VOLUME 2 : CHAPTER – 3 : JUST IN CASE IF YOU ARE WONDERING WHAT’S HAPPENING OUTSIDE (PART - 1)

CHAPTER 3 : JUST IN CASE IF YOU ARE WONDERING WHAT’S HAPPENING OUTSIDE

“How long has it been? Almost 16 years since we have reincarnated in this new world and I am still unable to find Sachi?”

“Princess Alice, we have started a full scale search in the northern kingdoms and have assigned the members to almost all towns, villages and noble districts. I hope we will soon be able to complete this mission and inform you about any of our findings.”

The person who just spoke now was a 22 year old lady, all clad in dark robes which would very much resembled a track suit with a hood, was the leader of the Night Shadows I created to search for Sachi, investigate the other reincarnates and keep an eye over all the affairs of the entire human continent and soon extend this observation to the Chaos continent.

“Thank you for your hard work. Even if it is a small clue that you find, please inform me immediately. You may return to your duties now.”

“Yes, my lady.”

The woman instantly disappeared in her own shadow. All the members of the Night Shadow are well trained in close-quarter combat with a dagger as a main weapon, evasion skills, concealment and possess a rare magic called {Shadow Movement} which allows the user to move around in their own shadows or become one with any dark place.

It could be counted as one of the best skill to be possessed by an assassin or spy and to track down any of their targets.

It has been a month since I felt this small familiar presence in the North and I was sure of it that it was Sachi. After so long for the first time I had a clue and yet this piece of information was not much to go on.

But still, I will not let this disappoint me and instead give my best and not make any regrettable quick decision. As the two of us are in contract, I should still be able to feel her presence in this world till she is alive….

As for me, I Goddess Athena was given a new name ALICE HART.

I was born as the only princess of the Royal Family and second heir to the throne of the Hart Kingdom. My Father Leon Hart - the King of this kingdom and my mother Marciel Hart - the Queen. I also have an elder brother Richard Hart who usually helps father with his administrative work and looks after the foreign affairs.

The people of this land highly respect the royal family and show their love by maintaining public order and being self-aware of the laws. I was so happy when I was born in such a loving family and I was always adored as a little princess by my father, which I am, actually, now. I am always showered with affection and care by my mother and elder brother.

If only Sachi too could be here. Is she all right and living in a peaceful, healthy environment. Does she too have a family to look after her.

Why do I feel like it’s my fault that she is not with me. Even though it was my responsibility as a Goddess to look after her, but here I was living a life of luxury and all I could do was send people to search for her. It is not fair for me that only I remain happy.

Even if our faces, names, appearance would have changed but I will still keep on trying and ultimately find her – because that is my responsibility as a friend and a selfish desire to keep her safe and always by my side.

“Goddess of Light and Gods of Fortune and Destiny all I could ask for is to bestow your blessings on her and keep her safe from all adversities.”

As for my country the Hart Kingdom is a small peaceful country in the extreme south of the human continent and one of the nearest to the Chaos (demon) Continent. Surrounded by mountains on the north-west border and the vast fertile land spread all over east. The capital city, Lihart is situated at the centre of the kingdom. The country is also known for its vast amount of raw exports from the large ports in the south.

Usually it’s peaceful here with less population but there are far more magical disasters and monster outbreaks happening recently which has set the kingdom in a panic state. With little advancement in the military tech and an almost unorganized small army it’s difficult to keep everyone safe in this kingdom.

Most of the western land which shares border with the demon continent has turned barren because of the magical disasters followed by monster outbreaks.

It is up to me now to keep this country safe and plan on outsourcing adventurers from other kingdoms while seeking help from the neighbouring lands.

It has also been two months since I have passed from the ‘GRINDALWOOD ROYAL MAGIC ACADEMY’ situated in the Grindalwood Kingdom.

The best magic academy there is in the human continent. I was a student with a ‘healer class’ job there and researched on the political and economical aspect of the nations to gain familiarity and respect from other kingdoms by introducing new administrative laws and economical policies to increase the efficiency of the city hall workers and a more effective way to collect taxes while handling information in a discrete way about the tax payers, also keeping in mind about the welfare of the common folk.

Well after all, this was my field of expertise.

In the same year along with me there were other 10 reincarnates with their Gods and Goddesses in contract who graduated the Academy along with me. All of them were considered geniuses of this era, the best batch in the entire history and were considered as the light that would guide this world towards a better future.

With their powerful magic; unheard of, natural talent in combat and weapon wielding as well as their Godly Unique skills made them look like some kind of ‘heroes’ by the people who witnessed their powers. They all had earned name and fame across nations and had high influence over the masses of their own country.

I am sure; Sachi too could have pulled it off.

All of them were born as the part of royal families in other kingdoms or were the kids of nobles and the General Knight of the kingdom.

While I had kept an eye on four other reincarnates, out of which three took adventuring as their profession from a very young age and were making a name for themselves in the northern parts of the continent and soon were going to make an expedition to the demon continent.

Another reincarnate was deeply involved in some kind of research institute in the Dwarven nation where the dwarfs lived. Basically dwarfs are a considered to be a race of demi-humans with small humanoid bodies.

They are stocky and stout with strong, muscular arms and legs. The typical dwarf male has a large beard, whereas the females do not. They are usually short, obese, and brawny sometimes living inside caves or mountains.

They are famous throughout all lands for their mastery in engineering, craftsmanship, metallurgy and mining work. In this research project they are said to be creating a new powerful weapon to compete against other kingdoms as they are gathering in large numbers underground.

The exact details of this research are still not made public and all attempts to infiltrate the facility made by the Night Shadows have failed. It was a bit concerning but for now nothing could be done about it.

There were still five other missing reincarnates unheard of. There are only two possible cases. Either they are dead or are residing in the demon continent.

As for yesterday the Night Shadows send an awkward report about the get-together party of the reincarnates who graduated from the academy.

Obviously they did not invite me! But that is not the main issue.

The shadows were as usual monitoring the party as they were playing the roles of maid and servants or were either hiding in the shadows maintaining a fair distance so that they don’t get caught.

According to the report for the first hour everyone was enjoying their time and was having casual talks. But after a sudden change of environment, all their expressions were disarrayed as if they were afraid of something. Also one of the reincarnates went missing along with their god.

Soon after some heated discussion they left the place and quickly prepared to go back to their own countries.

I need to keep a close eye on them and try to gain more information on exactly what happened during the event.

Well, when they return to their countries their actions will make it all clear, whether this report could be some mistake or the world as we know was about to change.

I looked up in the vast azure blue sky from the balcony of the royal palace of Hart Kingdom; the white birds which were sitting on the barricade covered with climbers as they took a long flight - I made a wish.

“Hurry up Sachi I need you here.”

***

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INFORMATION BROCHURE

MAGICAL DISASTER

When the Codra Veins protruding out of the Celestial Core of Isleguard which is at the centre of planet starts absorbing large amounts of magical energy and life force from surrounding environment they start moving in response to the stimuli causing earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis and ultimately burst to the extent of inflicting damage big enough to sink an entire kingdom into the ocean. This releases a vast amount of chaotic energy; unrefined and imbalanced which brings total annihilation to the lands which come under its domain.

CODRA VEIN – These are special projection of living matter from the superficial core of Isleguard which enwraps the landmasses and holds it at one place maintaining the balance and replenishing life energy and magic above the landmasses.

MONSTER OUTBREAK

These are considered accidents and natural disasters caused by nature itself. It usually occurs when dungeons are left uncleared and the monsters eventually grow strong enough to climb the dungeon by themselves. Second cause of outbreak could be a result of a massive increase in the magical density leading to formation of magic wells where monsters breed at a tremendous rate or either there is a dimension warp and they cross to this side from the depths of hell(realm of the dead).

***

CEREMONIAL HALL IN PERILLUS EMPIRE

“It was so nice of you Kenma to organize such a lavish get-together party, or should I refer to you as the second prince of the great Perillus Empire.”

All the 20 attendants of the party started clapping as they lifted their drinks and shouted excitedly, “Cheers to our reunion.”

Usually such gathering among themselves were almost impossible and they would keep each other at a distance or try not to get too close to each other as they wanted to save the world by themselves and not share the glory. In other words, keeping their true powers a secret or make bluffs and take actions which are either untraceable or misleads the vulture’s eyes.

But after graduating from Royal Magic Academy and turning eighteen the very next-year, they had to train themselves and lay the future work of solving all the problems of human nations and destroying all the monsters while taking full control over the demon continent.

Everyone wore a new dress or suit which would be discarded after the night was past. The moon provided the lighting to the banquet hall in which the event was being held. A collection of violinists, pianists were placed at the far end of the hall and the smell of jasmine was spread throughout.

Today especially they had instructed the chefs to make food that originally belonged to their own country in the previous world which was served by the maids after regular intervals.

The party was in full swing as most of them had formed groups and were talking about the various affairs of their countries and their future plans and sharing their training methods.

Most of them were either sheltered and had always trained under the guidance of a master without getting a scratch from the outside jagged gusty winds.

Some indulged in explaining their special martial-arts techniques, some demonstrated their magic like Natsu Kenchi who could make living puppets out of fire or Sayaka who produced different kinds of beautiful red, purple, crimson flowers from the nearby plants placed inside the pillar hollow almost resembling a huge long vase.

While most of them had started placing bets on Sudo Fujibayashi and Ryuji Ouka who were going to duel each other and prove that whose blade was the strongest and it seems that Ryuji was already on the wining terms with the most number of votes.

CLANG.

CLANG.

And there they went without a second thought, using their skills without any care not realizing their true potential and the sacred oath they carried to use this power only for providing protection and bring down the hammer of justice on those who made others suffer.

All the other Gods and Goddesses were enjoying their drink specially brewed by Diana- the goddess of forest. While Orpheus had started giving the music team a singing lesson while they sat on their folded legs and listened to her godly advice very intently.

In short it was an assemblage of the most talented youths of the human continent who were going to bring change and lead this world into a new future altogether.

Everyone had found what they wanted to wish for after they had completed their mission and had saved the world. But no one knew about the darkness that was burning brightly among them and other special existences that had set their foot in this world who were now lurking in the shadows to checkmate the plans of Almighty World God.

***

HOMURA KENTA (CLASS REPRESENTATIVE)

“Why has everyone stopped moving all of a sudden?”

Everyone had the same puzzled looks on their faces as all the maids and the other working servants had stopped moving. The sweet melody being played in the background too had abruptly ceased at the wrong note. Even the Gods and Goddesses had frozen in their places. Only we 10 students were able to move somehow.

Just a minute ago everything was fine and we were enjoying ourselves.

Was it some kind of a prank, a party-trick or someone was giving a demonstration of their weird magic skill.

Any of them could be right and at the same time all the assumptions made could be wrong. Being affixed to one single obsolete notion does more harm than sticking to none. People needed to change with time if they really want to grow.

That’s it; it was as if someone had stopped the time.

By now all the students had started panicking, in our royal lifestyle we never had to face any emergency situation or a crisis. Also the timing couldn’t be worse.

“Does anyone know what’s happening here?”

“Is someone among us doing all this; then stop this prank.”

“It’s not funny. Even the Gods have stopped moving. Are we under attack?”

That could be a plausible reason, a third party attack. But who would attack during a party. Everyone knows that even if we are children, we are pretty strong and can hold on our own in a fight even against the strongest enemies. If this is a pre-planned attack then they should have known of our abilities and the risk involved. But for someone who could freeze even the Gods like this, though there power has been influenced, can kill us in an instant.

Just the very thought of the enemy was making me breathe heavily. My body was slowly becoming cold as my blood froze, out of fear. This world is dangerous, I knew it from before. I could feel the temperature of the room rapidly decreasing and the light slowly vanishing as dark clouds covered the moon, while the gentle breeze had turned into cold perilous winds.

Am I going to die?

Even If I want to survive I cannot use my unique skill effectively here. I need to use the help of others and fight off the enemy. Now I realize that the enemy hasn’t shown itself yet, considering that this pandemic state of ours was the best time, the killer couldn’t ask for a better moment when all were disarrayed and least guarded.

I took a closer look around me and used magic to heighten my senses. The whole room leaked with traces of dark magic, whose colour was so drenched in black that I could even register it as a blind spot in my eye.

Such powerful sinister dark magic, which I had never seen before, just who our enemy is and what does he want. I am sure some of us are good at using holy light magic and even I could use basic spells pertaining to light attribute.

We all were growing impatient. Some of us tried to run away but the door was closed and the windows won’t break as someone had casted a very strong barrier to seal us in. Some were trying their best to wake their gods, but it was of no use. They didn’t even budge and their hardened faces didn’t show any sign of changes.

Some of them had taken out their weapons and had started striking the walls, the roof and the floors but a high level reinforcement spell casted on them withstood all their attacks.

Is the enemy making a joke of us, showing our lack of power and how weak we are? Even if we are blessed by the gods and are the chosen ones – we are not immortal and death is sure in this world which was slowly being torn apart by war and conflicts.

By now the room temperature had dropped to the point that we came close to Natsu who summoned a small bonfire to keep us warm and the room brighten. But even his magic was slowly waning as he had already wasted a lot of MP in one of the duels; in his parlor tricks and the amount of magic particles in the air were excessively scarce.

“What should we do? I have never dealt with such kind of situation.”

“Even the gods can’t help us now with their divinity.”

“The magic is so scarce, that we can’t use our weapons effectively which requires channeling large amounts of magic power.”

It seems that this barrier had much more to offer, the magic particles were being slowly pumped out from the inside. So our hands were tied in a way.

“Just who is this enemy; if only he appears in front of me then I could beat him to a pulp.”

“If you are that strong enough then why don’t you take us out of here?”

“What the hell, would you know.”

“If my goddess would have been awake then I could use my beast transformation and destroy this place in an instant.”

“I am sorry, but if you could not. It’s quite an expensive vacation house.” Kenma tried to protect his property, but interrupting two girls quarrelling will never make them pay you any attention.

“So, you are saying that you are just a useless brat, who cannot even chew his own food without someone’s help.”

“How dare you, speak like that?”

After this Tama and Sayaka started pushing each other by shoulder and asking to back off. Everyone was getting tense by the minute and our blood pressure was dropping. It was as if the enemy wanted to toy with us first and then move things to the main scenario.

What am I going to do? I can’t die now. After I got such a lavish and luxurious life….. The great strength that attracts attention brings fame, money and women straight to my plate. This is the life I always wanted – a carefree life of a Prince.

And with Goddess Freya’s {CHARM UNIQUE SKILL} my pipe-dream had become reality. I will have to make sure to hide in this crowd and escape by making an opening when the enemies attack.

“I know, the school president always has a plan.”

“Yes, the school president is very talented in magic. He can come up with something.”

Don’t rope me in your meaningless talks. How can I fight an opponent who can block all magic and freeze even the Gods?

Also I am more of a supporter type magician with puppeteer skill which works only on opponents weaker than me or have a weak will.

“Yes, Homura please do something.”

Suddenly the class girls started begging for my help. When girls grovel in front of me, I can’t let it go unnoticed but want to help and in return……

Suddenly Yumiko tightly held my arm as a sudden flash of lightning shook the entire room and we all started shouting. Taken hostage in an anti-magic area with no skill usage was like us being trapped as small hungry rats in a dark room filled with black cats that could kill us at any time with a single slap of its sharp claws.

“Don’t worry; I will try to negotiate first with the enemy. If the negotiation fails then, first use fire missile magic to create a diversion, while the close-combat fighter close in for melee and the other magicians will support from rear.“

“I knew, the pres. was always reliable.”

“Let’s kick some intruder’s butt.”

I couldn’t care any less about those intruders and defeating them in a disadvantaged location with people who have never participated in a group combat. How could I trust some bunch of naïve little children who couldn’t get enough out of their dreams to become heroes?

Being a hero will be a huge pain, helping other people just out of goodwill and gaining nothing in return except for some half-assed cheers and praises, till the point where people come and ask for help again and again. And after their work is done, they would just say their goodbyes and leave.

I reached the class president chair by climbing over those who were equally able or more superior than me. How did I do that - SIMPLE – just destroy them at what they are good at and hurt them where it pain’s the most. Use every opportunity to make yourself shine brighter and more brighter in front of others, because if you don’t then people will forget about you, just like it happened once with me…..

Suddenly bad memories which I had forgotten a long time ago surfaced. My mother leaving me behind after my father died. Then my grandmother who let goes off me too.

There are two kinds of people in this world – those who let go and those who are let go. And I was always abandoned.

So I finally made up my mind, I would make others so dependent on me, that they will never let go of me.

But here I was stuck in a very sticky and odd situation where we don’t even know who our enemy is or what do they want from us. Whether there is a single individual or are we talking about a whole organization or just a bunch of mercenaries hired by the real boss.

And my sudden outburst of feelings, it’s not like me to remember my past which I don’t need any more after I have died once. I saw others and they were going through some kind of similar phase. Everyone had that dismal and maddening look. Some were crying while some just looked like empty shells who had drowned and fainted in their own horrid dreams. We were all shrouded with a black mist – some kind of dark magic had been used on us to inflict fear in our mind and cause us heavy psychological damage, making it difficult to make any rational decision.

“Stop screwing with us.”

I am not going to give in this easily. I am now a prince of a kingdom and will soon be declared as the king of my country. How can I forget about my ambitions? I will show them, what I am made up of.

They haven’t attacked us yet. That means right now, they have no intention to kill or harm us. Maybe they really are here to discuss and negotiate but are first testing our strengths and how far can we endure their evil magic.

“Don’t worry we would be able to defeat anyone if you follow my lead. So drop your worries and do what I say.” I tried to lift up their spirit in any way I could. If I want to survive then everyone needs to get a hold of themselves and that’s the job of a leader to make sure they are ready for any situation.

***