“Why! Why is this happening?!”
A youth screamed as he swung his sword back and forth. Trying his best to keep the beasts at bay, he flailed his sword wildly. A small rural village was currently being overrun by beasts flooding in from the forest. The village was being completely overrun by beasts attacking villagers and destroying homes. The youth screaming with sword in hand did not live in this village so he could simply run away to save himself, but behind his back sat a friend he made in this village and her little sister. The sisters’ parents were already killed and eaten by the beasts but with their last breath, they begged the youth to protect their daughters. He tried to get them both out of the village but failed as they were surrounded by the beasts that tore into one of the girls and broke the elder sister’s leg. They could no longer run away together as the situation grew direr.
The elder sister pleaded with her friend to abandon her and save her younger sister but the boy stubbornly refused and continued to wildly swing his sword to keep them at bay. When he became tired, the beasts suddenly retreated rather than finish them off. They retreated with tails between their legs as if their lives depended on it. Seeing this, the 3 felt relieved and the boy slumped on the ground exhausted. However, soon after a large shadow covered not only them but the entire village and the retreating beasts! They all panicked and looked for the source of this shadow only to be thrown into complete despair.
Above their village stood the imposing figure of a huge dragon the size of a mountain that had landed. The villagers’ momentary relief now plunged them into such a deep despair that they did not even run anymore and just waited for their deaths to come. Some closed their eyes praying, others fainted, many soiled themselves and few lost their sanity completely. Abruptly, the dragon overhead vanished without a trace! The few villagers that dared to not close their eyes were shocked into silence. The boy as well had no words to say, however, a clear and beautiful melodic voice sounded behind him.
“Oh… your leg seems to be hurt.”
The boy quickly turned around with sword at the ready only to see a truly beautiful girl kneeling beside the sisters. She wore a lovely dress hidden underneath a hooded mantle. The girl then stretched her hand toward the elder sister’s leg.
“This should ease the pain a bit.”
Without warning, light came from the girls hand and enveloped the sister’s leg. Moments later, the leg had been completely healed and the sister inspected her leg almost in disbelief. The boy barely recognized it as healing magic and then came closer to check if the leg had been completely healed as well. While confirming such, the hooded girl walked away heading for the village. Immediately he called out to stop her.
“Wait! Wh-who are you?!”
However, she ignored him and kept walking to the village. It was then that he noticed the girl was not alone. A man in black followed her and strangely, he had blue hair. Seemly getting no response, the boy turned back to the elder sister again.
“Are you okay?!”
He asked in a panic.
“Ye-yeah. The pain is gone… w-was that perhaps healing magic?”
She was clearly shaken as he answered ‘yes’ in turn. After checking her leg and standing up again, he gave a sigh of relief. Then the image of the dragon from before came to mind. Just then, a large dragon had descended then disappeared over the village followed by the strange girl. Completely confused about what was going on, quickly they went after the girl to warn her.
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When they entered the village again, most of it was destroyed. Blood and gore had been spread about in various places. The groan of many injured and in pain filled the air. Regardless of this chaos, there were multiple objects moving about through the rubble. They were stone golems lifting up fallen houses, moving rubble, also carrying the fallen and injured to the center of the village. At the center of the village, they found that strange girl healing those that came. From minor injuries to those at death’s door, all were healed completely without exception.
Those healed from death thanked her almost as if worshiping her. Despite this, the girl seemed completely indifferent about the praise and continued healing. Watching her, the youth was once again captivated by the beautiful face under the hood healing the injured villagers. The youth approached the girl after she finished healing the villagers and repeated his question from earlier.
“Who are you?”
The girl turned to look at him with a troubled expression, then as if thinking a bit gave her name.
“… Though it is proper manners to give your name first before asking someone theirs. The name is Histoire, and you are?”
“Ah… sorry, I am Joseph.”
What she said was indeed true which he forgot about.
“What is the name of this village?”
“Ah, Cora… Cora village.”
“We see… does this type of thing happen often?”
“No, never!”
“Umm…”
Two girls walked up behind Joseph suddenly, interrupted and bowed to Histoire.
“Thank you for saving us earlier, as well as the village.”
“We were simply passing by, that’s all. Pay it no heed.”
“But…”
“More importantly, are you two lovers?”
“Ha?!”
The girl exclaimed and blushed in surprise. Even Joseph turned red as he started slurring his words.
“Wh-wh-what are ya talkin about?!”
“Just simple curiosity from how desperate you looked wanting to protect her and refusing to leave her.”
“I-I-I-I-I-I-IIIII-I…”
“Personally, we find that type of attitude to be quite admirable, though spirit alone won’t give you the win.”
“Urgh…”
Joseph groaned after having his unsightly figure seen by such a beautiful girl. Histoire then pat the head of the little sister hiding behind her blushing sister’s dress before walking away. Watching her walk away, they saw the village chief approach Histoire as the little sister only muttered one word.
“Pretty…!”
…