2.3.

"Call the princess, it's almost time."

"Yes sir!"

A colossal temple perched high on the mountain ledge somewhere near the capital of Equestria Empire. Hundreds of columns supported the overhead roof, each pillar etched into itself a depiction of the horrific wars between the human and demons.

The floor made of an unknown marble-like alloy emanated a rippling glow as mana waves resonated through it. In the center of this temple was a circular basin-like depression. Eight golden pillars erected at the outer fringes, each with runic symbols carved onto its surface, shimmering slightly.

Hundreds of mages in chorus with one another, weaving mana into the eight gold pillars. It was a magic concert in sake of summoning the next hero, one that would usher in the new era– the New Dawn.

The pulsations grew stronger, and so did the difference between light and dark. The golden pillars began vibrating, runic symbols and hexes glowed in a soothing mint colour. The mages struggled towards the final push as light began appearing at the lowest level of depression– a complex magic array.

This ritual had been going on for almost two days with at least five hundred mages, some of which were sages that went on a relay for the past 50 hours. Finally, their effort was beginning to bear fruit.

The magic circle pulsated, and the light intensified.

An hour more in this dreary concert, mages that passed out from exhaustion were quickly brought out and healed by the priests, a replacement took their place and began to orchestrate to match their mana to those around them. Sweat poured from the pores of these mages, each desperate to their best to keep the magic formation.

They had been told beforehand that they may switch when they came to a point of exhaustion. With priests, priestesses and many scrutinized volunteers around to provide them with the best support possible the mages of the concert, they prevented the death of these national gems.

"No incidents so far I hope, Sir Aaron?" a clear voice rang out.

"There has been no incidents, Your Highness," the knight, Aaron, turned around and saluted the princess.

Her Highness Evelyn Equestria, the second princess of the empire, had come in abruptly after receiving a notice from a messenger. The ritual was in its final phase. The time of the hero's arrival shouldn't be long now.

It was a privilege to be part of this historical moment, that their name would be passed along through the eras as one of the mages who brought light upon the darkening world. The mages wanted to be the ones who would strike the last note, the ones to stand before the arrival of the hero. It was like musical chairs, a dangerous one whereby one could ultimately die from overexertion.

Another half an hour passed, the pulsation of mana had grown to the point where one could feel it course through their bodies. It was suffocating.

Evelyn peeked at the unflinching Aaron. He was a magic swordsman who had earned numerous awards and achieved many exemplary deeds. One of the SS-ranks in this world which had chosen to serve under the kingdom. Speaking his request under the audience with His Majesty, he would become the hero's personal tutor and guardian for this era. What better privilege there was in the world than to become the hero's mentor.

At least, that was what it looked like on the surface. Evelyn knew more than anything why he had come to her father to request for this. It dated back to three years ago when the small fief on the outskirts of Equestria had been wiped out completely by the demons. An unexpected attack which led to the death of the S-rank mercenary Anna.

Anna and Aaron were not lovers per say, but they knew each other as comrades in arms as they were both high ranking mercenaries. It was her death which changed something in him. A dark seed planted in his heart, a wish to avenge the demons for their deeds.

Anna's death shook the world. Not only because someone of her caliber had died, but it proved that the demons had grown to such strength that even sending trivial forces was enough to destroy an entire human region in but a single day.

If the analyst's predictions are correct, the human race would soon enter another war for survival, one where the humans were at a great disadvantage despite the numerous advancements in techniques and technology. They needed a ray of hope. A hero to guide them forward.

A hymn echoed from within, causing an unknown fog to cloud the minds of everyone in the vicinity. The mages had stopped channeling with their minds blanketed in white, but the circle continued to pulsate. Brighter and brighter–

As if an earthquake had shook the mountains, the ground rumbled as a pillar of light descended donw from the heavens. The impact sent the mages tumbling back, some passed out from the howling shockwaves.

Light subsided as gold dust drifted down from the air– then silence.

Laying there in the depression was a pair, a girl and a boy in their school uniform. Evelyn and Aaron quickly snapped back to reality. They approached the two at once.

Those that witnessed it couldn't hide their joy. The world had given birth to not one hero, but two! The world is going to be saved!

The boy's eyes trembled. Slowly, he opened his eyes.

Appearing before Shiro Takashi was a silver haired princess in a sparkling red dress. Her beauty took his breath away.

'No wait this is..'

He suddenly recalled the magic circle that appeared beneath him– the same one Rika disappeared into no more than a month ago.

'Shit.'

His gaze shifted away from the princess and landed on his sister laying beside him.

'This is seriously real.. I can't believe it..'

His body trembled. Fear, excitement, anticipation and worry. A mixture of emotions gobbled up his heart. He grabbed his sister's shoulder and shook her awake, disregarding the people in his surroundings.

'System Open.'

A window appeared in front of him which showed him his status. In shock, he thought that there had been a mistake in the grades assigned, either that or there was something hidden behind the superficial letters seen on the panel. But before he could look further into it, Risa Takashi opened her eyes.

"Big brother?" her hazy vision grew clear.

"Are you alright?"

"What happened? Where are we.. eh?"

"We got isekaied. It's likely this is the place Rika was sent to."

"Eh, eh.. EHHHHH?!"

Risa jolted to a sitting position as she scanned her surroundings. She froze up, seeing the hundreds of people looking at them with hopeful eyes.

"Everyone, please stand back," Evelyn, who noticed their panic, raised her right hand. Everyone took some distance, Evelyn carefully approached the two.

Risa hugged Shiro's arm, he narrowed his eyes.

"O' great heroes, it is a pleasure to meet you. I welcome you to the Empire of Equestria. My name is Evelyn Equestria, the second imperial princess. May I ask for your's?"

"Big brother, what if this is like those bad isekais where they brainwash you?" Risa whispered.

"We'll come up with a countermeasure if that was the case," he whispered back.

"Roger that."

Clearing his throat he said.

"My name is Shiro Takashi, and this is my younger sister Risa Takashi."

"It's a pleasure to meet you both."

"Eh? What language is this?" Risa said and quickly covered her mouth.

"Wait.. this isn't japanese.. what is this?"

An unusual phenomenon was happening. They were somehow conversing in a foreign language unlike anything they've heard on earth. Yet this was the language that came out when they tried speaking in japanese.

"Hold on, what if I speak English. Can you.. it's the same!"

Any language they spoke would be instantaneously translated into this new language. They were unable to hide the contents of their conversation.

"Please calm down. It must have been a tiring journey for you both. Would it be alright if we provided you with some place to rest while you accustomed yourself to our world?"

"Uh.. Your Highness, the reason why we were summoned was because there is a demon lord right?" Shiro asked, wanting to assess the kind of isekai they had just entered.

"Yes. We require your courage to defeat the Demon Sovereign."

"Just to be clear.. we're not the first hero who's come to this world right?"

"It's as you said."

"Was there someone by the name Rika who passed through here by any chance?" Shiro had been itching to ask this question since he caught onto the suspicion. He was sure the magic circle Rika disappeared was identical to the one he stepped in. He didn't know if he should consider the fact that her sister had come with him as a blessing or misfortune. She reflexively clung onto him as the teleportation was underway, causing them both to fall into this world.

There wasn't anything like meeting a divine goddess or great god. They simply just woke up.

Evelyn showed a sorrowful expression, Shiro felt a bad premonition.

"Do you mean Hero Rika Kobayashi?"

"Y-Yes.. that's her," His expression froze up.

"My condolences. She passed away 5 centuries ago."

Shiro's world came crashing down.