"This world is called Aurelius."
It was only after the blessings were revealed that the truth of our new world was finally spoken.
Aurelius — a realm woven by mana itself.
Every living being here was born with it flowing through their veins, and even we who had crossed the barrier between worlds were now touched by it.
"Your blessings," Lady Seraphina continued, her voice calm yet commanding, "reflect the lives you led in your original world. The choices you made, the habits you forged — they all shaped the form of your gift."
"Gifts based on how we lived," huh?
I wanted to laugh.
If mine was Box Opener, what did that say about me?
That I spent my life opening gacha boxes and skipping cutscenes?
…Actually, yeah. That sounded about right.
"There exist the Seven Grand Races," Seraphina said, lifting her staff. The gem atop it blazed, and shapes of light began to form — vivid, moving illusions painting the air.
"The Elven, the Beastfolk, the Dwarven, the Faeries, the High Humans, the Humans, and the Demonic."
A low murmur spread among us as the projections shimmered — silver-haired elves beneath moonlit trees, proud beastkin roaring under crimson skies, stout dwarves hammering molten steel.
And then… two sets of humans appeared side by side.
Daichi frowned. "Lady Seraphina, why are there two kinds of humans?"
"An insightful question," she replied with a faint smile.
"The High Humans are descendants of the First Light — blessed beings whose mana resonates with divinity. They rule from the floating citadel of Lumerion, protectors of the realm's balance."
The image of shining towers in the clouds spun above us, radiant and impossibly far away.
"They were the ones blessed with powerful and rare gifts. But because of their duty to protect the weak, most of them perished in the wars against the Demon Kings."
The air grew tense. Everyone could feel Seraphina's pain — as if she were reliving the horrors of her ancestors.
It was a serious matter, yet time was too unforgiving for stories of the past.
Her expression softened as the light shifted to the second image — humans, plain and weary, huddled in the shadow of walls and cities.
"The humans you will join, however… are ordinary. Mortal. Struggling to survive the endless wars among the races."
Her voice dimmed slightly.
"The balance of Aol has long been broken. The Demon Kings rise once more, and the light of Aurelius fades with each passing year. That is why you were summoned — to become the new Pillars of Hope."
The room fell silent. Even Ryo, who had been restless moments ago, looked solemn.
The weight of her words pressed down on us like the air itself had thickened.
Pillars of Hope.
Heroes.
That was supposed to be us.
And yet… I couldn't help but look at the faint mark of my blessing again.
Box Opener Lv.10.
It glowed faintly, unimpressive and lonely among all the others.
If this was hope, then Aurelius was already in trouble.
"I know all of you are afraid and tired, so tomorrow we will continue everything and start at the fresh dawn of sun. Rest well, heroes."
Still, as I watched the light of Seraphina's staff fade and the illusions dissolve, something inside me stirred — quiet, but insistent.
---
We were given rooms — temporary housing to hold all fifty of us.
It was cramped, noisy, and felt more like a dorm than a sanctuary. Still, after everything that happened, even a bed and roof felt like a miracle.
In that short moment, I started noticing things.
Not everyone here was from our school. Some students said they were from other districts — even cities away.
That meant this wasn't random. It wasn't just our class that was chosen.
Maybe it was a selection… not a kidnapping.
But that led to another question.
Why me?
That thought lingered as I lay on the bed. It was soft, but it didn't feel like home.
The scent of the sheets was strange — like flowers and dust — and the air hummed faintly with mana.
I could feel it tingling beneath my skin.
It was all… alien.
As I stared up at the ceiling, the information from earlier replayed in my head.
The kingdom we were in was called Lumina — a Holy Kingdom located at the top of the massive supercontinent that connected all others.
It was the heart of trade and faith, the largest of the human realms.
And according to Seraphina, it was also descended from the last surviving line of High Humans.
If that was true… then this kingdom was both blessed and cursed.
I couldn't sleep.
The room they'd given me was small but quiet — a single bed, a window, and a faintly glowing crystal fixed to the wall for light. It reminded me of the dorms back home… except this place hummed. The walls themselves felt alive, thrumming softly with mana, like the entire building was breathing.
I sat by the window and looked out.
The city of Lumina stretched far below the hilltop citadel. From here, I could see bridges of light connecting marble towers, rivers that shimmered with liquid mana, and airships floating like lanterns across the night sky.
It was beautiful. Almost unreal.
But beauty didn't hide the unease in my chest.
Something about this world felt too… perfect. Too staged.
If Seraphina was right, then this world had summoned fifty of us to become its "Pillars of Hope."
But hope for who?
And why people like me?
The silence pressed harder.
Eventually, curiosity won over reason.
I slipped out of my room quietly.
The corridor outside was dim, lit only by the same faint blue crystals. My footsteps echoed softly against the marble floor.
Everyone else was asleep — or at least pretending to be.
I passed by the doors one by one, glancing at the nameplates engraved with faint mana sigils. Some rooms were brighter than others; probably the higher-ranked blessings glowing faintly in their sleep.
Then, near the end of the hall, something caught my eye.
A door slightly ajar.
Not a room — a storage chamber, from the look of it.
Inside, faint light flickered, as if something alive was breathing there.
Curiosity pulled me in.
The room was filled with ornate relics — staves, armor pieces, scrolls sealed in glass. The air was thick with mana residue.
But at the far end of the room, resting on a pedestal, was a small lockbox.
It wasn't ornate or golden. Just a simple black chest with faint etchings.
But as I drew closer… it pulsed. Once. Softly.
Almost like it was reacting to me.
I paused.
My blessing mark tingled slightly.
"...Nah," I muttered, stepping back. "I've seen enough horror movies for this."
I turned away, pretending I hadn't noticed.
But as I walked out, the box pulsed again — stronger this time.
And a whisper, so faint I almost thought I imagined it, brushed the air.
Open me.
I froze.
My breath hitched — but then I shook my head.
"Not tonight," I whispered back.
As I stepped out into the hallway, I caught movement in the corner of my eye.
Someone else was sneaking around.
A slender figure in a flowing night robe, her long hair swaying as she turned a corner — Aki Tanaka.
I frowned. "What's she doing here?"
Before I could even take another step, a gentle but commanding voice echoed from behind us.
"I believe that's my question to both of you."
The air thickened — literally. A wave of mana surged through the corridor as golden motes of light drifted into view.
Lady Seraphina stepped out from the shadows, her staff glowing faintly at its tip.
Aki froze mid-step, hands half-raised like a kid caught stealing snacks.
I stiffened too, trying to look innocent — which, judging by Seraphina's unimpressed gaze, didn't work.
"I… was just taking a walk," I said lamely.
Aki shot me a look. "That's my excuse!"
Seraphina sighed softly, a trace of amusement behind her stern tone. "You two are quite bold. Few dare to wander within the Citadel after midnight — especially on their first night."
I tried to form an excuse, but she lifted a finger.
"Curiosity is not a sin," she said, stepping closer. "But it is dangerous here. Not everything in this place sleeps — and not everything welcomes intruders."
Her eyes lingered on me for a moment longer than necessary.
Then, quietly:
"Tell me, Satoru Inoue. Did you find what you were looking for?"
The question struck deeper than it should have.
I hesitated. "...No. Not yet."
A faint smile tugged at her lips.
"Then perhaps it is not ready to be found."
Her staff glowed brighter, and before I could reply, the air shimmered.
Light enveloped Aki and me, and in an instant, we were back in our rooms — the glow fading like a dream.
I sat on the bed again, heart still pounding.
For a moment, I stared at my hand — at the faint mark that read Box Opener Lv.10.
It was dim… but just for a heartbeat, I swore I saw it flicker — as if it had answered something.
And somewhere, in the silence of that sacred citadel, the black lockbox pulsed again.