Heroes to Hunted

The room fell quiet, despite being loud with anticipation.

Many expressions, ranging from fear to intrigue, possessed my countrymen as they waited for his words. I, too, was maddeningly curious. However, unlike my countrymen, I kept my muscles relaxed and my eyes focused.

My exterior was the polar opposite of the storm of emotion brewing beneath my skin.

The old man took a breath and threw his arms to either side, exaggerating a sense of excitement. "You, by which I mean all of you, have been selected as sacred warriors of humanity! Heroes!" His face became solemn, though I wasn't sure it was genuine. "However, I'm sad that none of which I could say about your location would have any significant value to you."

"And why the hell is that?!" an unfamiliar voice left the crowd. Dozens of others shouted, too, demanding the same answers.

"Well," the old man raised his arms towards the ceiling, "it's because you're all in a new world!"

'A new world?' I knocked on my ear twice, thinking I still had some fire lodged there.

'Did he claim we weren't on Earth just now. I must've misheard him.' That's the theory I went with because that was a ridiculous proclamation. He looked serious enough about it, but that would mean he was delusional rather than a simple liar.

'What would he stand to gain from such a barefaced lie? If they're pulling a ruse, they should've picked a story,' I scowled. I've never been one to enjoy being toyed with.

Whatever it was, my wounds vanished for no logical reason. I also wondered if there was an explanation for the pain earlier.

The crowd shared my skepticism; murmurs of unease and discontent erupted from them. Amongst them was the young woman. "Not… in the same world?" she covered her mouth in shock. "What does that even mean?"

"Why exactly as it sounds, Miss," the old man grinned. "From our past interactions, we've learned the heroes we summon are actually of another world!" Then, falling one of his bony fingers on us, he narrowed his eyes. "Your world."

"T-That's stupid!" the young woman swung her arm toward the old man. "You realize you'd have to prove that, right?! If we're in another world, why can we understand you right now?!"

Her challenge didn't deter the old man. On the contrary, it appeared to excite him more. "Of course!" he performed the flourish of a bow. "But first, would you do me the honor of enlightening me about your name, Miss?"

Her body shivered at his request. "W-What?" she took a step back in hesitation. "Why?"

'Yup, that's the right reaction,' I nodded to myself. If a delusional old man clad in cosplay asked for my name, I'd get some red flags too.

"I'm simply curious," the old man replied. "Now, if you would indulge me…." he beckoned to her with his bony fingers, further adding to the creepiness of his request.

A few moments passed as she considered it, pondering with a hand to her mouth. Several moments later, she nodded and relaxed her shoulders, a sign her resolve was strengthened. "Fine, my name is Agawa Sayaka, alright? Now answer my question!"

"Of course, Dear Hero! First, I'd like to state that summoning you all has three side effects." The old man raised a closed hand, lifting a finger with each new listing. "The ritual provides you with the ability of heroic interpretation. It allows you to understand speech patterns and meanings within any sophisticated language. Second, any item the spell perceives as a weapon is automatically discarded."

'Then...it really is gone...' I sighed and my heart sank. New world or not, they disposed of my weapon. Would I really never hold that gun again?

However, there was no time for grief. The old man's body trembled with excitement at the last listing. "To answer the third, allow me to ask my own question."

Impatience grew on Agawa's face, but she held in any protest. Likewise, the rest of our group joined in her agitation. Yet not one uttered a syllable against the old man's evasion. On the contrary, they waited obediently for the old man's following words.

"Before you appeared in this room, you all experienced a pain originating from your chests, correct?" the old man smiled and gestured to his heart.

Scattered gasps accompanied by stunned expressions followed his inquiry. They all clearly knew what he'd been talking about. I, too, was anxious thinking they tinkered with my body. Although, I did feel a degree of relief knowing we might discover the reason for the pain. Phantom injuries were terrifying for people like me; you never knew how they might manifest later.

"You bastard…" another from the crowd stepped forward. "What the hell did you do to us?! I'll give you five seconds to convince me not to beat the answers I want out of you..." he flexed his fingers, echoing the sound of cracking knuckles throughout the room.

He looked to be in his mid-late teens. I wouldn't say he was a hopeful new member of society, though. His theme was very "punky" in nature. I could tell he was a hooligan between the column of earrings that pierced his right ear, torn jeans, and his baggy black hoodie.

"You misunderstand, Sir," the old man replied, "we simply performed a ritual to summon you. That pain you felt was your second heart awakening from dormancy. It was an unfortunate but minor side-effect."

"MINOR?!" the punk yelled. "That 'side effect' was way beyond minor! And a 'second heart,' what the hell is that? You better make sense soon," he glared with murderous intent, "restraint isn't something I'm good at…"

The punk's threats weren't adequate, given how the old man kept his calm demeanor. "It isn't surprising you don't understand what I'm speaking of. However, no unawareness will change that all living beings are born with the organ," he shook his head and sighed.

"Ohhh," a smirk appeared on the punk's face, "why don't you tell us what this 'second heart' does then? Given you're such an expert and all."

"As you wish, dear hero," the old man said with a bow. "You are aware of the functions of your normal heart, correct?"

The punk impatiently nodded with a furrowed brow.

"Wonderful!" the old man exclaimed with raised hands. "Well, your second heart acts the same way as your physical one. The difference is that it regulates the flow of mana rather than blood. It's because of it that all creatures can produce extraordinary phenomena!"

The punk grunted and crossed his arms behind his head. "...and? Even if I did believe you, what's this got to do with the 'side effect'?"

"It's all straightforward, really," the old man shrugged. "Mana and what it's metabolized from, Aether, seems to lack form in your world, so your second heart had no need to materialize and thus remained dormant. That is, until now."

The punk clicked his tongue and stomped forward, prompting the cloaked figures around the old man to ready themselves. "You're pissing me off, old man!" he angrily swiped his arm. "I told you to start making sense, remember? What the hell was that pain?! Last chance!" he finished his threat by assuming a pouncing stance.

'Is a fight breaking out?' I stepped away from the crowd, realizing that an opportunity might've been presenting itself. Mass confusion would no doubt follow if this punk attacked, and I could use the distraction to slip past the guards. I could escape wherever the h*ll this was.

The old me might've joined the punk in fighting. He would've thought it the "noble" thing to do. But, after years in blood-soaked warzones and being sacrificed for a truckload of civilians, I felt I had done enough.

'I'm done being a meatshield,' I scowled.

However, there would be no chaos. Instead, the old man remained calm and tugged at his beard in contemplation. "Hmmm, how about I explain it with a metaphor?" the old man cocked his head to the side, pointing at his wrinkled ear. "Suppose a man is born deaf. Now imagine that just as the man gains his ability to hear, he's subjected to the loudest sound possible. I imagine the man would be in quite a bit of pain! That's essentially what happened to all of you."

Most of the audience furrowed their brows in confusion, but the metaphor made complete sense to me. Although that was only if what he said was true about the 'second heart.' Like the rest of my countrymen, I was nowhere near convinced.

"Mana? Aether? Second heart?" Agawa laughed in frustration. "The more you talk, the less sense you make! By mana…you mean magic, right?" She took a deep breath, dramatically emphasizing what she said next. "Magic. Doesn't. Exist! It's FICTIONAL! Make believe! Even kids know this!"

Nothing could spur the old man; he maintained his composure even after being so belittled. "On the contrary, Dear Hero. In your world, magic may be vacant from daily life. But here," he grinned, "I assure you it's quite real."

Though he sounded friendly, his confidence only stoked Agawa's irritation. "Then why don't you prove it then?" she crossed her arms. "So far, you've just been talking. Let's see you actually do something! If everything you've said is true, then you can perform some magic trick with the flick of your hand, right?"

"Very well," he sighed, then handed the book he held to one of his associates. Finally, he donned a mischievous grin and outstretched his hands. "Watch closely now, you're about to see something amazing…"