The Seven Heavenly Heroes

The Emperor addressed us, asking for our aid. Once the room grew quiet, an indication that all of the attention was focused on him, he continued. "Our world was once a peaceful one. We traded with our neighboring countries, developed our towns so they would prosper. Our military might was not the strongest it could be due to the fact that we had no real use for an army of such magnitudes. But then the Dark Swarms came, and many people lost their lives." The Emperor said, his fist tightening into a ball on the arm of his throne. Other people within the chamber began to murmur, sounds of sadness. I look around, seeing all of the pained expressions in the room and am set to help these people. I remember when my friend back in my world lost his brother and tried my best to ease his sorrow. It makes me uncomfortable to see others in pain, so I was all set to help.

My fellow summoned heroes on the other hand were not as determined. The sword, spear and bow had a look in their eyes that seemed to scream 'and we care because?' The hammer and shield were somewhat moved by the sounds of sorrow in the room, but also uncomfortable by the situation. The only one who didn't have any visible expression from the situation was the staff, the only thing different about his smiling face was that his lips leveled out slightly.

It was after a moment of silence when the Emperor decided to continue. "Therefore, we took the decision to summon the Seven Heavenly Heroes of legend; to come help us in our time of need and hold off the Dark Swarms. Please, help our world and all of you will be rewarded beyond compare."

The spear hero walked up, holding his weapon firm and proudly. "Of course we shall offer you our aid, my lord! No more innocents will come to fall by this Darkness!" He shouted, causing some people within the room to lose their depressed expressions and smile at the hope offering its aid. "I, Klaus von Brandt shall defend the people of your land!"

The Emperor smiles warmly, then looks past spear hero, Klaus, towards the other heroes. "I apologize heroes, in my eagerness to gain your aid, I have skipped formality." He stands up, revealing his magnificent robes: white laced with purple covered most of his body, covering the ground he stood over and giving him an ethereal appearance, as if he floated across the floor. The guards within the room hit their breast plates and knelt down. Many of the people in the room knelt down as well, and the Emperor lowered his head. "I am the Emperor of the Turpilian Empire, Galerius Olcinius Turpilianus." He then sits back in his throne and everyone stands back up. I look around, stunned by the whole synchronized event that just occurred. "Now, may I ask the heroes to introduce themselves, save for Sir Klaus."

Klaus grins, stepping back in line, and the next to step forward is the sword. "I am named Killian Greaves, 21 years old. I suppose if we're here, I can offer my skills here." The sword, Killian comments, Compared to his more hostile nature when we were first summoned, he seems more like he doesn't care about the current situation. After he introduced himself, he stepped back, and the bow moved forward, a kind gleam in his eye and a warm smile on his boyish face.

"I am Richard Bishops, and I'm 18 years old. I am an alumni of my school..." He pauses, rubbing the back of his neck and chuckling shyly. "Although I suppose it doesn't really matter now that we're here. I will do all that I can to help this world with it's plight." He bows his head towards the Emperor and backs into the line once more. Next up, since the monk moved to my side, the token girl stepped forward, her weapon resting on her shoulder.

"Well, since we're doing this line up..." She commented , her Russian accent making her words sound somewhat strained to pronounce. "I am Perevalova Nasha Yanova, 24 years old. I'm not certain why a bunch of Westerners have called for my aid, but if this threat would bring harm to the Motherland, then I shall assist you in the endeavor to vanquish the foe." She nods, and despite the confused arch in the Emperor's brow, he nods back, and the Russian steps back in line, still having some eyes linger o her. Some of us were looking at her weird as well, but Klaus seemed to be glaring at her, as was Richard. This new world was getting stranger and stranger. The shield hero then stepped up, rolling his shoulders.

"Well, I guess I'll go next. I'm Akenamo Yugunasa, and I'm 25. I was a writer back in my world, but here I'll make sure to defend as many of you people as I can." He said, bowing deeply with his hands plastered against his side. The Emperor nodded, then turned away, facing the other heroes. What the hell?"

"Now heroes, In order to save the world-"

"My lord, It appears you have missed a few names." I turned around, seeing the monk staring at the ruler of the land. His face had no real expression on it, but compared to his smiling self that was his normal face, this expression might as well have been his version of murder. The Emperor turns to the monk, a slight look of anger in his eye for being interrupted. But that gaze quickly vanished and the Emperor put on the calm demeanor he had been using this entire conversation.

"Of course, Staff Hero. Please give us your name." The dude didn't even say how he skipped me, but what ever. I sighed and put my hands on the back of my head, waiting to hear what the monk's name was. But I felt an extra hand on my back, and turned to see the monk smiling down at me.

"Go on." Was all he said to me, and feeling grateful for this man, I smiled, stepping forward and pounded my chest proudly with my gauntlet.

"My name is William Cooper, but you all can just call me Liam. I'm 23 and I watched over my family." I kept my smile on even though I know my family were probably in mourning over my death. "I will try my best to keep you and the people of this world safe." The Emperor simply stared at me, not nodding or anything. He then turns to the monk, and nods towards him. I guess i should just be glad he didn't skip me again.

"I am a simple monk of the Earth Mother back home, but if you require a name, you may call me Anlong. " The monk said, holding the staff in his arm and bowing, his hand pressed firmly against his fist. "While I am rather old compared to the rest of my allies, I will give the task of hero my all." He ends with tapping his staff to the floor, and stepping back in line.

The Emperor bows his head, then continues on where he was before being interrupted. "Now, in order to save the world, you must empower each of your weapons. To do this, you must go out and complete adventures and tasks and what not." So it was like a game? Funny world.

The Magi who brought us here stepped forward and spoke. "If you could, please open your Statuses" Our what? I know I just said this was like a game, but did that guy just say what he did?

"What exactly is that?" Perevalnova says, her head tilting in confusion. "Is that some kind of information folder?"

"Don't tell me you all haven't noticed..." Killian comments, looking to the rest of us in disappointment. "Our vision has become a HUD."

"HUD?" a few of us say. I understood what he meant, but I don't see any info tabs on my health, stamina and magic, but suddenly, they appear, slightly blurring my vision. As if to slap me in the face, my health bar and other stats showed up, reminding me of the HUD from 'Dragonborn'. I then saw the word called 'Menu' and focused on it, opening up a large menu that had multiple options. I would have to go through all of this later, but saw 'Status' and focused on that. It opened and revealed my stats, showing that all of my numbers were level 1.

"Well, that is discerning." Akenamo commented, scratching his smooth chin. The other heroes were also worried about that. "So how exactly should we level up?"

"As I stated, you will travel and complete tasks. Doing so should increase your power." The Emperor said, leaning into his chair, his more calm mannerism gone and replaced with a mood of being done with this conversation.

"Well, I suppose we can work together and focus on-" Klaus said, a smile on his face. But before he could finish, the Magi raised his had.

"Actually, We would advise against doing that." His words made us focus on him, waiting to explain his reasoning. "While you can work as one and gain power, your Heavenly weapons will interfere with one another and slow down your development." He said, but for some reason, that sounded like a contrived reason. Oh well, if he says that we can't group up, it must be true. It is his world, after all.

"So what, we're just supposed to venture out on our own?" Richard complained, his grip on his bow tightening in anger.

"Of course not." The Emperor sighed, raising his hand to wave off Richard's comment. "Tomorrow we shall prepare you to go out by providing you with a set amount of funds and companions to travel with, as well as one Centurion." As he spoke, seven fully armored soldiers walked out, saluting in a similar manner as the others had, smacking their breastplate with their armored fists. "One of these elite soldiers will join you, ensuring that all heroes will have some assistance no matter what." The Centurions then lowered their fists, staring at us. While their faces were covered, I swear I could feel them staring at me. What intention were behind those stares, I could not tell. "Now, please, follow our servants to the wing we have set up for you. Rest well. Tomorrow, your journey, begins."

The seven of us decided to respect the Emperor, saluting him in the same manner his solders has saluted, before turning around and walking out of the chamber. I couldn't help but notice that while a lot of people were looking at the heroes in front of me with hope, there were some eyes that just stared at me, lacking that same hopeful glimmer. I slowed down and whispered to Anlong. "Hey, is it just me, or are these people kind of giving me a weird look?"

"Ah, so you noticed their gaze?" He said calmly, waving at the people that were staring at me, causing them to break their focus and turn around. "I would not think much of it. You were the one who stood out the most thus far, being the most vocal and all." I felt a sting of pain in my chest as he said that, realizing that my passion could have been viewed as insensitive. "Don't let that bother you."

"Yeah, well there was also how the Emperor just skimmed over us. Does that not bother you?" I inquired, walking past the large doors and into the hall once more.

"Not in the slightest. He seemed like a man desperate to show his power, or what he believed should be his power." His voice was still low, but I was still worried someone would hear his comment. "For now, let us rest our souls and enjoy their hospitality."

Right, hospitality. I didn't feel very welcome, but maybe the rest of the world would not be as bad. This was a new world after all, and I was going to enjoy it. "An adventure in a new world. This'll be great, right guys?" The other heroes weren't exactly as expressive as I was, but at least Perevalnova, Akenamo and Anlong gave me a nod and a grunt of approval. "Let's be the heroes they need us to be."