When that woman said she was a goddess, it felt like a wave swept through the hall.
Silence. Confusion. Shock.
I had already figured it out from their faces. — they, just like me, had come from a world where gods and magic were nothing more than fiction.
Fairy tales. Distant myths, with no place in reality.
Maybe...
these kids came from the same world I once lived in.
Just from a different time.
And if that's true — then I'm truly curious...
Has any of them heard of me?
Of the Emperor of the Chessboard?..
Looks like… I was wrong.
That goddess — just like all the others — didn't sense my presence.
Could it be that even those who call themselves gods can't see my soul?..
Or maybe… it was Keller who placed some kind of magic spell on me, hiding me from everyone — even from the gods, even from reality itself.
I don't like admitting it…
But if that's true — then I, the Emperor, must say: I'm a little grateful to him.
Because… I don't even want to imagine what could've happened if she had seen me.
"Sorry to interrupt," — one of them suddenly broke the silence.
His voice was steady. Sharp, like a gunshot.
"You introduced yourself as a revered goddess of this Empire..."
"What is this Empire?" "And what is this world?" "Why are we here?" — he asked, looking her straight in the eye.
That was Thomas.
"I will answer all your questions, Mr. Thomas Wagner," — she said gently, her voice carrying a trace of guilt. "I'm truly sorry for the way this happened."
"But I hope you'll listen to what I have to say."
"How do you know my full name?" — he frowned. — "I never told you. And no one here has mentioned it either."
"I hope you'll explain that as well."
"Of course, Mr. Wagner," — the goddess nodded. — "I'll answer all your questions, dear heroes."
She took a step forward.
Graceful. Yet behind that grace was strength. Determination.
"The Empire you're in now is called the Milner Empire." "It lies on the continent of Monicula. This is the land where humans live."
"Are there other living beings here too, besides humans?" — Peter interrupted harshly, his voice tense, full of disbelief.
"Peter," — Thomas cut him off sternly. — "How many times have I told you to control yourself?" "Don't interrupt the goddess."
Peter nodded silently. Like a rabid dog chained once more.
"Please excuse his manners," Thomas said to the goddess. "Go on, please."
"It's alright," — she answered with a light, understanding smile. "He's in a world completely unknown to him. It's easy to lose composure."
Then she turned back to the rest of them:
"As I mentioned, the Milner Empire is the land of humans."
"But on the continent of Monicula, there are other races as well."
"For example, beastkin. They live in the Schliren Empire."
"There are elves — they rule the Kingdom of Istrabatia."
"And finally… demons. Their empire is called Kaiserdom."
She paused.
Her voice dropped lower — solemn, almost prophetic:
"These four powers are the ones that rule our continent."
"We summoned you into this world," — she said with forced solemnity. "Because the people of our Empire need your protection. Heroes."
Her words sounded almost like a script.
Theatrical. As if she was performing a pre-written play, memorized and stripped of real emotion.
"From this part… explain in more detail," — Thomas said calmly, but with a firm tone in his voice.
"The Empire of Kaiserdom…" — the goddess began, pausing for effect, "It is the Empire of demons. The Empire of evil."
"It destroys the balance of our continent and brings unbearable suffering to our country.
They attack our lands, raid border villages, and build up their forces..."
"And, unfortunately… our Empire cannot stop them."
"Why don't you just unite with other countries?" — Thomas asked, this time coldly and logically, like an experienced diplomat.
"I assume Kaiserdom threatens not only you. Wouldn't it be logical to act together with other nations?"
"You, Hero, possess an impressive mind…" — the goddess began, slightly lifting her chin, as if her flattery could win someone over.
"And you are absolutely right."
"Kaiserdom doesn't attack only us. They are fighting on multiple fronts."
"We even formed an alliance — a union of three great nations."
"But even together… we are powerless."
"Mangul, the Demon Emperor… he is not just a ruler. He is chaos in physical form.
Cruel. Egocentric. And what's most terrifying… immortal."
"There is no one who can defeat him."
"What?!" — Peter exploded, as if bursting from the inside. "You just said he's immortal?!"
"That no one can beat him?!"
"You, witch, want us — school kids — to fight a demon army?!"
"Because of you?! Because of your damned world?!"
"I'm against it! Send me back!" — he shouted, once again breaking off the chain.
Even though the goddess hadn't finished speaking, he already understood perfectly well what she intended to do. She just wanted to send them to certain death.
I understand him.
Even if he's a plebeian, he's saying things others don't have the courage or wish to say out loud. That deserves some respect.
First of all, he owes this world nothing. He was dragged here by force. Without his will. Without a choice.
Second — in our world, demons weren't just myths.
They were used to scare children and adults. No one wants to fight their fears — not just inside, but outside too.
This world is completely foreign to them.
They have no motivation.
No experience.
No goal.
Only fear.
They are scared, unadapted kids. Thrown into a world of war and suffering.
And I feel it clearly.
A split is coming.
They will no longer be one united class.
Each of them will make their choice.
Their side.
And their first step… into this new, cruel world.
"How many times have I told you not to run your mouth, Peter?!" — Thomas shouted angrily. "You act like a pathetic dog!"
It seemed that this boy was clearly influenced by the beauty, charm, and allure of this woman.
But this time, Peter didn't stop.
This time, he answered.He said something that shocked the whole class and even me.
"Shut up, you miserable playboy." "Are you stupid or what?"
"Don't you get it? Our lives are on the line here!"
"This witch is about to send us to clear death!"
"It's time to think with your head, not your other head!" — he barked, looking at Thomas with wild determination.
Wow...
This Peter really surprised me.
I...
Take back what I said. He's not a plebeian.
He's just crazy. Ready to go all the way — against everyone.
And I'm even starting to feel some respect for him.
After all, not everyone has the strength and courage to go against the crowd.
"Think with your head, not your other head"…
Ha. In my past life, I used that phrase a lot in TV interviews.
I wonder where he heard it?
"What did you just say?.."— Thomas growled with rage and surprise, grinding his teeth. "Did you really dare talk back to me?!"
"I did," — Peter replied calmly. — "And what are you gonna do about it, playboy?"
He stepped forward, like all lines had been erased.
"I only obeyed our orders because my father worked under your father."
"He always told me: don't fight with Thomas.
Because our financial stability depended on it.
But now... I don't care anymore."
"Don't you get it?"
"And if you think I'm scared of you..."
"Then know this: I'm not just ready to talk back to you — I'm ready to punch you in the face."
Peter's words made him furious, but he didn't know how to respond — probably because he had never dared to go against him before.
After such an insult from Peter, Thomas genuinely wanted to beat him up. Like a disobedient dog. But his physique clearly didn't allow it — and he wasn't some kind of martial arts expert either. He was just a spoiled boy with a pretty face, the kind girls tended to throw themselves at.
If he had tried, he would most likely have ended up just like that kid who got involved in the conflict between Peter and Alice.
Turns out, this Thomas isn't as impressive as I thought. I overrated him.
You shouldn't judge people based on their first impression. Back then, I hadn't learned that lesson — and because of it, I lost my life.
"Don't you dare talk to Thomas like that! Rude jerk!" — shouted two girls at once, the ones who always hung around him.
"Yeah, Peter, you need to calm down…" — added Alice carefully.
"Thomas is right. Stop acting like a pathetic dog," — said another classmate. Judging by his tone — one of Thomas's close friends.
Even though Peter managed to stand up to Thomas mentally, but he had no authority among the others.
Now almost the whole class… stood against Peter.
Why?
It's simple.
Thomas is the key figure.
Popular. Confident.
With dozens of friends… and even more admirers.
His authority is overwhelming. His status unquestionable.
And even if Peter says reasonable things — it doesn't matter.
Going against Thomas… is dangerous.
But in that very moment, during the fight, I noticed something much more interesting.
When Peter, in a burst of anger, called the goddess a witch — she stayed calm.
At least, for the others.
But not for me.
I was watching her… from above.
I saw what they didn't.
Maybe it wasn't so much about me watching from a different angle. It was more about the fact that… everyone was focused and had shifted their attention to the conflict between Peter and Thomas.
Her face — even just for a second — changed.
A hint of irritation. Hidden disgust. Like she wanted to crush him like an ant.
Her expression made it clear:
her whole "speech," was nothing more than pre written play.
I'm one hundred percent sure:
this goddess is far from the noble being she pretends to be. She is very dangerous piece on the board.
Sure, you could understand her — she was called a witch.
But if she were truly noble, truly kind…
She wouldn't be offended.
She would understand: Peter is in shock. He's not fully in control of his emotions.
But no.
Just one insult was enough to light a fire of hidden hatred inside her.
While I was thinking about this…
It turned out there were people who stood on Peter's side.
Those who saw not a tantrum, but reason in his words.
And among them was the person Peter had beaten — when he interfered in the conflict with Alice.
His name was Mike.
"I agree with Peter," — he said firmly.
"Are you out of your mind?!" — Anna, Alice's friend, shouted angrily. — "That psycho just hit you! And now you're defending him?!"
"I can't stand Peter," — Mike answered coldly. "And I don't like him. But the things he says… there's truth in them."
Several people behind him nodded silently, showing they were on Peter's side too.
The faces of Thomas and his entourage twisted with anger when they saw that Peter had many supporters.
I turned my gaze to the goddess again. But this time… her expression didn't change at all. On the contrary, a strangely sweet smile appeared on her face. This woman scares me. It's hard to tell what she's thinking or what kind of game she plans to play, I thought to myself.
And there it was — the split I had spoken of.
It happened.
The class was no longer one whole.
The game had started. The choice had begun.
"I wonder… how this show will end?"
I thought with excitement, unable to hide a smile.