The atmosphere was still filled with what High Priest Silvanus had just revealed. His presentation, dense and solemn, resembled a fantasy game tutorial: he had discussed mana, how it worked, mystical races like elves and dragons, types of magic, energy flows, and the dangers specific to this world. Each summoned student had been assigned a class—mostly exceptional, sometimes common, but all high-ranking. A system of talents, levels, and development now bound them to this reality.
King Arvandil then rose from his throne, his expression as majestic as it was grave. His voice, noble and firm, broke the silence:
"According to the Holy Scriptures, a sacred bond unites worlds when necessity demands it. This phenomenon is neither a matter of science nor human will... but of the Divine. You have not come by mistake. You are now guests of the kingdom
of Asterion." Allow yourself some rest. A banquet awaits you."
Servants dressed in silky robes entered silently and gestured respectfully. The Summoned were invited to follow them.
The reception hall was vast, bright, and simply decorated. A long table covered with white linen held a multitude of carefully arranged dishes. Crystals embedded in the ceiling diffused a warm, enchanted light. Everything exuded order and refinement.
As the young men left, the King stopped Silvanus with a glance.
"High Priest... these Summoned are powerful. Too powerful, perhaps. Their presence is a gift, but it could also become a threat. This world is not ready to face its own creation."
Silvanus replied unmoved.
"I share your fears, Your Majesty. That is why I have taken the initiative. The Holy Empire of Elyndra has been notified." The Supreme Archbishop has convened a council. All other sovereigns will be informed."
Arvandil remained silent for a moment, then said somberly,
"Let us hope the flame we welcome doesn't set our kingdom ablaze."
While the banquet had not yet begun, two familiar figures moved into the room: Professor Kentaro and Professor Hiroshi. Their worried gazes scanned the crowd of students, who were beginning to relax, some even joking despite the still-fresh shock. Everyone seemed to be gathered around a core group: Reiji's group.
"Reiji," Professor Hiroshi said, approaching, "have you seen Kaito? He's not with you."
The young man nodded, crossing his arms.
"He left us right after the High Priest's explanation." He seemed a little... shaken."
"He went that way," Ryo interjected, pointing to a discreet corner of the room, near an ornate pillar.
And indeed, isolated, almost hidden in the shadow of the carved stone, was Kaito. Silent, he stared into space with an expression that was difficult to read.
Without waiting, the two teachers approached. Hiroshi was the first to speak to her, soft and calm.
"Kaito... are you all right?"
He turned to her, slightly surprised, then replied respectfully,
"Yes, ma'am. Don't worry about me."
Kentaro crossed his arms and stared at him for a moment before speaking in a more direct tone:
"Your reaction is probably the most sensible of all of us. We've literally just been thrown into another world, and most of us are accepting it as if it were a school game. We're the strange ones."
Kaito inclined his head slightly.
"Thank you, sir."
"That said... even if your panic attack took us all a little by surprise, that's no reason to isolate yourself like this."
Hiroshi turned slightly toward his colleague with a small smile.
"You're forgetting that Kaito has always been a quiet student. A loner, yes... but attentive."
Kentaro raised his eyebrows, as if caught out.
"Oh... sorry, Kaito. I got a little carried away."
Kaito shook his head gently.
"It's nothing, sir."
At that precise moment, a solemn announcement sounded. The great gates swung open. King Arvandil entered, accompanied by High Priest Silvanus and the knight Lady Kaelis, in gleaming armor. Their mere presence imposed silence.
The King raised his hand.
"Peace be upon this assembly. Let the banquet begin."
The guests began to take their seats. Elegant maids served the first courses in a perfectly choreographed ballet. Exotic aromas rose in the room, and little by little, the tension dissipated, giving way to curiosity and, tentatively, joy.
A week had passed since the banquet.
The great white stone castle, once filled with voices, peals of laughter, and nervous hesitation, was now bathed in an almost solemn silence. The courtyard was empty, the rooms echoed with the sound of every footstep, and only the golden light filtering through the stained-glass windows served as a reminder that the world continued to turn.
All the summoned had left, each having chosen their own path.
The majority had followed King Arvandil to the Royal Capital, drawn by the promise of rigorous training and new horizons. Mr. Kobayashi, the driver who had become silent and attentive since their arrival, had naturally joined this group, driven by a protective instinct toward his former passengers.
Another, smaller group had turned to the knight Lady Kaelis, hoping to pursue martial training in the spirit of this new world. Mustuki, the young lady with the determined gaze, and Madame Hiroshi Sakura, their teacher, were among them.
As for the students awakened to sacred magic, they had accepted the invitation of High Priest Silvanus and were now taking the road to the Holy Empire. Ryo, designated as Hero, as well as Haruka, whose gentle inner light had touched the hearts of the priests, were among them.
Mr. Kentaro, however, had made a different choice. Eager to learn more about magic and the mysteries of this world, he had obtained, with the King's help, special permission to travel to the Sorcerer's Kingdom. There, he found the Omnis Academy, the cradle of magical knowledge.
And Kaito?
He had stayed.
Not out of fear or hesitation, but out of instinct. He wasn't yet ready to follow in someone else's footsteps. He wanted to understand this world in his own way.
Since then, he had spent his days in the castle's vast library. Entire shelves were filled with ancient tomes with dusty covers and indecipherable titles.
The first time he opened a book, he squinted, puzzled.
"Of course, I understand everything..." he said. "The cheated hero who reads even otherworldly languages as if it were nothing."
Against all odds... he truly understood. Or rather, he read, as if some invisible magic were translating every word for him.
He soon discovered that his class—Elemental Mage—was far more complex than he had imagined. Most elemental mages controlled a single element. A few, rarer ones, wielded two. Prodigies, three. And legends... four.
"Hm. So that's how it is?" he murmured.
As he continued reading, he discovered a rare skill in an old tome: Speed Reading—Void Veil, a spell related to a type of magic, void magic. By subconsciously activating it, he began to read and assimilate spells at breakneck speed.
He began researching spells related to different elements. Finally, he found an ancient ritual, simple but reliable, that allowed him to determine his affinities. The result left him speechless for a moment.
"Lightning... light... darkness? Three affinities?" he said, a wry smile. "But I'm really fucked up, actually."
It was said humorously, but deep down, he knew what it implied: enormous potential, but also a silent responsibility.
Thanks to his accelerated reading, he learned all the elemental spells he could find in the library. Unfortunately, his still-low mastery only allowed him to use the first level for each of his three elements.
Two weeks after the others left, Kaito asked to meet with a castle steward.
"The King said we'd received funding to start our lives here, right?" I would like supplies, short swords... and if possible, a map of the Eloria Forest."
The man complied, although surprised. A young maid brought a detailed map and designated several areas, highlighting them with red ribbon.
"These areas are the most dangerous. My lord, stay within the blue circles if you wish to explore without major risks."
Another, more timid maid questioned him:
"You... will be alone? Are you sure?"
Kaito nodded, slowly putting on his new traveling tunic.
"In my world, I sometimes spent entire weeks in the wilderness with my family. Campfires, hunting, orientation... I'm already familiar with that kind of life."
He added, smiling lightly:
"A magical forest populated by unknown creatures isn't going to scare me... well, not too much."
A few hours later, a carriage took him to the edge of the woods. The sun was setting over the horizon, painting the sky a deep orange. Before him, the trees of Eloria stretched as far as the eye could see, ancient, majestic... and menacing.
Kaito climbed out of the carriage, adjusted the strap of his satchel, and set off into the forest.
Alone, for the first time, but free.
The forest of Eloria opened up before him like a green sea, alive and rustling, populated by mysteries. Kaito took a deep breath, then set foot on the moss-covered ground. It was official: he was entering uncharted territory.
He'd barely traveled a few hundred meters when a small group of slimy creatures appeared. Translucent, gelatinous, bouncing masses.
"Slimes? Seriously?" he blurted out, half-amused, half-weary. "That's all it took. Cliché number one in any self-respecting isekai."
He drew one of the recently sharpened swords. Although he was a mage, he'd spent hours reading fencing manuals in the library. Theoretically, he knew the stances, the sequences, the guards. But between theory and reality... there was a world of difference.
He lunged.
And missed.
The slime dodged the blow with a lazy bounce, then tried to wrap a sticky tentacle around him. Kaito panicked, backed away, and struck blindly. It took him several long minutes, a few humiliating slips, and a good dose of frustration before he finally got the better of it.
"There... first monster defeated... I could have done better. Or worse," he sighed, sitting next to the vanished puddle of slime.
He promised himself he would only use magic in cases of real danger. Even though he already knew several spells, he was only able to cast one of each element: Bolt for lightning, Lumen for light, and Lesser Eclipse for darkness.
Until evening, he continued to hunt slimes. Little by little, his blows became more precise, his body more flexible. He felt his reflexes, stimulated by combat, sharpening.
When night fell, he found a quiet spot near a lake. He threw a small Bolt at the ground. A spark erupted, then a timid flame rose.
"A living torch... electric version."
He settled down, caught some fish, and grilled them over the blue flame. The taste wasn't great, but he'd experienced worse.
The next day, he returned to the forest. The slimes didn't have much left to teach him, but they were still good training. His movements flowed better, more instinctively.
That's when he saw it.
A blood boar.
A massive beast, covered in dark, bristling fur, with glowing red eyes. Nothing like slimes.
"Okay. Now we're getting into the real bestiary."
For the first time, he used magic in combat.
Minor Eclipse.
A dark mist rose around the boar, slowly obscuring his vision. The beast growled nervously, then backed away, striking out into the air, disoriented.
Kaito leaped to the side, slid under a root, and plunged his sword into the creature's side. One last grunt... and silence.
Not a scratch.
He smiled, panting.
"Now that was cool."
The next night, he was awakened by low growls. Wolves. Half a dozen of them, crouching among the bushes. They were surrounding the camp.
"Oh no. Not you."
He raised his hand.
Lumen.
A white sphere burst above him, casting a bright light in all directions. The wolves, dazzled, backed away. Some howled. In the confusion, Kaito shot two of them. The others fled.
Once again, he made it out alive.
The days passed. Kaito explored, confronted, studied. His body grew stronger. His mind too.
Then, one day, at a bend in a path overgrown with brambles, he looked up... and stopped dead in his tracks.
He recognized the place.
The blackened ruins, the collapsed columns, the circle carved in the stone... This was where they had been summoned.
And in the center of the clearing, still standing despite the surrounding chaos... their bus.
Silent. Inert. Like a memory frozen in time.
He approached, placed a hand on the door.
"How many days has it been? Three weeks? Four?"
A sigh escaped him.
He decided to spend the night here. Not out of nostalgia... but because, deep down, this place reminded him that it all began here. And that he was no longer the same.
The next day, he would leave again. Toward the unknown, once again.
But for tonight, he would sleep... at home.
Kaito settled into the bus, setting his things down in the center aisle as if he were returning to his student seat. The place was dusty, but at least it offered a roof over his head and some memories.
He unrolled the map he had retrieved. The forest he was in served as a natural border between the kingdom of Asterion, to the west, and that of Tholaris, nicknamed the adventurer's kingdom. According to the notes, the bus is in Asterion's territory, but if it went any further east, it would enter much more dangerous areas.
Kaito sighed.
"Well... I've survived this far. I used half my funds to equip myself, I have the other half left to last until the capital... Provided I get out of this damn forest alive." »
He put the map away, took a last sip of water, and fell asleep, murmuring,
"Heading to the Royal Capital, eh... Let's see what fate has in store for me."
But that night, fate hadn't forgotten him.
A roar ripped through the night silence. Kaito sat up with a start. He didn't need to look outside to understand: a gigantic creature was flapping its wings above him.
"A wyvern... Seriously? I'd forgotten about those."
The bus shook violently as the beast landed on it. Kaito leaped out of the vehicle, two swords in hand.
He knew he didn't stand a chance. But he smiled nervously.
"Die without trying, or die fighting? The choice is easy."
He threw Bolt at the creature. Zero effect.
"Of course. Why would that work?" »
The wyvern charged. Kaito rolled to the side, narrowly dodging. He used Lumen to blind the beast, allowing him to approach and attempt a strike. His blade ricocheted against the scales.
A swipe of his tail sent him flying. He crashed against a rock, coughing up blood. His legs trembled. He was in pain, but he got up again.
"My body is screaming, my legs are shaking, I'm in so much pain a slime could one-shot me... BUT I SURVIVED! And I'm ready to do it again!"
He smiled. Bloody. Determined.
He dodged again and again, until the opportunity presented itself. He cast Eclipse, his darkness spell, plunging the wyvern into oppressive darkness. It hesitated. Kaito took advantage.
He plunged both swords into the beast's flank and threw Bolt directly at the blades. This time, the wyvern howled in pain. Sparks lit up the night.
"Not bad. But not bad enough..."
He staggered, staring at the creature. He rolled his eyes and whispered mockingly:
"This is usually when a badass character comes along and saves me... or when I unlock a superpower through friendship."
Silence.
"Okay, so I'm the one who has to die first. Great scenario."
He saw the wyvern charging at him again. He ran too, gathering his last strength.
And then, he felt it. A chill in the air. A different energy.
"Now or never..."
He unconsciously used Void Veil, the void magic spell he could use. Around him, everything seemed to slow down. The creature's movements became a blur. He dodged beneath it, dodging one claw, then another, and slashed inside its belly with both blades, charging them with lightning.
The wounded wyvern took flight to escape. But Kaito wasn't done. He ran, jumped, and barely clung to it.
"Idiot. Completely crazy."
He continued to strike until the beast began to fall. He lost one of his swords, barely clung to one of its scales, and concentrated what little magic he had left.
"Come on... lightning... light... please..."
A brilliant light burst forth.
White lightning.
The impact shook the sky.
The wyvern crashed to the ground with a clatter. Dead.
Kaito, lying nearby, gazed up at the starry sky, panting.
"That was... such a cheat..."
He collapsed, unconscious, a smile on his lips.
Kaito lay unconscious for hours, his bruised body lying next to the still-smoldering carcass of the wyvern. When he finally opened his eyes, a searing pain shot through every limb. The slightest movement was enough to elicit a moan. He remained motionless, staring up at the sky through the branches.
"Honestly... surviving a monster like that only to starve to death would be ridiculous." He gave a painful smile.
But even pain couldn't compete with hunger. Slowly, gritting his teeth, he crawled to the sword he had dropped nearby. Using it, he struggled to his feet and walked over to the wyvern's corpse.
Cutting through a monster's flesh with trembling arms was anything but easy. He gathered a few twigs and pieces of wood, lit a fire as best he could, and grilled some meat. The taste was disgusting, a bitter, acrid, and savage. But his stomach decided otherwise.
"Ugh... Even the cafeterias at my high school did better..." he sighed between bites.
Once he was full, he stretched out against the ruined bus.
"If only I had holy magic..." he thought aloud. "Elemental light is all well and good, but it won't heal a twisted leg..."
At dawn, his injuries still ached. Yet, he got back up. As best he could, he stocked up on meat, packing what he could, then chose a direction at random, using a stick to walk.
Each step wrung a rattle from him, but strangely, walking gradually made him forget the pain. He discovered with amusement that the scent of the wyvern he was carrying seemed to keep the forest beasts away. Wolves, wild boars, even a bear slipped away after sniffing it from afar.
"I may have finally found my own survival scent... 'Dragon Essence'!" he exclaimed, laughing.
He then thought back to the attack he had used during his fight.
"White Lightning... Cool name, isn't it?" he murmured with a proud smile.
During a break, he tried a new combination: lightning and darkness. The result was a devastating black flash.
"Ooh... Black lightning. That's even classier!"
Satisfied, he continued on his way. But soon, a strange noise caught his attention. Curious, he approached discreetly... and saw a tree with a humanoid face strangling a boar with its roots.
A Treant.
A formidable monster, typical of the borderlands of the kingdom of Tholaris.
Kaito wanted to retreat, but the roots lunged towards him. He narrowly dodged.
"Well, apparently I'm doomed to fight every break," he said with a sigh.
He drew his sword, slicing through the roots. He activated Void Veil, his perception of time slowing down, allowing him to get closer to the living tree. Once within range, he planted his blade and cast his new magic.
Black lightning.
The attack was brutal, powerful, and ended the fight. The Treant collapsed with a sinister crack. Kaito, panting, leaned on his sword.
"I really didn't sign up for this..."
He used the Treant's wood to cook the strangled boar. This time, the meat tasted better—or maybe it was just his body getting used to it.
He realized then that he had wandered much further than expected, into the lands of the Kingdom of Tholaris.
"That wasn't the plan... But hey, as long as I'm discovering things, I'm fine with that."
After hours of walking, the trees thinned out. A large plain stretched to the horizon, bordered by cultivated fields. And in the distance, he finally spotted a town.
His face lit up.
"Finally... The starting town!" he said with a dramatic air worthy of an RPG. "Let's go, adventure 2.0!" »
Here's the new part of your story, reworked in a fluid and immersive light novel style, with a balance between description, character insight, and narration:
After several hours of walking, Kaito finally headed towards the city. His legs could barely carry him, but the sight of the stone walls, tiled roofs, and the large swinging gate was enough to give him a boost of energy.
As soon as he entered, he noticed something strange. Passersby were all discussing the same thing. On every street corner, at the market stalls, even the children were whispering...
"Visitors from another world," "the summoned," "strangers from elsewhere."
He lowered his head, uneasy. As an introvert, approaching someone was already difficult, but in this situation where everyone seemed to be looking for people like him, it was becoming a real nightmare. He quickened his pace, avoiding stares.
He finally found an inn with a typical style: exposed beams, a wooden sign, and the smell of beer and warm bread wafting through the air. A true fantasy cliché.
Inside, he met a warm-looking woman. She had a gentle smile and a natural kindness in her voice.
"Hello, young man. Are you looking for a room?"
Kaito nodded, then took a gold coin from his purse—a coin bearing the coat of arms of the Kingdom of Asterion.
When she saw it, the owner stopped in her tracks. Her eyes widened, and she immediately asked a series of questions:
"Are you from the Kingdom of Asterion? Have you seen the summoned? Have you heard of the hero?"
Heads turned around them. Silence fell over the inn.
Kaito swallowed. His heart was pounding. He hated being the center of attention. The only time he'd ever spoken in front of others was... during the awakening ceremony. And he'd fainted.
Seeing his discomfort, the woman immediately stopped the questions.
"Oh, I'm sorry! I shouldn't have rushed you."
She continued in a calmer tone, "The King of Tholaris has returned from a meeting of monarchs in the Holy Empire. There, the Supreme Archbishop warned of the arrival of people from another world... Since then, everyone has been curious. Rumors say they are powerful, and that a hero is among them." »
Kaito immediately thought of Ryo.
The woman continued:
"And since you come from the kingdom of Asterion, where the summoned were seen, I thought you would have more information..."
Kaito replied timidly:
"I don't know any more than you do..."
She bowed slightly.
"I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."
Then she changed her tone:
"And what name can I register your room under?"
Kaito hesitated for a second. He didn't want his real name to spread too quickly...
"Kyle," he replied.
"Very well, Kyle. I'm Rose. I'm the manager of this inn," she said with a smile. "For one gold piece, you get a comfortable room and three meals a day for a month!"
She handed him a key. Kaito took it with a discreet nod, then climbed the stairs to his room.
The room was simple but clean. A soft bed, a small desk, a window overlooking the rooftops.
He collapsed onto the mattress, sighing contentedly.
"Finally, a real bed... Camping is nice for two days, but after a week, your back starts to complain."
Without even taking off his shoes, he closed his eyes... And fell deeply asleep, overcome by exhaustion.