The six friends were tired, their feet aching from the long trek. The Guard walked ahead, leading the horse, but offering no kindness.
Kuro grumbled, his voice strained. "Hey, girl, you were riding on that horse, and we were walking for hours already! Now you want us to walk all the way through your headquarters too?"
The Guard stopped, her eyes hard. "Shut up and start walking already. We are late."
They shuffled forward again. Hono, walking beside her, leaned in with a nervous charm. "Hey, pretty girl, what's your good name?"
The Guard didn't look at him. "That's none of your business."
She reached into her pocket and pulled out a sleek communication device. The boys watched, already shocked by the day's events, now seeing yet another impossible piece of technology.
She pressed a button. "This is Unit Homura, requesting immediate clearance for transfer of six unregistered individuals. Threat level minimal."
"Homura? Are you safe? This is Aeron, age 19, Headquarters Command. What's the status of the anomalies?" The voice from the device was clear and quick.
Homura replied, more sincere than she had been with the boys. "I'm fine, Aeron. They are just shocked and tired. I don't detect any elemental magic. They claim they are from another world."
Aeron's voice hardened. "Stay alert and do not trust them easily, Homura. Bring them directly to the main hall, understand? No detours."
"Understood. Moving to the transfer point now."
Hono felt a sharp twinge of jealousy. Homura had sounded so cold to him, but she spoke to the Headquarters Boy, Aeron, with total respect.
The call ended. Homura stopped abruptly. "Stop! All of you."
They halted before an ancient-looking stone pole, worn and strange, like an old pillar of some forgotten palace.
Homura removed a small, glowing badge from her uniform and fitted it into a slot on the pole. The stone pillar began to hum and glow strangely, blowing a light green color.
Kuro: "What in the actual world is happening to that pillar?"
Hikari: "It's like a movie scene, only way louder."
Homura ignored them, speaking quickly to the pillar: "Code: World A8." She turned to the boys. "Touch the pole, all of you. Now."
They hesitated for a brief moment, then touched the strange stone.
In a split second, the world dissolved into green light.
When the light cleared, the ground was different, the air was warm, and the stone pole was clean and modern.
Kuro: "What in this world was happening?"
Hikari: "It's like a movie scene, but faster than blinking!"
Venimus: "Are we gonna die here? I think I might throw up."
Kaito: "Wow, that looks like a beautiful high-tech place!"
Hono: "Where are we, Miss Homura?"
Geotor: "Did we just get flushed? That felt like being flushed down a giant, glowing toilet!"
Homura took a deep breath. "Welcome to our one and only Sybersphere."
They were standing in the middle of a vast, curving hall—the ground floor of the headquarters. The ceiling was glass, filtering sunlight onto dozens of similar stone poles scattered around the massive room.
Homura: "This is the central hall. These poles are our main transport anchors."
Kaito: "So we can jump anywhere from here?"
Homura: "Only to other registered anchor points, yes."
A young man quickly walked up to them, his face serious but friendly.
Aeron (19): Headquarters Command Officer. Sharp and efficient, he handled all security and transport protocols. He wore a clean, light-grey uniform.
Aeron smiled at Homura. "Hey, Homura, how are you? You made good time."
"I'm fine, Aeron."
Aeron looked at the six boys. "So, these are the six. They don't look like bad news."
Kuro immediately stepped forward. "Yes, we are not bad people! We came from a portal!"
Aeron nodded calmly. "I know everything. Don't worry. I already called someone who can find the exact truth."
Homura asked, a little surprised. "You called Rin Me here? Already?"
Aeron grinned. "Yes, of course."
A moment later, a quiet girl with soft, pale features approached the group.
Rin Me (16): A Mind Specialist. Quiet and serene, she possessed the rare ability to read minds by touch. She moved with a gentle, calming presence.
Rin Me gave a small, polite nod. "Hello everyone."
Aeron said, "Rin Me, these are the six boys I was talking about. Be careful."
Homura walked over to her friend. "Hey, Rin Me, how are you? Did Aeron drag you out of your study?"
Rin Me gave a quiet chuckle. "He did. But it's important work, Homura."
Venimus watched Rin Me from a distance. She was kind and cute, he thought, his stomach flipping. He felt an instant crush, just like his brother Hono often did.
Rin Me said, her voice clear. "Okay, let's start the work. Show me your hand."
Kuro immediately thrust his hand forward. "Take it! Read my mind! I have nothing to hide!"
Rin Me pulled back slightly. "Not you, idiot," she said, not unkindly.
Kuro was confused. "Aaaa?"
Rin Me smiled softly, looking past him. "You, the wise man," she said, pointing to Venimus.
Venimus blushed bright red. "Whaaaat? Really?"
His heart hammered as he gave her his hand. He could only think one thing: Loving her, loving her, loving her.
Rin Me's eyes widened slightly as she read his mind. Her cheeks flushed bright red. This man was really thinking about me only! He was crazy... awww, she thought. She quickly, but gently, dropped his hand and coughed.
Homura rushed over. "Rin Me, what happened? Anything bad?"
Rin Me stuttered, trying to regain her composure. "Yes... what I mean, no... no, nothing. Now, come one by one, give me your hands."
She quickly checked the minds of the remaining five boys.
Rin Me addressed the group. "They are all strange. The pictures in their minds are totally different from our world. They are humans like us, but their world has no magic."
Homura sighed in relief. "So you guys were right. You are from a different world."
Aeron looked at Rin Me, his curiosity piqued. "Wait, what did you observe from the first boy's (Venimus) mind, since you threw his hand away?"
Rin Me blushed again, even harder. "No... no.thing!"
Venimus finally understood that she had read his loving thoughts. He blushed deep red and yelled: "Aaaaaa! You really read my mind!"
They both stood there, bright red, while everyone else looked confused.
Aeron cleared his throat. "Well, they are not bad news. It's strange, but I think we should take them to the King at the Palace. The King must decide their future."
Hono stepped forward. "What future? Is there any way for us to go back home?"
Aeron looked genuinely regretful. "I don't know that, either."
Venimus was frantic. "So we are gonna stick here forever?"
Kaito paled. "What? Really? I'm gonna die here?"
Geotor wailed dramatically. "What about our family? I want to go home and eat a huge breast—I mean feast—with my family! Aaaaa!"
Hono: "I also want to go home!"
Hikari: "We all want to go home, but how?"
Kuro: "Damn."
Geotor pointed a finger at Hikari. "It's all Hikari's fault! If he hadn't seen that light on the hill, we wouldn't be here!"
Hikari shot back. "Hey, that's not my fault! It's Kuro who said, 'Let's go there!'"
Kuro: "Hey, that's not me! We all decided to go there!"
Venimus: "I told you all to go home, but no one listened to me!"
Hono: "So why didn't you go home alone? You came with us by your own decision!"
Kaito clapped his hands loudly. "Guys, there is no sense in arguing here. We all got stuck together, so we all need to find out how to go home. Arguing won't help."
Kuro smiled, his adventurous side kicking in. "That's a good idea! And even if we're stuck, we all wanted an adventure, didn't we?"
Hikari: "Yes, I think you are right! Let's begin our adventure and end it with a happy ending!"
Everyone calmed down and agreed.
Homura said, "Now we need to head back to the King."
Geotor clutched his stomach. "I am too hungry! Please give me some food!"
The stomachs of all six boys rumbled loudly.
Aeron chuckled. "Okay, okay. We will all eat lunch here. It's already 5 PM."
They sat down at a clean table.
Aeron: "The food here is great. Try the fruit; it's basically sugar magic."
Kuro: "So, if you press the teleport pole, you just... go? Is there a lost luggage department?"
Homura: "No, Kuro. If you don't have a pass, the pole won't even glow for you."
Geotor: "If I could use a pole, I'd jump straight to a buffet."
Aeron became serious. "Listen to me, everyone. Before meeting the King, you must not tell anyone that you are from a different world. If it's exposed, the citizens might panic or get mad. We need to keep it secret."
After they finished lunch, they headed back to the central hall teleport pole. Aeron quickly set the coordinates. They stepped into the light and teleported towards the city gate.
Kuro shook his head in amazement. "How do we teleport towards one place to another? It's completely wild!"
Homura replied, "It's a long story. I will explain it later. Now, enjoy the beauty of our city."
They entered the city.
Venimus: "Wow, beautiful!"
Hikari: "Really! That's awesome!"
Kuro: "Oh man. Look at the structures!"
Hono: "The colors are unreal!"
They were mesmerized by the large, vibrant Ziyakuri City—the country's main hub. As they walked toward the palace, enjoying the sights and the unique people, their fear slowly gave way to wonder.