While Logan had already set out on his journey, his freshly summoned classmates were being shown to their quarters in the royal palace.
"Holy shit, this is amazing, we're like freaking kings now! Check out these luxurious rooms—goodbye boring high school life!" Shawn exclaimed as he threw himself onto a plush bed.
"Man, I was really scared about living here, but turns out we're gonna have a life we never could've dreamed of back on Earth," Maverick added, his eyes widening at the gilded ornaments and gemstones adorning the furniture.
They discovered magnificent rooms decorated with rich tapestries. Some objects were inlaid with gold and precious stones, while the beds were crafted from solid wood, adorned with jewels and sumptuous sheets. Through the windows, they could admire the gigantic palace courtyard a spectacle of lush gardens, elegant fountains, and majestic statues. Beyond that, the view stretched all the way to the royal capital of the Sigma Kingdom, called Attal.
"Holy shit, so that's the capital. I can't wait to go check it out," Maël said, awestruck.
"This kingdom is stunning, just like this castle," Emma added, gazing out over the massive city and the opulent palace.
The twenty high schoolers had each been assigned a lavish room. The promise of this new life already dazzled them with grand possibilities, easing some of their doubts. Some were already leaving their old lives, friends, and families behind. For some, glory and fortune were enough to erase everything else, while others knew it would take time to adjust.
"Maïli, you don't look very happy," Emma observed as everyone gathered in one of the palace's common halls.
"For some of you, it looks like you're already settling in nicely. They flash some wealth and glory in your faces and you're sold. Let me remind you that some of us are going to have to risk our lives," Maïli retorted, her trembling yet determined voice dragging everyone back to reality.
A heavy silence fell at her brutal reminder. The excited smiles faded, replaced by more serious expressions. Each of them took a moment to reflect on the truth of Maïli's words. This new life, as attractive as it seemed, carried dangers and responsibilities they had yet to fully grasp.
"But didn't you hear? We've been given gifts and skills most people in this world can't even dream of," Emma replied with urgency.
Suddenly, a bright light emanated from her, flaring brilliantly and blinding everyone in the room. The dazzling glow gradually subsided, leaving the room bathed in a soft and soothing radiance.
"See? We're the heroes of this world," Emma declared with unshakable confidence, a self-assured smile lighting up her face.
"Alright, Miss Hero. And what about the family you left behind?" Maïli asked, her tone icy and her face expressionless.
"Didn't you hear? We can't go home anyway," Emma shot back, clearly annoyed by the question.
"And so it doesn't bother you that they played with your life?" Maïli pressed, a defiant glint in her eyes.
"You sound just like Logan. I guess you'd rather go join him?" Shawn interjected with a mocking grin.
"At least he had courage, unlike some people here," Maïli shot back, her eyes locking onto Shawn's with burning intensity.
"Then why didn't you go with him?" Maël asked, jumping into the conversation with open curiosity.
"Yeah, you should've just gone with him," Maverick added, his voice dripping with provocation.
"I let him go for several reasons. First, opposing the King directly would've been suicide. Second, Logan is smarter than all of you put together. He'll figure something out; I have no doubt. Not stopping him, because he didn't have combat skills when summoned, was an intelligent choice. Proof is, when they saw he had no abilities, they tossed him out. And it would've been the same for you if you didn't have those jobs and skills. Third, if I have the chance to save people with what I've been given, I'll do it," Maïli explained with unshakable conviction.
"She's right. For now, we're just their tools. They summoned us without our consent," another girl, Eva, interjected, her voice tinged with sadness.
"Me, for example, I'll be forced to live here even though I liked my old life. My mom, my dad, my brother… I didn't want to leave them," added a young man named Dan, his face marked by melancholy.
"And if some of us didn't support Logan, it was simply because of fear. And we didn't mock him or glare at him with disdain like some people here did," said another boy named Max, his tone heavy with regret.
"Good for you if you didn't like your old life, or if you don't think it's a big deal. But don't lump everyone together," added a final voice, a boy named Mäne, his voice trembling slightly with emotion.
"Pfft, talking about fear… If you didn't react even though some of you agreed with Logan, that just makes you a bunch of cowards," Shawn retorted with contempt, his eyes gleaming with defiance.
"No, that's not…" Max began, but he was immediately cut off.
"Not what? Don't lie. You stayed because you wanted to enjoy the perks they promised you. If you'd left, you'd have been alone in this world, forced to fend for yourselves," Shawn interrupted ruthlessly.
"He's absolutely right. You're cowards and hypocrites. We mocked him and didn't support him, sure, but why are you still here then?" Maël added sharply.
"So don't start lecturing us on morals. I'm going to live my life to the fullest here. If some of you want to mope around, go ahead. And I don't regret what happened to Logan one bit. I could never stand him. Always first, top in math, top in French, best in sports, better than everyone! Praised by the teachers that bastard thought he was better than all of us!" Shawn spat, bitterness dripping from his words.
"So that's what this was about. You're pathetic. You just felt inferior to him; that's why you bullied him with your little gang," Maïli cut in sharply, her words slicing like a knife.
"He didn't even fight back when we attacked him. He told us we were pathetic. Behind his perfect façade, he was a loser living in poverty, a damn orphan. And his sister was a whore who prostituted herself for money. And yet he still had that arrogant look like he was better than us!" Shawn screamed, venom lacing his words.
"Oh, I could cry. The truth is, you're the loser here. You're so pathetic, you actually make me feel sorry for you," Maïli replied, her gaze full of contempt.
"Why you little !" Shawn began furiously.
Flames burst from his hand, hurtling toward Maïli with blistering speed. She didn't even flinch; her expression remained calm and focused. With a fluid motion, she raised her hand and a whirlwind of wind instantly formed around her, dissipating the flames in a fraction of a second.
Without missing a beat, Maïli made a precise gesture with her fingers, and a thin blade of wind materialized. Before Shawn could react, she made a swift, precise slash across his cheek, leaving a fine line of blood. Shawn staggered back, his hand flying instinctively to his wounded face, his expression a mix of rage and shock.
"Don't you ever try that again," Maïli murmured, her cold and determined gaze a silent but unmistakable warning.
The entire room was silent, everyone holding their breath, consumed by the palpable tension between Maïli and Shawn.
"You don't deserve the title of hero, and Logan never thought he was better than anyone—he was the best. One last thing: next time you try that, I'll aim for your throat," Maïli declared, her voice as sharp as a blade.
"What's done is done. We're going to have to get used to it, so let's try to get along, okay?" Karine said timidly, trying to diffuse the conflict before it exploded again.
"Maybe the others were hypocrites and cowards, but not me. So I'll just say this: mind your own business. Logan's going to be just fine. For now, let's wait and see what happens next," Maïli continued, her tone calmer but still brimming with determination.
After this heated argument, which revealed the tensions and heightened emotions of everyone present, they all returned to their rooms, leaving behind a heavy silence full of reflection and resentment.
In his room, Shawn fumed, his fists clenched and his face red with rage.
"That bitch!" he swore, slamming his fist violently against the wall.
They only had a few days left to rest after their summoning and acclimate to this foreign world. Their intensive training was about to begin, promising new trials and challenges to overcome.