As we continued our journey, nothing exciting happened besides occasional monster attacks. Frustratingly enough, I still hadn't learned any more about Kojomaru or the legendary heroine. When I asked the villagers of towns we stopped at, all they were able to tell me was that the legendary heroine helped defeat an evil monster king in the past using her enchanted sword. When I asked what she looked like or what her name was, the response was always the same: "I don't know. I never saw her, let alone met her."
"I'm beginning to doubt the legendary heroine even existed! Nobody seems to know anything about her!" I screamed one afternoon after getting the same information that I already had gotten from dozens of other villagers.
"How can you say that after witnessing the power of Kojomaru? The sword spoke to you, Hana. Kajiya would have mentioned that if he was able to tap into the sword's power too," Touwa replied, surprised by my outburst.
"I know, but it seems like nobody knows anything about her! How is that possible? How can nobody know anything about a heroine that saved their whole planet?"
"You know how history can be forgotten over time, Hana. If it's not recorded, people forget."
"Why didn't anyone record her life then? How can these people have so much faith in a woman they know nothing about?"
"I understand how you feel, Hana. It is pretty frustrating, but I'm sure we'll find the answers to all your questions eventually."
"Yeah. I guess."
As we walked through the dark forest surrounding the town we had just left, we were attacked by some monsters that looked kind of like ghosts. Thankfully, Kiku's light caused them to disperse so it seemed we had nothing to worry about.
Brrm! Brrm!
"A storm's coming! We need to find some shelter before the rain hits," I said after I heard some thunder in the distance.
"Should we go back to the town?" Kiku asked, watching the sky.
"No. It's too far. We'd never make it in time."
"Hey, guys! Look! There's a mansion up ahead!" Kiku exclaimed, pointing ahead.
There was indeed a mansion about fifty yards ahead of us. As we got closer to it, I began to get a bad feeling from the place. The mansion looked like it could be haunted since it looked old and rundown. We did see some ghost-like monsters earlier....
"C'mon, guys! This place looks like fun!"
"Fun? Are you crazy, Akino? This place looks evil!"
Crash! Some lightning flashed behind us, followed by thunder.
"C'mon, Kiku. We don't have any choice. This mansion is our only hope for shelter," Touwa said, dragging the princess along.
"Even if it is haunted, your light can get rid of the ghosts," I agreed, trying to reassure myself too.
"I can ask the ghosts how they died!" Shitai whispered to herself.
I suddenly got the chills after I walked inside, but I wasn't sure if it was because of Shitai's comment or the mansion itself. The first room in the mansion was pretty bare. The only thing in it was a fallen chandelier, which sat broken in the middle of the floor. To both sides were some stairs that led to the next floor. Unfortunately, the lights didn't seem to work so we had to rely on Kiku for light. Since Kosai didn't mind the dark, she stood outside the circle of light and kept watch. Shitai joined her, hoping to see some ghosts so she could question them.
Creeeak.
"W-what was that?" Kiku asked, on the verge of a panic attack.
"I'm sure it was just the mansion blowing in the wind."
"O-ok, Hana. I believe you."
Creeeak.
"T-there it is again!"
"Everything's going to be ok, Kiku. Don't worry."
Crash! The flash of lightning made some strange looking shadows appear momentarily before the light faded. Strangely, when the flash of lightning faded so did our light source.
"Kiku, what happened? Can you create another light?"
No response.
"Kiku? Kiku, where are you?!"
The princess was nowhere to be seen.