The golden light of the summoning faded like smoke after fire, leaving behind only silence... and three strangers.
Dominic's boots echoed against the stone floor as he caught his breath. His eyes scanned the chamber — marble walls, flickering braziers, a circle of robed figures surrounding them like judges at an execution.
His heart was calm. His mind was not.
Behind him, Annabel was visibly shaking, her arms tucked in as if trying to shrink herself. Jake stood ahead of her — fists clenched, head turning rapidly, trying to act like he wasn't scared.
Dominic's stance was different.
He didn't flinch.
He didn't bow.
But deep inside, he was trying to process the absurdity of it all.
No way. This… this is an isekai, isn't it?
Whispers started among the court mages.
"The prophecy spoke of two…"
"Then why are there three?"
"Is the ritual broken?"
The murmurs spread like wildfire — low, anxious, suspicious. One of the High Priests stepped forward, golden staff in hand, and addressed the trio.
"Welcome, heroes from beyond the veil."
Dominic squinted at him.
"Heroes?"
His tone cut the room in half.
"Are you seriously telling me… I've been isekai'd?"
The priest blinked. "Isekai…?"
"You know—transported to another world. Magic, monsters, prophecies, that sort of crap."
The confusion spread.
"What's he talking about?"
"Is that his native tongue?"
Dominic paused.
"Wait... how the hell am I even understanding you people?"
The priest gave a calm nod.
"The blessing of our goddess. All who are summoned inherit our tongue."
Dominic let out a breath, running a hand through his hair.
"Hah… Of course."
The priest's tone shifted.
"But there's… a problem."
Dominic raised a brow. "Go on."
"Only two were meant to come. But three appeared. And there is only one way to confirm which of you… does not belong."
I knew it, Dominic thought.
He closed his eyes for a moment. He could still picture the light from earlier — it had wrapped around Annabel and Jake, not him.
The signs were there. I just didn't want to believe it.
Still, he kept his composure.
Cliché or not, the useless one always turns out overpowered later… right?
He smirked bitterly.
"No way, bro. This really is some Shield Hero sht…"*
The priest raised his staff.
"Bring the Crystal of Baptism."
From behind a column, a glowing orb was carried into the room. Floating above a pedestal, it pulsed like a living heart.
"Step forward. One by one. Let the divine reveal your path."
Dominic turned to Annabel.
"You first."
She hesitated — pale, unsure. But she stepped forward and gently placed her hand on the orb.
WHOOM.
Light burst forth — radiant and pure. The room was washed in gold and white. The priest's eyes widened.
"She bears the Light of Grace… both destruction and healing. A rare dual path of the divine."
Gasps followed. Even the king's advisors leaned forward, whispering praises.
Jake grinned.
"My turn."
He placed his hand boldly.
CRACK—KRAKOW.
Lightning surged through the crystal, followed by red flickers of fire. Sparks danced around his arm, and the orb vibrated with energy.
"Elemental affinity," the priest said. "Lightning and fire. A warrior mage."
Jake's grin widened as if the whole world finally recognized his worth.
Then it was Dominic's turn.
He stepped forward. Quiet. Calm. Hands in his hoodie pockets.
He placed his hand on the orb.
Silence.
No light. No wind. No glow.
He blinked.
Pressed again.
Nothing.
The air in the room tightened.
A priest coughed awkwardly.
"Surely… the device is malfunctioning—"
Jake burst into laughter.
"Yo. Big man. I thought you had that mysterious vibe going for you. Turns out you're just a hollow gourd."
Dominic didn't look at him.
"Why not just become a servant?" Jake added with a laugh. "Or maybe clean the floors."
Laughter erupted — first from Jake, then from a few knights in the back.
Murmurs bloomed like poison flowers.
"He's the mistake…"
"An empty summon?"
"The ritual glitched."
Dominic's jaw clenched. He turned slowly toward the priest.
"I didn't ask to be here. I don't care what your orb says — just send me home."
The High Priest looked at him, but said nothing.
And then—
The throne doors opened.
King Eldric entered.
A long cloak of blue and silver trailed behind him. Every soul in the room dropped to their knees.
Except one.
Dominic stood, unmoving.
The silence was sharp.
One of the knights growled and lunged.
"How dare you stand before the king?!"
He drew his sword and pointed it directly at Dominic's neck.
"If you wish for death, outsider, I will grant it!"
Dominic's voice cracked — calm breaking beneath pressure.
"I don't care about your world. Your king. Your titles."
"I just… want to go home."
His voice broke slightly at that word.
Memories of his mother's voice. His father's teachings. His sister's laughter. His empire. His name.
Gone.
All of it.
And for what?
A second knight kicked the back of his knee, slamming him to the ground. Dust rose. Dominic didn't resist.
He couldn't.
The weight of it all… was finally crushing him.
Tears fell silently.
Not from weakness.
But from helplessness.
And betrayal.
They dragged me here... just to throw me away.
The king walked toward the throne and sat.
He looked down on Dominic like one would a broken sword.
"This one is no hero."
He turned to his priests.
"No aura. No divine energy. No magic. He is useless to us. Perhaps even a curse."
Dominic said nothing. Just stared at the floor.
The king waved his hand.
"Then let him live as one. Exile him to the edge of the empire. Let him live, near the cursed lands, give him the whole forest as reward."
He stood.
"If he ever returns… kill him."
Annabel looked down, ashamed.
Jake didn't even pretend to care. His smile said it all.
The king nodded to his knights.
"Give him nothing but bare essentials. And remove him from my sight."
Dominic didn't struggle when they grabbed him.
He didn't scream.
Didn't beg.
Didn't fight.
Because in that moment… he felt nothing.
Not anger.
Just cold.
Just empty.
He had been cast aside by an entire world… before he even had a chance to take a step in it.