Rui turned to the priestess, confusion etched on her face. "What do you mean by 'heroes'?" The priestess smiled. "You are an Otherworlder, summoned by the king to aid us in defeating the Demon Lord. Your strength will be crucial in this battle." Rui's eyes widened. "Otherworlder?" The priestess nodded. "Yes. And titles define your role here. For example, my title is Holy Priestess, which is why I serve in this church." She turned to me. "Your titles will determine your abilities and responsibilities."
The priestess gestured to a glowing orb. "To determine your title, you need to touch this orb. It will reveal your role and abilities, defining your job in our world." Rui looked intrigued. "So, the orb will tell us what we're meant to do?" The priestess nodded. "Yes, exactly. Your title will dictate your responsibilities and strengths."
Rui hesitantly stepped forward, her hand reaching out to touch the glowing orb. As her fingers made contact with it, the orb pulsed with light. Meanwhile, I stood frozen, my mind struggling to process the surreal situation. Unlike Rui, who seemed to adapt quickly, I felt like a fish out of water, unsure of what was happening or what was expected of me.
As Rui's hand touched the orb, a blinding white light enveloped her. The priestess's eyes widened in shock, and the church fell silent. The congregation gasped in unison, their faces filled with a mix of awe and trepidation. "By the gods," the priestess whispered, her voice trembling. The light intensified, and Rui's form was bathed in its radiance.
The white light faded, revealing Rui transformed. She now wore a shining white armor, adorned with intricate engravings that seemed to glow with an otherworldly energy. A sword hung at her hip, its hilt gleaming with a subtle light. The priestess and the congregation stared in awe, their faces filled with wonder.
"By the gods," the priestess said, her voice filled with reverence. "You... you're the Hero of Light."
The priestess's words hung in the air, "The Hero of Light... one in a million chance." The congregation murmured among themselves, their whispers filled with awe and reverence. "The gods must indeed be on our side," someone whispered.
Rui stepped back beside me, a confident smile on her face. She leaned in close and whispered, "It's your turn now. Don't worry, even if you get a non-offensive title, I'll protect you." She flexed her small muscles, a playful glint in her eye.
I raised an eyebrow, amused by her bravado. "Thanks for the reassurance, Hero of Light," I whispered back, trying to keep a straight face.
The priestess gestured to the orb, her voice gentle. "It's your turn now, young boy." A soft murmur rippled through the congregation, with one whisper standing out: "Maybe he'll get the Hero of Fire too."
I stepped forward, my heart pounding in my chest. I reached out to touch the orb, my fingers making contact with its smooth surface. Suddenly, the world around me plunged into darkness. I stumbled, disoriented.
"What's happening?" I called out, my voice echoing through the void. "Hello? Where is everyone? Rui-san?" The darkness seemed to swallow all sound, leaving only an oppressive silence.
A voice echoed through the darkness, its tone laced with amusement. "Fufu, so you're my descendant." I spun around, confused. "Who are you?"
The voice chuckled. "It's been 200,000 years, I think it's time." Suddenly, the darkness dissipated, and the church's interior reappeared. The priestess stood frozen, her eyes wide with shock. The congregation cowered, their faces pale with fear.
The priestess's gaze locked onto me, her voice filled with fervor. "Hero of Light, subjugate the Demon Lord!"
The knights dragged me away, their grip unyielding. "Take him to the prison," the priestess ordered. "And let Leon guard him."
The crowd murmured among themselves, their whispers carrying through the air. "What? Leon? The Sage? The most powerful magic user that exists?" Their voices were laced with awe and trepidation.
Rui's protests were drowned out by the commotion as I was hauled away, the weight of my new title settling heavily upon me.
I slowly came to, my head throbbing with pain. I looked around, taking in my surroundings. I was in a dimly lit cell, with cold stone walls and iron bars.
A figure stood before me, a smirk on his face. "Ah, you're awake, Future Demon King of Tyranny?" He chuckled, his laughter echoing off the walls. "Hahahaha, how cute."
I looked down, my mind reeling. "What will happen to me?" I mumbled.
The figure, Leon, leaned against the wall, his grin still plastered on his face. "Oh, don't worry," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "You'll be executed tomorrow. Hahahaha."
I looked up at Leon, a mix of desperation and frustration in my voice. "But I didn't do anything wrong," I protested.
Leon shrugged, his expression unyielding. "You didn't do anything wrong... yet. But who knows what will happen to you in the future? You might wage war against us."
He chuckled, his eyes glinting with amusement. "And how unlucky you are, considering you're a human but getting a title reserved for demons. You're quite... cocky, aren't you?"
I asked Leon, my voice laced with concern. "What about Rui? No, I mean the Hero of Light?"
Leon's expression turned thoughtful. "Oh, you mean the one who came with you?"
I nodded, my anxiety growing. "Yes. Did she say anything? Didn't she agree to execute me?"
Leon shrugged, a hint of a smile on his face. "Oh, she said you need to be executed tomorrow. Who knows, you might hurt a kid or a family. You might rampage someday."
I felt a pang of betrayal, wondering if Rui had truly turned against me. But then I thought back to her words, her actions... Leon's words didn't quite add up.
Rui stood before the priestess, her voice filled with determination. "Please release Takeru," she pleaded. "He didn't do anything wrong."
The priestess's expression remained firm. "No, we cannot let that monster roam wild. Who knows, he might destroy the world."
Rui's eyes flashed with conviction. "I'll guard him. I'll do whatever I can to stop him if he does something wrong."
The priestess smiled, a calculating glint in her eye. "Okay, but I have a favor. You can pick him up after you finish my quest: help the neighboring country that's getting attacked by demons - the city of Eurens. Then, after you come back, I'll let you have him."
Rui's face set in determination. "I'll do it right now."
The priestess handed her a parchment. "Good luck. Here's the quest paper."
Rui took the parchment, her eyes scanning the details. With a resolute nod, she turned to leave, ready to face whatever lay ahead.