Panels hovered before them, shimmering softly in the white space.
Names. Numbers. Classes. Unfilled sections waiting patiently.
The initial shock broke apart quickly.
Voices rose—some sharp with excitement, others trembling with relief. A few students recognized each other immediately, calling out names, drifting closer. Friends clustered together instinctively, grounding themselves in familiarity.
"I got—wait, seriously?"
"That stat's high—look—"
Fear softened into chatter. Panic shifted into motion.
He remained seated, watching from where he was.
The screen before him floated quietly, unchanged, uninterested in the noise around it.
Just as people began openly sharing details—
The goddess spoke.
"You will refrain from discussing your statuses."
Her voice was calm.
Final.
Conversation died mid-sentence.
"When you arrive in the world," she continued, "you will be able to speak and understand the Common Tongue of Iluga."
The word reached his ears clearly—Iluga—though the sound settled differently in his mind.
Iluwa.
"No other languages will be granted at this time," she added. "What you learn beyond this will depend on your effort and your circumstances."
She paused.
"Among you are those designated as Heroes."
Attention snapped forward again.
"For Heroes, the System has been adjusted," the goddess continued. "Because you originate from another world, your worldview differs from that of Iluga."
A faint shimmer rippled across several panels.
"You will possess a protective specification within your status," she said. "It exists to reduce reckless loss. It will not prevent death, nor will it grant victory."
Some frowned.
"It exists so you do not charge beyond your limits and die without meaning."
The panels dimmed slightly.
"The reason you were summoned will not be explained here," the goddess said. "You will learn it from those who summoned you."
Light gathered around her hand.
"You have been given structure," she said. "You have been given opportunity."
"What you do with them," she finished, "will no longer concern the divine."
The white space folded inward.
"Go."
He woke to stone.
Cold and unmoving beneath his back.
Torchlight flickered across arched stone ceilings and thick pillars. The air smelled faintly of incense and dust. A wide chamber stretched out before them—too refined to be a dungeon, too heavy to be a hall.
A palace basement, he thought.
Around him, others stirred. Some sat up slowly. Some stood in a rush. At the far end of the chamber stood several figures in heavy robes, faces half-hidden in shadow.
Most likely the ones responsible for the summoning.
The goddess's final words surfaced unbidden.
What you do with them will no longer concern the divine.
"So that's how it is," he murmured.
He summoned his status screen.
The translucent panel opened instantly.
His eyes paused at a single entry.
Skill Acquired: Inspect
He focused on it.
Inspect
Allows the user to observe basic information recognized by the System.
Effectiveness depends on level, perception, and relative strength.
He closed the description.
"…Good."
At least he wouldn't be thrown blindly into things.
By the time everyone had fully stood, movement stirred at the far end of the chamber.
A man stepped forward from between the robed figures.
He wore armor that immediately stood apart.
Not flashy.
Perfect.
Polished plates fitted cleanly to his frame, craftsmanship evident in every edge. A deep-colored cloak rested on his shoulders, fastened with an unfamiliar crest.
A knight.
A real one.
"…Wow," he thought.
You could tell from the way the man stood. From the way he spoke.
"Welcome," the knight said calmly. "You have arrived safely. Please follow me."
He turned and began walking toward a torch-lit corridor.
People followed.
As he walked with them, curiosity nudged him.
Inspect.
The panel flickered—then resisted.
Name: —-----
Class: Knight (Royal Vanguard)
Rank: Master
Level: 163
"…Hah."
No name. No details.
Just the number.
He closed the panel and kept walking.