Inside the Starler Kingdom – Capital City Luminaris
The sky burned gold as the sun dipped behind the towering spires of the royal palace. The air smelled of roasted meat, fresh bread, and the faint metallic tang of magic—mana, swirling invisibly through the streets like an unseen wind.
Banners of deep blue and silver fluttered above the cobblestone roads, each embroidered with the kingdom's crest: a seven-pointed star wrapped in a serpent's tail. Cheers erupted as the summoned heroes—twenty-three students from another world—marched through the city gates, flanked by knights in gleaming armor.
Among them, Akira Ren adjusted the unfamiliar weight of his new cloak, his dark eyes scanning the crowd. He wasn't the type to enjoy attention, but the way people looked at him—like he was some kind of savior—made his skin crawl.
Next to him, Hana Miyu, a girl with short, fiery red hair, grinned and waved at the citizens.
"Man, this is insane! We're like celebrities!"
Akira didn't respond. His mind was elsewhere.
They all walked inside a very huge castle whose height was almost catching the clouds.
The grand hall of the royal palace was even more opulent than the streets outside. Crystal chandeliers hung from vaulted ceilings, their light reflecting off marble floors polished to a mirror shine. At the far end of the room, atop a dais of white stone, sat King Aldric the Fourth—a man with silver-streaked hair and a presence that demanded silence.
All of the students stood in front of the king, looking at him in confusion and curiosity.
"Heroes of another world," the king began, his voice deep and steady. "You have been called upon to save us from the darkness that threatens to consume our lands."
The students stood in a loose group, some whispering, others standing stiffly in awe.
Then, a soft voice cut through the murmurs.
"Wait…"
Everyone turned.
Yuna Lee, a quiet girl with long black hair tied in a braid, frowned.
"There's… someone missing."
Silence.
Hana blinked. "Huh? Who?"
Yuna's fingers tightened around the hem of her sleeve. "Kire. Kire Sani. I remember she was in class with us."
People started gossiping with each other.
"Kire? Who is that?"
"I have no idea who she is talking about."
"Was there someone with that name in our class?"
Akira's stomach dropped.
Now that she mentioned it—he had seen her. Sitting alone by the window, silent as always. But when the goddess summoned them…
"Did anyone see her after the light faded?" Yuna pressed.
Blank stares. A few shook their heads.
Hana shrugged. "Maybe she didn't get summoned?"
The king's advisor, a thin man with sharp eyes, stepped forward.
"The goddess Althea would not have left anyone behind. If your friend is not here…" He hesitated. "Then she was deemed unworthy of being a hero."
Everyone, in shock, went silent.
"Then... then what will happen to her?" Hana asked.
"She is probably dead by now," he replied in a cold voice.
"N-no way..." Hana said in a shocked voice.
The king closed his eyes and said,
"Take the heroes to their quarters and teach them everything."
After a while, everyone changed their clothes into good-looking, hero-like expensive outfits provided by the kingdom.
They all were sitting in a huge room, each of them in an individual chair. In front of them was a medium-sized black table, with a notebook and a feather pen placed on it.
In front of them, an old man wearing mage-like robes appeared, holding a book in his hand. Behind him was a huge blackboard.
"Brave heroes, my name is Faler Baigun and I will teach you about this world and how it works."
A piece of chalk started floating in the air and began writing on the blackboard as Faler started speaking.
"Many thousand years ago, the continent was divided into seven nations, each with its own history and power."
1. Starler Kingdom (Sutara) – The central power, ruled by King Aldric. Known for its advanced magic and military.
2. Dai-Ketsu Empire (Daikei) – A warlike nation where strength is law. Their warriors wield cursed blades to hunt down their enemies.
3. Haneul Dominion (Haneru) – A floating archipelago where scholars study the stars and divine prophecies. Many great people passed out from there who later became legends.
4. Guren Republic (Gureon) – A land of merchants and inventors, where steam and magic merge. This place has a very good relationship with us since they provide high-quality goods.
5. Yomi Shadowlands (Yomiru) – A cursed territory where the undead roam and dark magic festers. This place is always dark most of the time because a thick layer of gas has covered it.
6. Byeol Archipelago (Byeoru) – A chain of islands inhabited by beastfolk and pirates. Everyone living there is a criminal, and in the future, we plan to take down the area.
7. Cheon-Sa Theocracy (Cheonsa) – A holy land where the Church of the Divine Gate enforces its will. You all will be sent there after some time to learn divine magic.
"Magic is the lifeblood of this world. It isn't just spells; it is a force that shapes reality."
Akira listened carefully and wrote down notes in the notebook. In a small voice, he said,
"This place is not modern like our world, but it's more developed and well maintained..."
Then Faler, with a slightly serious voice, spoke.
"Now I will tell you about the two gates."
"Legends speak of the Divine Gates, two realms that exist beyond mortal comprehension."
"Heaven's Gate – A realm of celestial beings, where angels and divine spirits dwell. It is said that the goddess Althea herself was once an archangel before descending to guide humanity."
"Hell's Gate – A bottomless abyss where demons and corrupted entities fester. The Demon Lord had once been a divine being who fell into darkness."
"But beings from both realms can freely come to this world and roam around, and we might not even notice it."
Everyone looked at him in silence. Then he picked up the chalk from mid-air and said,
"This is all for now. You will be sent to learn spells and combat after a short break. You can go to the canteen and eat anything you want. Everything is for you all, so enjoy yourselves."
Everyone got happy.
"I can't wait to try this world's food!"
"I am very hungry. Let's go!"
Everyone started standing up and walked out of the room.
Yuna looked out the window, and in a small voice she spoke.
"Another world... magic... monsters..."
A small smile appeared.
"It will be fun..."
She walked downstairs holding the notebook.