The steady scratch of pencils and the soft hum of the classroom air conditioner filled the room with a calm, almost drowsy rhythm. Ms. Fujimoto paced between the rows of desks, her voice sharp but even, laying out the intricacies of the Meiji Constitution. Most students nodded along, some actively taking notes, others doodling in the margins of their books.
Noa Itsuki sat still, shoulders slightly hunched, eyes scanning his notebook as if memorizing would somehow keep the day normal. After all, there was a comfort in monotony—so long as things remained the same, there were no surprises. And surprises in his life were rarely good.
Miyu, seated a few desks ahead, had her head slightly tilted, jotting down notes in crisp, clean handwriting. Occasionally, she would glance back toward Noa. When she caught his eye, she gave a quick little smile, almost imperceptible. It was like a secret between them.
Just as Noa allowed himself the thought that today might end without further incident, the air changed.
It started with a low hum.
At first, it was subtle—like a fluorescent light flickering above—but quickly it built into a distinct vibration that resonated through the floor, then the desks, and finally through their bones. The lights overhead blinked, stuttered, and then—went out completely.
"What the hell?" Daigo muttered from the back.
"Is this another drill?" Aiko asked, frowning.
"No announcements," Takeshi noted aloud, already standing up and scanning the windows.
Then came the light.
It emerged from beneath their feet.
Noa pushed his chair back in shock as a brilliant, glowing circle of runes blazed to life on the floor beneath the entire classroom. It wasn't just beneath his desk—it was under every desk, wall to wall, lines of complex symbols pulsing with power.
"What the—" Ms. Fujimoto began, but her voice was drowned out by a sudden surge of wind from nowhere.
The summoning circle intensified, rising in height, forming spiraling walls of blinding light. Students screamed—some ducked, others grabbed for nearby friends or desks as if it might anchor them.
Noa instinctively reached forward, his voice caught in his throat. "Miyu!"
She turned, eyes wide, reaching out just as the floor beneath them vanished.
There was no falling sensation. No tumbling or plunging through endless space like the stories said. It was more like… slipping. One moment the classroom existed, and the next, it was gone. So were the walls, the windows, the chalkboard.
And then—
They landed.
It wasn't a hard fall. More like being dropped onto a bed of air before settling onto stone. Noa opened his eyes slowly, disoriented. The smell hit him first: something earthy, unfamiliar, with a hint of incense.
Around him, his classmates were scattered, blinking in confusion.
"Wh-What just happened?"
"Where the hell are we?!"
"Is this… a stage or something?"
The room—or rather, hall—they had landed in was massive, with vaulted ceilings and walls carved from polished stone. Enormous stained glass windows cast colored rays of light onto the ground. At the far end of the hall stood a group of unfamiliar people—robed figures, soldiers in silver armor, and at the center, a girl.
She stood tall and regal, though young—perhaps around their age. Her hair was silver, cascading down her back like a river of moonlight. She wore an ornate white dress embroidered with gold patterns, and a jeweled circlet sat upon her head.
Noa barely had time to register any of this before Renji's voice exploded across the silence.
"Who the fuck are you people?!" Renji shouted, shoving his way to the front. "Where the hell are we?! What is this—some cult shit?!"
"Language, Kuroda!" Ms. Fujimoto snapped, instinctively stepping in, though even she looked unsteady.
The silver-haired girl raised a hand calmly. Her voice, when she spoke, was clear and soothing, but powerful enough to carry through the hall without effort.
"Please, calm yourselves. You are safe. You have been summoned here to aid our world in its hour of dire need."
Noa's blood turned cold.
Summoned?
Miyu stood beside him now, silent, her eyes locked onto the girl at the end of the hall.
Aiko laughed nervously. "This is a joke, right? Like… an elaborate prank?"
"This isn't a prank," Takeshi muttered. "I don't think technology like this exists back home."
The girl stepped forward, her attendants trailing behind her.
"We have called you here through ancient magic known as the Grand Summoning Rite. Your arrival was foretold by our seers and written in prophecy."
"Prophecy?" Renji repeated, his tone sharp. "Are you out of your damn mind?!"
"Enough," Ms. Fujimoto said, clearly trying to regain control. "I don't know where we are or what trick you're playing at, but I am responsible for these students and—"
"I understand your confusion," The girl said gently. "Truly. And I offer my deepest apologies for the fear this has caused. We only ask that you hear us out."
The robed man beside her, likely a priest or advisor, stepped forward. "This world is under siege by the Abyssal King and his legions. Our armies have faltered. Our knights cannot stop the darkness. But the scriptures speak of heroes summoned from another world—heroes with untapped power."
He turned to face the group. "That is you."
Silence fell.
Noa looked around. Riku had his arms crossed and was mouthing holy shit under his breath. Shunpei was still sitting on the ground, looking pale. Daigo had the face of someone still expecting a punchline. Even Ms. Fujimoto didn't have a retort for once.
"No," Renji barked. "You dragged us here without permission. There's no way we're helping you."
Girl didn't flinch. "You have the right to refuse. But there are consequences. This spell is irreversible. You cannot return—not yet. Not until the prophecy is fulfilled."
Noa's heart skipped. Not return?
"W-We're stuck here?" someone whispered.
"Not forever," the priest said. "If you help us save this realm, the way home will be opened once more."
Noa felt as if the room was tilting. None of this felt real, and yet the chill in his bones told him it was. This wasn't a dream. This wasn't a delusion.
Miyu gently took his hand. Her grip was firm. Warm.
"We'll figure this out," she whispered.
"I didn't ask to be a hero," Noa murmured.
"Maybe not," she said. "But maybe you still get to be one."
The group was led to the throne room. The king was a heavyset man draped in a robe too fine for his stature, while the queen stood composed beside him, her posture sharp and eyes intelligent—clearly the one who handled the thinking.
With a wave of his plump hand, the king boomed, "Welcome, heroes from beyond the veil! We are honored by your presence."
He looked to the girl who had first spoken to them in the hall and added with a grin, "You've already met our blessed Saint—Seraphina Lumielle. She is the one who ensured your safe arrival."
A murmur of surprise passed through the students.
"Saint?" Aiko whispered.
Seraphina, bowed gracefully. "I serve the Divine Light, not the crown. I apologize for not introducing my self earlier. We feared your confusion might delay understanding."
"You think?" Renji scoffed, folding his arms.
But even he couldn't deny she carried herself like someone important—calm, centered, radiant.
The queen finally spoke. "You may have questions, and you deserve answers. Rest tonight. Tomorrow, you will undergo the Arcana Test. It will determine your strength—and your future in our world."
The class's otaku, Junpei Nara, raised his hand with a nervous tremble, eyes wide behind his glasses. His voice cracked slightly, unable to mask the thrill bubbling just beneath the surface. "D-Does that mean this world has magic? Elves? Dragons? Stuff like that?"
The moment the words left his mouth, a ripple of excitement swept through the class. Murmurs turned into whispers, and even the usually composed Ms. Fujimoto blinked in astonishment, her stern expression softening with curiosity. The air shifted—not with fear, but wonder.
Saint Seraphina smiled warmly, her voice soft but full of reassurance. "Yes, magic is common in this world, and many of the races you've heard about—elves, dwarves, and others—do indeed exist here. We understand how overwhelming this must be, but you won't be left to fend for yourselves. We will teach you everything you need to know—from the language and customs to magic and combat. You have my word: none of you will be sent into danger unprepared."
Noa exchanged a glance with Miyu.
And so, their journey—whatever it would become—had truly begun.