The Shield Hero Fanfic/Rewrite (Dandial)

Dandial: Chapter 1

The cold, crisp air outside created a stark contrast with the warm, cozy atmosphere inside the bookstore. A young man with jet-black, tousled hair moved around, placing books thoughtfully, a subtle smile playing on his lips. A ‘Closed’ sign covered the front window, while frost crept up the corners. As the bookstore grew increasingly quiet, the only sound was the soft squeak of his sneakers on the hardwood floor. Suddenly, a radiant glow emanated on a shelf, catching his eye. Intrigued, he reached out to the source of the light, his fingers meeting the cover of the book, a voice suddenly echoed in his head, freezing him in his tracks.

“The world of Dandial calls upon The Four Cardinal Heroes of our world; we plead for the vessels of The Spear, The Bow, The Sword, and The Shield to save our land from The Waves.”

A blinding light engulfed him, sending him tumbling into shock. Yet, instead of solid ground, a yawning void of yellow-white light yawned beneath him. His scream echoed into nothingness as he plummeted through the abyss. Finally, he slammed onto an unfamiliar porcelain floor, the light constricting to a soothing baby blue. He found himself before a circle of clocked priests in the heart of a random summoning room, their eyes studying him intently.

“Fantastic, the summoning was a success!” The priest in front of the group let out a gasp of astonishment, and the summoning circle vanished. Another younger priest, his voice riddled with hysteria, pushed forward from the crowd.

“Brave heroes! Please, we beg of you to save our world from pure evil!” The man with ebony hair raised his eyebrows in confusion at the trembling priest who stood above him. Around him, three other people were in the summoning circle, their baffled responses in unison to his own. Sitting beside him, a tall man wielding a spear and an effeminate man with a sword. Behind those men stood a man dressed in medieval clothing holding a bow, that man kept his eyes intently locked on the priests.

The priests attired themselves in flowing robes of somber black and white, their hoods framing their faces in shadows. Contrasting against the dull fabric, a radiant splash of color emerged from their jewel-encrusted necklace collars. Hanging from their necks were clay pendants, their intricate pattern more reminiscent of a six-pointed star than traditional crosses, adding an air of mystery to the already enigmatic figures

They all exchanged glances as they rose from the floor to join the man with a bow. The man with ink hair noticed a small shield had become securely attached to his right arm, its solid heft providing a sense of security. He turned his arm back and forth, studying the metal surface offset by a gleaming green gem at its center. “Please legendary heroes, our world is in dire need of saving!”

“Is this real?” The man with the spear questioned, his long blond hair pulled back in a high ponytail; he pushed a stray strand away from his face. Behind them, the man with the bow now seemed more interested in his bowstring rather than the priests. The man with the sword contrastively hung on the priest's every word, his bright blue eyes alert with newfound confidence.

“What do you mean by, ‘in need of saving?’”

“The story behind it all is long and complicated, but suffice it to say that you are The Four Cardinal Heroes, summoned here using an ancient ritual.” With a heavy heart, the priest extended his arms wide, a gesture of vulnerability meant to evoke sympathy. “Our world is in a most fragile state and teeters on the brink of destruction.” Trembling slightly, he sank to his knees in front of the valiant heroes, clasping his hands together and whispering, “So we beg you, legendary heroes, please lend us your aid.” The shield user raised his arm overhead, causally running his fingers through his hair with care to avoid clunking himself with the shield’s edge.

“Well… I guess I could at least hear you out-”

“Forget it.” The swordsman cut in decisively, causing the shieldbearer and spearfarer to turn to him in surprise. Before anyone could respond, the archer piped up.