A Stroll Around the World

4. Mass Summoning

"Welcome heroes!" A big voice boomed.

Guang opened his eyes.

The voice rang in his skull, dull and hazy, so unfamiliar, evoking a feeling of panic, of fear. Guang immediately shook off the murkiness enveloping his body as if he had woken up from a nightmare. The ceiling was red and gold.

"Heroes... Heroes... heroes..." the voice echoed and bounced inside his skull, making his head ring. Guang winced and clutched at his forehead. The panic inside him seemed to wake him up, replacing his dull sleepy eyes with alert and cautious ones, making him consider how to escape from wherever he was. Or if any of it was real.

He looked around quickly, confused. What had just happened? Where was he? Was he inside some sort of grand history movie set? A play? It was very peculiar. He blinked. Guang saw a brightly decorated ballroom, the kind you see in films and novels in Europe, with a twinkling golden chandelier lit with candles and wide arches. The gracious outside sunlight fell through the glass windows and brightened up the place. He was surrounded by people.

"Welcome." the voice repeated.

Or more correctly, 'they' were surrounded by people. His classmates were next to him, most of them were also sitting upright, he found. In various states between either shock, disbelief, or delight? Weird. Guang tried to sit up but his limbs felt so stiff it was as if he had been staying in that position for more than a week.

The ringing in his head mostly faded after a while. Nervousness ran through the air, making Guang tense. Wrinkles appeared on his face as he frowned.

There was that refreshed feeling but it also accompanied that feeling you get when you sleep for too long.

There were knights and guards surrounding them, he saw, with spears and swords and bodies with armor. They stood proudly, their eyes glaring down on him and the other students. Guang felt a little self-conscious. Women in maid attire stood behind them, also straight-backed and stiff-faced.

And in the middle of it, just in front of them, standing on higher elevated ground, were three figures. One was a king, or Guang supposed he was a king. He looked like one. The old man's blonde hair and features were fair but weathered, he was wearing a golden jeweled crown with red velvet. Guang looked at him curiously. He was holding a scepter.

Next to him on his right was a blonde lady wearing a beautiful saffron dress with a low neckline and a fan in her hand. She smiled shyly and ducked her head, golden curls framing her face. On the left was a man with long red hair and spectacles, glaring at them coldly. He was wearing a robe and held a staff.

They all looked as if they came straight out of a fantasy movie.

"Welcome to Clarion," the king continued, "we are the ones who have summoned you. And we ask you for your help to defeat the Demon Lord!"

It was silent for a moment, as they all tried to process what was happening. Guang shook his head just to make sure it wasn't a hallucination. Before any of them could speak, the lady stepped forward.

She stepped down the stairs, down the raised platform where the king and the robed man stood. She smiled, lowering her fan. She was really pretty, Guang thought, subconsciously subdued by her fiercy aura. She looked like one of those movie actresses and she acted like one, too. Every step was filled with poise and purpose. He felt so small and nervous in front of her.

"My name is Princess Louise." She said, "the Saintess." she paused. "I'm sure you are very confused right now, but before we escort you to your rooms, we need to do something first."