Bab 4: Meeting the King
The next day, the atmosphere in the castle felt heavier. The stone walls of their quarters echoed with the faint sound of boots clicking against the cold floor. Alex sat on his bed, his mind still buzzing with questions.
He had barely slept, his thoughts haunted by the implications of their discussion the previous night. The possibility that they weren't from the same version of Earth felt like a nightmare too surreal to be true.
A sharp knock at the door broke him from his reverie.
"Enter," Alex called out, his voice tinged with unease.
The door creaked open, and a tall figure in a formal suit of gray and silver entered. His face was stern, but his posture was respectful. He was a butler, judging by his attire and manner. "The King requests your presence," the butler announced.
Alex blinked in surprise. "The king?" He stood up, brushing off his modest adventurer's outfit. His hand instinctively moved to adjust his glasses, a nervous habit. He had expected some sort of formal summons, but the king's request felt… different. The weight of it was overwhelming.
"Yes, the King Aldric Galdor has requested you and your companions," the butler added. "If you are ready, I will escort you to the throne room."
The journey through the castle was brief, but every step felt heavy. The walls were adorned with golden tapestries and intricate designs, a testament to the kingdom's wealth and power.
Alex tried to focus on the surroundings, but his mind was elsewhere—on the conversation from last night, on the possibility that their entire existence here might be a result of some cosmic mistake.
The doors to the throne room swung open with a deep, resonant sound, revealing the royal family seated upon a lavish dais. King Aldric Galdor sat at the center, flanked by his family.
King Aldric was a towering figure, his presence commanding respect. His graying beard contrasted sharply with his cold, calculating blue eyes.
The golden armor he wore shimmered with the sigils of Galdor, a symbol of the authority he wielded without question. He regarded Alex and the other heroes with a gaze that seemed to strip away any illusions.
Beside him, Queen Lyanna Galdor exuded an air of quiet menace. Her auburn hair cascaded down her back, framing her cold emerald eyes.
The gown she wore was elegant, almost ethereal, but Alex could feel the sharpness of her gaze as she took in the group. She was a master of manipulation, he could tell from the way her eyes lingered on each of them.
To King Aldric's right stood Crown Prince Cedric, a handsome young man with short, sandy blonde hair and a confident, almost arrogant air.
His build was muscular and athletic, a clear indication of his future as a warrior king. He glared at Alex with a sneer that made Alex uncomfortable. Despite his royal status, Cedric's eyes held the arrogance of someone who had never been challenged.
And then, there was Princess Selene, standing to the left of her father. Her pink hair and ruby-red eyes shone under the dim light of the throne room. She was beautiful, yes, but there was something cold in her gaze that set Alex on edge.
She was the only one who had spoken kindly to him at first, but Alex had learned enough by now to know that kindness from someone like her could be a trap.
"Heroes," King Aldric's voice boomed, cutting through the air. "You have been summoned to serve this kingdom. You will either succeed in your task, or you will perish. There is no room for failure."
Alex stiffened, feeling the weight of the king's words. He glanced at the others, seeing their expressions range from determination to discomfort.
"You will be given the opportunity to choose your party members," Aldric continued. "Each of you will decide whom you wish to align with. You may choose based on strength, skills, or whatever you deem necessary. But understand this—failure will not be tolerated."
Alex exchanged glances with Dylan, Jina, and Ichiro. The pressure was mounting. Whatever had brought them here, they were expected to perform. But how? How were they supposed to defeat enemies they knew nothing about in a world they didn't understand?
The king's eyes swept over them. "Go. Choose wisely."
As the group was ushered out of the throne room, Alex found himself alone for the first time in what felt like days. He needed time to think, to process everything that had happened. The weight of the king's words pressed heavily on him, but it wasn't just the pressure of expectations. It was the unknown.
In his quarters, Alex paced back and forth, his mind racing. He glanced at the glowing interface hovering in front of him. He needed to test his skill. He needed to understand exactly what he could do. The more he learned, the better prepared he'd be.
His fingers hovered over the "+" icon next to his Heroic Skill. With a quiet breath, he tapped it.
Immediately, a familiar online browser appeared in front of him. It looked just like the ones he used back home. He blinked in surprise. This was it—the key to his survival in this world.
His fingers typed quickly, bringing up an online shopping site. The screen loaded with ease, displaying items and prices in the local currency. Alex frowned as he saw his account balance—100 pesos. It wasn't much, but it was enough for a test.
He selected a random item—a simple trinket, something cheap and inconsequential. He confirmed the purchase.
And then, to his amazement, a portal opened in front of him. A small item materialized out of thin air, dropping into his hand. The portal closed just as quickly as it had appeared. He stared at the object in disbelief. It was real. He had actually received something from Earth in this world.
Alex checked his account—100 pesos had been deducted, just as he expected.
This was real. His Heroic Skill was real.
He quickly ran to meet up with the others, his mind still reeling from the implications of his discovery. When he found them, Dylan was lounging against the wall, Jina scribbling notes in her book, and Ichiro was standing by the window, looking out over the castle grounds.
"Hey," Alex called, feeling a slight rush of excitement in his chest. "You guys won't believe what I just tested out."
Dylan turned, raising an eyebrow. "What is it now? You planning to browse some more websites?"
Alex grinned, holding up the small trinket. "I just bought this through my Heroic Skill. The system actually works. I got it from Earth."
Jina looked up, her expression serious. "You can access Earth's resources like that?"
Alex nodded. "Yeah. And it's real. I bought something, and it appeared here."
Ichiro, who had been silent, stepped forward. "That's... useful. But how does it work exactly?"
Alex shrugged. "I don't know. I just tapped the button, and it showed up. It deducted the money, too, just like an online transaction."
Jina's eyes narrowed. "This could be very useful, but it could also draw attention."
"I don't care about attention," Dylan said with a smirk. "If it works, we can use it to our advantage. Let's just make sure we don't get caught."
Later that day, they gathered once more in the throne room, where the king awaited them. King Aldric sat with an air of finality, his gaze intense. "Now that you've had time to consider your options, I'm giving you the opportunity to start over. Choose your party members. I expect results, heroes. Do not disappoint me."
The heroes stood in front of the throne, the pressure of the king's words sinking in. Alex felt a strange sense of solidarity with the others—no matter their differences, they had to work together if they were going to survive.
Just as they were about to leave, Princess Selene approached Alex. Her smile was cold, and her eyes glinted with something darker beneath the surface.
"I trust you will be useful, hero," she said, her voice smooth and laced with mock sweetness. "But don't disappoint me."
Alex stiffened, but he forced himself to nod. "I'll do my best."
As she walked away, Alex couldn't shake the feeling that her words weren't just a polite statement. She had something else in mind, something he wasn't ready to face yet.
The weight of the situation had just become heavier.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone