In the middle of Tokyo's bustling Shibuya street, Ren Suzuki, a 20-year-old architecture student, stood with his girlfriend Hana Mizuno. They were buying street food after watching a movie, a simple date they'd look forward to every weekend.
"This is so good, Ren!" Hana said, munching on takoyaki, her pink eyes sparkling with delight."Make sure we buy more before we head home!"
Ren smiled as he watched her. "Alright, honey. Just don't get sick later like last time."
As they laughed together, the wind suddenly picked up and the sky darkened, there hadn't been a cloud in sight moments ago. A bright circle of light appeared at their feet, glowing with gold and silver hues. They couldn't move away before being pulled into the light.
"Hana!" Ren shouted as he gripped her hand tightly. Their bodies felt alternately scorching hot and freezing cold, while a loud voice echoed inside their minds:
"Chosen ones… You are called to save the world of Aetheria…"
The dizziness lasted only a moment, and when it faded, they were met with a sight unlike anything on Earth. Giant unfamiliar trees surrounded them, with flowers that glowed with their own light. In the distance stood a mountain with a massive temple atop it, seemingly made of white stone and crystal.
"Ren… where are we?" Hana whispered, nervously clutching his arm.
Ren scanned their surroundings, still holding her hand. Part of him was scared, but another part was filled with curiosity. A figure dressed in what looked like ancient clothing approached them, a woman with long silver hair and blue eyes.
"Welcome, foreign warriors," she greeted them, but Ren and Hana couldn't understand her words. Then, a jolt seemed to pass through their minds, and suddenly they could understand her language. "I am Lyra, one of the guardians of the Temple of the Gods. We have been waiting for you."
"Guardians?" Ren asked, flexing his hands. "We don't know why we're here. We want to go back to our world."
"I understand your confusion," Lyra said gently. "But you won't grasp everything right away. First, you need to know that one of you carries the Ancient God Body, a vessel holding the power to save Aetheria from the forces of darkness."
Ren and Hana looked at each other.