William couldn't believe his eyes. The person standing before him was a stranger, yet there was sothing undeniably familiar about him. The man bore a mark on his forehead, a mark characteristic of the heroes summoned to this world.
How could this be? William had used his SSS-ranked ability to travel years into the past. He'd thought the summoned heroes only existed in his present tiline.
"I... I don't believe it," William stamred, his voice barely above a whisper.
The man frowned, his expression a mixture of confusion and annoyance. "What are you talking about? Are you losing your mind?"
William was unsure if he could trust this man. Despite appearances suggesting he was one of the summoned heroes of this era, he could also be an imposter. William needed to learn more about him, discern his motives for being on the island, and understand why he had kidnapped both Ron and himself.
"Did you kidnap Ron?" William asked, his gaze locked with the man's.
Confronted so directly, the man replied, "No, I didn't. I ca to this island pursuing a dangerous fugitive. I couldn't help but notice this deserted island is rather crowded. Perhaps you could explain what's going on here?"
That was an unexpected twist for William. He'd assud this man was the one who had kidnapped Ron.
'Is he telling the truth?' William wondered, unsure whether to believe the man's seemingly convincing story. Despite his reservations, William decided to share what he knew.
"We're establishing a magic academy here," William explained. "This island was supposed to be deserted, but soone kidnapped one of our students, a young man nad Ron. They even left a letter threatening to take more of us."
The man's fists clenched. "That's the sa person I'm after. This is typical of the fugitive I'm hunting. He's involved with dark magic, a formidable foe."
William had already suspected Ron's kidnapper was a dark magic practitioner. He knew because a shadowy energy had attacked him and Professor Lincoln while they were flying on their mounts.
"Tell sothing," William began, pausing as he considered whether he should ask, "Are you one of the summoned heroes?"
The question caught the man off guard. "How do you know about the summoned heroes?" he countered.
"But everyone knows about the tattoos that heroes have, right?" William said. At least, that's what he had learned in the present ti of Aethel. However, it seed things were different in the past.
In Aethel's past, information about the heroes was scarce, and people didn't know about the tattoos. Therefore, the hero was very surprised and beca aggressive with William.
"How do you know that?" the hero growled, grabbing William by the neck. "That's a secret that few people know!"
At that mont, William had to make a choice. If he didn't reveal that he was also a hero, this man could end him.
"I know that because I'm a hero too!" William blurted out.
The man burst into laughter. "Are you kidding ? There are only three heroes, and I know both of them. It's impossible for you to be a hero."
With no way out, William showed the summoned hero tattoo he had on his forearm.
The man stared at the tattoo for a few seconds, then he released William and staggered back. "I-Impossible. How?"
The man grasped William's arm, his eyes fixed on the tattoo. A unique aura emanated from the marking, and as a hero himself, he knew William was telling the truth.
"How is this possible?" he breathed, his voice filled with disbelief. "I was certain there were only three of us."
William hesitated, reluctant to reveal too much information. "I was summoned a while ago," he said carefully. "This might sound like a strange question, but what world did you co from?"
"Earth," the man replied. "Do you know it?"
Astonishnt washed over William. He and his friends had been summoned directly from Earth. He had assud other heroes might originate from different, unknown planets, but apparently, this man was also from Earth.
"Which year?" William pressed, his curiosity piqued.
"1512," the man answered. "And you?"
"2024."
The kidnapping had taken a most unexpected turn, evolving into a surprising encounter. William was eager to learn more about this man, just as the man was curious about William.
With a swift motion, the man shattered the shackles binding William's wrists.
"How did you end up here?" the man asked, his brow furrowed in thought. "I thought only a set number of heroes were summoned at the sa ti. By the way, I'm Ben."
"William," he replied, returning the introduction. "To be honest, I have no idea how I got here. I appeared in a village far from here, completely disoriented."
"That's strange..." Ben mused. "Judging by your power level, I assu you were summoned recently?"
Comparing William's power to Ben's was like comparing a candle to a bonfire. Ben was imnsely powerful. Even Professor Lincoln, a formidable mage in his own right, had been helpless against Ben's illusion magic and had no idea where William was being held.
"Yes, quite recently," William confird. "And you? How long have you been here?"
"About eight years now," Ben answered. "It was quite difficult at first, but things have gotten better. Well, not exactly better, considering the looming threat of the Underworld Lord, but I'm certainly better off than when I first arrived."
This information was crucial for William. He knew that in Aethel's present ti, the heroes had been summoned to deal with the Underworld Lord, and it seed that was the case in the past as well.
'Could this be a recurring problem?' William wondered, pondering the possibility of the Underworld Lord being a cyclical threat. He couldn't be sure, but it was certainly a disturbing thought.
They talked for a while about the hero stuff, but eventually Ben started talking about the fugitive he was looking for on that island.
"This fugitive I'm chasing," Ben continued, his expression hardening, "he's a dangerous mage who's been experinting with forbidden magic. He calls himself Malkor, and he's obsessed with gaining power, no matter the cost."
Ben explained how Malkor had been a promising student at a renowned magic academy, but his thirst for forbidden knowledge led him down a dark path. He delved into the darkest corners of magic, experinting with necromancy and demonic rituals, eventually becoming a rogue mage, a threat to the very fabric of Aethel.
"He's been terrorizing villages, kidnapping people for his twisted experints," Ben said, his voice grim. "I've been tracking him for months, and this island seems to be his latest hideout."
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Ben led William through a hidden passage, revealing an underground base concealed beneath the island. It was a network of tunnels and chambers, illuminated by glowing crystals embedded in the walls.
"I've been using this as a base while I search for Malkor," Ben explained. "It's well-hidden and provides a safe haven from the island's creatures."
William was impressed by the ingenuity of the base. It was a testant to Ben's resourcefulness and his determination to apprehend Malkor.
"So, what's your plan now?" William asked, curious about Ben's next move.
"I'll continue my search for Malkor," Ben replied, his eyes filled with resolve. "And I need your help."
William was taken aback. "My help? But I'm still relatively weak compared to you."
Ben smiled. "Strength isn't everything, William. You have a unique perspective, coming from another ti. You might notice things I've overlooked. Besides," he added, "we need to find Ron."
William nodded, his determination solidifying. He would help Ben apprehend Malkor and rescue Ron. It was the least he could do, both as a fellow hero and as a mber of the academy.
"I'm in," William declared, his voice firm. "What's the first step?"
"First and foremost, we need to keep my presence here a secret," Ben stated, his voice low and serious. "The fugitive doesn't know I've tracked him here, and I want to keep it that way. I only resorted to 'kidnapping' you because I was certain it would go unnoticed."
Ultimately, William had to return to the encampnt. Ben helped ensure the fugitive remained unaware of William's presence throughout their journey back.
"I'll be in touch in the next few days to update you on any developnts," Ben assured William, placing a hand on his shoulder. "And this might sound strange, but your friend is definitely alive. Malkor usually kidnaps people for rituals, and he waits for a specific moon phase. I believe your friend still has a few good days left, so we'll find him. Don't worry."
This information eased William's anxiety. He didn't know Ron well, but the other students were close to him, and William would never abandon them. Knowing Ron was likely safe would bring comfort to those searching for him.
"Understood," William replied, feeling a surge of hope. "Take care, Ben."
With that, William left and returned to the encampnt. Everyone was worried, and he encountered Lincoln along the way, who still seed bewildered by the events.
"William! You're alive!" Professor Lincoln exclaid, rushing towards him. "I've been searching for you for hours."
William returned to the encampnt with Lincoln, deciding it was the safest place to share what he had learned.
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