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The Woman Who Broke Magic
Chapter 1: The Mysterious Room

Chapter 1: The Mysterious Room

Hiroshi's consciousness flickered into existence in a cold, dimly lit chamber. Panic gripped him as he awoke, disoriented and terrified. He couldn't remember how he had arrived here, and the darkness seemed to press down on him, suffocating him with its oppressive weight.

As he struggled to his feet, Hiroshi's body felt wrong, different. His hands, once familiar and steady, were now slender and delicate. Horror washed over him as he realized he had been transformed into a woman. The abrupt shift in identity added another layer of confusion to his already overwhelming fear.

Hiroshi's surroundings did nothing to alleviate his distress. The room was small, dank, and claustrophobic, with walls made of rough stone that bore strange, foreboding symbols. An eerie silence hung in the air, broken only by his own laboured breaths.

In the centre of the room lay an intricate magic circle, its symbols etched in patterns he couldn't comprehend. It was an enigma, an alien script that defied his attempts to decipher its meaning. Frustration mingled with his fear as he strained his eyes to make sense of it.

Hiroshi knew he had to escape this place, but every attempt to understand his surroundings only deepened his bewilderment. He couldn't comprehend how he had come to be in this room, why he had been transformed, or what purpose the inscrutable magic circle served.

As his heart raced and anxiety gnawed at the edges of his mind, Hiroshi felt an overwhelming sense of helplessness. He was trapped in a reality that made no sense, a world where everything he once knew had been upended. The fear of the unknown weighed heavily upon him, driving him to find answers, no matter the cost.

After several futile attempts to decipher the enigmatic magic circle, Hiroshi's frustration grew, and he finally gave up. He decided to shift his focus to understanding his new form, his female form.

Hiroshi's long, black hair cascaded down to his shoulders, each strand glistening like the night sky. The unfamiliar weight of the silky locks brushed against his back as he moved. His skin, once roughened by the demands of his previous life, now felt smooth and flawless, the texture of porcelain.

His hands, slender and graceful, moved with an unaccustomed grace. He traced his fingertips over his face, noticing the delicate contours that had replaced his previous features. The shape of his eyes, the curve of his lips – all foreign, yet strangely captivating.

Hiroshi's gaze settled on his eyes, which were now a mesmerizing shade of gold. They held an intensity that drew him in, revealing a depth he couldn't comprehend. He blinked, staring into the mirror, puzzled by the change, he can only call himself a peerless beauty.

There was no attraction or arousal in his examination, only a profound sense of confusion. His transformation had left him with a beauty that felt disconnected from the person he had once been. It was a strange, almost surreal experience, and he couldn't shake the feeling of being a stranger in his own body.

As Hiroshi continued to grapple with the puzzle of his transformed appearance, a sudden chill filled the room. The temperature seemed to drop, and the air grew heavy with an unsettling presence.

From the shadows, an old man emerged. He moved with an eerie grace, his steps soundless on the cold stone floor. His presence exuded an ancient wisdom, and his eyes, like chips of ice, bore into Hiroshi's very soul. It was as though he could see every thought, every emotion, every trace of fear that coursed through Hiroshi's mind.

Without a word, the old man raised his hand, and a web of shimmering threads of magic extended from his fingers. They coiled around Hiroshi, binding him in place. Panic surged within Hiroshi as he realized he was powerless in the face of this mysterious intruder.

Hiroshi tried to speak, to plead for understanding, but the words that escaped his lips were unintelligible. It was as if his voice had been replaced by a language he couldn't comprehend, a language that existed beyond the realm of his understanding.

The old man's scrutiny was relentless. He examined Hiroshi with a critical eye, his gaze unwavering. Hiroshi felt as if his life hung in the balance, as if the old man were deciding whether he would be allowed to live or meet a darker fate.

Time seemed to stretch, and the silence in the room grew oppressive. Hiroshi's heart pounded in his chest, his breaths shallow and rapid. He couldn't understand the intentions of the old man, couldn't discern the purpose behind this binding magic.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the old man broke the silence, his voice carrying the weight of ages. His words were incomprehensible to Hiroshi, a cryptic language that echoed through the chamber. The old man's intentions remained shrouded in mystery, leaving Hiroshi to wonder about the enigmatic figure who had summoned him to this bewildering world.

Hiroshi's voice trembled as he tried to communicate again with the old man. "Who are you? What is this place? Why am I here?"

The old man responded with a series of incomprehensible sounds, "Ho*&*£(*&." His gaze remained fixated on Hiroshi, his intentions inscrutable.

Hiroshi's frustration mounted as he attempted to make sense of the gibberish that spilt from the old man's lips. It was as if he had entered a world where language itself had become a barrier, a puzzle to unravel. Desperation welled within him as he sought answers in a realm that seemed to defy all understanding.

The old man's gaze, cold and unyielding, never wavered from Hiroshi's bewildered eyes. With a wave of his hand, he summoned an intricate pattern of swirling runes and arcane symbols that hung in the air before them.

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As the ethereal script enveloped Hiroshi, an overwhelming sensation washed over him. It was as if the very fabric of his thoughts was being rewritten. Images, words, and meanings flooded his mind, like a torrential downpour of knowledge. He could feel the language of this strange world seeping into his consciousness, searing its presence into every corner of his being.

Hiroshi's brow furrowed in confusion as he grappled with this sudden onslaught of understanding. The words swirled around him, an incomprehensible jumble that left him feeling as if he had been thrust into a chaotic whirlwind of language. It was as though the very essence of communication had been forcibly implanted into his mind, and he couldn't grasp the purpose behind this enigmatic act.

The old man's face remained inscrutable, his intentions shrouded in mystery. Hiroshi's world had shifted once again, and he was left to navigate the bewildering terrain of a new language, his mind reeling from the unexpected intrusion.

Hiroshi's voice trembled as he tried to communicate with the old man. "What... What did you do to me? Why am I here? Please, I need answers."

"I see, so the subject is confused. This may indicate that the transfer is sudden on her part."

Hiroshi's confusion deepened as he strained to make sense of the old man's words. "Sudden transfer? What do you mean? Where am I?"

"Her magical energy seem off somehow, almost if it doesn't belong to this body, adjustment for the circle might be needed."

Hiroshi's sense of unease intensified as the old man continued to speak in riddles. "Adjustment for the circle? Magical energy? Please, you have to explain. I don't understand any of this."

"Hm. Ah, you seem to talk in our language now. So magic can work on otherworlders. I need to write that down."

Hiroshi's mind reeled as he realized he could now understand the old man's words in their shared language. "Yes, I can understand you now. But I need answers. Why did you bring me here? What is this place?"

"You are here as an experiment. I wanted to see if I could summon a human from a different world."

"An experiment? You brought me here as some sort of test? This is unreal... I didn't ask for any of this."

"And? Why does that have to concern me?"

Hiroshi hesitated, trying to find the right words. "It concerns me because I'm here, in this unfamiliar place, with no way back to my world. I didn't choose this, and I need to find a way home."

"I still fail to see how that's my problem? I wanted to find an answer to my question, you being here answers my question, that is all."

Hiroshi's frustration grew, but he tried to maintain his composure. "I understand your curiosity, but I'm not just an experiment. I'm a person, and I have a life, a family, back in my world. I can't simply accept being a test subject in your experiment without trying to find a way back."

"Interesting. The subject believes himself to be human. Perhaps the other world doesn't view summons the same way this world views them."

Hiroshi listened to the old man's muttered words, feeling a growing sense of unease. The realization that the two worlds might have fundamentally different perspectives on his situation only added to his confusion and the challenges he's about to face in finding a way home.

"I wonder if Miyo ate her dinner," Hiroshi muttered and began to cry. He couldn't understand why, but for some reason, he found his hold on his tears a lot looser now.

Miyo is Hiroshi's beloved 9-year-old daughter in his original world. She is a bright and inquisitive young girl with a heart full of warmth and curiosity. Her eyes mirror her father's determination, and her smile can light up even the darkest of days. Miyo serves as a poignant reminder of the love and responsibility Hiroshi carries in his heart, a connection to the life he desperately yearns to return to.

Hiroshi's gaze hardened as he realized the gravity of his situation. His thoughts turned to Miyo, his beloved daughter back in his original world. He couldn't afford to remain passive any longer. With determination in his voice, he muttered to himself, "I have to find a way back to her, no matter what."

With renewed determination, Hiroshi began to physically struggle against the magical restraints that bound him, his muscles straining as he fought against the unseen force. His resolve remained unwavering as he grappled with the overwhelming desire to return to his beloved daughter.

"Oh? The subject is trying to struggle, yet with his hands instead of magic, could this be because the subject can't use magic? No! That can't be! I worked on this circle for 2 years!" Hiroshi's physical struggle did not go unnoticed by the old man, who observed with a mixture of surprise and curiosity.

As Hiroshi continued to struggle against the magical restraints, the door to the mysterious room swung open. Stepping into the chamber was a handsome knight, clad in gleaming armour adorned with intricate engravings. His presence exuded an air of strength and confidence, and a warm, friendly demeanour radiated from him.

The knight's eyes met Hiroshi's, and a reassuring smile graced his lips. "Greetings," he said in a voice that carried a soothing, melodic tone. "I see you've met our esteemed mage. My name is Sir Alaric, and I'm here to offer you assistance and guidance in this unfamiliar world."

Hiroshi met Sir Alaric's gaze with a glimmer of hope in his eyes. "Thank you, Sir Alaric," he replied, his voice laced with gratitude. "I... I need all the help I can get. That old man, the mage... he's been acting so strangely, and I don't understand anything about this place."

Sir Alaric's friendly demeanour faltered as he turned toward the old man, aghast by the sudden declaration. "Forget it, Alaric," the old man continued, his tone chillingly matter-of-fact. "You don't need to bother. She seems to be without magical power, or she might not know how to use them. I'll just kill her and readjust the circle."

Hiroshi's heart raced as he comprehended the gravity of the old man's words. It was a stark reminder of the precariousness of his situation, and he couldn't help but fear for his life.

The knight's demeanour toward Hiroshi shifted abruptly at the old mage's ominous words. His once friendly and reassuring attitude transformed into one of cold indifference. Sir Alaric's gaze bore into Hiroshi, and it was clear that he now considered Hiroshi to be of little value, causing a chill to settle in the room.

“What is wrong with you people, is magic the only thing you care about!” Hiroshi screamed. His scream managed to turn into magical power, and he blew away his binding and even made the knight take a step back for a moment.

“Interesting. The subject managed to activate her magic for a moment. But what was the reason? Fear? Anger? Grief?” The old mage pondered.

As Hiroshi's outburst echoed through the chamber, a tumultuous whirlwind of emotions raged within him. Fear, anger, and grief intermingled, creating a storm of conflicting feelings. The abrupt activation of his magical power had taken even Hiroshi by surprise, a testament to the intensity of his emotions.

Confusion still clouded his thoughts, but a flicker of determination had ignited within him. He was no longer willing to be a passive observer in this strange world, and the desire to find his way back to his daughter burned brightly in his heart.

How can I return to my daughter now? Hiroshi wondered, his thoughts consumed by the weight of uncertainty. I don't even know if I'll be recognized or accepted in this new form. Will Miyo still see me as her parent? And what about her feelings toward her mother? A pang of sadness gripped his heart as he recalled the strained relationship between his daughter and her mother, a relationship that had caused so much pain and confusion in Miyo's young life. Will she view me the same way? Or will she see me as a stranger now that I'm a woman? The fear of his daughter's potential rejection loomed large in Hiroshi's mind, adding another layer of complexity to his already tumultuous emotions.

He shook his head, setting aside the fears that gripped his heart and looked at the two men in the room.

“Please, please send me home. You confirmed your theory right, and from what you’ve said you can even get someone else besides me, so you don’t need me here.”

“Hm? Send you home? How? This circle can only summon people here. It can not send people back. Think of it as dropping a bird nest from a tree, you can easily drop the nest if you aim carefully, but putting it back requires several steps and a lot more effort. Effort in this case translates to magical power, to put it simply my dear, it is next to impossible to send you back.” The old mage answered Hiroshi’s plea, shattering his hope.

“N-No way… I… I’m stuck here?” Hiroshi choked as tears started flowing from his eyes again. Why? Why me? What did I do to deserve this? Miyo, I’m sorry. Hiroshi’s thoughts were like always for his daughter’s sake first. I have to find a way to go back. I can’t leave her with that woman. Hiroshi’s wife wasn’t a good mother. She saw Miyo as the rock that tied her to Hiroshi, and she resented her for it. Even after they divorced, she still harboured nothing but ill will towards her own daughter.

As Hiroshi's tears fell, and hope seemed to slip further away, Sir Alaric stepped forward, his eyes filled with an unreadable expression. "Let's find a more suitable place to talk," he said, his voice resolute. "Follow me." With those words, he signalled a change in their immediate circumstances, leaving Hiroshi with uncertainty about Sir Alaric's true intentions.

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