What?

“Don’t be a hero? I can choose to do that?”

“If it’s of any consolation to you, you’re free to live however you deem fit in Elgia. No one can exert any pressure on you—maybe the kingdom of Elgia, but it’s all up to you. You’re a powerful hero. Or so the legends say. Perhaps, your role is never meant to be a hero.”

This is so confusing. So now you’re telling me that I was summoned to another world—hell, I still haven’t properly reacted to that. Should I freak out? It’s not like I’ve got back on Earth… sorry Pa, sorry Ma, your son’s useless anyway. They’ll probably panic for a while, cry for a few weeks, but after that, they realise that their NEET of a son is gone. That’s good for them!

That’s good for all of us.

Back on topic. So this summoning is pretty screwed up after all? Is this even a ‘hero’ thing?

“I’ve got loads of questions, but I figured most of them wouldn’t be things you can answer.”

The woman simply smiled.

“When I step through the portal, what can I expect?”

“You’ll be in the center of the summoning circle. It’s a large, circle bordered by inscriptions. It’s white, and it glows white as well. You’ll be in the middle of the cathedral.”

“Will everyone be there?”

“Yes, but since you haven’t stepped through the portal yet, they’re most likely waiting for you… unless…”

“Unless?”

The woman floats a few steps closer to me, bringing her face close to mine. “You’re not very popular, aren’t you?”

“Well...” Damn that kind of hurt.

“That’s all fine. Your popularity does not matter. When you go to a new world, perhaps you’ll see yourself being popular!”

“That does not matter to me.”

She floated around a bit more. On closer look, I can see wisp-like orbs floating around her, faint and blended into the surroundings. Though her voice may be gentle, the authority that emanates from her words are no small matter. I watch her circle around me, her face occasionally close to mine, her curiosity obvious.

I wonder how this woman got here. Is she some sort of deity? Specifically, for hero-summons? That’s just stupid. Imagine being a deity of summoning brats, immature assholes, and naive children. I’d tender my resignation immediately.

“I’ll be going now. Off to save this ‘Elgia’.”

The woman nods.

As I place a foot through the portal, I feel the waves of blue rubbing up against my leg. Like fish, I can feel ‘mouths’ nibbling at my skin, though it is painless. I turn to look at the woman for the last time.

“Farewell, young hero,” the woman says. “Perhaps, you can be the one to really save Elgia.”

I chuckle.

"If I were you, I wouldn't trust anyone. Good luck."

The portal shrinks and I quickly jump through the portal, plunging myself deep into the waves of blue. The light behind me disappears, leaving me to navigate through this ocean with light emanating from the sides of the portal. I close my eyes, wondering if this is how this works. I shouldn’t have to move in a portal, right?

Then, I feel something solid.

Solid ground?

It’s solid, beneath my hands and legs. I quickly open my eyes.

It’s dark.

It’s cold.

I quickly get up.

It’s the cathedral alright. Tall ceilings, glass paintings, mosaic walls. Behind me, stood a statue of whatever deity they prayed to in Elgia. Roses, unlit candles, and plates of offerings lay on a wooden table before the statue.

I look down on the floor.

That’s the magic circle, right? There are inscriptions—though I don’t know what language that is, oh wait, Elgian? They border the whole circle, and in the middle, another circle with similar-looking inscriptions. Geometric-looking glyphs... if I were to compare to the real world, I'd say they looked like Hebrew.

Well, then, since I’m summoned, there must be someone here, right?

Where’s everyone?