chapter 2: The another world

When I woke up, my body ached all over and my head was pounding. My eyes fluttered shut for a moment, then slowly opened again. Everything was blurry at first, but bit by bit, my vision started to clear.

I barely opened my eyes before I noticed a slight movement beside me. It was Grey, lying there, still asleep. For a moment, relief washed over me-at least he was okay.

The room around me looked unfamiliar but not unpleasant. It was a little fancier, though still humble. There was a comfortable bed, a table, and a shelf with some flower arrangements. My eyes quickly landed on something resting on the table.

It was the sword-the same sword I held when I regained my senses earlier. Back then, it was glowing softly. But now, it just sat there, lifeless and still, like any ordinary sword.

Suddenly, the door opened with a slight knock, and a wave of panic surged through me. My body tensed on its own. My eyes darted toward the door as the priestess girl stepped inside.

I didn't move. I just watched her. But inside, my thoughts were a mess. She's the one who brought me here.. I clenched my fists under the blanket. I wanted answers.

Normally, I'd be too scared to speak, hesitant around strangers. But now, I'm not sure what's gotten into me. I'm surprisingly calm. Maybe it's because Grey is here... or maybe I already know I can't rely on him anymore. We're not in our village. This isn't home. If I don't speak up now, I'll never understand what's happening.

I glared at her and asked, "Where am I?"

She paused when I spoke. Her eyes met mine, and something in her expression shifted. Hesitation? No-something deeper. Guilt, maybe.

"Th... that is..." she started, but her voice trailed off into silence. Her eyes dropped to the floor.

I watched her closely. She didn't look like she meant harm. But that didn't change what happened. I was here now, far from home, with no explanation. My heart was still uneasy, but instead of accusing her, I tried to understand. She's struggling to speak... Is she afraid? Or just unsure how to begin?

I stayed quiet, not to hold back anger-but to listen. I needed answers, not someone to blame.

After a moment, she looked back up and straightened her posture. Her voice was soft. "Sir Hero, please... follow me."

I hesitated only for a second before nodding slightly. She moved to the side of the room, where a tall window stood, curtains gently swaying with the breeze. Without a word, she reached out and pulled them aside.

What I saw beyond that window made my breath catch.

"What... is that?"

The world outside was nothing like anything I'd seen before. The sky wasn't blue. It wasn't dark either. It was... twilight. Endless, unnatural twilight. A strange glow hung in the air, neither day nor night. The land below was quiet, but something about it felt completely wrong. Like the air itself didn't want to move.

"Is this... No... this isn't my world."

I didn't realize I had spoken aloud until I heard her voice behind me.

She stepped closer, her tone low and serious. "Sir Hero... we are in a dire situation where any means necessary must be taken-so we can save our people."

I didn't take my eyes off the window. I couldn't. That strange light, the stillness, the feeling in my chest-it all told me the same thing. This wasn't a dream. It wasn't some illusion.

"Our entire world is filled with twilight," she continued. "This twilight brings many disasters... and an endless spawn of monsters that threaten its inhabitants."

Her words felt heavy, like they were pushing down on me.

I didn't say anything. I just kept staring out that window, trying to make sense of it all. "A world swallowed by twilight... monsters?" It felt too big, too sudden. But somehow... I believed her.

"This is the only place that the darkness cannot enter," she said. "Even though this land is sacred and holds the power to dispel the darkness... it's not large enough to protect everyone."

I glanced at her. She wasn't just saying lines. There was something real in her eyes. Worry. Desperation.

"Every day, people are fighting monsters to protect their homes and loved ones. Many have already given their lives for that cause."

I looked down. "So many people... dying? Because of this twilight?"

Then she said it-softly, but clearly. "We need a hero. Someone who can save them from these monsters. Someone who can bring hope."

I stayed quiet, but inside, everything was moving. "A hero... Me?"

"Even though many are dying," she said, "the people still have one hope left. And that... is you, Sir Hero."

Her voice cracked slightly. "Please help us. I'm begging you."

I couldn't respond right away. Her words echoed in my head, but nothing came out of my mouth.

"Me? A hero?" am I capable enough to do that? I thought to myself.

I lowered my eyes, gripping the edge of the window frame. I wasn't sure what to think anymore. Everything was moving too fast. But even now, there was something I needed to know. Something I had to confirm.

"...Tell me," I finally said, my voice low, "am I the one who killed that thing? That Minotaur?"

"Yes, Sir Hero," she answered without hesitation.

I blinked. My chest tightened. "I... killed it?"

"How?" I asked. "Why are you calling me a hero?"

She stepped closer again. "You are our chosen warrior. Like I said before-when we first met. You have been chosen by the holy sword."

"Chosen by the sword...?"

"That means you inherited its power," she went on. "You can wield it to defeat monsters. It will vanquish your enemies with the power of the holy land."

I looked back at the table, where the sword sat-still and silent.

Then the light, why was it chasing us?" I asked.

"No 'us', Sir Hero. It was chasing you," she said firmly. "Your friend has nothing to do with it."

We saw the light, when it killed a wild boar. Why? Our village animals are missing for a while too. No humans, still... Is it the reason behind it? Or was the Minotaur the one behind it?

"It was the demon continent..." she said.

"What? There are demons here in this world?" I asked, turning to her. A sudden chill crept into my heart.

"Yes," she nodded. "They were once humans like us. But in order to gain superior powers, they forsook everything. They accepted the lord of Darkness as their god, and in return they gained dark magic's through rituals..." She looked away, her voice bitter. "They didn't bring calmness. Only chaos."

They didn't steal food, animals, and jewels-nothing. The only thing they took was lives, and they brought chaos. So their motives are still unknown.

"What has that to do with us?!" I asked, wanting to understand.

They attempted to kill the last hero, but failed. Then the hero was fled to his own world. He must've died around 2 years ago. The holy sword choose some new heroes too, but when it came back no- one came with it. So, I came to find the root cause of it.

So, she has nothing to do with the struggles we went through.. my mind got little at ease. Something is inside me.. keeps telling me to believe her every words.

She looked at me seriously. "Judging by the fact that the Minotaur is a demon army soldier, he must have followed the holy sword in order to kill you, and that must've been the fate of other chosen heroes as well, I think. The demons must have used some ancient magic to hide the fact that they were tracking it."

I looked back at the sword.

The holy sword was merely drawing on the power of the holy land to seek out a worthy hero. It's possible the Minotaur's presence interfered with that process.

So, the sword must have gone into a defensive mode to protect the chosen hero.

"That should be the reason behind the holy sword's berserker mode," I spoke quietly. It didn't kill animal on purpose only by accident.

Now one last question. Can I go back to my home?

"That's not possible for now," she said, hesitating.

I urged her, desperate, "What is the way? Tell me."

"Defeating the one who is behind all this." I think...

"Do you know who or what that thing is?" I asked, hoping for answers.

"No, I don't," she replied, her expression troubled. "But judging by the movements from the demon continent so far, I suspect the Lord of Darkness might be behind it. At least if we find him and confront him, we could uncover some clues."

"Is he a god?" I asked, fear creeping into my voice once again. The list kept growing... first monsters, then demons, and now a god?

"No, not at all," she replied with certainty, like she already knew him.

I took a deep breath to calm my nerves. "Can I send my friend back home?" I asked, wanting at the very least to ensure his safety.

With that last question, the glass of water the priestess had brought, which was supposed to be on the table, crashed onto the floor.

Grey, who was supposed to be sleeping until now, was suddenly standing right in front of us, wide awake.

His eyes locked onto mine, filled with a mix of worry and something I couldn't quite place. He didn't say a word, but the tension in the room thickened.

"What do you think you are? Some kind of fairy-tale hero?" Grey yelled, eyes flashing with frustration. "You're not, I'll tell you that straight. Fighting monsters and demon armies? My ass."

"Hey, girly! I'm going home, and he's coming with me. You got that?"

She couldn't respond-her mouth opened, but no words came out.

"If she doesn't know the way back, then we'll find it ourselves. We will, I'm sure of it!" Grey poured all of his emotions into one fierce yell.

I met his glare, steady despite the fire in his eyes. "Grey, I've made my decision. I'm going to fight for them. I don't know if I can, but I have to try.

I lost my reason to live when my father, my only family, died. But you, the village, everyone- gave me hope. Hope that someday I'd find a family of my own. Now maybe I can give that hope to others. Please, don't shatter that.."

At those words, Grey's anger softened, replaced by a flicker of sympathy and worry. His voice lowered, losing some of its edge.

"You aren't brave. But your guts... they're stronger than anyone I know. You won't back down without a fight. At least..."

His voice dropped even lower. "Then, Let me fight with you, bro."

His words caught me off guard. The girl and I both stared at him, surprised. Then a quiet understanding passed between us.

Grey continued, calmer now. "Like you said, you were there for me, cheering me on even when I took my job as a carriage puller. You were my first customer too... and back then, when we were little-"

He trailed off, then suddenly brightened. "Hey, look! You did the same for me too, bro."

Even the girl smiled a little then.

"So please, bro, don't take that away from me."

"If you stay with me, what about your family?" I asked, concern creeping into my voice.

Grey met my eyes, his tone steady but softer now. "I know they'd be worried. That's why... "Let's finish this job soon and get back home, yeah?" His voice held a clear determination now.

"Besides, if you're fighting for something worth believing in, then I'm right there with you. No way am I letting you walk this path alone."

"Are you sure about this, Grey? This isn't our world. We could face dangers worse than the Minotaur."

"Then will you come back with me? If I decide to go back?"

"No, I..." My words faltered.

"Then I won't go either." He declared, his resolve firm.

"Thank you for always being there for me, Grey."

"You don't have to thank me... that's what friends are for, right?" He said, scratching the back of his head

We nodded in agreement and smiled. The girl smiled too and said, "Thank you, Sir Hero and Sir Grey!"

"You don't have to speak formally with us, you can call us by our names."

I'm Kaito, and he is grey. He is my best friend.

She appears somewhat concerned. "Sir Hero, I am your aide, and my duty is to provide any support you need. However, addressing you without your rightful title would be disrespectful."

"Let her warm up to us, bro. Eventually, she'll even start calling us by our nicknames. All she really needs is time."

"Okay," I said. "Then... what's your name? You never told us."

"It's Aria," she replied. "I'm Aria, Sir Hero."

"That's a nice name," I said. "It suits you."

"Thank you for your kind words, Sir Hero."

"Try to be more friendly with us," Grey added with a playful grin.

"I will try my best," Aria said.

For the first time, a small, genuine smile appeared on her face-so faint it could have been easily missed, yet enough to captivate the heart.

With that, Aria told us to get some rest and turned to leave the room.

Once the door closed behind her, we exchanged uneasy glances-each of us weighed down by the same unspoken worry hanging in the air.

"Do you think she's telling the truth, bro?"

"I don't know... I have my doubts too," I admitted. "But there's something inside me that wants to believe her every word. I can't explain it-I just want to trust her."

"Do you like her? Or what?"

"Don't tease me, Grey! It's not like that, I'm serious."

"Okay, I'll drop it..."

Other than the fact we're not in our world, the only thing we have is the little she told us. We spoke cheerfully in front of her, but the truth was, we barely knew anything. How much of what she said was true-and how much was still hidden-weighed heavily on my mind. Was she really telling the truth, or was this some kind of trap? We didn't know.

We exchanged troubled glances.

With a quick nod, we silently decided to take the next step toward the unknown.

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