I never thought I’d be the kind of guy who wears a sword, but here I am, feeling the weight of the legendary blade at my hip as we’re escorted through the castle corridors. After the ceremony, they gave us these ornate scabbards. Mine’s wrapped in black leather and decorated in gold that catches the light when I move. The sword itself is lighter than I expected, maybe two or three pounds at most, which is a relief since I’m not exactly built like Brooke.
“Can you believe this?” Brooke whispers, her hand finding mine as we follow Morgana through another grand hallway. Her sword looks more natural on her, somehow. Like she was born to carry it.
“Not even a little,” I whisper back, still riding the high of the ceremony. The crowd’s cheers are still ringing in my ears, making my skin tingle with an energy I’ve never felt before.
Morgana leads us into a massive chamber that makes me feel like I’ve stepped into a Renaissance painting. The ceiling arches high above us, painted with scenes of battles and what I assume are goddesses. Nobles in elaborate suits fill the room, their jewels catching the light from dozens of crystal chandeliers.
“Keep close to me,” Brooke murmurs, her hand tightening around mine. Her eyes scan the crowd, that protective instinct kicking in.
In the center of the room stand two clear orbs on pedestals, each about the size of a basketball. They’re perfectly spherical, flawless, like giant crystal balls.
“Those are the mana spheres,” Morgana explains, gesturing toward them with a dramatic sweep of her hand. “They’ll measure your magical potential by reflecting it into the glass.”
“Whoa, that’s so cool,” I say, unable to keep the excitement from my voice. The spheres seem to glow from within, pulsing with a soft blue light that’s barely visible.
As we move through the crowd, I notice the way people are staring at us. More specifically, at me. Women in elaborate outfits whisper behind their hands, their eyes following my every move.
“Look how cute the boy is,” I hear one of them say, her voice carrying just enough for me to catch it.
Another woman, this one wearing a crown, steps directly into our path. She’s tall, with striking green hair and eyes the color of storm clouds.
“Hello, Hero,” she says, her voice carrying that regal tone that makes me want to stand up straighter. “I am Queen Desmunda of Lorvantis.” She gives me an appraising glance. “If you’re looking for a betrothal after your adventure concludes, my daughter would be most honored to…“
“I’m sorry,” Brooke cuts in, her voice sharp as the sword at her hip. She steps forward, placing herself slightly between me and the queen. “My boyfriend is happily dating me.”
Queen Desmunda blinks, her perfectly composed expression faltering for just a moment. She looks between us, her eyebrows rising in what seems like genuine surprise.
“Oh,” she says, her voice softening. “I was unaware.”
Something shifts in her expression then, not anger or disappointment, but something that looks almost like pity.
She steps aside gracefully, her entourage of attendants following her lead. I watch her go, feeling a strange mixture of relief and confusion.
“That was... intense,” I whisper to Brooke, who’s still watching the queen with narrowed eyes.
“Get used to it,” Morgana says, appearing at my elbow. “You’re probably quite the catch in this world, Christopher.”
She leads us toward the crystal spheres, and I notice the crowd parting for us. The murmuring grows louder as we approach, and I catch snippets of conversation that make my stomach tighten.
“...taking bets on which one will shatter...”
“...never heard of a male hero with such a nice ass...”
“...odds are three to one on the woman...”
“...think he ever sits on her face...”
I lean closer to Morgana. “They’re taking bets on us?”
She gives me that knowing smile that makes me feel like she’s reading my mind. “Every hero summoning, usually one of the heroes shatters the limiter on their sphere. It’s become something of a tradition to wager on which one it will be.”
“They took bets on if it’s me or her?” I ask, glancing at Brooke.
“Indeed,” Morgana confirms, her purple eyes gleaming with amusement. “The odds are quite interesting this time.”
“Is it a big deal which one of us does it?” Brooke asks.
Morgana shakes her head, her dark hair swaying with the movement. “No, it’s just something they’ve been looking forward to. It’s allegedly quite the spectacle when it happens.”
We reach the pedestals, and I stare at the crystal sphere in front of me. It’s even more beautiful up close, pulsing with that soft blue light that seems to respond to my presence.
A hand touches my shoulder, and I nearly jump out of my skin. I turn to find Queen Olyndra standing behind us, her amber eyes warm with approval.
“Excellent job pulling the swords, you two,” she says, her voice carrying that regal authority that somehow puts me at ease rather than making me nervous.
“Thanks.” Brooke echoes my thanks with a confident nod.
The queen gives us a warm smile that transforms her stern features. “This part is easy, alright. When I say the word, you’ll both put your hands on the orbs. They’ll both glow brightly, and one of them will probably shatter.”
“Morgana just told us,” I say, glancing at the dark-haired mage who’s watching us with those unsettling purple eyes.
The queen nods, her silver-white braids catching the light. “Don’t take it personally whoever ‘wins.’ You both likely have more mana reserves in your body than anyone in this room can conceive of.”
I nod, swallowing hard. “Alright.”
Queen Olyndra steps back and raises her arms, addressing the crowd of rowdy nobles who’ve been growing increasingly boisterous. The room falls silent almost immediately, the power of her presence evident in how quickly the chatter dies down.
“Ladies and gentlemen of the court,” she announces, her voice carrying effortlessly through the chamber. “We gather today to witness the mana potential of our newest heroes, Brooke Pearson and Christopher Dalton.”
The crowd erupts into cheers and applause, but the queen silences them again with a single raised hand.
“Before we begin, I must remind you all that this is not a competition. The goddesses have chosen these two for their combined strength, not their individual prowess.”
“Now,” Queen Olyndra continues, turning to face us. “Heroes, please place your hands upon the orbs.”
I look at Brooke, and she gives me a confident nod. Together, we step forward and place our palms against the cool crystal surfaces.
For a moment, nothing happens. Then a soft blue glow begins to emanate from beneath my hand, growing brighter with each passing second. The orb warms against my palm, and I feel a strange sensation spreading up my arm, like pins and needles, but not unpleasant.
“Whoa,” I whisper, watching as the blue light intensifies, pulsing in rhythm with my heartbeat.
Beside me, Brooke’s orb is glowing just as brightly, the light spilling out between her fingers.
The light from both orbs intensifies until it’s almost blinding. I have to squint against the brilliance. Part of me hopes I’ll be the one with more mana. I want to be strong enough to protect Brooke...
But deep down, I already know…
A thunderous crack shatters the air. Brooke’s crystal sphere explodes, sending glittering shards flying in every direction. A piece even bumping into my head. My own orb continues to glow steadily, pulsing with blue light that seems to have reached its limit.
I don’t feel disappointed at all. Instead, a wave of pure adoration washes over me as I look at Brooke, her face illuminated by the magical light.
“Brooke, I’m so happy for…“
A blood-curdling yelp cuts me off. Brooke’s hands fly to my face, her eyes wide with terror.
“What?” I ask, confused by her sudden panic.
“We need a doctor!” she shouts, her voice trembling. “Someone please help him!”
“What’s wrong?” I try to pull away, but her grip on my face is firm.
“There’s a piece of glass, like less than an inch from your eye, embedded in your face,” she whispers, her voice breaking.
The crowd’s murmurs shift from excitement to confusion. People are staring at us, their expressions a mix of concern and curiosity. Brooke’s face has gone completely pale, her hands shaking against my cheeks.
I start to raise my hand to feel for the glass, but Brooke grabs my wrist.
“Don’t touch it!” she hisses, her voice tight with fear.
A dark shadow falls over us as Morgana appears at my side. Her purple eyes widen as she takes in the situation.
“Oh fuck...” she mutters, then quickly regains her composure. “Don’t worry, I’m a master at healing magic.”
The crowd’s murmurs grow louder as more people notice what’s happening. I can feel their eyes on me, hundreds of them staring at my face.
“Look! The male hero has a piece of glass in his eye!” someone shouts from the crowd.
“It’s not in his eye,” another voice corrects. “It’s right next to it.”
I try to stay still as Morgana leans in closer, her purple eyes narrowed in concentration. Her fingers hover near my face, and I can feel her breath against my skin.
“This might sting a little,” she warns, her voice surprisingly gentle.
Before I can respond, she plucks the shard from my face. I gasp as pain lances through my cheek, not the worst I’ve ever felt, but definitely sharp and unexpected.
“Holy shit,” I whisper, staring at the piece of crystal in her hand. It’s at least two inches long, jagged and gleaming with my blood. “That’s way bigger than I thought.”
Morgana doesn’t waste a moment. She raises her dark staff, the obsidian tip glowing with golden light. “Cura,” she murmurs, and the light flows from her staff into my face.
The sensation is incredible, like warm honey spreading across my skin. The pain vanishes instantly, replaced by a soothing warmth that spreads from my cheek throughout my entire body.
I reach up to touch my face, but Brooke grabs my hand again.
“Wait,” she says, her voice softer now. “Let me see.”
She examines my cheek carefully, her blue eyes searching for any sign of injury. “It’s... it’s completely healed.”
“By the goddesses,” someone in the crowd whispers loudly. “I didn’t even see him flinch when it hit him!”
“These heroes are invincible!” another voice cries out, and suddenly the entire chamber erupts into chaos.
The crowd goes absolutely wild, people jumping to their feet, cheering and shouting. It’s like the energy from the stadium ceremony has been compressed into this single room and then unleashed all at once. The sound is deafening, vibrating through my chest and making my ears ring.
Queen Olyndra steps forward, raising our arms together in a triumphant gesture. Her amber eyes are bright with pride as she addresses the crowd.
“That was excellent,” she declares, her voice somehow cutting through the noise. “Our heroes have proven themselves worthy in more ways than one.”
“Thanks,” Brooke says awkwardly.
I squeeze her hand, trying to offer some silent support.
As the crowd continues to cheer, I catch a loud whisper from somewhere behind us, barely audible over the noise.
“These heroes are awfully close, aren’t they?”
I turn slightly, trying to locate the source, but the crowd is a sea of faces, all blurring together in their excitement.
Brooke: