As the students and teachers returned to the academy through the underground warp portal, they were met with a scene of devastation that left them stunned. The once pristine halls of the school now bore the scars of battle, resembling the aftermath of a natural disaster. Concern and worry etched on their faces, they searched for any sign of their fellow students, especially Hina, whose absence weighed heavily on their hearts.
Among them, Hiku's voice rang out, calling for Princess Hina with a sense of urgency and fear. His words echoed through the somber atmosphere, a testament to the deep bond they shared and the concern he felt for her well-being. The head of the academy, too, expressed a mix of disbelief and trepidation as he contemplated the events that had unfolded.
In the distance, a deafening boom shattered the silence, followed by the ominous sight of the castle walls of Ingrasya being struck by a bolt of red lightning. The ground trembled beneath their feet, and a sense of foreboding gripped their hearts as they realized the magnitude of the catastrophe that had befallen their kingdom.
The search party, led by Hiku, a seasoned teacher and mage, combed through the aftermath of the chaotic battle. The air was heavy with tension, carrying the scent of smoke and blood—a grim reminder of the fierce confrontation that had taken place mere hours ago. With each step, Hiku's staff glowed with a faint blue light, a sign of the magic he wielded.
Determined, Hiku gestured with his staff, invoking a powerful spell to rewind time and reveal the events that had unfolded. As the magic took hold, the surroundings seemed to blur and distort, shifting into a translucent haze. Holographic images materialized before them, depicting scenes of chaos and desperation.
In the hologram, they witnessed Princess Hina engaged in a fierce battle with the berserker—a formidable adversary whose strength seemed boundless. Hina's form moved with fluid grace, her sword flashing in the sunlight as she fought valiantly against her foe. But despite her skill and determination, the strain of the battle began to take its toll, evident in the weariness that etched itself upon her features.
Then, disaster struck. The berserker's blade clashed with Hina's, and the force of the impact sent shockwaves reverberating through the battlefield. Hina's sword shattered upon contact, leaving her defenseless against her relentless foe. The hologram captured the moment of her collapse, a heartbreaking sight that filled their hearts with dread.
But just as all hope seemed lost, a glimmer of light appeared amidst the darkness. The hero's party, valiant and steadfast in their resolve, came to Hina's aid, driving back the wyvern that threatened to devour her. With swift and decisive action, they rescued her from the jaws of death, carrying her to safety within the walls of the Ingrasya kingdom.
As the hologram faded and reality returned, a sense of relief washed over the search party. Hiku, his eyes alight with determination, turned to the others, his voice filled with conviction. "That's where she is," he declared, his words echoing with certainty.
The head of the school, a venerable figure with wisdom etched into every line of his face, nodded in solemn agreement. "Impossible," he murmured, his gaze fixed upon the image of Hina. "That power... it rivals that of the demonlord himself."
Hiku, undeterred by the gravity of the situation, spoke with unwavering faith. "That's our Hina," he said, a note of pride evident in his voice. "A true daughter of the gods."
With a sense of reverence, the search party bowed their heads in homage to their fallen comrade, their voices rising in unison. "All hail Princess Hina," they proclaimed, their words a testament to her courage and strength.
And amidst the ruins of the battlefield, surrounded by the echoes of a fierce struggle, the spirit of Princess Hina lived on—a beacon of hope in a world shrouded in darkness.
As the hologram flickered and waned, Hiku couldn't shake the feeling of unease that gnawed at his gut. Despite the clarity of the images, there lingered a sense of distortion—a subtle hint that something was amiss. He watched intently as Princess Hina's sword clashed with the berserker's, the impact sending shards of metal flying in all directions. But it was the moment of the parry, the clash of Hina's blade with the demonlord's, that troubled him the most.
In his mind's eye, Hiku replayed the scene over and over, scrutinizing every detail for signs of corruption or interference. There, amidst the chaos of battle, he saw it—a faint shimmer of darkness, like a shadow creeping across the holographic landscape. It was subtle, almost imperceptible, but to Hiku's trained eye, it spoke volumes.
The demonlord's intervention was unmistakable. In the instant of the parry, he had sensed an opportunity—a chance to sow chaos and discord among his enemies. With a flick of his blade, he shattered Hina's sword, leaving her defenseless against the onslaught of the berserker. And as the battle raged on, he had seized the opportunity to escape, leaving Hina behind to face her fate alone.
As Hina collapsed, her body wracked with exhaustion, the world around her seemed to blur and fade into darkness. The weight of her injuries bore down on her like a crushing burden, each breath a struggle against the overwhelming tide of fatigue. She lay there, crumpled and defeated, her spirit battered but unbroken.
In the hazy recesses of her mind, memories flickered like distant stars, fragments of battles fought and victories won. She saw the faces of her friends and comrades, their voices echoing faintly in the recesses of her consciousness. But try as she might, she could not reach out to them, could not bridge the ever-widening chasm that separated her from the world outside.
And yet, even in her darkest hour, a flicker of determination burned within her. With every ounce of strength she could muster, she fought against the encroaching darkness, refusing to surrender to despair. She clung to the hope that help would come, that her friends would find her and lift her from the depths of her despair.
But as the moments stretched into eternity, doubt began to creep into her mind. What if they never came? What if she was destined to remain here, alone and forgotten, lost to the annals of history? The thought sent a chill down her spine, but still she refused to yield.
With a trembling hand, she reached out into the void, searching for any sign of hope, any glimmer of light to guide her way. And then, as if in answer to her silent plea, she felt it—a faint spark of warmth, a beacon of hope shining brightly in the darkness.
With a determined nod, Hiku ended the hologram projection, his heart heavy with the weight of what he had witnessed. He knew that he couldn't rest until he found Princess Hina and ensured her safety. With a solemn promise to himself and to Hina, he turned to leave, his footsteps echoing in the empty chamber as he set out on his quest to rescue her.
As he made his way through the halls of the academy, Hiku's mind raced with thoughts of Hina and the dangers she faced. He knew that time was of the essence, and he couldn't afford to waste a single moment. With every step he took, his determination grew stronger, his resolve unwavering in the face of adversity.
*To be continue *