The Great Magus, Gulepas, had clearly bitten off more than he could chew.
His newly summoned "heroes" from another world were not calm, noble warriors as he had imagined.
They were loud, curious, and full of questions that made his old head spin.
"What do you mean, summoned from another world?!" one shouted.
"Wait, did you say heroes? Holy crap, do we get skills or powers?!" another asked.
"Haha! I knew I was destined for more than just dreaming about being a lawyer!"
"Hey, Sir Magus, does this mean I can have a harem now?"
Voices overlapped, filling the grand hall with chaos. Most of the questions were silly, but a few actually made sense.
Still, the Great Magus had underestimated the minds of modern teenagers, especially ones who had just learned they were in another world.
They didn't give him a single moment of peace. Every time he tried to answer one question, two more came flying in. He quickly realized he was surrounded by a crowd of energetic, unpredictable youths, each of them believing this was their chance to live out some fantasy dream.
And maybe, in a way, they were right.
"Now, now, heroes," Gulepas said, raising his hands to calm them down.
His voice echoed with the calmness of someone who had handled chaos before.
"It is good to see such enthusiasm! However, there will be time for all your questions later. For now, you must meet with the king before we proceed any further."
His words finally managed to quiet them, at least a little.
The group of twenty students, still wide-eyed and confused, were escorted out of the summoning chamber by robed attendants.
They were led through long marble corridors lined with golden pillars and glowing crystals that lit the path like lanterns. Eventually, they were each shown to their own rooms.
To say the rooms were luxurious would be an understatement.
Each one was large enough to rival a four-bedroom apartment back on Earth. Velvet carpets covered the floors, chandeliers sparkled above, and long golden curtains shimmered whenever the breeze flowed through the windows
The walls were decorated with paintings of kings and warriors, each more regal than the last.
Tyler Lockwood, who had barely ever lived in comfort, couldn't believe his eyes.
When he was finally shown to his room, he simply collapsed onto the enormous bed.
"Finally," he sighed, sinking into the soft sheets. "Some comfort."
But the peace also brought time, time to think, to remember what he had lost.
Back on Earth, Tyler had a family. A normal life, even if it wasn't perfect. And now, because of some magical ritual he never agreed to, that life was gone.
He didn't know if he would ever see his family again. The thought stung.
Still, another feeling began to rise inside him, something close to excitement.
He remembered all the fantasy stories and novels he had read, all the anime about people getting summoned to another world.
Those stories always had one thing in common: the hero would grow stronger through effort, learning skills, fighting monsters, and changing their fate.
If that was how this world worked, then maybe, just maybe this was Tyler's chance.
His chance to become strong.
Strong enough to never be bullied again. Strong enough to crush John Kennedy, the boy who had made his life a living nightmare.
Tyler clenched his fist and raised it toward the ceiling. "This time," he whispered, "things will be different."
A knock on the door broke his moment of determination.
"Come in," he called.
The door opened, and a woman stepped inside, a maid dressed in elegant black and white clothing, her hair neatly tied, her posture graceful.
To describe her simply as "beautiful" would be an understatement.
She wasn't a girl; she was a woman, with a mature charm and curves that instantly drew Tyler's attention.
She bowed politely. "I have been sent to prepare you for your audience with the king."
Tyler stood up awkwardly, trying to look respectful. "R-right… of course."
What happened next was an experience Tyler would rather not describe in detail.
The maid helped him bathe, wash, and dress for the royal meeting. It was, to say the least, a very personal experience.
Standing naked while a stunning woman bathed him was not something Tyler had ever imagined happening in his life. And his body reacted in ways he wished it hadn't.
At one point, the maid's soft voice said, "I was told to attend to all your needs and relieve you of any… stress. Please, do tell me if you require such service."
Her hand moved slightly in the water, dangerously close to confirming what she meant.
Tyler froze. His mind screamed Yes, please! but his mouth betrayed him.
"N-no thank you," he said, forcing a nervous smile. "I'm fine!"
It wasn't easy to say no. But this was a new world, and he didn't want to start his new life looking like a pervert.
Maybe in a few weeks, once he understood the customs, he'd reconsider.
For now, he held back.
The maid looked a little disappointed but nodded respectfully. "As you wish, hero. In that case, we must hurry. The king awaits your presence."
She withdrew her hand, and Tyler couldn't help but smirk inwardly.
She's disappointed because of me, he thought proudly. Ha! Guess I'm not as hopeless as I thought.
"Right," he said, standing tall. "We can't keep the king waiting, can we?"
When she finished dressing him, Tyler glanced at his reflection in a mirror. He barely recognized himself.
He wore a fine robe of white and gold, fitted perfectly, with a silver crest embroidered on the chest.
For once, he actually looked like someone important.
But when he joined the others in the grand hallway, that feeling quickly disappeared.
Everyone else looked just as impressive, maybe even more so.
Their robes gleamed, their jewelry sparkled, and their postures screamed confidence.
"Wow," Tyler muttered under his breath. "Guess I'm not the only one playing dress-up."
Then came the voice he hated most in the world.
"Well, what do you know?" John Kennedy sneered. "A dog in royal clothing."
The group around him snickered, some trying to hide their laughter, others not even bothering.
Tyler clenched his fists. His jaw tightened, but he said nothing.
John stepped closer, his smirk widening. "Kneel," he said coldly.
The words hit like a slap. John's tone wasn't loud, but it carried the same authority it always did, the same tone Tyler had learned to obey back on Earth.
John wasn't just trying to embarrass him. He was making a statement.
He wanted everyone to see that even in this new world, Tyler was still beneath him.
Even if they were called "heroes," John wanted to make it clear who stood at the top and who was nothing but a servant.
The air grew tense.
The other students fell silent, waiting to see what Tyler would do.
Would he kneel, like always?
Or would he finally stand up for himself?