12 EX 1: The Ordinary Boy
Hiro Nakamura was a normal 16-year old boy who liked ordinary things, such as games and TV shows. Dark brown hair and about average height.
But contrary to his personality and appearance, the place he found himself in wasn't ordinary at all...
When he looked at the sky, there were two moons visible at all times, even though it was daytime. Also, he seemed to be atop a silvern tower.
[???: "So you've woken up, Mr. Hero?"]
There was a pretty girl with light blue hair looking down on him as he lay aloof on the ground. She wore a robe, like the ones priests would wear in MMOs.
Hiro set himself up and answered her with a distressed face.
[Hiro: "Isn't that a little... cliche? And also: HOW THE FUCK DO YOU KNOW MY NAME?!"]
[Blue-haired girl: "Ehh, what do you mean your name? I just called you Mr. Hero because that's who you are, right? The hero, the goddess, Shila sent to help defeat Ignatius, the evil demon lord!"]
[Hiro: "I get what the problem is: My name is Hiro, H-I-R-O!"]
[Blue-haired girl: "Ahh, I get it! My name is Sannah, a priestess of the Goddess of Life, Shila."]
She declared proudly.
[Hiro: "That's all great n' all, but where am I? And most importantly: How do I get back?"]
[Sannah: "Riiiiight... Since you are not from this world, you must be confused... We are in Thelfheim, a country on the continent of the Lords. More specific we are atop The Tower of Omnipotence, the temple of Shila. As for how you get back to your original word:
The Legend says that the hero is sent back after defeating the demon lord."]
[Hiro: "Wow, that is so cliche... So what level am I? Do I have any special abilities?"]
Hiro declared excitedly.
[Sannah: "What is this "level" you speak of?"]
[Hiro: "Alright, that answers my question... What about special abilities, and how do I gain strength?"]
[Sannah: "Is a hero supposed to have special abilities?"]
[Hiro: "Y E S!" ]
[Sannah: "But I can answer you on how to get stronger! "]
[Hiro: "I'm listening..."]
Sannah looked a bit worried and began her monologue:
[Sannah: "So you see, there is this thing called "MANA"... You heroes usually get the gist of it but assume its only use is magic...
But mana is something that flows through every part of your body, so it also enhances one's physical attributes.
And you can get stronger by training your mana control. You can't really boost the amount of mana you are born with, but the people summoned by the gods usually have a lot of mana!"]
Hiro looked with awe at her as she explained, and then a question came up in his mind...
[Hiro: "Ehem, you say I have to defeat some demon lord, but how strong is this demon lord?"]
Sannah looked a bit surprised and fearful as he asked his question.
[Sannah: "How do I put this... You know, the gods of this world are not almighty, you see. Hence there are beings close to their might.
Those beings are called the seven lords. That is also the reason this continent is called the "Continent of the Lords." And Ignatius, the demon lord, is very close to becoming one of the lords."]
His expression changed for the worse...
[Hiro: "So you're telling me I have to become a god to get back to my family?"]
[Sannah: "I wouldn't necessarily put it that way, but you'll at least have to reach the level of a lord. Hence you should train your body and mana so that you receive an authority!"]
The youth sitting on the ground grumbled at those words...
[Hiro: "An authority? Something like invisible hands you get from a witch factor?"]
[Sannah: "Ah, yes, an Authority is the strongest form mana can take... But I have no idea what a witch factor is supposed to be... It is literally an authority over what shape your mana takes! If you're in the upper bracket of combatants, you are bound to have one."]
[Hiro: "So, can you give me an example?"]
[Sannah: "For example, Glacius, the Lord of the North, who is an ice-dragon, has the authority of Frost, which gives him complete control over ice and snow in his range... His authority is so powerful that it is said to be the cause of the cold in the north!"]
The awe in the brown-haired boy's eyes faded to something much less pleasant as he listened to Sannah's story, but his determination wasn't crushed entirely!
[Hiro: "So, these lords seem to be pretty awesome, huh? Can you tell me some more about their authorities?"]
[Sannah: "Don't be fooled, most of the lords are a wicked and power-hungry creature that just happened to be so insanely powerful that the Church of the Twelve couldn't ignore them...
Hence they dubbed them Iuga Septem!
About their Authorities, Only two are ordinarily known, the reason being that Cryotans range is so huge that he can't conceal it. And because the other known authority belongs to a human...
The Paladin of the Shila church, Notario Van Hellfort, the Lord of the Day!]
With gleaming eyes, Hiro moved his upper body forward in excitement:
[Hiro: "So what is his authority like?"]
[Sannah: "Light, that is his authority."]
[Hiro: "You've got to be kidding me, right?"]
Sannah smiled gently...
[Sannah: "No... Not at all. but you see, authorities usually consume immeasurable amounts of mana to use, so it is actually kind of balanced, you see?"]
Hiro smiled gently...
[Hiro: "No, not at all."]
Suddenly Sannah's eyes began to glow with a spark of joy.
[Sannah: "But I'm sure you'll also get a great authority, I'm sure of it!"]
[Hiro: "Ehehe, thanks, I guess?
So we talked a lot, but I still don't know what to do right now..."]
A stumbling blue-haired priestess looked at the ground in embarrassment...
[Sannah: "Uwwaahh, I am SOOO sorry, I forgot to do my duty! I am actually supposed to give you directions for your beginning!"]
[Hiro: "It's fine..."]
[Sannah: "So the first things first! This is a magic communication device. You can use this to contact me twice a day!"]
As here received the mirror that Sannah handed him, he realized the implication of those words.
[Hiro: "Wait, you're not going to accompany me?"]
[Sannah: "No, the records have proven this to be a bad idea since less than half of the hero's companions survive the grand quest..."]
[Hiro: "SAY WHAT!? And you expect a normal human being like me to accomplish such a feat?!"]
[Sannah: "You'll do just fine! You only have to go to the next town, register yourself as an adventurer, take on a few quests, get a bit stronger, then fight the demon army and save the world!"]
[Hiro: "..."]
The supposed hero had lost hope after hearing such high expectations, so he decided not to say anything.
As the golden sun shone at the tip of the tower from between the two moons, Sannah decided that it was time for Hiro to go on his adventure...
With the parting words, "Whatever you do, stay away from towns with rumors about vampires, they may not be part of the demon army, but they belong to one of the most wicked lords!", Sannah shushed Hiro down the stairs of the Tower of Omnipotence.
