Distantly, like an echo, he heard the distorted voice calling, "Guang."
"Hrghh..."
"Guang," they repeated, even more clearly and urgently.
Annoyed, Guang grunted, "Five more minutes..."
"Guang!"
This time, it was like he was doused by a bucket of water and he awoke, alarmed. At his side, Jin was shaking him aggressively. Ahead of him were three strangers. Two of them were dressed in formal black and white suits with sunglasses. The one in the centre, however, was the one that piqued his interest the most. Dressed in a brown furry overcoat over a brown waistcoat, black collared shirt and a white tie, he appeared in his mid-forties, with grey slicked back hair and a neatly trimmed beard. Guang intuitively felt that this man was rather important. Had he seen him somewhere before? Before he could ponder on that, the man waved his hand and the two other men left at his command. Now, it was just Guang, Jin, and the stranger in the room.
Guang decided he might as well directly get his answers. Bluntly, he asked, "Who are you?"
"Guang!" Jin hissed into his ear.
Confused at Jin's behaviour, he pointed at the meekly smiling, bearded man in front of him and clarified his question, "Why is there a stranger in our room?"
Before Jin could reply, the man suddenly greeted in a warm, caring tone, "I'm sorry to intrude this early, Mr. Long. I heard rumours of a man who could manipulate fire, and I was wondering, if that could be you?"
As Jin retreated to his side to stand as straight as a street lamp, Guang mildly wondered what had gotten his brother so stiff. It must be this stranger. Squaring up his shoulders, Guang answered, "Yeah, that's me."
With that kind smile still on his face, the man said, "I see. Then, it is as I've expected...Mr. Long, are you familiar with the legend of Hero Rayler?"
Was that even a question? As far as Guang knew, everyone in Alca had heard of Hero Rayler's legend; of his rise to glory and his honourable sacrifice. He wasn't sure where this conversation was going, but since he wasn't sensing any malice from the man, he decided to play along for now. "I am."
"Good, good. I trust that as a Long, you're aware of the reincarnation of the demon king as well?"
At the mention of the demon king, Guang's grip on the blanket tightened. Grimly, Guang replied, "Yes, I am aware that the demon king poses a great threat over the world, and that he must be eliminated to protect the world as we know it."
Satisfied, the man nodded. "That, you are correct. Alca is doing her best to stop the demon king, but with the other nation, Naylen, being wrapped around the demon king's finger, it has been proving rather difficult, even with all our efforts."
"...could we please get to the point?"
The man's eyes widened. Then, when Guang thought he had offended him, the man unexpectedly burst out in laughter. For some reason, Guang felt that ever since meeting him, this was the first time the man genuinely expressed his feelings. Previously, it all felt like a polite front, but this laughter - it rang like it came from his heart.
"I'm beginning to like you, kid," the man chuckled heartily. "Apologies, but I was simply testing how much you know of the current situation before I present my request."
A request? What would a stranger want from him? He was a Long who had lost everything, a Long who had failed to protect what mattered to him the most. What value does he have in the eyes of a total stranger?
But this man...he was the real deal. His hazel eyes were shining with determination as he disclosed, "It was foretold that when the demon king would once again raze the world, the hero would rise from his ashes to protect the world once more."
Slowly, Guang said, "So, what you're saying is..."
The man smiled. "Yes, I want to ask you to-"
"Find the hero!"
"-defeat the demon king."
Beside him, Jin twitched. The bearded man appeared stumped; flabbergasted, even.
Clearing his throat, the man gathered himself and rephrased, "Um...what I mean to say is, Mr. Long, you are...the reincarnated hero. And I'd like you to help defeat the demon king."
As his words slowly registered in Guang's head, Guang's mouth gradually opened wider and wider, so much that Jin had to shut it for him.
In utter disbelief, Guang pointed at himself. "I'm the hero?"
"The reincarnated hero," the man corrected.
Turning to Jin, Guang repeated, "I'm the hero?"
"...that's what he said, brother."
With a shuddering breath, Guang stared at the blanket. "I'm the hero?"
The blanket did not reply.
If anyone were to be in Guang's shoes, surely they would be ecstatic, jumping off the bed and hollering their lungs out. Hero Rayler was a prodigy, an honourable legend, greatly admired by everyone. But now...after everything that has happened - Sui being the demon king, his entire manor burning down, his servants all dead - the title 'reincarnated hero' felt more like a burden than a gift. It was a title that implied he was destined to never be on the same side as Sui - and that they would be each other's demise. Was he and Sui never meant to be on good terms, after all? Can nothing really be done for them to be on the same side?
Lowly, Guang muttered, "What makes you think I'm the hero?"
"Ah, because you, unlike ordinary people, can miraculously wield the element of life. Which is to say, you can manipulate fire, just like Hero Rayler."
Wait, he had never heard of that. No one, not even his parents, had told him that Hero Rayler could use the power of flames too. Was he bluffing? He turned to Jin, who had suddenly found great interest on the floor.
"Jin, is that true?"
When Jin did not answer, Guang repeated, more seriously, "Jin...is. That. True?"
Raising his head, Jin said, almost automatedly, "Yes, brother."
Damn. Guang settled back into his bed, rubbing his forehead as he processed all of this. Thankfully, the bearded man knew to stay silent as Guang went through all the bombshells that had been dropped in this conversation.
"So what you're saying is, that you want me, the reincarnated hero, to defeat the demon king."
"Yes, Mr. Long. It is as the prophecy has said. What will be your decision?"
Taking in a deep breath, Guang finally faced the man. He had made up his mind on what he wanted to do.
"I refuse."
This was so surprising that even Jin choked on his own saliva. Even so, Guang's gaze did not waver, staying stubbornly fixed on the man.
The man seemed at a loss, but regardless, he tried to coax, "It is the hero's fate to defeat the demon king, Mr. Long. Even if you refuse, you will still face off against the demon king, whether you want to or not."
"I will go about this on my own terms," Guang proclaimed. "After our conversation, I realised I am very ignorant of the world. There are many things which I do not know of which I should, which is why I cannot agree to defeat the demon king."
"But the world- the prophecy-"
"I cannot promise to defeat the demon king," Guang continued strongly, "but I will protect the world. This, I swear on Hero Rayler's name!"
As he said that, a gentle wave of warmth swept the room. In the coolness of the morning, it felt like a breath of fresh air; the thawing of ice in the first sunlight of spring.
With a declaration as powerful as that, even the bearded man had to back down. With a resigned sigh, the man said, "I see. At this point, I feel that no matter what I say, you will not be convinced. Hmm...that's disappointing. However, I have to praise your vision, Mr. Long. Your journey may be long and treacherous, but with that bright, burning spirit of yours, I'm sure you will be the new hero of this era."
Guang was glad that despite him rejecting the man's request, the man still respected his decision. For that, he bowed gratefully. "Thank you, sir."
With that, the man made to leave. However, just as he reached for the door, he suddenly perked up. "Ah! I nearly forgot to introduce myself."
With a mellow smile, the man bowed. "My name's Valerie, president of Alca."