---
A thousand colors bled across the darkness.
Crimson, sapphire, violet — hues I didn't know names for — all swirled in front of my eyes, blinding and infinite. It felt like falling through a prism, each shard of light cutting through my thoughts, rearranging them into static and noise.
"Where… am I?" I tried to speak, but no sound came. My voice was swallowed by the light.
The sensation of falling ended as suddenly as it began.
The colors shattered—
and the world changed.
Cold air brushed against my face. The faint scent of incense filled my lungs. My vision steadied, and the first thing I saw was marble — white, polished, and gleaming.
Then came the rest.
Towering pillars lined the sides of an enormous hall, their surfaces carved with golden runes that pulsed faintly, like they were alive. Stained-glass windows filtered daylight into ribbons of color, painting the floor with shimmering light.
At the far end stood a woman.
Her garments flowed like liquid silk, pure white with golden embroidery. Her silver hair cascaded down her shoulders, and a delicate circlet rested on her brow. The air itself seemed to bend around her presence — divine, commanding, yet soft.
I was lying on the floor, dazed. Around me were my classmates, scattered in different positions, some groaning, some still unconscious.
I blinked a few times, trying to process it all. My mind felt heavy, as if my thoughts were still catching up to my body.
Was this… a dream?
Before I could move, I heard a groan nearby.
"Ugh… what happened…?" Ryo rubbed his eyes, slowly sitting up. The others began to stir — Daichi, Aki, Haruka, and a few others I only vaguely knew.
I stayed where I was.
Not because I couldn't move — but because I didn't want to be the first one up.
It wasn't fear, exactly. It was instinct.
If this was another world — if this was something beyond understanding — then rushing forward was the worst thing to do.
So I watched.
Quietly.
The group gathered themselves, confusion spreading across their faces as they took in the surroundings.
"What… is this place?" Aki whispered.
"Some kind of… church?" Daichi guessed, squinting at the tall ceiling.
Then, the woman at the far end opened her eyes.
They were pale blue — clear, calm, and powerful enough to make you forget how to breathe.
"Welcome, summoned heroes," she said, her voice like a melody carried by the wind. "I am Lady Seraphina, High Priestess of the Lumina Sanctuary. You stand now in the Grand Hall of Aurelius."
The word heroes hung in the air, sinking into our stunned silence.
Ryo blinked. "Wait… did she say heroes?"
Haruka clutched her arm, her eyes darting around. "This can't be real. This is—"
"It is real," Lady Seraphina interrupted gently, as if she had read her thoughts. "You have been chosen, each and every one of you, to face the Trials of Fate. The world of Aurelius has long awaited your arrival."
My classmates exchanged glances, disbelief slowly giving way to excitement. Ryo's grin returned — the same confident grin he always had when something interesting happened.
"This… this is like a game, right? Heroes, trials, a fantasy world—"
"Exactly like a game," Daichi said, laughing nervously. "Man, this is wild!"
I didn't move. I simply watched their reactions, my mind quietly spinning.
Fantasy world. Heroes. Trials.
It sounded like a dream — the kind of world I used to escape to through my screen every night.
But somehow, I knew deep down… this wasn't going to be that kind of dream.
Fantasy world. Heroes. Trials.
The words echoed in the air, too impossible to believe — and yet too vivid to deny.
"Wait, what the hell does that even mean!?" Ryo suddenly shouted, stepping forward. "Where are we really? Is this some kind of prank?!"
"Yeah, there's no way this is real!" Daichi added, kicking at one of the marble tiles. "Who even are you, lady?"
Some students began backing away, muttering nervously. Others whispered about cameras, hidden crews, or virtual simulations. Panic rippled through the room like a wave.
"I—I just texted my mom before this," one girl stammered, her voice trembling. "This can't be happening…"
Ryo turned back toward the white-robed woman at the end of the hall. "Hey! If this is some kind of joke, cut it out already!"
Lady Seraphina didn't answer. She simply watched them — unblinking, expression calm.
Then she raised her hand.
The air trembled.
The golden runes on the walls flared to life, flooding the hall with blinding light. A gust of power surged outward, heavy and suffocating, pressing against everyone's skin like a physical weight.
Ryo froze mid-step, his voice caught in his throat. The marble beneath his feet cracked from the pressure.
"Be still."
Just two words.
Her voice wasn't loud, but it carried authority. The kind that didn't need to shout — the kind that commanded silence by existing.
Every student in the hall dropped to their knees, gasping for breath under the invisible force. The glow from the runes cast Seraphina in an ethereal light, her silver hair drifting slightly as if underwater.
"You stand before the High Priestess of Lumina," she said softly, though her words echoed like thunder. "Your souls have crossed the veil between worlds, summoned by divine right. This is no illusion, nor dream."
The pressure vanished as quickly as it appeared.
Students gasped, clutching their chests, some trembling, some in stunned silence. The golden runes dimmed again, leaving only the faint scent of ozone in the air.
"…Do you now understand?" she asked.
No one spoke. No one even dared to breathe too loudly.
Ryo's earlier confidence had vanished, replaced by wide eyes and sweat rolling down his temple. Aki clutched Haruka's sleeve, both too afraid to speak.
Even I couldn't move for a moment. The display wasn't violent — just overwhelming. It was a reminder that whatever this place was… she was not human.
Lady Seraphina lowered her hand and smiled gently, as though the last few seconds hadn't just pinned us all to the ground.
"Good," she said. "Now that you comprehend your situation, allow me to explain. Each of you has been summoned as a Hero Candidate, chosen by the Light to restore balance to Aurelius. But before you may take your first step, your blessings must be revealed."
She clapped her hands once, and a large golden circle appeared in the center of the hall. Its edges glowed faintly with runic symbols, spinning slowly like gears.
"Step forward, one at a time," Seraphina said. "Your divine skill shall be made known."
Excitement began to replace fear. Whispers filled the air — quiet, trembling, but full of anticipation.
Skills.
Blessings.
Chosen heroes.
Even I could feel my heartbeat quicken.
I stayed kneeling where I was, waiting, watching.
Because for someone like me…
the less attention I drew, the better.
The golden circle at the center of the hall glowed faintly, waiting.
No one dared move at first. The silence stretched until someone — predictably — broke it.
"…Is this really happening?" Haruka whispered.
Ryo clenched his fists and stood, confidence seeping back into his posture. "If this is real, then I'm getting the strongest blessing."
He smirked as he stepped forward, but I barely heard him.
Because my mind was racing.
Summoned heroes. Blessings. Magic circles.
Everything around me — the architecture, the atmosphere, even the glowing runes — felt too familiar.
I'd seen this before.
Not in real life, but in anime. In manga. In games.
"Don't tell me…" I muttered under my breath.
This was that kind of situation, wasn't it?
The "whole class got summoned to another world" kind of situation. The type that always ended with a chosen hero saving the kingdom… or dying horribly trying.
My heart pounded. Half from fear, half from disbelief.
If that's the case… then this should work, right?
I took a quiet breath and whispered the most cliché word I could think of.
"Status."
Nothing happened.
I frowned. "...Open status window."
Still nothing.
"Menu. Skills. Player info. Inventory!"
Silence. The only thing responding was my echo bouncing off marble walls.
I exhaled, trying not to look ridiculous.
"...Maybe it's voice-activated in another language?"
I switched to English. "Status!"
Then tried Japanese again.
Then whispered like an idiot, "System, show me my stats."
Still nothing. Not even a flicker of light.
"…Guess that only works in fiction," I muttered, slumping slightly.
It was pathetic, sure — but for a moment, it was comforting to pretend I had some control.
When I looked up again, Ryo was already standing at the circle, his hand over his chest as Lady Seraphina raised her staff.
---
A radiant pillar of light enveloped him. Runes spiraled upward like golden feathers, and glowing text appeared midair, written in a language I somehow understood instinctively.
> [Ryo Kisaragi – Blessed Title: Sword Saint]
[Skill: Celestial Blade Arts Lv.1]
[Rarity: SSR]
The class gasped.
"Whoa… Sword Saint!?"
"That's insane!"
"Isn't that like, the protagonist class!?"
Ryo's grin widened. He gripped an invisible hilt and swung, and a faint shimmer of blue light followed the motion.
"Unreal…" someone whispered.
Next came Daichi.
> [Daichi Mori – Blessed Title: Guardian Knight]
[Skill: Iron Wall Defense Lv.1]
[Rarity: SR]
Next was Haruka.
Lights gathered around her, clinging like a warm embrace.
> [Haruka Nanase – Blessed Title: Spirit Caller]
[Skill: Contract Magic Lv.1]
[Rarity: SSR]
Then Aki.
The light around her pulsed to a gentle rhythm — like a heartbeat turned melody.
[Aki Tanaka – Blessed Title: Songweaver of Zephyr]
[Skill: Harmonic Resonance Lv.1]
[Rarity: SR]
"Songweaver…?" she echoed softly.
A faint tune rippled through the air, her voice unintentionally harmonizing with the magic itself — and for a heartbeat, everyone's nerves eased.
Then Tsubasa.
His expression didn't change as he stepped forward, eyes cool and sharp.
The circle's light dimmed — darker, denser — as shadows began to pool around his feet.
[Tsubasa Higure – Blessed Title: Shadow Binder]
[Skill: Umbral Veil Lv.1]
[Rarity: SR]
Murmurs followed. "Shadow Binder…?"
A faint smirk crossed his lips. "Fitting."
Each one stepped up, and each one received something incredible — heroic, powerful, useful.
I felt my chest tighten with every new title announced.
Finally, the circle dimmed again. Only I hadn't gone yet.
Lady Seraphina turned her gaze toward me, gentle but expectant. "And you, the quiet one. Step forward."
I hesitated, then slowly rose to my feet. Every eye turned my way — curious, cautious, maybe a little bored.
I stepped into the circle. The light enveloped me — warm, almost comforting — as runes spiraled upward again.
A soft chime echoed.
And then the text appeared.
> [Satoru Inoue – Blessed Title: ???]
[Skill: Box Opener Lv.10]
[Rarity: Common]
The hall went silent.
"…Box… Opener?" Ryo repeated, confused.
I blinked at the glowing letters. "Wait, what—?"
Seraphina tilted her head slightly. "A peculiar blessing…"
Whispers began spreading immediately.
"Box Opener? What kind of skill is that?"
"Maybe it's like… unlocking treasure chests?"
"At level ten already? But that's… weirdly specific."
Daichi snorted under his breath. "So basically… a looter skill."
I wanted to say something — to ask, what does that even mean? — but my voice caught in my throat.
The golden light faded, leaving only my reflection in the polished floor.
Box Opener Lv.10.
The skill I didn't understand. The one that made everyone stare at me like I didn't belong.
Lady Seraphina finally spoke again, her voice calm but hesitant.
"Rarity… Common," she murmured, as if reading the divine text herself. "The lowest grade of blessing. And level ten at manifestation? That is… highly unusual."
She looked thoughtful. "Such cases are rare, but not unheard of. When a skill is granted at its maximum level, it signifies that it has reached its full potential. There is no further room for growth."
A heavy silence fell.
Ryo scoffed quietly. "So, in short… he's got the weakest possible skill, and it's already maxed out."
Laughter bubbled again.
"Guess someone's playing on 'easy mode,' huh?"
"More like no mode," another added.
Their words blurred together, dull and distant.
I stared at my trembling reflection. No room for growth.
Common skill.
Box Opener.
And yet, despite the humiliation burning through my chest, I felt something else stir deep down — a quiet defiance.
If this world plays by the same rules as those stories I know… then even trash skills can evolve.
I didn't know it yet, but that faint spark of disbelief — that refusal to accept being "Common" — would one day rewrite the world itself.