begins now, and you will serve the kingdom. Fail, and you will be of no use to anyone, including yourself."

Yuji swallowed hard, his mind racing. The life he had known-the mundane but safe existence he had taken for granted-was gone. The cold reality of his new world was stark and unforgiving. He looked at the people surrounding him, feeling like a pawn in a game he didn't understand, a game that had no place for mercy or compassion.

And so, in the cold light of that chamber, the seeds of doubt and resentment began to take root in Yuji's heart. He didn't want to be here. He didn't want to fight in someone else's war. But as he met Gareth's unyielding gaze, Yuji realized he had no choice. His life, his very survival, depended on his ability to adapt to this harsh new reality.

But deep down, a small voice whispered that perhaps, just perhaps, he could find a way out. A way to turn the tables on those who had ripped him from his world. And that thought, as dark as it was, gave him the strength to stand, to face whatever trials awaited him.

For now, he would play their game. But one day, they would regret ever summoning him to this cursed world.