The quiet morning light filtered through the high stained-glass windows of the Church of Althra. Lulu stood at the altar, her hands clasped around a golden staff as she whispered a prayer. A hundred years had passed since the fall of the previous Demon King, yet she had not aged a day beyond twenty-five. Her reflection remained the same—her skin still smooth, her eyes bright with faith, and her heart burdened by unanswered questions.
That morning, she decided to visit the castle. Something in her heart told her it was time. The Eternal Queen—once the Priestess who guided heroes across the ages—had not been seen in months. The castle had become shrouded in silence, guarded only by soldiers and cloaked attendants who rarely spoke.
Lulu made her way up the marble stairs to the Queen's chamber. The hallway glowed faintly with ethereal light, the runes carved into the walls humming with quiet power. But as she reached the silver door of the throne room, she froze.
Standing in front of the grand doors was a figure she had never seen before—a maid with soft white fur, large ears, and warm amber eyes. The creature looked like a rabbit standing upright, dressed neatly in a blue and white maid uniform. Her apron was spotless, her fur shimmered in the sunlight, and her round eyes sparkled with an innocence that instantly softened Lulu's cautious heart.
The maid bowed politely. "Greetings, High Priestess Lulu. My name is Pudding. I serve as Her Majesty's personal maid."
Lulu blinked. "Pudding? I… I didn't know the Queen had a personal maid."
Pudding smiled, her whiskers twitching slightly. "Her Majesty prefers to keep such things quiet. I was assigned only recently to assist her during her meditations."
"I see," Lulu replied softly, though confusion clouded her thoughts. The Queen had always refused attendants in her private chambers. To hear that she had accepted one now felt… unusual.
Pudding tilted her head, her long ears bouncing slightly. "Her Majesty is still resting and cannot be disturbed at this time. She instructed me to inform you, should you come."
Lulu hesitated. "I understand. Please, tell Her Majesty that I wished to see her."
"I will," Pudding said, bowing again. Her soft smile never faltered, and her gentle presence was oddly comforting. Lulu offered a small nod before turning to leave, her footsteps echoing down the long, silent hall.
As she walked back to the church, Lulu couldn't shake the unease in her heart. A maid? she thought. Since when has Her Majesty accepted help? The Queen had always chosen solitude, her power vast enough to manage every need herself. It didn't make sense—unless something had changed.
That night, Lulu prayed for guidance. The moon hung high, its silver glow touching the cathedral's glass windows. She wondered if the Queen's long rest had something to do with the strange energy she'd felt recently—a faint pulse of magic from the northern skies.
The next morning, just as the first light broke across Althra's towers, a soft knock came at the church door. Lulu opened it and was surprised to see Pudding standing there again. The rabbit girl smiled, her brown eyes glowing warmly in the sunlight.
"High Priestess Lulu," she said, clasping her hands together, "Her Majesty requests your presence. She has awakened and wishes to see you immediately."
Lulu's heart skipped a beat. "She's awake?"
"Yes. Please, come with me."
Without hesitation, Lulu followed Pudding through the castle gates once more. The corridors were alive again—guards stood at attention, banners fluttered with renewed color, and the scent of incense filled the air. As they entered the throne room, Lulu stopped in awe.
There, beneath the vast stained-glass ceiling, stood the Eternal Queen. Her long silver veil shimmered faintly as if woven from moonlight. Her posture was regal yet serene, and though her face was hidden behind her golden mask, Lulu could feel the power radiating from her presence.
"Your Majesty," Lulu said, bowing deeply. "I am relieved to see you awake."
The Queen turned her veiled face slightly. "Rise, Lulu." Her voice was soft but carried across the chamber like a bell. "The time of peace has ended."
Lulu's heart sank. "The Demon King…"
"Yes," the Queen replied. "He has returned. The new cycle begins once again."
Pudding, standing quietly behind the throne, lowered her head as if she already knew.
Lulu stepped forward. "Then, should I begin the preparations? Will you summon the new hero?"
The Queen nodded slowly. "Yes. It is time."
Without another word, she raised her hand. The floor beneath them glowed with ancient runes, and a golden circle spread across the marble. The magic symbols pulsed with power, and the air grew heavy with divine energy.
Pudding took a step back, her wide eyes reflecting the light as the entire room trembled. The Queen's voice echoed in a forgotten tongue, summoning the light from beyond worlds.
Lulu shielded her eyes as the magic reached its peak. A column of light erupted in the center of the circle—blinding, pure, and filled with warmth. And then, from within that radiance, a figure appeared.
A young man stood there, dazed and confused, his clothes unfamiliar to the world of Althra. He looked around, bewildered, his dark hair messy and his eyes wide with fear.
"W-What… where am I?" he stammered.
The Queen stepped toward him, her movements graceful and measured. "You are safe, traveler. You have been called to this world—to Althra."
The young man looked at her, trying to make sense of her words. "Althra? I… I was in Brazil… walking home from work and then—this light just—"
"You were chosen," the Queen interrupted gently. "Chosen to be this era's Hero."
He stared at her, speechless. "Hero? What are you talking about?"
Lulu approached, placing a reassuring hand on his arm. "It's all right. You've been summoned to help us defeat the Demon King. It may sound impossible, but it's real. You were brought here by divine will."
The Queen raised her staff, and the light from the summoning circle dimmed. "For hundreds of years, a new Demon King rises from the ashes of chaos, threatening this realm. Each time, a hero from another world is summoned to stand against him."
The man still looked lost. "So… I'm supposed to fight this 'Demon King'? Why me?"
"Because destiny chose you," the Queen said. "And because your world is untouched by the darkness of this one. You hold the balance that we no longer can."
The chamber fell silent. The man closed his eyes, breathing slowly, trying to calm the storm of confusion in his heart. He could feel the magic around him, the pull of fate, the weight of a thousand unseen eyes watching.
Finally, he opened his eyes and looked directly at the Queen. "If what you say is true… then I'll help. I don't know how strong I am, but if this is my purpose, I'll do it."
A soft light glimmered beneath the Queen's mask. "Then rise, Hero. Your journey begins anew. Together, we may finally end the cycle that has plagued this world for eternity."
As the magic faded and silence returned to the great hall, Lulu felt a strange chill pass through her. The summoning was complete—but deep down, she couldn't shake the feeling that this hero's arrival was different.
Perhaps, this time, something far greater than destiny had awakened.