The students exchanged bewildered glances. "Heroes?" one of the bullies muttered, a sneer twisting his lips even in his confusion. He still
instinctively tried to assert dominance, even in this bizarre situation. Another student, a girl who usually remained silent during the bullying,
whispered, "Magic world?" Her voice was flled with a mixture of fear and wonder.
The beautiful woman smiled, her expression patient. "Yes, heroes," she repeated. "You have been chosen. Chosen to… well, that will be revealed
in time." She gestured around the room, which, while still resembling their classroom, was subtly different. The walls seemed to shimmer faintly,
and the air itself felt charged with an unfamiliar energy. Even the desks and chairs seemed slightly… sharper, more defned.
"Chosen for what?" the previously sneering bully demanded, stepping forward aggressively. He instinctively balled his fsts, as if ready to
challenge this strange woman. The woman's smile didn't falter, but her eyes, which had been warm and inviting, now held a glint of steel.
"Patience," she said softly, but her voice carried an undeniable authority that made the bully hesitate. "All will be revealed in due course. For now,
you must understand that you are no longer in your… familiar surroundings. This is a place of magic, a place where the impossible is possible."
She paused, letting her words sink in. "Some of you may have noticed… changes. Feelings. Perhaps… a sense of something… more."
She looked directly at the student who had been bullied, her gaze gentle and reassuring. He finched slightly, unused to such direct attention, but
met her eyes tentatively. A faint glow seemed to emanate from him, barely perceptible, but there nonetheless.
"This," the woman continued, her voice regaining its warmth, "is the beginning of your journey. A journey that will test you, challenge you, and
ultimately, reveal your true potential." She spread her arms wide, as if embracing the entire room. "Welcome, heroes, to the world of Aethel."