Toffa Village, Hensberg Kingdom, Northern Continent.
"Grraaahhh!"
"Arrgghh!"
"No...!"
"Please... spare us..."
"Mother... Father..."
Horrifying screams mixed with heartrending cries echoed through this cold and terrifying night. They all belonged to the villagers of Toffa Village. Screams of fear, anger, and sorrow poured from their mouths. So painful... so tragic.
Right now, my village, Toffa Village, was under attack by a horde of ogres. Where did these savage creatures come from? And how did they suddenly assault my village?
Several grown men and the village guards desperately fought against these towering creatures, nearly three meters tall. Meanwhile, the rest scattered and ran, trying to escape the ogres' onslaught.
"Ductu Lucis!"
(Guidance of Light!)
I cast my light magic to aid the soldiers and villagers battling the ogres. 'Guidance of Light' was an area-based light-element magic that enhanced the abilities of those within its magic circle. This spell increased one's strength, agility, and attack power.
In front of me, two ogres were fighting against ten grown men. Four of them were royal guards assigned to protect Toffa Village.
The soldiers wielded swords and spears to fend off the ogres' attacks, while the villagers used whatever tools they could—simple implements from their daily work.
One of the ogres swung its massive arm, sending several of the fighters flying backward.
"Elena-sama!"
One of the soldiers called out to me, pleading for my magic. Immediately, I began chanting my next spell.
"Lux Divina!"
(Divine Light!)
A blinding radiance burst forth, dazzling one of the ogres in front of me.
"Now!"
Following the soldier's command, they attacked the ogre in unison. One of them managed to slash the creature's neck, sending it crashing to the ground-lifeless.
"Grrraaa!"
Seeing this, another ogre let out an enraged roar and swung its axe at the soldier who had slain its kin. In an instant, the soldier's body was cleaved in two.
Witnessing this, the remaining soldiers and villagers launched a desperate attack on the ogre. But-
The ogre wildly swung its axe, cutting down, crushing, and slicing through the warriors mercilessly. Each swing brought forth horrifying screams, cries of agony, and the sickening sound of rending flesh.
I bit my lip in frustration, a mixture of anger and fear surging within me. What use was I here? What should I do now?
Before I could find an answer, an ogre charged toward me, its massive axe raised high.
"Grraaaa!"
With a terrifying roar, the ogre prepared to cleave me in half with its blood-stained axe—stained with the blood of my fellow villagers.
"Elena-sama!"
At the same moment, three village guards dashed forward, attacking the ogre in unison. Two of them drove their swords into the ogre's stomach and right hip, while the third soldier rushed toward me.
The ogre roared in fury. It grabbed the small-bodied soldier who had stabbed its stomach and crushed him in its iron grip. Then, lowering its head, it seized the soldier who had pierced its hip—biting down with its sharp fangs.
"Arrrggghhh!"
A scream of agony filled the air. Blood gushed from his body, and I could clearly hear the dreadful sound of his bones cracking under the ogre's powerful jaws.
I raised my hands to chant a spell, determined to save him—but the soldier beside me grabbed my arm and said,
"Stop, Elena-sama! It's no use... it's too late to save him."
He forcefully pulled me away, making me run with him—away from the ogre.
"What are you doing? Why are you leaving your comrade behind?"
"Listen to me, Elena-sama!" he shouted. "We were given a mission by Father Head Priest of the Sun Temple—to protect you. We are the guards sworn to defend the village and its people. That means we must prioritize your life over our own."
As we ran, he turned his face toward me for a moment and said,
"Besides, Elena-sama is a Priest! You have a greater duty—to heal the wounded villagers and soldiers. Your life is more valuable than mine."
"Grraaaa!"
Suddenly, a thunderous roar came from our side. My eyes caught sight of an ogre leaping toward us, its axe raised high. The soldier beside me shoved me aside with his right hand.
Srrakkk!
The ogre's axe embedded itself in the ground—along with the soldier's right arm, which had been severed in the attack. Blood spurted violently from his wound, and the severed limb lay next to my fallen body.
"Run, Elena-sama!"
Despite losing an arm, the soldier gripped his sword with his left hand and charged at the ogre. Once more, he yelled,
"Run, Elena-sama! Please... run!"
I forced myself to my feet and fled.
This is wrong! No... this isn't how it should be. What should I do?
As I ran, pain seared through my right arm. Blood trickled down, staining my sleeve. Perhaps I had been grazed by the ogre's axe.
My gaze darted around frantically, searching for an answer—until my eyes landed on the place I served. The Sun Temple...
Yes, I found my answer. The way to save Toffa Village!
I would perform the Forbidden Spell of Hero Summoning.
I sprinted toward the Sun Temple, pushing past the burning pain in my arm. Along with the stinging ache in my heart.
Before long, I arrived at the temple entrance. It was empty. Surely, Father Dante, the head priest, and all the clerics and nuns were outside, helping the villagers fight the ogres.
My eyes scanned the surroundings, searching for a writing brush. I found one next to a small candle on the table in the far-right corner of the temple.
Forcing my exhausted body to move, I rushed over and grabbed the brush. My blood stained its handle, but I didn't care.
I began drawing the summoning circle on the Sun Temple's altar. My blood dripped onto the lines I traced. And... was that... were my tears falling, too?
Please... hold on... endure, Elena...
I begged my weary body to keep going.
Once the magic circle was complete, I knelt before it and began chanting my spell.
"O deus totius lucis, da mihi gloriam tuam! Nuntium mitte ut populum tuum salvet!"
(O god of all light, grant me your glory! Send forth a messenger to save your people!)
Blood streamed down my arm, soaking into my robe.
I had to endure... I must!
"Pandite portas mundi... Venite heroes... Portas Heroum!"
(Open the gates of the world... Come forth, heroes... Gate of Heroes!)
A radiant light shone forth—so bright, it filled me with a glimmer of hope.
Then, from within that light, a figure emerged.
A man dressed in dark garments that draped around his form. He held a sword in his hand. His long black hair was tied back with a red ribbon.
Hope...
A glimmer of hope had arrived!
Tears flowed down my cheeks, blending with the blood streaming from my right arm.
But...
That hero glared at me with pure rage. He rushed at me, grabbed my collar, and yanked me closer before shouting in a thunderous voice.
"What have you done?!"
What is this... Why is he attacking me?
Was calling him a mistake?
Isn't this supposed to be the Hero Summoning spell?
My body was too exhausted... too drained to deal with this situation. Right now, all my strength had vanished into thin air. All that remained was the piercing pain and unbearable ache. My tears fell even harder, accompanied by a mix of disappointment and fury.
---
(Some time earlier, in a different world and time.)
Kyushu, Japan.
At this moment, I was deep within a bamboo forest on the outskirts of Kagoshima City. The night air was frigid, while the wind gently rustled the bamboo trees around me. The distinct clattering of the stalks colliding with one another accompanied my journey.
Tonight would be the night my name, Ryuji Honda, would be remembered as the greatest samurai in all of Japan.
Waiting for me in the heart of this forest were Kojiro Sasaki and Musashi Miyamoto—the two finest samurai of this era. The three of us would engage in battle to determine who was truly the strongest.
But...
Those two cowards attacked me at the same time. What is this? Are they really this spineless?
They claimed it was for the sake of honor and tradition. But did they not realize that, at this moment, they were the ones who had abandoned their own code?
But to hell with all that!
Of course, I would gladly face them. I am no coward who would flee just because death lurked behind the cracks of an open door.
It was obvious this fight was unfair. After all, my opponents were two of the greatest warriors of this era. Meanwhile, I stood alone, accompanied only by my most trusted companion—a katana, passed down to me by Master Eno, my mentor and savior.
As our battle raged on, a sudden, blinding light erupted between us.
What is this? Where is this light coming from?
I instinctively shut my eyes to shield them from the overwhelming brightness. And when I opened them again...
I was no longer in that forest.
I now stood inside an unfamiliar chamber. A shrine, by the looks of it. An altar stood before me, adorned with candles, and behind it, an image of a sun—painted in shades of yellow and red.
Could this be a temple devoted to the Sun God?
And where were those two cowardly samurai?
I quickly turned my gaze in every direction, searching for them. But they were nowhere to be seen.
Instead, standing before me was a young girl, looking at me with disgusting anticipation, as if she expected something from me.
So this wretched girl must be the one who brought me to this strange place.
Without hesitation, I strode toward her and seized her by the collar. My fury boiled over as I roared at her,
"What have you done?!"
Who was this insolent girl? How had she managed to bring me here? And just where in the world was I?
A flood of questions crashed through my mind like a raging storm.
---
"Hello...
Thank you for reading my work. I hope you enjoyed it. This is actually a revised version of Chapter One. I hope you can continue following the journey of Elena Fearis and Ryuji Honda.
Bye..."
Matakatra
(Author)