CHAPTER 4 — Voices in the Marble Hall
For a long moment, no one dared to breathe.
The king's words lingered in the air, heavy and unmovable. Roman felt them settle into his bones, cold and absolute. Around him, his classmates slowly regained their balance—some standing, some sitting, others trembling where they knelt.
Then the silence cracked.
Aiden Cross stepped forward, his voice low but steady. "Your Majesty...with all due respect, summoning high school students from another world—without warning, without consent—isn't something we can just accept. We deserve to understand what's happening."
Several students murmured in agreement.
Mira Kesslin pushed herself up with shaking legs. "Y-Yeah! We're kids! We had school this morning! You can't just—drag us here and tell us we're your...heroes-for-hire!"
Her voice cracked at the end, but she didn't look away.
Ren Takahiro adjusted his glasses with trembling fingers. "And what...what exactly is expected of us? You say we're free, but we're also bound to answer your summons. That contradicts itself, doesn't it?"
The king folded his hands, listening calmly, eyes narrowing with measured patience.
Selene Ward crossed her arms. "And before anyone here agrees to anything, we want an explanation of what risks we're expected to take. We didn't sign up to be royal weapons."
Lena Hartwell, though visibly scared, lifted her chin. "I...don't mean disrespect, Your Majesty. But people here are afraid. We want to know how you intend to keep us safe."
Her voice was soft, but the sincerity behind it quieted even the murmurs.
Darius Flint stepped forward, tall and imposing even among the students. "And if you're expecting us to fight for you, then you better promise we won't be treated like disposable soldiers."
His tone was blunt, almost harsh, but it carried the heavy, unmistakable weight of someone protecting the people around him.
Talia Venn let out an uneasy laugh. "Also, compensation. If we're stuck here, shouldn't we at least get something out of it? House? Money? Magic starter kit? Something to make this whole kidnapping situation a bit less...traumatizing?"
Her teasing tone earned a few nervous chuckles.
Evan Calder stepped forward to soften the tension. "What she's trying to say, Your Majesty, is that if we're going to rebuild our lives in your world, we'll need resources. Stability. You summoned us—we have no ties here. No homes. No families. No way to live."
His voice was calm, diplomatic, almost soothing against the rising panic.
Nora Vale raised her hand eagerly, eyes sparkling behind her glasses. "Also—this world runs on mana, right? So if we're infused with it, does that mean we'll mutate? Or explode? Or unlock complex arcane systems? Because that's fascinating and terrifying and fantastically inconvenient—"
"Not helping, Nora," Mira groaned.
The king finally raised a hand.
The entire room stilled at once.
"I understand your fears," King Aldric said, his voice gentle but firm. "Your anger is justified. Your confusion is natural. And your demands for fairness are reasonable."
A ripple of surprise moved across the students.
"You shall receive compensation," he continued. "Homes within the kingdom, adjusted to your comfort. Stipends for living. Freedom to explore, learn, and grow within Eltoria. And protection. I will not throw you into danger like disposable pawns."
Roman watched the tension in the room ease—slightly. Not entirely. But enough that a few students exhaled.
Then Aiden stepped forward again.
And the room froze.
"One more question," he said. "One the entire class is thinking but too afraid to ask."
Even Roman felt his chest tighten.
"A way home," Aiden said. "Is it possible? You brought us here—so can we go back?"
A breathless stillness fell over the throne room.
The king's expression didn't change at first.
But the mages shifted uncomfortably.
The guards glanced at each other.
A few students' eyes filled with desperate hope.
Roman's heart hammered.
King Aldric slowly descended the steps of the throne, every footfall echoing like thunder. His cloak dragged along the polished marble, gleaming under the light of high chandeliers.
He stopped at the edge of the dais.
His eyes—cold, ancient, sorrowful—met Aiden's.
"...Yes," the king answered.
Gasps erupted.
"It is possible to send you back."
Jordan stiffened beside Rin.
Rin swallowed hard.
Roman felt his pulse leap.
Then the king continued.
"But if I were to do so now..."
The temperature in the room seemed to drop.
"...your bodies—now saturated with our mana—would be unable to withstand the transition back to your mana-less world."
A few students visibly paled.
"You would be torn apart. Not metaphorically." His voice turned grim. "Your physical forms would be ripped apart by the violent rejection of mana against your original nature."
Mira covered her mouth with a cry.
Lena's eyes filled with tears.
Darius clenched his jaw.
Selene's face hardened, fury building beneath her calm exterior.
Aiden stood frozen.
The king looked over the entire class, gaze heavy with sincerity.
"I will not kill you in an attempt to return you home. I refuse to use magic that would destroy you."
The throne room was silent—painfully, suffocatingly silent.
Finally, the king added:
"But hear this—if a way arises to return you safely, without destroying your bodies...you will be told. Immediately."
A flicker of hope. Fragile. Small. But something.
"For now," he said softly, "you must live here."
Roman inhaled slowly.
The truth settled over him like a weighted cloak.
They weren't going back.
Not anytime soon.
Maybe not ever.
And Eltoria...
whether they liked it or not...
was their new home.