The next day, Johan stood before his remaining classmates. Out of the 23 students who were initially dragged into this other world, only 16 remained. Most of them had died in the battle for the northern fortress or as a result of the recent rebellion. The room was filled with silence, heavy with tension and mixed emotions.
Johan stood in the center, gazing at the faces of those his age—kids he once knew as classmates. Now, they were young soldiers, weary and having lost so much. Johan had once been known as the boy who always kept his head down, labeled a coward by some of his peers. But today, he was different. His posture was straight, his eyes looking forward with a newfound resolve.