Somewhere in the modern world, nestled in the vibrant heart of Chicago, there stood a charming little plant store tucked between two brick buildings. The morning sun streamed through the windows, casting golden light across shelves of lush greenery. The scent of damp soil and blooming flowers lingered in the air.
Inside, 21-year-old Eli Reed hummed quietly as he watered a row of thriving ferns. With tousled brown hair and large, emerald-green eyes that sparkled with warmth, he moved from plant to plant with care. He wore a worn apron and soft smile—his peaceful sanctuary in the form of leaves and petals.
"Look at you," Eli muttered affectionately to a flowering orchid. "You're doing so well. Just a little more sun and you'll be a star." He chuckled, clipping a few yellowing leaves. "You're all growing up so fast. Makes a plant dad proud."
Eli loved the quiet life. In a world full of noise and chaos, the stillness of plants calmed his soul. His thoughts wandered as he worked—how much he loved nurturing life, how fascinating the natural world was, how flowers spoke in colors and growth. This was his passion. His peace.
A customer entered, and Eli lit up. "Good morning! Looking for anything special today?"
"Yeah, something low-maintenance. My last succulent died."
"Well," Eli grinned, "I won't hold it against you. Let me show you the ZZ plant. Practically immortal. Even you can't kill it."
The customer laughed, and soon they were chatting about sunlight, watering schedules, and plant personalities. Eli walked them through the basics.
"Most people overwater, believe it or not. You think you're being kind, but you're drowning the poor thing. Let the soil dry out between waterings. Think of it like letting a sponge wring itself out."
The customer nodded. "Okay, so once a week?"
"If it's a ZZ, maybe even every two. And bright, indirect sunlight. Not direct, or the leaves will scorch. They're survivors, but even they have limits."
Another customer wandered in holding a sad-looking peace lily.
"Eli! Help, she's wilting."
Eli smiled and took the plant gently. "Peace lilies are dramatic. She's not dying—just thirsty. Let me give her a drink and a pep talk."
He looked at the customer, eyes twinkling. "Talk to your plants, y'know. Maybe they don't answer back, but they listen."
"You talk to yours?"
"All the time. Plants don't judge. They just grow."
The customer laughed, comforted, and left with renewed confidence in their green-thumb journey.
Eli turned back to his plants, lost in a world of greenery.
"Hey Eli!"
Eli looked up to see his boss, a tall man in his forties with a clipboard in hand.
"What's up, boss?"
"Got a delivery. Someone placed a special order. Think you can handle it?"
Eli smiled and nodded. "Sure thing. Where to?"
The boss handed him a bag and a slip of paper. "Here's the address. Go get some fresh air."
"Got it. See ya later!"
Bag in hand, Eli stepped out into the bustling streets of Chicago. The city pulsed with life, but he found joy in it—watching people, smelling food trucks, catching snippets of laughter. The sun felt good on his skin.
He passed a group of college students standing at the corner. Two guys, two girls.
The first guy, Jamal, had a muscular build, dark skin, a lightning-patterned fade haircut, and piercing golden-brown eyes. Dressed in athletic gear, he was grinning wide.
"Man, I am so not ready for tomorrow's test," Jamal groaned.
The second guy, Marcus, tall and broad-shouldered with black hair and glasses, adjusted his messenger bag. "Then study, Jamal. It's not rocket science."
"Easy for you to say, book genius!"
Marcus rolled his eyes. "Just put in the work. It's not that hard."
Jamal groaned dramatically. "I'm screwed."
The girls giggled. Kaori, tall and serious with a crisp ponytail and sharp brown eyes, crossed her arms.
"Maybe if you focused on school instead of basketball, you wouldn't be struggling," she said flatly.
"Why you gotta be so mean, Kaori? I thought you were supposed to support your teammates."
Kaori sighed. "I do. That's why I'm telling you to take this seriously."
The other girl, Izzy, petite with wavy auburn hair and a scarf flaring dramatically in the wind, laughed. "Kaori's right, Jamal. Or you could join theater. You'd look fantastic in stage makeup."
"Not in this lifetime, Izzy," Jamal muttered.
"Too bad," she winked.
Eli smiled to himself, eavesdropping as he walked by. But just as he reached them—
A sudden flash of blue light exploded beneath their feet.
The world shifted.
They were floating.
"What the—?!" Jamal shouted.
"What's happening?!" Izzy screamed.
"Do something!" Kaori yelled, grabbing Marcus's arm.
"This isn't normal! This is not normal!" Marcus muttered rapidly, his eyes wide.
Eli's heart pounded. What is this? Are we being abducted? Is this some sci-fi nightmare?
And then—they vanished.
A heartbeat later, they landed with a thud.
They were no longer in Chicago.
The sky was purple. Two suns hovered above a medieval-looking city. Strange towers, alien plants, and armored guards stood around them.
A voice boomed: "Welcome, Otherworlders."
They turned. A grand hall. A throne. Nobles and knights. And at the center, a man seated with the weight of a kingdom on his shoulders.
Tall, broad, with silver-streaked blond hair and piercing blue eyes, he looked down on them like a lion watching his cubs.
"I am King Alric Aurellius IV, The Lion of Aurellia," he declared. "And we need your help to defeat the awakening Demon Lord."
All four college students yelled in perfect harmony:
"THE DEMON LORD?!?!"
The hall echoed with their shock.
Jamal's jaw dropped. "This is not what I signed up for! I have a biology test tomorrow! Not a demon battle!"
Marcus adjusted his glasses. "This can't be real. This must be some kind of simulation. A mass hallucination. Maybe a dream."
Kaori instinctively reached for a nonexistent weapon. "A Demon Lord? What kind of twisted fantasy world is this?"
Izzy blinked, then grabbed Jamal's sleeve. "Wait—are we isekai'd? Like, actually? Because I did not pack cute boots for this."
Eli, still stunned, looked at the vaulted ceiling, the stained-glass windows, the line of knights standing at attention. We're not on Earth anymore. This… this is something else.
Izzy looked sharply at the king, brow furrowed and arms crossed. "How are we supposed to defeat a demon lord? We don't have powers or skills or anything. We're just college kids."
The other three chimed in instantly:
Jamal groaned, "She's right, man! I've never even held a sword, let alone fought a demon!"
Marcus adjusted his glasses. "This is beyond irrational. You can't expect untrained civilians to engage in warfare."
Kaori narrowed her eyes. "I'm not backing down from a fight, but this doesn't make any sense. We're not equipped for this."
The king nodded solemnly. "Your concerns are valid. Allow me to have my Archmage explain."
He turned and motioned to the right side of the throne. From the crowd of nobles and mages stepped a striking figure. Tall and thin, almost gaunt, with a long, silver beard streaked with black, and deep, glowing purple eyes, the man wore midnight blue and gold robes covered in moving runes. A crescent-moon circlet rested on his brow, and a wooden staff, alive with vines and crystals, tapped gently with each step.
"Greetings, summoned heroes," he said in a smooth, low voice. "I am Grand Magus Thellorin, The Sage Between Realms."
The four college students all gawked.
Jamal blinked. "Okay. Now we're meeting wizards. What is this, D&D on steroids?"
Kaori muttered, "He looks like Merlin's cooler cousin."
Izzy lit up. "Oh my god, he's perfect. Can I sketch you later? You're like fashion-magazine-meets-arcane-drama!"
Marcus stared. "This man is emitting actual magical energy. I can feel it."
Eli remained silent, eyes fixed on Thellorin. This guy… he's something else. There's more going on behind those eyes than he's letting on.
King Alric spoke again, his voice steady. "Thellorin is the most trusted mage in Aurellia. I would stake my kingdom, my life, and my daughters on his word."
Thellorin inclined his head, the corners of his mouth curling in a faint smile. "Your Majesty honors me. As always, I serve the realm and its balance."
He turned to the five newcomers. "This world operates on a unique magical system. Its core is built on three pillars: Essence, Affinity, and Will. Essence defines your natural potential. Affinity guides what powers you can awaken. And Will? Will determines how far you'll go. Each of you has been pulled across worlds because you resonate with a different aspect of this balance."
The four students and Eli stared, wide-eyed.
Jamal exhaled slowly. "You're saying we can use magic?"
"Like… actual magic?!" Izzy nearly squealed.
Marcus's rational mind churned. "The laws of physics must operate differently here… incredible."
Kaori's fists clenched with purpose. "If it helps me fight that Demon Lord, then I want to learn it."
Eli blinked. Magic? Me? Could I… actually do this?
Thellorin raised a hand. "Now, to view your status, simply say: 'Open Status.' It will reveal your class, skills, and potential."
The four college kids looked at one another.
"Open status!" they said in unison.
Four glowing screens appeared in front of them.
Jamal's eyes widened. "Whoa! My class is... Storm Brawler / Lightning Champion! That's sick!"
Kaori's screen shimmered. "Holy Knight / Lightblade Hero. Fitting."
Izzy twirled, inspecting her screen. "Oooh~ Arcane Trickster / Illusion Mage. That's so me!"
Marcus spoke calmly. "Guardian Saint / Shieldbearer Hero. Well, I suppose that makes me the tank."
They all looked at each other, stunned and excited.
Jamal grinned. "Yo, this is like... legit superhero stuff."
Izzy nodded. "I already love my class."
Kaori seemed comforted. "We have power now. We can fight."
Marcus folded his arms. "At the very least, we can defend ourselves."
Eli watched, fascinated. Then, hesitantly, he said, "Open Status."
A green-tinted screen blinked into existence in front of him.
Name: Eli Reed
Age: 23
Race: Human
Level: 1
Class: Plant Mage (Novice)
Titles: Accidentally Summoned, Herbal Hobbyist, Peace-Seeking Outsider
HP: 100
MP: 120
Strength: 8
Agility: 11
Endurance: 10
Mana: 140
Luck: 14
Charm: 16
Normal Skills:
Appraisal – Analyze an object, plant, or creature to reveal detailed information such as properties, origins, and potential uses; higher levels increase accuracy and depth of insight
Basic Herbology – Identify common herbs and plants
Foraging – Locate edible and magical plants in forests
Planting – Improve yield and speed of plant growth
Compost Alchemy – Convert organic matter into low-tier nutrients
Grafting – Combine traits of two plants into one hybrid species
Insect Friend (Passive) – Peaceful insects leave you alone more often
Ability Skills:
Vine Whip – Summon a small vine to lash or grab
Photosynthetic Recovery (Passive) – Slowly regenerates HP/MP in sunlight
Soil Sense – Detects fertility, poison, or magical residue in terrain
Camouflage Cloak – Use nearby foliage to blend into natural surroundings
Greenstep (Passive) – Increased movement speed across natural terrain
Magic Skills:
Nature Bolt – Launches a concentrated seed of mana
Spore Cloud – Releases harmless spores to blind or distract
Grow – Stimulates rapid growth in nearby plants
Plant Talk (Limited) – Communicate simple thoughts with low-sentience flora
Thorn Shot – Launches a sharp, needle-like thorn
Root Lance – Summons a sharpened root spike from the ground
Razorleaf Arc – Fires a fan of razor-sharp glowing leaves
Unique Skills:
Verdant Heart – Increases affinity with plant and earth-element magic; passively boosts growth and grants resistance to corruption
World Root Connection – Sense, speak to, and draw power from the World Tree's roots anywhere in the world; use to call aid, heal, teleport, or commune with nature spirits
Living Weaponry – Can grow plant-based weapons with unique abilities (e.g., a blade of bone-thorns or a whip-vine that heals allies it strikes)
Weapons: None
Items: None
Eli gawked at the screen. Plant Mage? That's… that's perfect. These skills—Foraging, Grafting, World Root Connection... it's like this class was made for me.
The grand throne room stood in heavy silence as King Alric gazed across the five strangers brought by the summoning circle. His voice broke through the hush.
"The prophecy speaks of four summoned heroes—chosen by fate—to defeat the awakening Demon Lord and save our world."
The four college students exchanged glances.
Jamal scratched his head. "A prophecy? Like, a real one? With ancient scrolls and glowing runes?"
Izzy tilted her head. "So we're some kind of... cosmic chosen ones? Not gonna lie, I thought it'd be more glamorous."
Kaori crossed her arms. "If that prophecy's real, then we need to start training immediately."
Marcus stepped forward. "I have one question."
The king inclined his head. "What do you wish to ask, Hero Marcus?"
Marcus turned and pointed behind him. "You said the prophecy mentioned four summoned heroes. Then... who is he?"
The king followed Marcus's gaze, eyes landing on Eli Reed, who stood behind the group, smiling awkwardly and clearly out of place.
Eli blinked. "Uh... hi there."
The nobles whispered among themselves. The royal mages exchanged uneasy glances. Even the Grand Magus furrowed his brow.
The king narrowed his eyes. "Why is there a fifth? This is unprecedented."
Nobles muttered:
"Was he caught in the spell?"
"An accidental summon?"
"A fluke of unstable arcane forces?"
The king turned to Thellorin. "Grand Magus, explain this."
Thellorin frowned thoughtfully. "The summoning circle may have malfunctioned. Or... something else reached through the spell—something that brought him."
The king stared at Eli. "Who are you, boy?"
Eli swallowed nervously. "M-my name is Eli Reed."
The king's voice softened slightly. "I am sorry to tell you, Eli. The summoning is a one-way ritual. You cannot return to your world."
Eli's heart dropped. I'm stuck here… forever. He looked down, thoughts racing. This isn't what I wanted. I just liked watering flowers.
Suddenly, the throne room doors burst open.
All eyes turned as three young women entered, each crowned with a delicate diadem.
The first strode forward with piercing crimson eyes and shoulder-length dark red hair. She wore high boots, a mage's coat, and gloves. She stopped with military precision.
"Father, are these the summoned heroes? They don't look like much."
The second woman, tall and radiant, stepped beside her. With flowing golden hair, violet eyes, and a silver phoenix staff, she exuded calm warmth.
"Calista, be nice. They are the heroes foretold. They're here to protect us."
Calista scoffed. "Shouldn't heroes look powerful? Like in the legends?"
The third woman bounced forward playfully. Short and small, with silver-blonde hair and a playful grin, she wore a flowing court dress.
"Hey, look!" she said. "There's five of them."
Calista and Seraphina blinked. "Five?"
They turned, spotting Eli among the group. Their eyes widened.
"What is he doing here?" Seraphina asked.
"That's not part of the prophecy," Calista muttered.
Eli and the other four stared at the three women.
Who are they? Eli thought. The four heroes mirrored his surprise.
The king cleared his throat. "My daughters. Princess Seraphina Aurellius—the Divine Rose, my firstborn."
Seraphina bowed her head slightly. "It is an honor to meet you, summoned heroes."
"And my second daughter," the king continued, "Princess Calista Aurellius—the Crimson Strategist."
Calista crossed her arms. "Nice to meet you. Or whatever."
"And my third daughter, Princess Elira Aurellius—the Hidden Flame."
Elira grinned. "Hope you guys can actually defeat the Demon Lord. No pressure!"
Seraphina turned to her father and Thellorin. "Did the summoning circle work correctly? I followed the ritual to the letter."
Thellorin gave a small smile. "It worked... perhaps too well. It brought five, not four."
All eyes returned to Eli. He chuckled nervously and waved.
Elira giggled. "Looks like big sis' magic isn't as flawless as she thought!"
Calista smirked. "Imagine that. The 'perfect summoner' added an extra."
Seraphina ignored them, murmuring about circle calibration formulas.
The king waved a hand. "It doesn't matter. The heroes are here. Even the High Priestess can overlook minor complications."
Seraphina nodded. "Of course, Father."
The king turned back to the summoned. "You must train to master your gifts. Head to the training grounds. The Demon Lord must be stopped."
The four college students nodded.
Jamal: "Time to find out what I can do with lightning."
Izzy: "Let's see how flashy this illusion magic is."
Marcus: "I'll protect everyone. That's what I do."
Kaori: "We must be ready. We don't have time to waste."
Eli stood silently, lost in thought. Do I really want to fight? That's not me. I want a quiet life... maybe a garden, a shop... just peace.
Before the king could continue, a voice spoke up.
"Excuse me… may I say something?"
Everyone turned to see Eli raising his hand.
"Yes, young Eli?" the king said.
Eli took a deep breath. "I don't want to fight. I don't want to be a hero. I want a peaceful life... grow plants, maybe live in a forest, run a shop. I don't belong in this battle."
The room froze.
The four heroes stared.
Jamal: "Whoa. Didn't expect that."
Izzy: "Respect. Not everyone wants the spotlight."
Marcus: "It takes strength to know your own path."
Kaori frowned. "You're turning your back on your duty?"
Eli looked down. "I'm sorry... but that role isn't for me."
The princesses whispered among themselves.
Seraphina: "He's... different. Not a warrior."
Calista: "Coward or genius?"
Elira: "I like him. He's real."
The king and Grand Magus exchanged glances. The king stepped forward.
"I understand. You were not meant to be summoned. You are free to live as you choose, Eli Reed."
Eli's face lit up with gratitude. "Thank you, Your Majesty."
The king chuckled. "No problem. But take this to help you begin."
He nodded to a maid, who returned moments later with a magical satchel.
"Inside is a starting supply and ten billion gold coins."
Eli's eyes widened. "Ten... billion?!"
The king grinned. "Consider it a royal apology."
The maid bowed. "Sir Reed, I will escort you out."
Eli nodded, glancing back one last time at the throne room, the heroes, the princesses.
He followed the maid down the grand palace halls, marble floors echoing beneath their feet. Ornate windows framed distant towers and gardens. The silence was peaceful.
At the massive golden doors, the maid stopped, turned, and bowed.
"May your journey be blessed, Sir Reed."
Eli smiled. "Thank you. For everything."
She turned and walked back into the palace.
Eli stepped outside.
For the first time, he saw the world beyond the castle gates—rolling meadows, glowing flora, crystal rivers, and twin moons rising over distant mountains. The air was warm and filled with the scent of blooming grass.
He stood in awe, the wind brushing through his hair.
He smiled. "I guess my future starts now."
To be continued...