The hour of discussion had come to an end. Now, it was time for them to acquire their powers. Atop the castle, ten master mages assembled around the Lost Ones to oversee their power acquisition. Jacob was beside himself with anticipation, trembling with excitement, much like a child.

"Oh my God, I can't wait, guys!"

"You shouldn’t," Yanis whispered, "You're committing two years here with the risk of dying... I don't even know why I agreed..."

"A moment of silence, please. The procedure is about to begin."

Charnald stepped back from the circle after uttering those words, allowing the group of master mages to initiate the power transfer. One of the ten from the esteemed committee of wizards stepped forward, standing tall and looking each of them in the eyes.

"Young ones, your former life ends now."

Green magical runes and symbols began to emerge from the ground at the feet of the Lost Ones, signifying the start of the magical procedure.

"Your souls will be blessed with the gift of powers... It will be up to you to master them and use them wisely..."

Once he finished addressing the Lost Ones, the man gave them a respectful bow before stepping out of the perimeter. The many layers of magical symbols that had appeared around the teens began wrapping around them. Except for Gwendoline, her symbols seemed faint, almost non-existent.

Why don't I feel anything? Is this normal?

Seconds passed to the cheers of the peasants who were witnessing the ascension of heroes from another realm. The magical spell faded away, dissipating like ash in the blue sky. Dasra, driven by curiosity, approached the Lost Ones.

"So? Did you get your powers?"

"Yeah... It's the wildest thing I've ever experienced!" Rogue exclaimed.

"Same here, it was mind-blowing! Can't wait to use them," Jacob chimed in.

Alora moved closer to her new friend, Gwendoline, gently touching her shoulder and smiling kindly.

"So, what's your power?"

"Well... It's hard to explain why... but it's emotions..."

Everyone shot glances towards Gwendoline, especially Yanis who seemed quite intrigued by this revelation.

"Emotions?"

"Yes, the traits of my emotions are transformed into power, and each has its own special technique."

"So you specialize in emotions?" Jacob inquired.

"It seems so... Yet, in everyday life, I struggle to control them, if you catch my drift..."

Yanis, realizing the gravity of what she implied, looked at Gwendoline with sympathetic eyes, drawing nearer.

"Tell me, Gwendoline?"

"Yeah?"

"Do you suffer from depression?"

"Don't worry about me..."

Charnald abruptly interrupted the conversation, inadvertently cutting off Gwendoline and Yanis' exchange.

"Congratulations! You've acquired your powers!"

"Thank you, you've made our lives more thrilling!" Alora exclaimed, grinning triumphantly.

"So, you're happy knowing you might die?" Yanis rebuked.

"Of course not! But what I'm saying is, now we all have a purpose!"

"I had a purpose on Earth, so this means nothing to me."

"And what was that?"

"You wouldn't want to know..."

"Oh, give it up, haha!"

Alora uttered these words playfully, trying to lighten up Yanis' mood. However, deep down, Yanis harbored a past that no sane person could ever imagine.

Charnald soon rejoined the Lost Ones, announcing the final step before their adventure began:

"Now that this is done, it's time for the last step! Your residence."

"We get a residence?!" Jacob exclaimed.

"Yes! And there, you'll meet your power training mistress."

"Awesome!"

***

On the path to the residence, the Lost Ones walked alongside Charnald amidst a rush of ecstatic peasants who cleared a path for them. After all, having seen the Lost Ones, they felt as if they had already been saved.

Trailing the group, among the teenagers, Alora drew close to Gwendoline, "Are you alright, Gwendoline? Everything okay?"

"Yes, and no."

"Listen, regardless of what you've experienced on Earth, know that I'll always stand by you. It's quite likely that you've been bullied by some wretched person... I want you to understand that I'm not the type to mock or judge others. If you ever want to open up, I'm here."

"Why would you do that? We didn’t even know each other before all this."

Alora chuckled. "You're cautious, I see! Simply because I already see you as my best friend, Gwendoline. We're going to be together for the next two years, so it's best for all of us to start off right, don’t you think?"

"You sure don’t waste time," Gwendoline replied.

As they continued to walk, lagging behind the group, Alora drew Gwendoline into a warm embrace. Even though mere moments had passed since their meeting, a certain mutual understanding connected them, giving Gwendoline more comfort than words could express.

"Thank you..."

"No need. You needed it, didn’t you?"

"Yes… It feels good..."

Yanis, overhearing their conversation, turned slowly towards the two girls, surprised at the sight.

"What are you two up to?"

"I’m hugging her."

"I can see that. But why tho?"

"Because Gwendoline is my friend!"

Yanis simply smiled, a deep, compassionate smile for Gwendoline.

"Jealous?"

"Not at all."

Their journey ended after a short stroll through the jubilant village. Now they stood in the wealthy district, surrounded by lavish homes guarded by soldiers and knights. Their residence was similarly protected by these towering figures. In unison, with evident pride, they proclaimed, "Welcome, young Lost Ones!"

The teens were warmly received by the guards who opened the gates to their new home. On seeing it, they were utterly astounded by its size: a splendid three-story mansion with a large training ground and a lush garden scattered with fountains, fruit trees, and greenery. In essence, it was the perfect home for everyone. When Rogue spoke up, he was the first to voice his feelings, "Wait! We're living here?!"

"Indeed, this is where you will stay awaiting your missions and train," replied Charnald.

"I see..."

"Well, let's not waste any more time. Let's enter!" They all entered, the door closing behind them.

"I can’t wait to see our rooms!" Alora exclaimed, filled with excitement.

"So, can we take a tour?" asked Jacob.

"That will come later. For now, we'll discuss the final points regarding the power system."

"Alright!"

As they ventured into the seemingly endless garden, the Lost Ones were intrigued to find a beautiful woman with long, sun-kissed black hair, lounging peacefully in a hammock.

"Who's she?" Jacob inquired.

"That is Jaïka, she will be your magic and personal powers instructor."

Waking to their presence, she gracefully left her hammock, revealing her enigmatic attire: a slightly open three-piece suit. Every aspect of her attire seemed meticulously tailored, giving her an air of mysterious allure. The vest accentuated her figure while the jacket, with its sleeves neatly rolled up, added a touch of boldness and elegance. A subtle silver brooch gleamed at her white satin shirt’s collar, adding sparkle to an already sophisticated ensemble. Her quality leather shoes matched perfectly, showcasing her attention to detail and aesthetics.

"So, you're the Lost Ones... I'm delighted to meet you."

Gwendoline's eyes traveled up and down Jaïka's attire. Frowning slightly and hand on her chin, a question formed in her mind:

Given that Trillia appears to be a fantastical world, why does she wear modern clothing? Could it be that there are countries in this world more advanced than this so-called kingdom?