The massive door closed behind them as the attendant guided them to the room that had been prepared for them.
All four heroes walked silently between two guards and a few attendants walking in front of them.
The corridor was like a long tunnel adorned with jewels and glass portraits of various figures.
Arthur, however, was drawn in by two things: first, the flying chandeliers present throughout the castle that Arthur had just noticed walking through the hallway, and second, the music coming from crystals kept on silver stands.
'I really am in a fantasy world…' That thought didn't bring excitement, only anxiety about how he was going to return to his family.
Ryan slightly walked ahead of the group, his eyes moving frantically, absorbing everything. He looked at the guards, the distance between pillars, and the exits at the end of each turn.
After a few seconds, he took a few steps, matching pace with the other three.
"So," Ryan said quietly, keeping his voice low enough that it wouldn't carry far, "if this is real… then we need to look strong and dependable; panicking in this situation won't do us any good."
Daniel let out a weak breath. "You sound like you've done this before."
"I haven't," Ryan replied quickly. "I just… don't like feeling helpless."
'Ryan sure sounds dependable. Just hearing him talk gives me confidence. If I have to live through this crazy situation, I need guys like him on my side.' Arthur thought, looking at Ryan, trying to analyze him.
Arthur and Ryan were walking in front, and Daniel and Elena followed closely behind.
Finally, the guards and attendants stopped at the door on the left side of the wall. The door had symbols painted all over it.
Arthur opened his mouth to ask—
"What are these for?" Ryan asked first, pointing toward the door.
One of the attendants turned slightly, offering a polite bow.
"Protective Circuitry," he replied. "Symbols are inscribed to give direction and purpose to the mana contained within a crystal."
Ryan's eyes narrowed slightly. "Interesting…"
"Yes," the attendant continued. "Mana by itself is raw energy. It does nothing unless guided. The symbols form a circuit. They tell the mana what to become… and how to behave."
He gestured toward the markings on the door.
"For example, if one were to use a blue crystal, which is naturally aligned toward defense and restoration, and inscribe a loop symbol alongside a release and reconstruction sigil, the circuit would continuously produce a defensive wall."
Daniel blinked. "Continuously?"
"If the wall is broken," the attendant explained calmly, " the loop instructs the mana to reconstruct it. The crystal supplies the energy."
He paused briefly before adding, "Without the loop, it would form once and dissipate. Without the restoration sigil, it would not know how to rebuild. Without proper balance, the crystal would simply burn out."
The attendant looked at their faces. They looked completely clueless.
"The circuitry on this door is even more complex, but you don't have to worry yourself with that; you are heroes. Circuit design is the discipline of managraphers."
He bowed once more to show that he didn't want to mock them, then stepped aside, pushing the door inward and opening it. "For now, please enter."
All of them stepped inside.
The inside of the room was massive. Four luxurious wooden carved beds in four corners of the room. All the sheets and curtains had heavy embroidery on them.
In the center of the room, a glowing circular crystal table floated, loaded with all kinds of food. It had circuit markings on it, and it turned by itself after a few seconds.
Servants were lined along the walls. There were six female and two male servants.
Some of them had cat ears. Others had dog ears. Their eyes remained lowered, but every now and then they would glance at the four of them with quiet curiosity.
The attendant stepped in behind them.
"These are beastfolk," he explained calmly.
"They are naturally submissive to those stronger than themselves. As heroes, they will obey your commands without hesitation."
Daniel's lips formed a faint smile for a few seconds before he straightened his expression again, but Ryan and Arthur noticed the quick change.
"You may eat, bathe, and change into the garments prepared for you," he said, gesturing toward a stool kept near the entrance where neatly folded clothes were arranged.
"When you are ready to rest, clap three times. The servants will withdraw immediately."
As he said that, he bowed once more before stepping out of the room and taking his leave.
There was an awkward moment of silence where all four of them just stared at each other blankly.
Ryan rubbed his hands together lightly and looked at the floating crystal table.
"So," he said with a faint smile, "fellow heroes… ready for the feast?"
Arthur gave a small nod and stepped forward first. Daniel and Elena hesitated for a second before quietly joining them.
Plates were already laid out. The crystal table rotated slowly, presenting different dishes every few seconds.
Ryan picked up a fork, looking up at the others. "So while we're on the food… what are your thoughts on the current situation?"
Arthur, without waiting, answered back. "I don't care about any of this," he said with a neutral voice.
"I just want to know where we are, why we were summoned, and how to get back."
Daniel frowned at his response. "Come on, man. We're heroes in a fantasy world. Why would you want to return?"
Arthur answered, looking Daniel in the eyes as if to say that the answer was obvious. "...Because I miss my family."
Daniel clenched the fork and spoon in his hand tightly.
"Don't act like we don't have lives too," he said, his voice aggressive. "But whatever life you had… it can't be better than this."
As he said it, his eyes instinctively turned toward one of the beastfolk girls standing along the wall.
Arthur and Ryan noticed it again and looked at each other to check if the other person noticed.
Elena finally spoke up, her voice quiet and barely audible.
"Bold of you to assume it'll be a smooth sail."
Daniel turned toward her. "They said our grimoires will form by dawn. If we're heroes, we'll probably be strong. We were summoned. We're special."
He gestured at the servants with his hand. "Look at how everyone bows to us. If they wanted to kill us, they would've done it in the hall."
"Yeah, you're definitely special." As Ryan said that, Arthur struck the table gently with his fist; he turned his eyes away and covered his mouth with the other hand to avoid laughing out loud.
Even Elena smiled.
Ryan shifted his tone to serious to make Daniel aware. "We don't know all the variables yet," he added. "We're strangers in a place we don't understand. We should be cautious."
Daniel stood up in frustration, making the table shake a little.
"I thought you'd understand me at least," he muttered. "Is it wrong to be optimistic?"
Ryan looked at him for a long second before speaking.
"Optimism is fine," he said quietly. "Just don't go around overestimating your worth."
Daniel looked like he had a lot to say, but seeing everyone's reaction, even the servants' eyes focused on him, he sat down quietly without saying anything.
After that the entire dinner was tense.