Damn it.
Suppressing the curse, Asher glanced to his side.
One of the two boys stood there, muttering something under his breath, his expression steeped in a strange aura of reverie.
The attire he wore was unfamiliar, foreign in a way that made Asher instinctively uneasy.
Focusing, Asher tried to catch what he was saying, and at that exact moment, their eyes met.
Asher offered an awkward smile, the kind meant to smooth things over and pretend nothing had been noticed, even as he made a mental note to never get close to that guy if he could help it.
He quickly turned his head away, redirecting his attention to the platinum-haired woman.
Her face was a fragile mixture of confusion, fear, and worry, emotions bleeding into one another as she struggled to process what had just gone wrong.
"…Excuse me, if possible, I would like to speak with you all… Is that fine?"
She said hesitantly, choosing her words one by one, as though afraid a single misstep might worsen the situation.
"Yeah, I guess it's about time we get to know why we're here all of a sudden. I'm hella confused."
A masculine voice spoke up beside Asher, the same creepy guy from earlier.
Asher didn't bother turning around, though he could feel the edge of venom woven into the casual tone.
Still, he noted it silently.
'Might be useful to stay on this guy's good side.'
"No, you are not to be blamed for the sudden turn of events, nor for your confusion. This… was our mistake," the woman said, pausing briefly, as if weighing how much truth to reveal.
"So, yes. Welcome, everyone, from the other world. Welcome to our world, Nevea, and to the sacred land of the Blazarus Kingdom."
As she finished, the beauty offered them a warm smile.
With practiced grace, she lightly plucked the hem of her skirt and bowed, the gesture refined and sincere, trying, perhaps desperately, to reassure those who had been dragged here against their will.
Asher had only ever seen such acts layered with something vicious or self-serving, so witnessing the real thing took him a moment to fully register.
"I'm Rachael Ardent. First of all, I would like to apologize for the sudden intrusion upon you. I understand how confusing this must be, and I know that you deserve an explanation. However, for our side's convenience, before I begin, may I ask all of you to make the effort to place your hands upon the sphere here?"
As she spoke, Rachael gestured lightly.
One of the cloaked figures stepped forward and produced an object resembling a crystal ball, its surface smooth and faintly luminous, cradled carefully as though it were fragile.
It's the elimination stage, isn't it?
Asher thought, his body tensing despite himself. Still, he did not move.
Acting rashly now felt far more dangerous than compliance... and it wasn't fear that held him in place, he told himself, but caution.
"Alright, there's nothing you need to do," Rachael continued, her tone reassuring.
"Simply place your hand here and wait a moment." She paused, glancing over the group. "…So then, which one of you would like to step forward first?"
Asher attempted to slide toward the rear without drawing suspicion, guided by a certainty he couldn't quite put into words.
It was just that, being caught at the beginning, or being left for the end, created a world of difference.
He couldn't explain why, not even to himself, but he knew it mattered.
"Me! I'll do it. I've always wanted to," a voice rang out suddenly.
The strange man sprang forward from his place, a humorous gleam dancing in his eyes, as though this were some long-awaited performance rather than an unknown trial.
Up close, his features appeared even rarer than Asher's own.
With obsidian hair and eyes to match, he would have been considered almost an extinct species back in Asher's world.
"I'm Winter Valemont, by the way…" he said in a casual tone, directing it at the robed person but letting it carry to the others as well.
Without hesitation, he placed his left hand atop the crystal sphere, the wide grin never leaving his face.
A few seconds passed.
Then the crystal ball began to glow.
At first, the light was a sickly green, dim, almost hesitant, before it slowly intensified, refining itself, growing denser and sharper with each heartbeat.
The glow swelled until it became unbearable, the green dissolving into something so bright it was impossible to distinguish from white.
Instinctively, everyone present raised their hands to shield their eyes, vision overwhelmed by the sudden radiance.
It was like that after all. His attitude gave it away.
The thought crossed Asher's mind as the pain flaring behind his eyes finally subsided.
When he lowered his hand and the world came back into focus, the lingering brilliance still hung in the air.
Winter looked expectantly toward Rachael.
Her eyes were lit with a mix of surprise and amusement, clearly captivated by the display that had just unfolded.
Her lips remained parted, as though words were poised right there, waiting for their turn to escape, yet she snapped them shut just in time as Winter returned to his place and another figure stepped forward almost simultaneously.
It was one of the girls this time.
She had almond-colored eyes and pitch-black hair that fell in loose waves around her shoulders, with a trace of baby fat still clinging to her cheeks, softening her features.
"I'm Hwarena Bladec… nice to meet you," she said, voice light as she offered a charming smile, her hands clasped behind her back despite the gravity of the situation they should have been taking far more seriously.
So she's that type of creature, I guess, Asher thought.
The cloaked figure gave her a brief nod and gestured for her to proceed.
What followed was similar to Winter's test, though the result differed this time, the crystal emanated a deep scarlet glow, vivid but restrained, and less blinding.
Just like that, the aggressive guy strode forward next, his frame barely comparable to Asher's, yet carrying a presence that felt far heavier.
He was followed closely by the remaining two girls, their expressions unreadable.
"Nova Vieor, here!" he announced loudly, almost proudly.
"…Selena Truzeq," one of the girls followed, her voice low and restrained.
"…Lara Platvia," the last said, barely above a whisper.
Each name was announced in turn, and with each test, the crystal orb responded, flaring with a striking light every single time.
With every glow, the tension bubbling inside Asher's mind climbed higher, winding tighter, until it reached its zenith.
He found himself watching Lara more closely than he had observed the others.
She was the only one with blonde hair instead of obsidian, the pale strands standing out sharply beneath the hall's muted lighting.
Slowly, almost hesitantly, she extended her hand toward the crystal.
'Damnation!'
If the crystal glowed even this time, then it was already as good as over.
----
I don't know why but this chap took quite some time.
Anyways, i guess it's about time we start the grinding, and yeah he's gonna have to return to his real world soon.
Just Keep supporting me. Be it power stones, GT, or just the comments.