1 #1.0 : The Beginning

Chapter 1.0: The Beginning

As Akira sat at his desk, he gazed with frustration at the math problem before him. Mathematics had never been his strong suit, and he was having difficulty focusing on the task at hand. His friend Yumi entered the classroom and took a seat next to him, noting his distressed expression. "Hey, Akira, what's going on?" she inquired.

"Just this math problem," Akira grumbled. "I can't seem to solve it."

Yumi chuckled. "Don't worry, you'll get it. You're usually pretty good at math."

Akira shrugged. "I suppose. But it doesn't really matter anyway, I have no idea what I want to do with my life."

Yumi comforted him with a pat on the arm. "Don't worry, you have time to figure it out. And you're a smart guy, you can do whatever you want."

Akira offered a weak smile in gratitude. "Thanks, Yumi. You always know how to make me feel better."

Their math teacher, Mrs. Fujimoto, entered the classroom and instructed the class to take out their textbooks and turn to page 98. Akira attempted to focus on the problem at hand, but he found it difficult to concentrate. Suddenly, he felt a tingling sensation in his hands and looked down to see a faint blue light emanating from his palms.

"What the-?" he exclaimed, staring in shock at his hands.

Yumi noticed his expression and turned to him with concern. "Akira, are you okay?"

Before Akira could respond, the light grew brighter and the tingling intensified. He experienced a sharp, stabbing pain in his chest and cried out, clutching his chest as if his heart was being torn in two. Yumi and the rest of the class watched in shock and horror as the light enveloped Akira's entire body, and with a bright flash, he vanished from the classroom.

When Akira regained consciousness, he found himself in a dense forest surrounded by tall trees and glowing plants. He sat up, his head spinning and his chest still aching from the pain. "Where am I?" he muttered, looking around in confusion.

A rustling sound caught his attention and he turned to see a group of armed soldiers emerging from the underbrush. They were dressed in green armor and carried swords and shields. The leader, a tall, muscular man with a short blonde beard, approached him. "You there, boy! Who are you and what are you doing here?" he demanded.

Akira stared at him in shock. "I-I don't know. I was just in my math class and then... I don't know what happened."

The man's expression softened. "Well, you're not in your math class anymore. You're in the kingdom of Eldora. And judging by the light that surrounded you, I'd say you're the hero we've been waiting for."

Akira's eyes widened in surprise as he processed the information provided to him by Captain Marcus. "The hero? What do you mean?" he asked, seeking clarification.

The Captain sighed and sheathed his sword before explaining the situation further. "I am Captain Marcus, leader of the Eldoran Royal Guard. Our kingdom is being threatened by the evil sorcerer, Zarek, and his dark army. They have caused destruction and devastation throughout our lands, and many valiant warriors have fallen in battle against him.

"However, legend states that a hero will emerge, wielding the power of the gods and possessing the strength and courage required to defeat Zarek and restore peace to Eldora. When we witnessed the light enveloping you, we knew that you were the hero we have been waiting for."

Akira struggled to comprehend the situation, finding it difficult to believe that he, a high school student, could be the hero they were seeking. "But how could I be a hero? I'm just an ordinary person," he protested.

Captain Marcus placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Although you may not believe it at this moment, I sense that you have a great destiny ahead of you. If you are willing, we would be honored to have you join us in our quest to defeat Zarek and save our kingdom."

Akira looked around at the unfamiliar surroundings, unsure of how he ended up in this strange world or how he was expected to be a hero. Yet, a sense of determination and purpose welled up within him, knowing that he could not turn his back on these people and their plight.

"Very well," he said, his voice filled with resolve. "I will join you and do my best to defeat Zarek and save your kingdom."

Captain Marcus smiled and nodded in approval. "I knew you were the right choice. Come, let us gather the rest of the team and set out on our journey."

As they embarked on their quest, Akira couldn't shake the feeling that his life was about to take an unexpected turn. But he was ready"