It took a while for the combined powers of Matt, Max, and Jess to lull Haley into a calmer state then the emotional wreck she was about thirty minutes ago. They had all been taken to a resting room where they could relax while the kings and queens could gather some information regarding any other activations in the middle of the Rangon forest.

As their small group was waiting and sitting together on one couch they’d seemed to all remember there was on other person with them. As they looked across the table in front of them they were greeted with the stare of the small woman from earlier. She stared awkwardly at them for a minute as she’d been near them the whole time Haley had her breakdown and felt embarrassed. After blushing so hard Matt and Max thought she was about to have steam come out of her ears she introduced herself.

“Ummm hi my name is Lizzie.” As they continued to stare at each other for a minute she blushed even harder which the guys didn’t think was possible. She started mumbling to herself quietly but the four could still hear her. “OH MY GOSH Lizzie that was so lame what the heck. I know I know but I thought that was the best time to introduce myself. Lizzie what are you doing they can probably hear you geez.”

As she said that last sentence she looked over and saw that they could indeed hear her. Jess thought she’d probably had enough embarrassment after all if she gets any redder she might blow her top. So she introduced all of them to Lizzie and said hello. Then followed up with another question “Hey Lizzie what’s up with your hair did you bleach it or what?”

To this she looked confused and said “I was going to ask you guys the same thing it’s like you guys decided to be a rainbow or something. Wait what do you mean bleached I have black hair.” Jess looked as confused as she did as they both tried to figure out what the other had just said. Matt then looked over his family and saw what Lizzie had meant. Jess’ hair was now a deep forest green.

While Max’s was even redder than normal and had a bright blue like a hot flame was right at the center of his head. And Haley’s was a light blue almost see through but still blue. He then got up and looked for a mirror while Lizzie followed him when he’d found it. To his shock his hair was a dark mud brown instead of its usual milk chocolate look. After looking at himself in the mirror for a few minutes longer he walked back to the couch and sat next to Jess.

Not even a moment after the doors opened to reveal the kings and queens. They’d changed clothes as well. Instead of their overbearing ensemble they seemed to have changed into whatever was more comfortable for them. For the men normal cotton looking pants with a small t shirt with their respective crest on it. While the ladies had chosen to wear skirts and blouses. After walking in and closing the door they’d all lined up to the side of the Smiths and bowed in front of them. Marcus looked up and said solemnly

“we are so sorry but we haven’t seen anything that would suggest the temple in the Rangon forest has activated. I’m afraid your brother is gone.” After hearing this Haley just started to stare of into space thinking of how she never got to say goodbye at least Jess and Max had that but what about her. Matt frowned and took charge of their small group. “So what happens now?” Marcus and the others slowly stood up and then Tolbin spoke up.

“For centuries after a group of heroes is summoned they are each taken to their god or goddess’ land of worship. For you big man to the north with us. For your girlfriend to the east with the Elves. For the fiery man to the south with Beastkin. For you” he points in the direction of Lizzie “to the main temple of Rayanna. And finally for her” again he points in Haley’s direction with a bit of sadness “she will go to the west with Marcus and Mary” As he finishes the room again get quiet and you hear Haley’s voice.

“So now that I’ve lost my brother you want my family to split up and go sightseeing?” Another uncomfortable silence passes over them all. “Technically yes sweetheart but only for a little while to train each of you in the ways of your god or goddess and different fighting styles.”-Mary. Haley looks towards the human queen and just holds her gaze until Mary lowers her head slightly to look away from her cold gaze. “It is only to prepare you for what you have been summoned for if you do not train you will be helpless and trampled in this world by those who seek to do you and your family harm.”

This time it was Thanen who spoke the large lion beastman. She then slowly turned her gaze to him. He was planning on holding her gaze to show her they wouldn’t all be cowed by one single loss no matter how much she had cared for her brother she had to move past it and fast. He was going to hold her gaze until she spoke. “Those who have already harmed my family are right in front of me” she said icily. Matt seeing this conversation wasn’t going to be getting them anywhere decided to put a stop to it for now.

“Ok we hear you but I think we are going to need a while to grieve”-Matt. At this point they seem to perk up a bit as they weren’t being treated like murderers by all of their heroes. “Of course please we will have a few maids take you to your rooms and then after you’ve bathed and rested a bit we can gather for dinner. How does that sound?”-Zandrea. “Haaaa” Matt sighed “Sounds like a plan I guess”.

As they left the room two maids walk in and closed the doors behind them they seemed to be twins. “Hello heroes. We will show you to your rooms now. Please follow us.” They both said in unison. After about a three minute walk from the resting room they came upon a long corridor with five doors on one side and windows overlooking the castle courtyard on the other. “Please choose your rooms as we have prepared all of them exactly the same there should be no discrepancies in how they look” as the maids bowed in front of them Matt spoke up.

“Is it alright if we share one room and just get a few mattresses, blankets and pillows? I don’t think any of us are going to be able to relax unless we are close to one another.” Once again the maids bowed “As you wish sir hero.” They then left and Matt and the others walked into the middle room. Jess did do a quick peek over her shoulder to see Lizzie unsure of which room to take. “You can join us if you want. It’s kinda weird being here by yourself.” To which Lizzie nodded slowly and followed them into the room. It was a large room by their standards. They could probably fit half a football field in it.

The reason it was so big although being only a room for one person was because there was a bathing room attached to it as well as a resting room and a small library off in the corner of it. Max slowly led Haley to the bathroom where he could help clean her up. Jess decided to give it the hotel treatment and went off to jump on the bed. Matt on the other hand sat down on the nearest couch and started to plan out what they would do next but with so many variables and virtually no information since he was in a new world made it impossible to decide a plan of action other than going to dinner and talking it out with those royals.

Since he wasn’t going to figure anything out he went to lay down on the bed Jess had just gotten done “testing for springiness” as she put it. When he reached the bed and rolled on to it Jess stopped jumping and landed next to him. She wrapped him up into a hug until he turned to look at her. She had tears in her eyes and was looking up at his face. “I’m so so so sorry about Logan if I could have done anything you know I…” as she slowly stopped talking and tears rolled down her cheeks Matt pulled her closer and whispered to her “It’s ok there’s nothing any of us could have done."

"Maybe it’s better that he won’t have to go through any of the fighting I’m sure is going to be in our future”. After he finished that sentence he just laid there holding Jess. After about ten minutes Max came out of the bathroom with a bundled up Haley in his arms as she had cried herself to sleep while in the bath tub. He laid her next to Jess and then hoped on the bed as well.

They all just laid there until Jess’ head popped up like a gopher and waved Lizzie over. When she had almost made it to Matt’s side of the bed when Jess whispered something in his ear. Right when Lizzie was a step away from Matt to see what Jess wanted Matt grabbed her and pulled her on top of the bed and positioned her in between Jess and Haley. She was startled and surprised but after a few minutes was beginning to feel safe and cozy.

Matt decided it was probably best to stop and think about what was going to happen to them. He started the conversation by asking everyone what they thought about their current circumstance. Max’s plan was to try and leave this place and find a way to make it home. Matt pointed out that the people or gods’ had said they were going to be stuck here for the rest of their lives so that would be a waste of time. Haley didn’t have much to say in the matter as she was still saddened by the sudden loss of her brother.

Jess wasn’t too worried by anything as long as they stuck together. Which was just like her to be the glue that kept them from falling apart. Lizzie was still frightened by everything that had happened and asked if she could stay with them for as long as she needed. Not having anyone to depend on had left her feeling scared and vulnerable. Jess responded by patting her shoulder and telling her she was more than welcome. After thirty minutes or so of going back and forth with ideas it all eventually feel into Matt’s hands whatever he chose they would follow as he was the only one who’d been somewhat trained for unexpected things to happen and deal with them accordingly.

About twenty minutes later there was a knock at the door and when Matt said “Enter” the door opened and there were the maids with what looked close to a small army of servants behind them. Matt leaned up and said “you know what you think we could just get one more bed to attach to this one and more pillow then I think we’re good.” The maids simply bowed and went to carry out their business when a messenger came to gather them for their dinner.

It took ten minutes for Haley and jess to get ready then another five minutes to walk to the dining room. There sat the kings and queens waiting patiently for them to join. After a little while of eating and more uncomfortable silences Salindria spoke to the heroes and was curious to their future plans. Matt told her after settling down he had a few questions before coming up with a conclusion.

He asked how long they’d all be apart when they went to train and what would happen after. Salindria saw this as an opportunity to let the conversation continue instead of another silent period. It would take about two years for them to train and be almost considered masters at their chosen vocation whether that be a mage or a fighter to master magic or a fighting style would take a while and them more powerful they became the more training they’d need.

Being a gods’ chosen meant they’d more than likely have better control much like what they’d shown inside the summoning room. Then after they had finished their training they’d be able to meet back here for the hero tournament. What this was was a celebration for the heroes becoming strong enough to help those in need. It was also a great way to find potential teammates they could try and recruit to fight alongside them.

As during the tournament many people would face off against each other to gain renown and make a grand debut into the world off heroes. Matt thought about this for a while and then came to a decision after consulting everyone else. “Yeah not going to happen.” If it was quiet and awkward earlier in the day this was a hundred times worse. Everyone stared at him with wide eyes.

“If you think for a second that we’re going to sit here and listen to you trying to split us up you’ve got another thing coming. So here’s how it’s going to go. Whoever we were supposed to go and train with will meet us here and we will work with them. But we will see each other every day so that we know you people haven’t tried to harm any more of our family.”

Salindria looked panicked “Well you see that just isn’t possible. The masters you will be learning from are some of the most respected teachers in our history. We can’t possibly drag them from their homes to teach you here.” Matt laughed at her for a moment “So it’s not ok for you to drag you’re highly respected citizens from their homes but dragging us here is fine with you?"

"In fact these masters should be honored to come and teach us what with the whole summoned by your gods’ and all that.” The royalty start looking at one another trying to get someone else to speak up. Seeing that none were willing to do so Matt decided to let them know it was either his way or they wouldn’t participate in anything that happened to the people of this world. He had to think about his family first after all.