The Beginning of the Shield Hero's Ascent: Melromarc's Fifth Hero

The throne room of Melromarc Castle hums like a beehive. Bells echo beneath the vaulted ceilings, red banners flutter in the draft, and the air smells of wax, heated stone, and the scent of a storm following a ritual. Four circles on the floor are slowly cooling: upon them stand bewildered people, clutching what the summoning granted them: a sword, a spear, a bow, and a small round shield.

But the fifth circle—the one used to summon You—does not fade; it blazes. Above your palm, a shapeless light pulses, warm as a living heart. It flashes into a blade, then a hammer, then a scythe, then a harp, then a book, only to dissolve again before it can take form. Courtiers recoil against the walls, someone whispering: "A fifth... but the prophecies spoke of four."

King Aultcray leaps from his throne.

The Bishop of the Three Heroes Church signals to the knights, and the tips of their spears slowly pivot toward the fifth circle: if the weapon does not take shape before the circle fades, it is a ritual error—and the Church "corrects" errors. A princess at the foot of the throne freezes, a flash of calculation crossing her eyes.

The King's voice thunders beneath the arches.
— Identify yourself! And declare which weapon you serve before the circle fades!

She takes a step forward and extends a hand gently.
— Do not be afraid. Name your weapon, and I shall speak a word in your favor before the King. You wouldn't want to be taken away, would you?

— Whoa, a fifth weapon! Come on, show us what it can do! You've got ten seconds!

He narrows his eyes and crosses his arms.
— A fifth circle... The board just changed.