The Chosen Hero’s Powers

“Urk!”

“Too slow!”

“Arghh…”

Himari lays flat on her back, breathing heavily. Sweat soaked through her clothes, and her chest felt heavier than ever. She stared blankly at the sky.

How many times had I been knocked down? She thought to herself.

“Oi…! Take it easy on Himari!” Alice calls out from the tent. She has enough strength to crawl around.

“She needs to be prepared for difficult battles!” Ruby hissed. “The opponent you faced that led us to this situation was too fast. If Himari can’t dodge then we will suffer more consequences later!”

“I get that but…!”
“It’s fine! Don’t worry Alice!” Himari staggered up. Her breathing continues to be heavy.

After Alice woke up, Himari decided to train with Ruby in order to improve her abilities in the battlefield. Alice occasionally gives tips for her to use magic to not attack but to assist her in movement. Estelle hasn’t woken up at all. Her breathing is stable but Himari worries she may be hungry or thirsty.

Overall, Divine Magic remains a mystery however Alice came up with a theory that it has the potential to be all forms of magic combined in one. Ruby doesn’t refuse that idea after what she saw the other day.

“Once more.”

“Right…!”

The sun sets low. Ruby hunts for more food while Himari rests in the tent with Alice and Estelle. Alice is able to do small tasks showing that elves have fast recovery.

She wipes down Himari due to a clean river or lake not being nearby. Himari groans about not being able to bathe. There is only one more town between them and the paths to the sealed grounds where the Demon King is sealed.

To help organize their thoughts on Divine Magic, they categorize it as light magic to match the other element types.

Himari is able to summon light shaped as weapons and even use the light as ropes to pull large objects, even dragons. In a panicked state, Himari summons light so bright that anything can happen. A blade of light piercing the threat or even a beam of light able to cleanly cut through a mountain that is impossible for anyone to replicate with tools.

From all the knowledge Himari could learn, Demons are born from malice in the world. Their powers have similar energy to said malice. Alice categorizes them using dark as an opposite to light. They may be opposites, however light is far stronger than anything. All demons fell to every Hero that walks the lands. Even the Demon King struggled against the first hero but the King’s regenerative abilities are far superior than anything. Forcing the hero to seal it, thinking it was unkillable.

“Oh.”

“What is it, Himari?”

“The first hero sealed the Demon King, correct?”

“Yes?” Alice wipes down Himari’s legs.

“What about the other heroes? Do they have the same powers?”

“Eh? Well… If I recall from my people back home… Each hero was blessed by the 4 Gods of Origins. Well by one. He sacrificed himself to seal the Demon King which was an ability none knew he had. Sooo the theory is that their powers vary based on which God blessed them.”

“Oh…” Her eyes slowly sank down.

“Oi. What’s with the sad look?”

“The first hero sealed the Demon King with his powers. Can I really fix a seal that I don’t have the powers of. You said the powers vary based on which God blessed them.”

Alice laughs. “Himari…” She grabs both of Himari’s wrists, slowly bringing them down. “Look at the mark on your chest.”

“E-Ehh…?” Exposed to Alice, she studies the symbol that proves her blessings from the Gods. She is confused on what to look for. “It’s the mark of the hero…?”

“No it’s not.”

“Eh?”

“Remember when we first met?” Alice scoots closer to her.

“When we first met…?”

She thought back to their conversations back in Ambertown. At first she just remembered feeling scared that they were able to find her. Digging around her sea of memories, she attempts to find anything important.

Then Alice’s words in the past echoed, catching her attention.

“Yeah! It’s not the mark of the hero! It’s a mark symbolizing that ALL 4 GODS OF ORIGINS HAVE BLESSED YOU TO BE A HERO!!”

“Oh! This is not the mark of the Hero… It’s the mark of the 4 Gods of Origins…!”

“Exactly. When a hero is chosen, they gain a four pointed star marking their blessing from one of the 4 Gods. However you have the symbol that our whole kingdom sees as the symbol of the Gods of Origins.”

“So that means…”
“You have powers like the previous heroes plus one that we have yet to see.”

Currently Himari is the fourth hero in history to be chosen. This means only one God of Origin hasn’t chosen a hero until now. Three heroes and three Gods out of the four confirmed.

Poppy suddenly came to her mind. Poppy claims that they are one of Gods so it is possible that it is the last God to choose their hero.

“Alice. I need to tell you something very important.”

“Eh? What’s with the serious look?” She blushes.

“There's something I haven’t told you three yet.”

“H-Himari… Calm down… Estelle might wake up soon and see us…”

“What are you talking about?”

“What are YOU talking about?”

Himari starts getting dressed as Alice tries to calm down. Her smile shows Himari that she definitely got the wrong idea. Then again Himari was also shirtless at the moment so it did seem rather strange.

“Alright…” She takes a deep breath. “Ever since I gained my powers, I have been in contact with one of the 4 Gods of Origins.”

“Eh? REALLY!? How so!? What’s their name?”

“Well…they wouldn’t tell me so I call them Poppy…”

“Ehhhhhh…”

“Poppy, can you show yourself?”

Poof

“Yes? What is it, Young Himari?”

“No I mean can you show yourself to her? Or do I have to be the bridge for you two to communicate?”

“Oh yes, I am able to do that.”

Poof

“Whoa!” Poppy finally makes herself visible to Alice.

Poppy is a spirit shaped like a rabbit. Its fur is colored white with a red tone aura following its ears. Its ears are long and waves a bit at the tip. Poppy is about the same size as most pet rabbits and around its neck is the fluffiest on its body.. Himari holds Poppy in her arms while Alice admires it.

“Can you answer some of her questions if possible?”

“Normally I would not entertain the idea of interacting with anything here but I am willing to for you. Alice is important for your growth as the hero.”

Alice asked simple questions about their spirit body and if they can do magic. However any questions relating to the unanswered questions about the world are pushed to the side. Alice tries her best to trick her by rewording her questions but Poppy continues to dodge the questions.

“The Divine Magic she has inherited is indeed based on light as you categorized. However the power she has now can assist her in any situation. And what matters most is your bonds! You three have the required task to stay by her side and nourish her to become the best hero the living creatures ever need.”

“Okay… But why does she have the marking of the 4 Gods?? We have seen the heroes being blessed by one.” Alice scratches her head.

“I was able to convince my other halves that Himari is the best choice to clean up the malice of the world.”

“Clean up the malice? So just send an ordinary girl to kill ALL Demons?! Logically it doesn’t make ANY SENSE!!”

Alice continues to scowl at Poppy yet it seems unphased. Alice can’t do anything to it and Poppy doesn’t see anyone as a threat.

“Clean up…the malice…” Himari mumbled.

She assumed that her “mission” was to fix the seal of the Demon King. Then she has to serve her Kingdom and kill the remaining Demon Lords.

Himari closes her eyes to reflect on everything she was told, from Poppy’s words:

“I would prefer you to go to the Demon King right now. His seal can break at any moment.

“Yes yes I am aware. But your heart is what we are looking for.”

“At last you are going to fulfill your destiny!”

“You’re doing the right thing Himari…Your bonds are perfect so keep it up.”

Poppy has always been vague but putting her words together seems to build something in her head. Perhaps her “destiny” isn’t what she was told to do. Poppy wants her to do something else. The first hero was chosen to stop the Demon King and he sealed it away. The second and third hero

“Yes or No. Do you want me to do something with this power to the Demon King?” Himari finally chimes in.

“Yes of course.”

“Yes or No. Does it involve fixing the seal?”

“No.”

“Yes or No. Do I have to kill the Demon King?”

“No you don’t have to. The choice is yours.”

That comment forced them to be silent. Poppy bids them farewell after not getting any more questions. Leaving the two with more questions than answers. Poppy’s words continue to echo in her head. Back and forth until it clicked.

“However the power she has now can assist her in any situation.”

Himari turns to Estelle, slowly crawling toward her. Alice watches her with a curious look. She leans in closer.

She brushed a few strands of hair away from Estelle’s face. Her skin was warm and soft. Knowing she was still alive gave her hope. Light began to emerge from her fingertips and slowly spread through her hands. With a gentle kiss brushing on her forehead, light pulsated across Estelle’s body.

The air suddenly feels cozy to Alice.

Himari opened her eyes and lowered her gaze to their hands, quietly sighing. She seems unsure. Before she tried again, Estelle slowly began moving and stretched.

“Hmm? Himari…?”

“Estelle?”

“Estelle!” Alice burst out hugging both of them. Estelle seems confused with what is going on.

“I can do it…”

***

Ruby finished her breakfast and began to do some stretches. Himari and Estelle finished their meal at the same time while Alice scarfed down the rest. Alice can stand up but her magical powers are still weak.

“So you healed her last night?”

“I believe so.”

“How did you do it?”

“Himari was telling me that she talks to one of the 4 Gods of Origins. I met them by the way! And I guess Himari figured something out.”

“Hmmm. Is that so?”

“Ruby.” Himari stood up to grab her arm.

“What is it?”

“I know how I can dodge.”

“Is that so?” Her expression leaves Himari distraught.

“I’m being serious…”

Ruby sighs. Walking toward their temporary training spot, she pulls out her claws. “If you’re serious then show me.” Her eyes continue to be as intense as ever.

“Right!” Himari pulled out her wand. The wand that both Estelle and Alice bought for her. It helps guide her powers as she fights.

Light appeared at the tip of her wand, surrounding her own body. It pulses around her.

“Oh my goodness… It’s like charms…” Alice mumbled.

The two stood facing each other. The air feels heavy and Ruby looks ready to kill. The aura around her is intense enough to scare off nearby critters.

SLASH

Ruby swings violently at Himari. She ducked beneath her claws then quickly stepped backward as Ruby came in for another strike toward her waist. She could feel the wind from the claws against her clothes, but it never touched her.

Himari is surprised that it actually worked. Ruby suddenly stepped forward and swung at her again. She successfully dodges but trips over a root from a tree.

Ruby pounces at her.

Himari quickly rolled across the dirt, narrowly avoiding the strike before scrambling back to her feet. Her eyes show genuine fear and relief.

Before she could react again Ruby was already behind her. The world began to flip around her.

THUD

Himari gets pinned down. When her eyes open she sees a smile across Ruby’s face.

“There we go. Using your powers to enhance your senses like us beastfolk. I like that.”

“T-Thanks…”

Estelle looks worried but Alice explains to her the whole situation. Without any hesitation Himari asks to go again. The two continue to spare the rest of their morning. They make plans to finally continue their journey the very next day. One town stands between them and the sealed grounds. What danger will they meet next?