I wake up in darkness, sprawled out on the floor. The ground is hard stone from the feel and is quite warm. Sitting up I can’t see anything, just the absence of light.

Status!

I think the word clearly. The command used to summon the hero’s window of information.

That’s strange Nothing appeared in front of me. No window… nothing.

Where am I? The book said it would take me to the Tower’s entrance.

Rumbling stone pulls my attention to my left where light starts to stream in. A crack in the wall widens, revealing a doorway. The light lets me see I’m in a small empty room made of stone. Getting to my feet my body feels weak, I take a few steps and walk slowly to the doorway. Lilly might be upset about me claiming the book but I’m sure she will understand.

Outside the Tower should be a swath of devastated land, and red skies. Instead, I see a bright blue sky, something I have not seen since Earth, stone buildings, streets, and a large crowd of people.

In the crowd there are the usual faces. Dwarfs, Orcs, Gnomes, Elves, and are even some little fairies flying around. Looking closer there are other races I have never seen before. A humanoid insect looking thing with 4 arms, and what looks to be human but with animal ears and… is that a tail?

Fully stepping out of the stone room, everyone is looking at me with unhappy expressions on their faces. Looking down at myself I notice that I’m naked… What is it with that truck and leaving me without clothes? And no scars? I’m used to seeing pale white lines criss-crossing all over my body. Damage taken where healing and potions were not fully effective. Bouncing from my knees slightly, I feel like some of my strength has faded. Maybe I was out for longer than I thought.

“Ahem... Please stop that.” looking to my left was a man, human by the look, wearing a grey uniform. His hair is black, cut short, and a tuft of hair on his chin. He holds out a bundle of cloth towards me. “Wear this. You look to be about six feet.”

I use inspect on the bundle but get no response from my skill.

Shrugging I take the bundle and shake it loose. A long grey robe that feels soft to the touch. Pulling it over my head and around my body I look to the man. “Uh. Thanks, it was starting to get a bit too breezy for my liking”.

Smiling toward me he says. “Welcome to GorikTar City. It’s not uncommon for a summoned to be without clothing. My name is Macauley but please just call me Mac. I’m a member of the Tower Knights, a group of people that aid aspiring climbers, provide services to the Tower, and hold a neutral position in the city.”

The city surrounding the Tower, before being destroyed, was called Diamond city if I remember correctly. Either they have built a new city in the time I was gone or I am not standing in front of the tower I was just inside. Either way, this place looks impressive.

Shaking Mac’s hand. “Thanks Mac. I’m Reigner… Hey, I can’t call up my status. What’s up with that?”

A look of confusion passes over Mac’s face. “You know about that? I’m surprised. Normally summoned have no knowledge of their status. No. You can’t access your status until you unlock your class with an awakening stone.”

Now I’m the one to look confused “Awakening stone?” I have seen a lot of magical items but have never heard of that. And did he just call me summoned?

“People born here grow up within mana rich environments which has an impact on the growth of their body. Locals end up unlocking their class at around the age of ten. Summoned however never had that experience and their bodies either become sick from mana within a few weeks of arriving, or on very rare occasions, learn to block out mana completely making it impossible to cast magic.”

Unbelievable. There was no magical class giving rock when I was summoned before. That is something I would have given everything for. Could I have been able to learn and cast magic all this time if I just had access to one?

Grabbing hold of Mac’s hand’s, I seek the most important answer of my existence “Those people… that can’t cast magic… does touching the stone help them gain a class? Are they able to use mana?”

If my future is spending another twenty plus years watching Adventurers cast amazing spells, while I am stuck swinging weapons around… I don’t know what I will do.

Hearing the desperation in my voice, Mac squeezes my hand and smiles. “Yes, they can. Even though Awakening stones are quite common they are still a god ranked artifact. Touching one will clear your body of any mana blockages. You will gain access to your status, discover what your first spell or skill is and… be able to learn and cast magic.”

I will be able to use magic?... I will be able to use magic!

Unable to control myself I let out a long laugh. With mana at my fingertips, I won’t need to wade into the mass of creatures and can just sit back at range. If that book was correct, then my class will be a Summoner. Thoughts of summoning demons to do all the fighting and heavy lifting for me flow through my mind. Lazy days here I come!

“This Awakening stone. Where is it? Take me to it. I need to touch it... Now”

Mac, pulling his hands out of my grip takes a step back “Easy there. We do have one on hand, but I believe a representative of the human sector will be here shortly to pick you up.”

Human sector? Why would someone need to pick me up? These words reek of politics. Looking around at the crowd of people I notice that they are not as intermingled as I first thought. Groups made of singular races staying close together while giving side eye glances to the others.

Seeing where I’m looking, Mac sighs “The only reason there is no full out war in the city is for two main reasons. Firstly, the city is ruled by the Broken Spear clan, of the Orc faction, and they are very strict about enforcing law, which includes no violence in the city limits. Secondly, the Tower Knights. We control access to the early floors and don’t allow fighting between climbers. No one wants to lose Tower access so the factions have all agreed that conflict inside the Tower, stays in the Tower, and will not be brought into the city. Because of this trade has…”

Mac’s words start to become just background noise. I don’t want to be rude so let him ramble on. Different factions not trusting each other is no big surprise. The history of the Tower reported it was much the same before the threat of total destruction.

Mac turns and greets a woman walking towards us. “Yui! I did not expect a disciple of Master Gushiken to be on summon watch”

The newcomer, a human woman, looked to be in her late teenage years. Wearing flowing black robes with intricate embodied flower designs, a dark blue leather chest guard, and a long sword at her hip. Her face is beautiful, with smiling dark eyes, and black hair tied back into a bun. She looks Asian, Japanese if I had to guess, and stood around five and a half feet with the top of her head reaching my chin.

Yui clasps Mac’s hands and gives a small bow of her head. “I’m not. I was heading to the Tower and was asked to check out the toy box on the way. I did not expect a human to come out. This is the first time since before I was born.”

Yui turns towards me. “Nice to meet you, I’m Yui. Are you from Earth?

“Hi, I’m Reigner. Yes, I’m from Earth.” Looking to Mac “Where is that Awakening rock?”

Yui’s eyes widen and she let out a laugh. “You seem very energetic. Looking at your build I bet you will have a warrior class.”

Mac sighs “Normally we would encourage newly summoned to interact with the stone once they have arrived in their sector. Coming to a new world can be a bit overwhelming. However, I can tell how eager you are. Please follow me. We have one in storage.”

Mac leads us into a large building. Inside looks like a large waiting area. Several adventurers are waiting in a line or sitting together in groups. Most of the groups only contain a single race while the line was a combination of all types. Theres also many different races wearing heavy grey armour. They must be more of the Tower Knights, like Mac.

Mac stops walking and gestures to the room. “This is the Tower entrance waiting hall. Wait in here a moment and I will grab the Awakening stone.”

At the head of the line there is an Orc in grey robes behind a desk. The Orc gestures to a crystal ball and gives out a slip of paper to the Adventurer in front of him. The adventurer walks off and the same thing happens with the next person in line.

Looking at Yui I ask “Why toybox?”

“Hmm? Oh! A summoned from earth called it that a long time ago. Named after a children’s toy, jack in the box. It’s a toy that…”

“I know what a jack in the box is. How is that relevant to the stone room?”

“Well, there is a summoned every morning but it’s always random what Tower they walk out of. Much like the toy just without the music.” She giggles “We can never tell when the door will open, popping out a person.”

“Random tower? Is there more than just this one?”

“There are thirty towers in Aruni, the name of this world. Aruni is about twice the size of Earth.”

Yui looks behind me, smiles, and waves. Turning around, a group of three human adventurers are walking towards us. The closest one is wearing dark leathers, the one to his left has colourful robes, and the last one at the rear was in full plate. Rogue, Mage, Warrior.

“Yui! Come to join us in the Tower? Markis, is in line getting us a number…” Glancing to me he smiles wryly. “What’s with the Knight? Were you caught doing something you shouldn’t?”.

Yui pushes Jace on the shoulder. “Hah shut-up Jace! You should be happy. You’re no longer the youngest summoned in the sect! This is Reigner, from Earth!”

“Summoned from Earth? Hah, that explains the lack of shoes. Hello Reigner, I’m Jace as you might have guessed. To my left is the lovely mage Bell and my right is Jack, the groups meat shield”.

Jace leans forward and offers his hand. “Tell me Reigner. What was the year when you were summoned?”.

Shaking his hand, I reply “2018. What about yourself?”

“Good strong grip you have there. I’m sure you will be treated well in the sect. It was 2010. I was walking home from a tabletop group when I was run over by something from behind while on the sidewalk” He scratches the side of his chin. “Hmm less than a decade on Earth but over ten here on Aruni”.

“Ten decades? As in over a hundred years? You don’t look a day over thirty.”

Jace chuckles “Something about the mana in this world keeps us looking young. Growing frail is not something you need to worry about here.”

That goods to know. Scanning the room, I keep an eye out for Mac. The sooner I can touch that stone. The sooner I can start learning magic!

Yui mentions something about going to their headquarters and meeting with someone. I stopped paying attention as I notice Mac stepping out of a door with an item in his hand.

Unable to contain myself I rush over to him. “Is that the stone?” My hands are shaking as I reach out towards his hand still at his side.

“Argh!” Mac jumps back a step and looks towards me. “Reigner. Gods! Don’t startle me like that! You seem more of a rogue class than warrior. It has been a long time since anyone here has been able to sneak up on me”.

Looking towards my twitching hands, Mac moves the stone behind his back with one hand and holds out the other in front of him in a stop gesture. “Before you touch the stone, we really should go somewhere private. Awakening can be quite… emotional.”

“Private is good but you can’t let us miss out on this.” Jace says from behind me. Looking back, I can see everyone has followed me. Including a new guy wearing a black robe. Healer maybe? That would complete the group.

Yui pats me on the back from my left. “The first human to be summoned in over a hundred years… I bet his starting skill will be powerful.”

“Well, if Reigner is okay with it. We can do it inside here.” Opening the door Mac ushers us inside.

Couches sit against the back wall of the room and a long table with chairs at the centre. There are a few doors too, one of either side of the room. Taking a few steps inside, I turn to face Mac expectantly. Everyone else gathers around us in a circle.

People watching my every move has always been one of the aspects of being a hero. I got over that anxiety long ago. At some point you just stop caring what most onlookers think or have to say.

Mac raises his hand palm open to reveal a crystal ball about the size of a Ping-Pong ball. The crystal is filled with blue and purple smoke, slowly swirling around inside.

“This is it? I thought it would be” Making a gesture with my hands “Bigger”.

“They come in all sizes. This is one of the smaller stones and is easy to move around. Most of the guilds have stones the size of a melon. More of a decoration and status piece than anything else. They all do the same thing.”

Reaching out I pick up the Awakening stone from Mac’s hand and hold on it. Everyone in the room is quiet as I hold the stone in my hands.

This is it! Finally. Everything is going to change. Swords? Forget it. I’m done with them. From now on its magic all the way baby!

After a little while the smoke from inside the stone glows brightly and fades. I’m left with a clear crystal ball in my hands.

Looking up to Mac I ask. “Is that meant to happen?”.

Mac, looking dumbfounded, reaches for the stone.

“Wait! I’m feeling something” something is moving through my body, is this magic? Starting from my hands and rushing into my stomach. It’s like… It feels like…

“PFRAAAAP” The back of my robes billows outwards as I let loose the longest fart in my life.

Everyone is motionless as the smell starts to waft around the room.

“URGH. I can taste it!” Someone says as everyone but me and Mac rush out the room. I can see Yui holding a hand to her mouth as she stumbles out, coughing.

Clenching my butt-cheeks, I look to Mac. “Uh Mac. Could you please guide me to the nearest toilet?

Mac points to a side door, his face looking a little green. I place the clear crystal into his hands and walk stiff legged to the door.

Well, that was not as magical as I was expecting. When he said emotional, I had different ideas than almost making a mess in borrowed robes.