The sky blazed with radiant light; the heavens seemingly ignited by the sheer brilliance of the moment.
A towering mountain crumbled to dust as a lone figure sat calmly upon a golden chariot, hovering mid-air. His golden hair shimmered like threads of sunlight, and his radiant smile exuded both warmth and unshakable resolve.
Below, armies of humans and beasts alike roared his name in unison, their voices a thunderous anthem of loyalty and hope.
Suddenly, a deep, guttural voice pierced through the chaos, halting his advance. A shadow as vast as the mountains loomed before him, its presence suffocating. The massive form bore ten heads, each face twisted in malice.
"Tell me, Prince," the demon king thundered, his many voices echoing like a storm. "Why do you fight here? This war is not yours to join. We have raised no weapon against your kingdom. Will you still persist?"
The prince's eyes narrowed, his voice steady and unyielding as he replied, "Oh, great Demon King, your war may not include me, nor does it threaten my kingdom. But when I turn a blind eye to the suffering of others, I am no prince at all. Prepare yourself—for today, I will fight you."
"PRINCE! PRINCE! PRINCE!"
"Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh!!"
A group of girls squealed in unison as they huddled around their phones, walking towards school. Excitement bubbled over as they devoured the latest update to their favorite game.
"I can't believe they added him! Look how majestic he looks!"
"Did you check his stats? They're literally Plus Ultra! With him on the roster, Author looks like a total joke now!"
"Yeah, not just Author—every other class feels inadequate compared to him. He could literally solo the entire Demon King's army on his own!"
"Right? He's a master of charm, has intelligence on par with sages, and is a supreme wizard? What were the devs thinking? He's totally broken!"
"Oh, like you care about balance. You just want to play his route!"
"And you're telling me you don't want to seduce this absolute heartthrob?"
"Girls! Hate to break it to you, but he's routless. Only available as a special summon."
"Whaaaat?! No way!"
A girl lagging a few steps behind pressed her hands over her ears, tears welling up as she listened to the excited chatter.
"What's wrong, big sis? I thought you'd be over the moon. Otome Legends is your favorite game, and it's been ages since they dropped such a huge update. The prince looks awesome!"
"You don't understand, Tomoko," she replied, her voice heavy with despair. "They've taken everything from me..."
"Taken... everything?" Tomoko frowned in confusion, scratching her head. Then, a sudden realization hit her. "Oh! You mean the blacksmith they killed off?"
"Not just killed him, Tomoko—they killed him off-screen. My Finn is gone!"
"Sis, you know that he's just a game character, right?"
"Don't just call him a game character! Do you have any idea how much time I spent with him? I was literally playing the game because of him! And now he's gone—just like that—because some new bishounen prince showed up!"
"Come on, sis. Maybe this is your chance to make some real-world friends, you know? Have a life outside of that game for once."
"Easy for you to say…" Her voice cracked, and she clenched her fists. "You're not the ugly duckling. Mom and Dad love you more. You're the popular girl at school, best in grades, best in sports. What do I have to show for myself? Just my ugly face and a stupid game!"
"Oh, come on, sis…"
SCREECH! HONK! HONK!
The deafening sound of brakes on the crowded street tore through the air.
"Tomoko!"
Her sister's eyes widened in horror as the truck barreled toward them, but before she could react, she pushed Tomoko out of the way, throwing herself in front of the truck.
The screech of the brakes, the deafening horn—then silence.
***
"Adeline… Adeline, wake up… wake up."
Water splashed against her face, and her vision slowly began to clear. Everything was a blur, the world spinning as she tried to grasp the reality around her. Her head throbbed, and the bright light around her felt too intense.
Am I in a hospital? Why is it so bright? Where am I?
A deep, concerned voice cut through her disorientation. "Healer, please, tell me… is my little princess alright?"
A large man with a dark beard leaned over her, his eyes filled with concern. His presence was overwhelming, and the familiar weight of his gaze made her stomach twist. Father? No, that can't be him. When did he become so… muscular? And when did he start calling me his 'little princess'?
Her heart raced as she looked up at him, unable to reconcile the man before her with the father she knew.
The healer stepped forward, his voice calm yet urgent. "Fret not, Your Majesty. The princess appears to have suffered a minor concussion. Nothing serious, but I recommend continued care. The fall, though seemingly accidental, could have been much worse."
"I understand," the king replied, his tone colder than ice. "But what caused my daughter's condition? Were none of you paying attention to her?"
The maid, trembling at the foot of the bed, stammered, "No… Your Majesty, it's just that the little princess was playing, and…"
"You're blaming my daughter?" The king's voice sliced through the air, and his imposing presence filled the room, making the maid shrink back.
"Your Majesty, please forgive me, I—"
"You've abandoned your duty," the king interrupted, his words like thunder. "Pack your things. I don't want to see you here again."
"Father, NO—" Adeline's voice broke through the tension, sharp and desperate. She pushed herself up, her head spinning, and rushed to stand between the king and the trembling maid.
"Adeline, what are you doing? You should be resting," the king's voice was harsh, but for a split second, his gaze softened, and she saw a flicker of something that resembled care. "I will ensure this negligence never happens again. This maid—"
The maid's eyes widened with fear, bracing for the worst, but Adeline stepped forward, locking eyes with her father.
"It was my fault. I wasn't paying attention, and I fell. Please… don't punish her. Please." Adeline's voice cracked, the weight of the moment pressing down on her chest.
The king's hard expression faltered, and he sighed, but his voice remained firm. "Adeline, for your sake, I'll forgive her this time." He turned to the maid, his gaze colder. "But if this happens again, she will lose more than just her position."
His attention turned back to Adeline, his gaze softer now. "How are you feeling now, my daughter?"
Adeline mustered a strained smile, but it felt weak against the turmoil within her. "I'm fine, dear father. But I think I need a bit more rest."
"Then rest well, my daughter. No one will disturb you."
He turned to the others. "Everyone, leave."
Adeline hesitated for a moment before speaking, her voice trembling with uncertainty. "Wait… can she stay with me?"
The king raised an eyebrow, his expression unreadable. "What for?"
"I… may need some help. She can assist me."
The king's gaze lingered on her for a moment, then he nodded, though his words were sharp. "Take good care of my daughter," he ordered. "I don't want to hear any complaints."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Once the king and the others had left, Adeline wasted no time. She quickly locked the door behind them, the heavy click of the lock echoing in the silence. Her hands shook as she turned to the maid, her voice now urgent and low. "You need to help me… now."
The maid hesitated, her eyes narrowing as she sensed the tension in the room. Something wasn't right.
Adeline took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves. "The thing is… I've lost my memories…"
The maid blinked, her face a mixture of confusion and concern. "What…?"