Sora Kurusu, The First Artificier

The name is Sora Kurosu, I am a 16-year old student with the ambition known only to my classmates that thought it was hilarious. I however, believed it was possible, since back in my world, magic was only beginning to develop. We were apparently summoned to this world to become heroes and save the place, but it is obvious to those with common sense, that it would be unwise to accept such an offer. Even in the normal world, summoning meant contracting.

We've been escorted to some kind of grand hall, filled by audiences sitting by the sides of a large throne. I'm standing by the back end of my classmates, who all were also wondering what they've gotten themselves into.

The king was giving his introductory on my classmates about the situation. Sounds of gossiping and cheerful clasps of hands were followed by the classic "Save us from the Demon Lord" Troupe. I simply used my earphones that were fortunately with me, along with my phone, I'll have to sort out how to charge it in the late future.

They all yelled up about something, don't know that though, probably something about being excitement. I turned my back on them, as i always do. Everyone has their own opinions and doubts about me, and that's how it will always be. I tried going through the door, but i was stopped.

"And where do you think you are going?" a guard blocking my way, bellowed. Everyone in the room looked around, and are a bit confused as to what is going on "Darius, what are you talking about?" the king asked. The guard blocking my way, widened his eyes "You don't see him sir?" everyone started to panic "Who? Who are you talking about, Darius?" the king sputtered, as if he was also getting affected by the panic before him. The man then said "Sir, if you will allow me..." he opened the door "I think i might have a fever, so I must take my leave..."

The king hesitated for a moment, but then followed up with "Very well, if your brain is playing tricks on you, I must have you well-rested for the training you are to give to our heroes..." he said with a smile "Thank you, your highness..." Was the last thing i heard before i managed to get away from the hall, before the same said man followed up to me in his clunking armor "Wait there!" he said "I know you can hear me!" I stopped, and looked back.

"Who are you?" the Darius person asked "I am nobody..." I responded "You are one of the heroes, aren't you?" he said out-of-breath "Well yes, but actually no..." I shrugged. the man straightened himself "Aren't you going to help this country fend off against demonics?" He added "No, I'm not going too..." I replied "...But your friends are-" "Don't lump me in with those people, I am not like them..." I added. The man was hesitant for a second "You do not care about the fame and glory, along with the possible riches you could make, from being a hero?" I blighted at the word he said to me, but I responded nonetheless "I prefer to procure my riches from another ambition..." I replied.

The man then moved closer, looked around, as if to check and then whispered "Then followed me for a moment..." he said, I had nothing better to do, and I didn't know exactly what to do after leaving either. So I just followed.

We arrived at what appeared to be a barracks outside the castle, he lead me up to abnormally spacious room, filled with parchments rolled up in boxes and barrels of different sizes, a singular blade was hung up above what appeared to be a bed.

"So, if you aren't going to become a hero, I'd like you to tell me personally..." he said gruffly, as he sat on his bed and began detaching his armor from his body "How sure am i to know that you aren't secretly picking me off?" I said. He sighed "Well if I was picking you off, I would've picked a location much farther away from this place..." He finished detaching his left bracer "Now, tell me everything, from your background, to what your mission is..." I gulped at the thought, but then my mouth moved of it's own stupid accord.

I told him that I really was from another world, that I was what my world would considered the worst, my ambition in the previous world had gained much more significance when I arrived to this world, and lastly, how I was able to evade from the sight of the king.

"I see..." He said "So you would like to develop technology off of magic..." he stood up for a second "Well, how 'bout I send you off..." he said, my heart jumped from the words "Send me off?" "Yeah, you can't definitely develop such things under the eye of the king..." he said "You can use my room for this evening, I've got something important to do. I'll ask someone to prepare your gear..." He then held out his hand for me "...And if you manage to make something, I'll be glad to know my effort this evening isn't wasted..." my left hand formed into a fist "Why?" I said, he turned around and looked at me "What?" "Why are you helping me? why are you doing this?" I tried not to cry "Why would you go this far? to betray the trust of your king, and your men, for a some stranger like me-" he moved a bit closer "First of all, I'm not doing this because of any sort of favor, it's because someone outside needed me do a favor..." He hesitates, then he spoke "And second of all, I can't bear to see anymore of you die the same way..." Sora then froze.

"See you around, Sora..." Darius said

I was spastic about what I just heard, but after several minutes of thinking, I've deciphered what he meant by 'Dying the same way...' 'There can only be a few conclusions...' I thought '...But the most likely one is, we weren't the first heroes they've summoned...' I looked at several empty pieces of paper on a table 'And we aren't gonna be the last they're gonna summon...' I looked through an open window. I saw the a half-moon shining over a vast amount of water.

'This already reminds me of home...'