Lost Pages (Rise of the Shield Hero)

Chapter 2

Himari was led through the fields towards a large mansion. She wasn't restrained, and it seemed more like the knights were escorting her than taking her by force. She peered around the knight that was in front of her at the mansion they were walking towards. It seemed about five times larger than any mansion she had seen in her life, to her it looked like somewhere royalty would go for a vacation, and for all she knew it was.

She was led into the building and walked along the halls, making sure to keep up with the steady pace of the knights as she looked around in awe. To her surprise, she wasn't being led down to any type of dungeon-like area and instead she was lead up a grand staircase and down a few different hallways— how the guards didn't get lost in the twists and turns of the mansion was beyond her.

They stopped in front of a door, and one of the knights raised his fist and knocked on the door exactly five times, paused, then another two times.

"Your Majesty, We have returned. Your suspicions were correct and we brought the one with us."

The one? What does he mean by that? Himari wondered, watching as the doors in front of them started opening. Once they were fully opened, the guards separated and Himari was left alone standing in the middle of the doorway. In front of her there was a woman standing in front of a large, arched, window with her back towards Himari. She looked regal— wearing a dress that a queen would normally be depicted in. Though it was her hair that caught Himari's attention. It was a royal shade of purple. She turned around and her eyes met Himari's. The woman's expression was neutral, and yet it made Himari's breath catch in her throat.

"It is a pleasure to meet you. My name is Queen Mirella Q Melromarc."

Queen? I am so not in Japan anymore. Himari thought, before realizing she was just standing there and the queen was staring at her, most likely expecting her to introduce herself. She gave the queen a sloppy curtsy and cleared her throat. "My name is Yuki— Himari Yukimitsu. The pleasure is all mine, uh, Your Majesty." 'I feel so out of place.'

The queen nodded and beckoned Himari into the room and once the teen walked a few steps into the room the doors closed behind her and two people in cloaks in masks stood guard in front of it. Himari turned her attention back to the queen, who had covered the lower half of her face with a fan.

"Tell me, what do you remember?" The queen asked, breaking the silence that had settled in the room.

"What do I remember?" Himari asked before realizing the queen was most likely asking what happened to her before she woke up in the field. Guess the queen wasn't going to beat around the bush. "I was walking home from school for winter break and I was hit by a truck. I... guess I died. And then I woke up in that field and well, the rest is history I guess."

The queen nodded, "So, you truly are from a different world." She turned and looked out the window, "Though the legends only talked about four heroes, and none of them wielded a Battle Axe." She said, and though she talked quietly, Himari was still able to hear her.

"Heroes?" She asked, "Sorry, but what are you even talking about?"

The queen closed her eyes and shook her head slightly, "There is nothing to forgive. You are from a separate world so it is only natural that you would be unaware of this world's legends and prophesies. Let me tell you why you've been brought here."

The queen continued on to tell Himari about an ancient prophecy in the world. It speaks of a series of waves— called the Waves of Calamity. If the calamity and destruction brought by the waves isn't stopped, then the world would end. The first wave appeared not long before Himari had been summoned, and between the local knights and traveling adventurers, they somehow managed to fend it off. However, the waves will star becoming stronger, and much more dangerous. The second wave will arrive in less than a month. The queen also explained that according to the legend, there were only four heroes, The Spear Hero, The Sword Hero, The Bow Hero, and The Shield Hero. There was never any mention of a Battle Axe Hero in the prophecy.