Side Mytherion

First Encounter: Aftermath

"Ah... He's gone..."

A little girl was standing at the back door of their house in the middle of the forest. She was looking at the light slowly vanishing at the vacant lot of their backdoor as she said those words.

It's nearly four hours past midnight and most of the humans living at the human continent should be asleep that time, especially children. Children who were to wake up during those hours usually just end up at the comfort room to pee. Being accompanied by their parents is optional.

That's not really the case for the girl. It was like she went out of her room to hurriedly chase a silly friendly ghost she saw at her door.

The light vanished and left everything dark. But the light of the moon was sufficient for somebody's vision to be able to see the empty backyard space that awaited her afterwards. There were no crops being grown, there were no pets or livestock being raised. It was just pure, barren soil.

"Captain the light vanished!!"

She heard voices coming from over the left side of their fence.

Imperial guards. It was not a usual sight to see a group of human imperial guards rushing over somebody's house in the middle of the night.

But the house was already deserted.

"INGRETTA!!"

A shout from a middle-aged man shocked the little girl standing still waiting for nothing to come.

"Da...Dad..."

She got teary-eyed. But not because she was scared or anything. It was a face of relief. It had been a really tiring day and night for the girl so she needed some rest. But still, thinking about her parents who were away from her came first. She knew that her parents came for her with the imperial guard in search for the boy who was with her. She already had thought that her parents might not be safe despite being with the humans who's supposed to keep families like them from, being hurt. She was super worried that her heart jumped out of joy after confirming her father's safety.

The same goes for the parents. Seeing her daughter safe was the only thing that mattered at that moment.

"Where is he?"

"His master came and got him back. He's gone now." -The little girl was not alone at the abandoned cabin in the woods.

"It's okay. I'm here, my daughter. We're here. We're safe, me, your mom, your brother. We're all safe. You've got nothing to worry anymore. You've got nothing to shoulder anymore. I'm sorry, Ingretta... I’m sorry I’ve put you through this when you still should have been just playing as a kid you are."

The father embraced her daughter like they were separated for a long time. The feeling's mutual so the daughter welcomed her father's warmth. It had been a cold night for her anyways. But somehow the father felt that the daughter's mind was distracted by something: the boy she was with a while ago.

"I'm sure he's fine, wherever he is right now."

"I... I'm just confused. Those masters of his he's told us. He's not really treated as a slave, wasn't he? He seemed to be really happy and willing to go back. Is he really a slave? I wonder why he's lied to us."

"The little demon boy had his circumstances. We cannot just suddenly pry on it. We would just be imposing. Besides, he has reasons for hiding it onto us. Let's just hope he's safe for now."

The little girl nodded.

The little demon boy came so suddenly yesterday. He also left suddenly the very next day. He was like a storm that stirred the normal daily life of the girl’s family.

But a quick passing storm posed no threat. Now that he’s gone, there would be no more reason to brood over him. It seemed that he’s also fine going back to where he really belonged.

The father patted the little girl’s little head. The patting sensation got onto her and her sleepiness finally caught up with her. She had too much to think that moment, but her limitations as a kid should take priority. She needs sleep more than anybody amongst any imperial guard who rushed at the house. She needs sleep more than her parents. She needed more sleep than any human at the continent.

“There, there… Sleep now.”

At the far entrance of the kitchen she saw her mother standing, and looking relieved to see her doing fine. She looked at her eyes, trying to ask if her brother was okay. Her mother then gave her a good silent response. That assured her brother’s safety. With that half of her worries were gone and she could now sleep.

She closed her eyes, while being supported by her father. She could just feel her body getting lifted as her consciousness finally drifted away from her.

---

The girl opened her eyes and it was already morning. The light was already entering the room but it was not as bright as it was so She felt groggy all of a sudden. She was able to sleep again but it was still insufficient for a growing kid like her. Her unsteadiness as she tried to lift up her body was supported by her father.

“Oh, so you’re awake? Perfect timing. I know you just woke up, do you want to have breakfast first?”

“No… I’m not hungry”

She looked around. They were at the living room of the old cabin where she spent the night along with the little demon boy until he finally left. She was hoping that it was all just a bad dream but it seemed that it really happened.

There were two imperial guards, clad in silver armors that were seated on a bench her father must have setup across the other side of the living room. They were talking to her father and that talking must be the sound that woke her up.

The mood suddenly became tense. She wanted to have a good morning wake up but it seemed like circumstances won’t let her. Even as a child, she would know whether the elders were having serious talks which children like her should not concern herself.

“I’m not hungry. Dad… The guards are scaring me… Is there anything wrong? Can they leave already?”

“I’m sorry if you have to be woken up like this. We need to speak to you if it’s fine.”

“That’s…”

Her father had a pained expression.

“Oh, dear, you’re already awake.” -The mother who came from the kitchen saw her already awake and talking to her father. She the approached the daughter and leveled herself towards her. She then held her daughter’s two bright red cheeks with her cold hands.

“Daughter, there’s something we need to discuss to you about.”

“Dad, Mom… Quit it. You’re scaring me…”

The kid went anxious. It was all about her. She just woke up and instead of a peaceful morning that she would encounter after the incident with the little demon boy, another issue was brought up by her parents. Usually, a normal scolding could wait until after breakfast. But it seemed to be truly urgent.

“I’m sorry my dear, we have to put you through all of these. Please bear with us. Listen, this will be the very last thing we would have to ask of you.”

She looked at the face of her parents.

The way her mother had said it sounded like an order more than a request. Children knew that parent’s orders are absolute and they should have no way of defying them. The parents, otherwise, knew that children would be using their kid age to avoid responsibility as much as possible so they went on ahead and used the absolute order to listen and do as they say.

“You see, it was not really Fred that the imperial guards rushed over at our home. We’ll be safe regarding that matter” –The mother whispered the thing about Fred so that the guards couldn’t hear.

That statement must have assured her of the matter regarding the little demon boy.

“The oracle prophesized the birth of the new Yuusha. They said it had been prophesized that the next Yuusha would be a girl, six years of age, that would receive her calling* this time of the year. And it was at our town. The guards have checked all of the families living at our town except for us.”

“I… Mom…”

Everything her mother told her left the girl with no choice. Her mother explained it the easiest way she could understand. With everything being said, the girl nodded.

“Little girl… We’re very sorry to startle your family. We really pose no harm; so could you hear us out?”

The seemed leader of the imperial guards stood up and approached Ingretta. His armor was clanking as he walked and it seemed to be heavier than both the little girl and her brother’s weight combined. But he didn’t had difficulties. He was a bit taller than her father but the body build was pretty much the same. Thoughts have bugged her regarding whether the captain and her father knew each other from way back.

“This…”

He pulled out a sword from the scabbard hanging from his back. The scabbard was pure leather with silver and gold plate lining accent surrounding it. The whole sword had been done on titanium finish style and was really glowing shiny even without being shone upon by light. The lustrous metal glowed upon the room even when it was not night, enough to reflect light on the whole living room like a lamp lit before dusk.

The sword was about the same height as the little girl, or even taller. But a little girl would really do nothing with a sword that’s even taller than her.

“This is the holy sword that the human empire had kept as an ancient relic. Historians have told that the sword had been forged by the very first Yuusha and was eventually preserved and maintained until it would be ready to be passed on the next generation.

You see, kid. There was an old myth, saying that individuals who have received their calling and reawakened as the next Yuusha should have some sort of resonance with this sword. To put it brief, there should be a reaction that should happen to you and this sword. Could you please touch it?”

The girl looked at her parents. They were having a really hard to tell expression. It was mixed emotions that a young girl couldn’t describe yet. Their sad faces that indicated if the little girl succeeded to inherit the calling of the Yuusha, they might not be able to see each other again. But how would a kid her age knows what to do?

She had been barraged by several succeeding problems and responsibilities, one after another. It was not very befitting of her age. But fate seemed to turn its wheels hard when it came down to her.

She’s must have grown tired of it. She must have wanted the day to end. She must be yearning for sleep.

She looked at the sword. She’s got nothing to do with it.

“Mister guard… This would soon be over if I just touch the sword, right?”

“Yes, little missy.”

“Okay…”

The little girl was decided. She extended her small hands towards the sword. But even before she was able to touch it, it glowed.

The still air gathered and swirled around the girl and the sword the same time as her pair of little eyes gave a golden glow. The air continued to swirl, gather and thicken around the room. It was a dense concentration of mana. The other guards and the captain, who were experienced on handling mana, were astonished by the sight before their eyes. At the same time, they were also frightened to see that the bottomless concentration that was continuing to gather around was already more than they could handle, and if it was mishandled, it could cause a huge explosion and all of them around a huge radius could die in an instant.

“My… Madam… your little missy…” –the captain could only mutter silent words to confirm if the parents were still conscious and able to withstand the pressure their daughter was creating.

The little girl went on a trance and seemed to have secluded herself on her own gold-colored world. Only she herself could get in and out on that world of her own she had created.

The parents we’re barely conscious. They were hanging on as they see their little girl awakening into something they wouldn’t even know. Only God knew if the little girl would still be the same sweet and playful but responsible little girl they raised for six whole years.

The mother was crying, but the father held her and kept himself strong as he could. Both of them needed to see this. This was the confirmation that their beloved daughter would be transforming to somebody else.

The sword floated. The captain let go of it as he saw the reaction and distanced himself along with the rest of the guards. It then spun several times before thrusting itself erected at the wooden floor in front of the little girl. Contrary to what the guards said about the girl reacting to the holy sword, it was really the other way around. The sword was the one that reacted towards the little girl.

Then all the concentration of mana gathering at the living room shattered through thin air and spread all throughout the forest.

The other guards gasped in awe. But the captain immediately recovered and talked to the parents to confirm with them.

“Madam, My lord… The little girl made contract with the holy sword. Your daughter has awakened. The Eight Generation Yuusha had awakened through your daughter.”

They looked at their little daughter, who was just standing there. Her eyes were still glowing in mix of silver and gold, but the lackluster glow were now different from her usual cheerful glow.

Her expression changed considerably. She was just staring at the long sword thrusted in front of her. She continued to try and reach it but she couldn’t anymore. She’s already lost her subconscious.

That day, the girl named Ingretta von Howartz stood still. A six-year-old daughter of a humble family that runs a vast portion of wheat fields at the north-west part of the human-elf continent received her calling at such a young age.

That day, Ingretta von Howartz, awakened as the Eight Generation Yuusha.